What is Concept Ha?

A consultancy focused on solving your most stressful operational problems.I surface the critical data that allows us to fix broken processes. The result is enhanced business intelligence and improved operating procedures. I call our style of work humancentric automation.The solutions I build are grounded in the realities of your business, and they are always measurable. I primarily work with the construction trades, food manufacturers, restaurants, and cannabis cultivators and manufacturers.

Who is Concept Ha?

On the surface, Concept Ha is Aaron Pastor. Behind the scenes there are partners and colleagues, each brought in when their particular expertise is required.In my working life (1998 to date) I’ve had the good fortune to do a few things, all of which have informed my perspective and taught invaluable lessons.Here's a summary, by the numbers:

Describe your process in 2 steps.

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE ISSUES

We meet and gather information related to how your business operates.

STEP 2: AUTOMATE TO IMPROVE

I work with your business to create processes refinements and software tools that simplify, expedite, and increase the accuracy of repetitive tasks and projects.

What's the best work I can hire you to accomplish?

1. business automation

If it takes you a day to run your payroll and schedule your people, when I'm done it will take less than an hour. If your quoting is messy, if deals are all handshakes and verbal, I'll create a modern, trackable quoting and contract system.

Transition from paper to the cloud and slash time devoted to repetition: Building or selecting, then implementing, software tools to enhance productivity, including creating processes for both tool use and all related tasks.

2. Data Aggregation & Analysis

If you can't see exactly where you’re profitable (and how to grow!), the value of your inventory, or where your money is seeping through the cracks (and how to stop the bleeding!), I'll create dashboards with actionable numbers and metrics.

At-a-glance financial health: Surfacing business-critical information with data-visualizations, dashboards, and industry-specific custom calculators to create a culture of data-driven decisions.

3. Infrastructure Builds

If you know that you need more space, I'll analyze existing and proposed operations and create guidance for build-out and start-up operations.

Facility build-out planning, oversight, and start-up: Owner’s Representative during start-up or expansion to ensure successful space design via requirements analysis, budget accountability, project completion, and workability upon completion.

4. Food Product formulation

If you know what you want to produce but are worried it will take you a year to get from idea to shelf-ready, I will bring you through a rapid development cycle.

Product lifecycle guidance: We’ll develop sourcing and production plans that include product costing, plans to scale, and inventory management.

What size are the companies you are best suited to work with?

My current rule of thumb is that companies with either 150 or fewer employees or ones where the executive and management teams are 30 or fewer individuals. For larger companies, I will generally start by working with a team rather than the entire company.

What is the "Ha" in Concept Ha?

Ah, well, the Ha represents many things. Here's a sampling followed by explanation.

Humancentric Automation

My approach is centered around human needs and goals, and I use technology to augment and assist human workers. By analyzing processes and identifying areas that can be automated, my clients can increase efficiency and reduce errors while empowering their workforce.

Highlevel Administration

Working closely with senior leaders, I help develop and implement strategies that align with the organization's vision and goals. By analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, I provide guidance and support to help achieve objectives.

Holistic Analysis

My approach to problem-solving takes a multidisciplinary approach, considering social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors. By developing sustainable, effective, and ethical solutions to root problems, my clients can achieve long-term success and positive impact.

Haha

We want to have a good time, a chuckle, a joke...maintain a sense of humor.

Where are you based?

I'm based in Portland, Maine, USA. I've been working with teams all over the country since 2017. Remote work is a comfortable space and a tool I try to use wisely. Even local work takes on a remote aspect so that we're not wasting time commuting to on-site meetings when a screenshare will results in a more focused approach. The most successful projects tend to have at least one in-person meeting, but this is not a prerequisite for collaboration.

How do you price your services?

Rather than setting you up for a never-ending relationship, I sell work on a per project basis or in 90 to 120 day increments.This structure creates a framework for us to set a goal and achieve it. If we do great work together, we may do another project. However, if we don't align, it's important for us to have the freedom to take a different road.Remote work is comfortable and expected, as are schedules more diverse than 9 to 5.When we take on a project together…

Packages

Scholarships

I like to work with compelling people, and I'm committed to figuring out how to suppport myself while also helping individuals who do not yet have the funding to retain Concept Ha. I do not have a formal structure for this portion of my business. If you'd like to explore working with me but are concerned about the budget, reach out anyway. We'll openly discuss your options to see if we can making something work.

I'm humbled that my clients have trusted me with their livelihoods.