AI & Workflow Consultant · Founder, Smarter Hacks LLC · Retired Naval Officer
ABOUT MARK
I spent 20 years in the Navy running operations that couldn’t fail. You write the playbook, you train the team, you build the system — or things break. That mindset is what I bring to every business I work with.
I built Smarterhacks.com because I kept seeing the same problem: small business owners drowning in manual work, using AI tools on the surface, and leaving most of the leverage on the table. The content here is what I actually use — in my own businesses, with my own clients. Consulting is what I do when someone needs the work done, not just explained.
WHAT I DO
Here’s what I do:
- Consulting: I work directly with small business owners to identify operational inefficiencies, build AI and automation workflows, and document the systems that let you run leaner without adding headcount. Engagements start at $1,500.
- Content: Every review, workflow guide, and tool comparison on this site is based on real production use. If I haven’t tested it in a business I actually run, it doesn’t make the cut.
Newsletter: Bi-weekly. One practical AI tool, workflow, or system per issue. No roundups, no filler, no affiliate-bait.
BACKGROUND & CREDENTIAL
Before Smarterhacks, I spent two decades as a Naval Officer — building systems, training people, and running operations under pressure. After the Navy, I built Focal Point Dynamic LLC, a GRC and cybersecurity consulting firm that works with defense contractors on CMMC and federal compliance. I hold an MS in Information Systems and a Master’s in Cybersecurity Management and Policy.
That background is why the AI and automation work I do here is system-first, not trend-first. I’m not chasing tools. I’m building workflows that hold up.
Retired Naval Officer 20+ years · Operations & Leadership | GRC Consultant CMMC · NIST · FedRAMP · RMF · SOC 2 | MS Information Systems MS Cybersecurity Mgmt & Policy (pending) |
Founder — FPD Focal Point Dynamic LLC · SDVOSB | Founder — Smarter Hacks AI & Ops Consulting · smarterhacks.com | Atlanta, Georgia Based · Serving clients remotely |
HOW I WORK
I work with clients who are ready to move, not just explore. That means the discovery call is a diagnostic, not a pitch — we look at your current operations, identify the highest-leverage starting point, and figure out if a consulting engagement makes sense. If it doesn’t, I’ll tell you that too.
Every engagement ends with documentation that your team can run without me. I don’t deliver a system you can’t maintain. The goal is autonomy, not dependency.
On the content side: I only write about tools I’ve tested in real business environments. If I’m recommending it, I’m running it. If I stopped running it, I’ll say why.
WHAT I’M CURRENTLY WORKING ON
Right now I’m focused on three things:
- Building out the Smarterhacks consulting practice — taking on a small number of engagements with small business owners who want real AI and workflow implementation, not theory.
- Running the Smarterhacks content calendar — tool reviews, workflow guides, and the bi-weekly newsletter for operators who want practical AI without the noise.
- Scaling Focal Point Dynamic — CMMC 2.0 readiness assessments and GRC consulting for defense contractors navigating federal compliance.
Work with me
If you’re a small business owner who’s done reading about AI and wants someone to actually build it into your operations — book a free 30-minute discovery call. We’ll look at your current setup, identify your highest-leverage starting point, and determine whether a consulting engagement is the right next step.
Book a discovery call: [CALENDLY-LINK]
Email: mark@smarterhacks.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markanthony50
Not ready to work together yet?
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