How We Work Together

Engagement Models

Three ways to work with P1, each built for a specific stage, need, and level of commitment. Every engagement is scoped to fit your situation. Not a pre-packaged service menu.

The Three Models

Find the right fit for where you are

Whether you need an embedded CMO, a single high-stakes deliverable, or an ongoing strategic sounding board, there is a model designed for that moment.

Fractional CMO

Retainer Engagement

Ongoing senior marketing leadership. Roark embedded as your acting CMO on a part-time basis: strategy, judgment, and personal execution in one.

The retainer is the flagship model. Roark works directly inside your company as a player-coach, setting priorities, making trade-offs, and personally executing the highest-leverage work each month. You get the judgment of a seasoned CMO and the execution of a senior marketer, without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. A weekly cadence keeps work moving and leadership visible.

What this includes
Positioning and messaging strategy GTM planning and execution oversight Weekly calls and async collaboration Sales and channel enablement Website narrative and content Agency and team direction Board and investor marketing support First marketing hire planning
Commitment 3-month minimum, typically 3 to 6 months
Pricing Monthly fee, scoped to engagement
Best for Post-raise, pre-first hire; reset after false start
Focused Project

Project Engagement

A defined scope, a fixed outcome, a finite timeline. One high-stakes deliverable done right.

Some companies do not need ongoing leadership. They need one critical thing done well before they can move forward. A positioning reset. A messaging overhaul. A GTM diagnostic. A sales enablement package built from scratch. The focused project model is scoped to a specific outcome, priced as a fixed fee, and delivered within a defined timeline. It is also a natural way to start a working relationship before committing to a broader retainer.

Common project types
Positioning and narrative reset Messaging framework and copy GTM diagnostic and roadmap Website narrative overhaul Sales enablement package Investor and board narrative
Timeline Typically 4 to 8 weeks
Pricing Fixed fee, scoped to outcome
Best for Specific high-stakes deliverables; pre-fundraise; new relationship starting point
Advisory

Advisory Engagement

Ongoing senior judgment without full execution. A strategic sounding board for companies that already have marketing capacity in place.

The advisory model is built for companies that have execution capacity in place (a marketing hire, an agency, or an in-house team) but lack a senior operator who can pressure-test strategy, sharpen positioning, and help leadership make confident marketing decisions. Roark meets regularly to review plans, challenge assumptions, and provide the kind of honest senior guidance that does not come from inside the building.

What this includes
Regular strategy and review calls Asynchronous access to Roark Positioning and messaging feedback Plan and campaign pressure-testing Team development and coaching Quarterly engagement reviews
Commitment Monthly, quarterly review points
Pricing Monthly retainer, lower than full retainer
Best for Companies with a marketing hire in place; post-Series A teams needing senior oversight
How It Works

Every engagement starts with your situation, not a service menu

P1 does not sell pre-packaged tiers. The scope of every engagement is built from scratch around what you actually need, what stage you are at, and what success looks like for you specifically. That means the first conversation is diagnostic, not a pitch.

Engagements are deliberately limited in number so each client gets meaningful time and attention. If availability is limited when you reach out, that will be stated clearly upfront.

1

30-minute discovery call

Understand your situation, stage, and what is most pressing. No intake form, no prep required. Just your context.

2

Custom scope proposal

If there is a fit, Roark proposes a scope aligned to your actual needs: model type, time commitment, deliverables, and timeline. No surprises.

3

Alignment and kickoff

Once scope is agreed, the engagement begins quickly. There is no lengthy onboarding phase before real work starts.

4

Execution from day one

Roark personally does the work. No handoffs to junior staff, no account management layer between you and the output.

What to Expect

What the first 30 days looks like

Speed matters. The goal is meaningful work underway by the end of month one, not a lengthy strategy document delivered before anything gets done.

01

Orientation

Review existing materials, customer and prospect conversations, competitive landscape, and current positioning. Build a complete picture of where things stand before making any recommendations.

02

Diagnosis

Identify the gaps. Positioning clarity, messaging consistency, GTM alignment, sales and marketing friction, board expectations. Honest assessment of what is working and what is not.

03

Prioritization

Sequence the work by impact and urgency. Not everything can go first. A clear, agreed-upon priority list prevents the scattered effort that kills early-stage marketing momentum.

04

Execution begins

The highest-leverage work starts moving. By day 30, you have a clear view of priorities and meaningful output already in progress, not a deck promising future delivery.

The deliverable at 30 days is not a strategy document. It is a shared understanding of the priorities, a working plan, and real work already underway. Strategy and execution happen together from the start.

Not sure which model fits?

That is what the first call is for. Bring your situation and Roark will tell you honestly whether there is a fit and what shape it would take.

Book a 30-Minute Call No commitment. No pitch.