About Us
Empowering Organizations Through Curiosity-Driven Innovation.
Transforming Organizations with Lateral Solutions for Growth
Lateral Solutions is an operations management company specializing in helping organizations grow through curiosity and operations. Lateral Solutions began with Founder and CEO Jon Bassford launching internal operations for several startups (for-profit and nonprofit) and then staying on as a Fractional-COO guiding them the often tricky first few years. Lateral Specializes in streamlined, efficient, and effective operations that help organizations grow and scale with ease.
Today, Lateral Solutions is helping more organizations grow through curiosity and operations. Although still assisting organizations with fractional operations support, Lateral Solutions is using its operational expertise to analyze operations to help organizations grow more strategically!
We are often asked where Jon came up with the name Lateral Solutions. Well…That’s an easy one. The name Lateral Solutions stems from the movie The Upside where Bryan Cranston’s character describes his ability to creatively turn around companies with Lateral Thinking.
Lateral Solutions is on a mission to help organizations grow! In addition to Jon Bassford, Lateral Solutions has a network of experienced operations professionals at all levels that allow us to help tailor our efforts to your needs and industry.
Although we are industry agnostic, a lot of our clients include nonprofits, associations, tech startups, service firms, consulting firms, small manufacturing firms, construction/trade type businesses, and many more!
“The best way to predict the future is to design it.” – With this ethos guiding us, we partner with you to build a future of lasting success.
Our Promise to You
We are dedicated to turning your operational challenges into opportunities for growth. With tailored strategies, proven systems, and expert guidance, we’ll help you build a scalable, sellable, and thriving business.
Our Vision
A world where businesses thrive through clarity, strategy, and empowered leadership, transforming challenges into opportunities.
Our Mission
Empowering leaders to build scalable, systematized businesses that unlock sustainable growth and innovation.
Our Commitment
To partner with you every step of the way, delivering actionable solutions, measurable results, and unwavering support.

Founder & CEO Jon Bassford, JD, MBA, CAE
Jon Bassford is an operations professional and entrepreneur driven by his Curiosity! Curiosity is his superpower and it has driven his personal and professional advancement. After law school, Jon put this curiosity to work launching, managing, and improving operations for venture backed startups to global nonprofits with impact! For Jon, there is nothing that curiosity can’t help. Today, Jon is known for his curiosity-driven leadership, helping organizations and individuals innovate, change, and grow through by adopting Curiosity as their superpower.
Throughout his career, Jon has lead organizations with innovation, growth, and change. His career, spanning over 15 years, involves working at a director, VP, and C-Suite level before creating Lateral Solutions and serving in similar roles as a Consultant and Fractional-COO. Jon has track record of providing tactical and strategic solutions for growing startups, small businesses, and nonprofits.
Jon is known for
- Ability to analyze situations, manage resources, and make sound decisions.
- Possessing a unique blend of emotional intelligence, lateral thinking, and a deep appreciation for cultivating positive work cultures.
- Ability to identify unconventional solutions that drive efficiency, effectiveness, and growth.
- Integrity, transparency, and innovation.
- Being an inspiring leader who leads by example, consistently inspiring those around him to push boundaries and strive for greatness.
