Emily Adams

Gulf Works Lab is an Innovation-as-a-Service business as a skunkworks lab for hire built for established mid-market companies navigating AI, competitive pressure, and operational modernization. As Operating Partner, I co-lead the business alongside founder Laura Henderson — responsible for practitioner network development, client delivery operations, sprint execution standards, and go-to-market. We serve EBITDA-positive companies ($50M–$1B revenue) across industrial manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, and healthcare. We deliver working prototypes and redesigned processes in 2–3 week sprints. Adoption is the deliverable not the presentation deck.

Chief Operating Officer, Tampa Bay Tech Week Tampa Bay Tech Week doesn't just happen — it's built. And building it is my job. As COO, I lead the operational infrastructure that turns vision into execution. That means owning the planning timelines, managing vendor contracts, overseeing compliance and permitting, and designing the run-of-show systems that keep every moving part on track. I work in the details because the details are where events are won or lost. I build the frameworks that hold everything together — operational dashboards, documented SOPs, and structured processes that allow our teams to move efficiently and consistently, regardless of how complex things get. Budget discipline runs through everything I do, ensuring execution stays aligned with approved strategy and available resources. I also lead coordination across staff, volunteers, and community partners, making sure every person and every relationship is positioned to deliver real value. Sponsorship tracking, growth documentation, and partnership alignment all flow through me — maintained with full transparency and accountability inside our project systems. With decision authority over operational systems, vendor coordination, and execution logistics, I move fast and I move with accountability. Every phase ends with a post-event review that sharpens how we operate next time. The standard I hold myself to is the same one I hold the operation to: on time, within budget, and built to scale.

Helping companies simplify operations and developing effective leaders. I have a leadership background in automotive and software industry and small business where I have developed a strong skillset of developing conscious leaders and proven formula for problem solving that can help any organization solve problems, save money and improve efficiency. Specialties: Leadership Development and Training, Business Operations, Manufacturing Production Lines, Cost Savings, Efficiency Improvements, Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, PDCA.

Planned, scheduled and coordinated department business plan reviews with VP and President of the company, led development programs, led multiple projects at once, facilitated workshops and drove corporate wellness initiatives among other projects. Accomplishments: 1.5 M savings in headcount reduction by collaborating with multiple engineers and departments to conduct manpower and process audits, Delivered 2M break area project one month ahead of schedule while maintaining under budget. Advocated for associate change and gained buy-in from all stakeholders including VP, President, Division Executives to implement changes to company policy. 15% decrease in payroll errors by collaborating with North American team to implement improvements on Kronos system for accuracy on payroll. 7% reduction in attrition by leading all departments to collaborate with temp agencies and HR.

Manage training development, identify key stakeholders and processes to drive change.. Analyze and research skills, critical thinking and ability to analyze data, generate insights and roll out training company-wide for employee development. Accomplishments: $100,000 annual savings by standardizing a process flow to reduce headcount. 5% ($250,000 saved annually) reduction on scrap by leading the team through problem solving and root cause analysis and implementing effective countermeasure activities utilizing PDCA methodology.

Studied organizational, leadership and supervision with a focus on human resources.