Jonathan Linton

About Jonathan Linton

Most AI rollouts fail before they start. Not because the tools are wrong, but because organizations try to automate knowledge that\'s scattered across people\'s heads at every level of the org. Layer AI on top of that documentation debt and you get confident answers based on information that was accurate once but isn\'t anymore. I fix the upstream problem first. At Lucida, a rapidly growing, acquisition-driven CPA firm, that means driving AI adoption across the organization, architecting the firm\'s first direct database integration with Claude Code and Model Context Protocol, and designing governance for enterprise platform consolidation. My day-to-day covers AI strategy, platform evaluation, M&A integration (3 acquired firms), system implementations (4 deployed from scratch), and the practical governance work: acceptable use frameworks, tiered access, vendor risk analysis. The stuff that turns AI from a pilot into a standard. I also built Fresh Coast AI. A people centric, AI consulting in Milwaukee for SMBs. We figure out where AI fits your workflows, build it with your team, and leave you running it independently. What that looks like in practice: persistent memory systems that work across platforms, automated daily briefings pulling from 12 sources, evaluation frameworks so clients can assess a tool before they commit, and the architecture behind deployments that actually stick after the consultant leaves. Background in enterprise software implementation and change management for Fortune 500 organizations. freshcoast.ai

Experience

1. Ai & Business Transformation Lead

   Lucida Tax + Accounting Solutions

   Apr 2023 — Present · Brookfield, WI, US

   I lead firmwide transformation and AI adoption at a rapidly growing, acquisition-driven tax and accounting firm. That covers adoption strategy, identifying the highest-impact use cases, and designing operating systems that scale across CAS, Tax, Audit, HR, and IT.AI Strategy & GovernanceI own Lucida\'s AI roadmap and governance model. Rolled out firmwide access and standards across Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot. Built practical guardrails around quality, risk, and human review. Assembled an internal AI advisory group that includes the CFO.AI Use Cases & Workflow ModernizationPrioritizing and implementing AI-driven workflows across core accounting and tax processes: AI-suggested tie-outs, QBO bank entry, reconciliations, tax research support, fixed-asset support, and 1099 preparation. The target is measurable throughput gains and reduced rework.AI-First Tooling & ArchitectureArchitected the firm\'s first direct database integration connecting Claude Code to our practice management system via Model Context Protocol. Defined the use cases, designed the architecture, and directed IT on implementation. The result: natural-language queries for reporting, capacity analysis, and revenue trends. No SQL. No Power BI consultant dependency.Platform & SystemsLed evaluation and rollout of key platforms supporting CAS and Business Tax. Delivered implementation plans across payroll, project management, client portals, BI dashboards, and AI-assisted trial balance.M&A IntegrationLed end-to-end integration of three acquired firms across finance, HR, IT, and operations. Consolidated systems, standardized processes, onboarded teams. client files migrated. Zero service disruptions.Process RedesignRedesigned 10+ core processes across client service and internal operations. Reduced cycle time and rework while standardizing how teams deliver work at scale.

Education

• University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business

  Master of Business Administration, MBA - Entrepreneurship and Consulting

  2017 — 2019

• University of Arizona, Eller College of Management

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business Administration and Management, General

  2011 — 2013

• University of Washington

  Psychology

  2005 — 2009

• Anglo-American University, Prague

  Business Administration and Management, General

  2012 — 2012

Skills

• Strategic Planning
• Consulting
• Social Media Marketing
• Market Research
• Project Management
• Teaching English as a Second Language
• Data Analysis
• Public Relations
• Business Strategy
• Management
• Team Building
• Customer Service
• Event Planning
• Training
• Project Planning
• Social Media
• Social Networking
• Hospitality Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership
• Program Management
• Business Development
• International Business
• Fundraising
• Public Speaking
• Marketing
• Due Diligence
• Research
• Negotiation
• Team Leadership