John Schimpf
Fractional Executive & Strategic Advisor
Business Operations | Marketing Systems | AI Integration

John Schimpf is the founder of New Shirt Agency, a Sacramento-based marketing operations and AI systems consultancy specializing in building the business infrastructure that growing companies and music industry ventures need to scale. With 25 years of experience spanning music production, business operations, and systems architecture, John brings a rare combination of deep industry credibility and executive-level operational expertise.

John's approach is grounded in systems thinking: he builds infrastructure, not just deliverables. His work includes financial management systems, contract automation, CRM architecture, AI-powered reporting, and strategic planning—the operational backbone that allows creative leaders to focus on what they do best while the business runs efficiently behind the scenes.

In the music industry, John serves as a fractional strategic advisor and business operations executive for established labels, artists, and entertainment ventures. His clients include Dave Koz Enterprises (a $20M/year music festival cruise business), 25th Street Recording (a legendary Oakland recording studio where he spent 12 years building operational and business infrastructure), and a portfolio of independent artists and labels navigating the complexities of modern music business.

John's dual background in IT infrastructure and creative production uniquely positions him to bridge technical systems and business strategy. He architects marketing operations ecosystems (CRM, automation, analytics), implements AI-powered contract management and compliance systems, designs financial tracking and reporting infrastructure, and provides fractional executive advisory services to founders who need operational expertise without a full-time hire.

Before founding New Shirt Agency, John spent 15 years as a music producer, studio operator, and artist manager, working internationally across 40 countries with Grammy-winning artists and platinum-selling acts. In 2012, he led the transformation of 25th Street Recording into Northern California's premier media production facility, building not just the creative capabilities but the business systems, financial infrastructure, and operational processes that allowed the studio to scale sustainably.

His technical expertise includes marketing technology platforms (PipeDrive, HubSpot, Salesforce), AI implementation (Claude, GPT, custom models), contract and document automation, financial systems (QuickBooks, custom dashboards), and full-stack web development. His business expertise includes strategic planning, financial management, team development, and executive representation in partnership negotiations.

John is deeply invested in the Sacramento business community. He is an active member of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, participates in Sacramento AI for Business initiatives, and pursues government and community contracts through the city's RFP process. He holds California Micro Business certification and is committed to contributing meaningfully to the region's economic and creative development.

John lives in Sacramento with his wife Annette and their two children. When not building systems and advising clients, he splits time between the Azores and Northern California.