How I got here
I studied biology at UC Santa Barbara, then worked two years as a firefighter with Cal Fire. While I was there, I started paramedic school, but I realized I wanted to build something of my own. I got an SBA loan and opened a cleaning business in Phoenix in 2024. I’ve run it from the Bay Area the whole time, so I had to set it up to work without me there in person.
I handle hiring, pricing, finance and the systems the team works from. My business manager runs the day-to-day, and the business takes me about 5 to 7 hours a week, all on my own schedule.
What I’m looking for
An operations role at a small, growing company where I can help improve how the business runs, like Operations Lead, Business Operations, Operations Specialist or Chief of Staff. Startups are my first choice, but I’m open to any team with real operations work to do. Bay Area or remote.
How I work
I’d rather be handed a problem than a task. I like keeping score, and I like writing down how things work so they can be repeated. The fire service taught me to stay calm when plans change. Running the business taught me that most problems come down to a missing process or the wrong hire.
- I see problems through. At MaidThis there was usually no one else to hand a problem to. I learned to figure out the cause, build a fix, measure it and adjust it until it worked.
- I track the numbers. We run a weekly scorecard, quarterly goals and a monthly budget review. Every number has an owner and gets reviewed in a meeting.
- I write things down. I keep SOPs, checklists and a decision log, so the team doesn’t have to rely on me to remember how something is done.
- I hand repeat work to AI. I use AI agents for the repetitive parts of my work, like pulling data, scheduled research, first drafts and analysis. Here is how I use AI, and where I don’t.
Outside of work
I read a lot of fiction (34 books this year), cook and bake, and I’m training for the SF Half. I rebuilt a 1981 Suzuki GS1000 into a cafe racer, which helped me win over my wife when we were dating. I also taught myself woodblock printing and use it to make most of our holiday cards.
Background
- Now
- Founder and Head of Operations, MaidThis Phoenix, 2024 to present
- Before
- Cal Fire Firefighter I, 2022 to 2024
- School
- UC Santa Barbara, BS Biology
Resume and contact
Email is the best way to reach me: parkerrterle@gmail.com. I reply within a day. You can also download my resume (PDF) or find me on LinkedIn.