About Erin Thompson

Building Leaders. Improving Performance. Driving Results.

My name is Erin Thompson, founder of Thompson Leadership & Operations Consulting LLC.

For more than 20 years, I have led teams in environments where performance, accountability, and execution were critical to success. My professional journey has taken me from the United States Marine Corps to the manufacturing floor, where I have built a career helping people, teams, and organizations achieve their full potential.

What I've learned throughout my career is simple:

Leadership is leadership.

Whether you're leading Marines in a demanding operational environment or leading skilled trades professionals in a manufacturing facility, success depends on the same fundamentals—trust, accountability, communication, discipline, and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement.

Today, I help manufacturing organizations, outdoor brands, and growth-focused companies develop stronger leaders, improve operational performance, and create cultures that produce sustainable results.

My Leadership Journey

I began my career in the United States Marine Corps in 2004, serving as a Military Police Officer and ultimately retiring after more than two decades of service as a Company Gunnery Sergeant.

Throughout my military career, I served in numerous leadership roles including:

• Military Police Officer

• Platoon Sergeant

• Operations Chief

• Motor Transport Chief

• Watch Chief

• Company Gunnery Sergeant

These positions placed me in charge of personnel development, operational planning, logistics, accountability, training, risk management, and mission execution.

I deployed in support of combat operations, trained international partner forces, supervised complex operations, and mentored Marines at every level—from junior enlisted personnel to senior officers.

The Marine Corps taught me that successful organizations are built on three things:

• Strong leadership

• Clear accountability

• Disciplined execution

Those lessons became the foundation of my leadership philosophy.

From the Shop Floor to Leadership

While many consultants build their careers exclusively in offices or boardrooms, my civilian leadership experience started where many manufacturing careers begin—on the shop floor.

I didn't begin in management.

I spent years learning the business from the ground up, working directly alongside skilled trades professionals, technicians, and production teams. I gained firsthand experience in multiple departments, learning how different functions impact safety, quality, productivity, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.

That experience provided me with something many leaders never develop—a deep understanding of the challenges faced by frontline employees and the operational realities of manufacturing.

As I progressed through various roles, I became increasingly involved in problem-solving, process improvement, team development, and operational leadership. Those experiences eventually led me into supervisory and management positions where I now lead teams within a world-class manufacturing environment.

Because I've worked both on the floor and in leadership positions, I understand the perspectives of both employees and management.

That perspective allows me to bridge the gap between strategic objectives and frontline execution.

The Overlap Between the Marine Corps and Manufacturing

Many people view military leadership and manufacturing leadership as completely different worlds.

In reality, they share more similarities than differences.

In both environments, leaders are responsible for:

Building Teams

Success depends on developing people, creating trust, and fostering teamwork.

Developing Future Leaders

Organizations grow when leaders intentionally mentor and develop the next generation.

Managing Risk

Whether the objective is mission accomplishment or operational excellence, leaders must identify risks before they become problems.

Solving Problems

Leaders must identify root causes, make informed decisions, and execute solutions.

Creating Accountability

Clear expectations and ownership drive performance in every organization.

Executing Under Pressure

Both military and manufacturing environments require leaders who can make decisions, communicate effectively, and maintain focus during challenging situations.

The environments may differ, but the leadership principles remain the same.

Why I Started Thompson Leadership & Operations Consulting

Throughout my military and civilian careers, I consistently found myself helping organizations solve problems, improve performance, and develop stronger leaders.

I founded Thompson Leadership & Operations Consulting because I believe organizations deserve practical solutions rooted in real-world leadership experience—not generic management theory.

My goal is to help organizations:

• Develop stronger supervisors and managers

• Improve team performance

• Increase accountability

• Strengthen communication

• Identify operational challenges

• Build sustainable leadership cultures

I believe great organizations are built by leaders who are willing to invest in their people and continuously improve their processes.

Who I Serve

Manufacturing Organizations

• Industrial Manufacturing

• Energy and Power Generation

• Aerospace and Defense

• Fabrication and Machining

• Operations and Logistics

Outdoor & Founder-Led Brands

• Hunting and Outdoor Companies

• Veteran-Owned Businesses

• Growth-Stage Organizations

• Founder-Led Teams

I specialize in helping organizations that want to improve performance while preserving the culture and values that define them.

Education & Leadership Development

Bachelor of Science
Organizational Management & Ethical Leadership

Additional leadership development includes:

• Executive and Management Training

• Organizational Development

• Workforce Development

• Leadership Coaching

• Safety and Risk Management Programs

My education complements decades of real-world leadership experience, allowing me to combine proven leadership principles with practical business application.

Let's Build Something Stronger

Whether you're a manufacturing leader looking to improve performance, a founder navigating growth, or an organization committed to developing future leaders, I would welcome the opportunity to help.

Strong organizations don't happen by accident.

They build strong leaders.
They solve the right problems.
They create accountability.
They execute with discipline.
They continuously improve.

That's the foundation of every successful team—and the mission of Thompson Leadership & Operations Consulting.