Executive Spotlight: Janice Reese

Q: Can you give a brief introduction about who you are? 

Janice: Sure! I'm Janice Reese and I live on 10 acres in the woods just outside Nashville, TN, in Davidson County. I have an office halfway down my driveway, and I’ve worked remotely for most of my career. I started in technology, helping transform the printing industry with Acrobat, PDF, PostScript, and Web-to-print. My passion is connecting with people and opportunities to bring new technology to market. 

Q: That's awesome! How do you define fractional work? 

Janice: Fractional work involves taking high-impact leadership roles with multiple organizations simultaneously, focusing on where your expertise is most needed. It allows professionals to contribute strategically without the constraints of a full-time position. This is especially valuable for startups, helping them navigate different growth stages. 

Q: At Venturous, we work with early-stage companies. How are fractional executives most beneficial at this stage? 

Janice: Founders often have passion but lack expertise in all areas. Fractional executives help them refine strategy, leverage partnerships, and understand industry complexities. In healthcare, for example, startups must navigate regulations, privacy laws, and compliance challenges. Having an expert can be critical to their success. 

Q: Healthcare is always evolving, making it tough for startups. Having an expert must be invaluable. 

Janice: Absolutely! Industry standards, like HL7 and the FHIR standard, are pivotal. Startups need to understand these frameworks to build viable products and navigate the complex contracting and compliance landscape. 

Q: Off-topic, but could you tell me about your startup? 

Janice: Sure! It was in graphic arts, called Fold Factory. My colleague, Trish, did her thesis on folding styles—like the cool direct mail pieces you get. Her husband built a tool that mathematically mapped folds in Adobe InDesign. We launched in 2008, focused on direct mail, and collaborated with the Postal Service and industry groups. We developed content strategy and educational resources to support industry adoption. It’s still relevant today! 

Q: That’s fascinating! I’ve used InDesign a lot—so cool to hear about its evolution. 

Janice: Yes! We worked with industry standards, making folding techniques accessible for designers and print professionals. 

Q: What motivated you to take fractional roles in healthcare? 

Janice: I have a forward-thinking mindset and love driving change. Being in Nashville, a hub for healthcare, I got deep into cybersecurity and tech startups. As a patient, I also see the need for improvements in data security and efficiency. Privacy laws and compliance challenges make this space exciting and necessary for innovation. 

Q: How has fractional work shaped your career? 

Janice: It’s broadened my exposure to different organizations, fueling my curiosity. Early in my career, I wanted to understand business processes, document sharing, and user experience. I’ve worked with startups and major companies, including Google, when it had just 10 employees. I love connecting people and fostering collaboration in a digital world. 

Q: Has fractional work benefited your lifestyle? 

Janice: Definitely! Companies restructure all the time, and fractional work lets me stay nimble. I co-founded Fold Factory with no external funding—just creativity and persistence. That experience taught me adaptability. COVID also shifted projects, but being flexible meant I could pivot easily. Instead of stressing over changes, I embrace new opportunities. 

Q: It’s like a mindset shift. What advice would you give to someone considering fractional work? 

Janice: Be strategic about your time. Early on, I gave a lot without much return. Balance is key position yourself as valuable while avoiding timewasters. Instead of waiting for opportunities, identify companies where you can add value and approach them directly. That proactive mindset makes a big difference. 

Q: Much of your work focuses on uniting the healthcare ecosystem. How does being a fractional executive enhance your impact? 

Janice: It allows me to collaborate across organizations and industries. Many corporations discourage external collaboration, but fractional work gives me freedom to bridge gaps and foster innovation. I love connecting with people and helping solve problems. That’s why I’ve been hosting volleyball games for 30+ years, it’s all about building community! 

Q: Wow, 10 acres and volleyball? That’s amazing! If you had to describe fractional work in one word, what would it be? 

Janice: Empowering! It lets you contribute meaningfully to multiple initiatives, leverage expertise across industries, and create a dynamic career. It’s also fun—being curious to keep life exciting. 

Q: Empowering is a great word! I’ve noticed curiosity is a common trait among executives in our network. Everyone’s a lifelong learner, always eager to explore new ideas. What’s the best perk of being fractional? 

Janice: Working on projects that align with your passions while maintaining flexibility. You can work from anywhere, visit clients if needed, and shape your career around meaningful work while still having personal balance. For me, nature provides that balance—being in the woods is essential. 

Q: What’s your favorite way to stay creative and recharge? 

Janice: Spending time outdoors, traveling, and connecting with our Nashville beach volleyball community. We work with the AVP Pro beach volleyball group from California, helping kids earn scholarships for indoor and beach volleyball. We’ve built courts around the city, welcomed a pro player to Nashville, and created a space where people connect. Even during COVID, we ran tournaments safely outdoors, and demand was so high we had waiting lists. 

Q: I don’t know much about Nashville, but beach volleyball seems niche there. How did you get into it? 

Janice: I met my husband playing indoor volleyball. I was always active, loved the outdoors, and kept playing as I got older. Volleyball teaches teamwork—whether it’s two people or a team, you learn about collaboration, ego, and accountability. My husband, who’s more of an engineer, started building courts. At first, it was just for us, but demand grew. We added a tiki hut, snacks, and a fun atmosphere. When Nashville was developing professional sports, we lobbied the city but ultimately built courts ourselves. 

Q: Wow, what a cool community you built. 

Janice: I’ll never be lonely as I age—I have so many friends! We’ve brought people together, and some even met their spouses here. We’ve helped kids get scholarships and supported families through the sport. It unites people in a time when society feels divided. We play international music, have simple snacks like a PB&J bar, and create a welcoming environment. 

Q: That’s awesome. Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

Janice: I’m currently working on a contract around industry standards with HL7 and FHIR at scale, similar to what we did with Acrobat and PDF years ago. It’s about educating the healthcare industry on standards, security, and data sharing to benefit patients. There’s a huge opportunity for change, especially in startups, and fractional professionals can guide organizations in integrating these frameworks.