About me
From Combat to Corporate: A Journey of Resilience and Leadership
I’m Omar Ritter. My path has been anything but straight. I started at West Point, went on to serve in combat where I earned the Bronze Star with Valor and the Combat Action Badge, and then stepped into the high-pressure world of Wall Street finance.
I earned my MBA from Columbia Business School and earned several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). I later held leadership roles with Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase. I’ve been a Chief Financial Officer at a billion-dollar firm, and today I serve as Area President with FOCUSCFO, where I link business owners with fractional CFO services that help them strengthen their companies and plan for long-term growth.
Mental health is just as much a part of my story as finance. I wrote West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Health to speak honestly about the challenges I faced. I use my platform as a motivational speaker and advocate to open conversations in places where silence often wins through corporate mental health workshops, community talks, and supporting PTSD resources for veterans.
Now I live in Charlotte, NC, with my family, and I split my work between motivational speaking and mental health advocacy, while also guiding business owners through fractional CFO services that drive steady growth.
MY SERVICES
Empowering individuals and organizations through purpose-driven speaking engagements and strategic financial leadership.
How I Help
Empowering individuals and organizations through speaking, advocacy, and financial leadership.
Mental Health Advocacy
When I speak about mental wellness, it isn’t theory. It’s a lived experience. I’ve stood in combat zones and later in corporate boardrooms, fighting battles both external and internal. My focus now is on:
-
Advocacy and mental health through storytelling and education
-
Corporate mental health workshops for leaders and teams
-
PTSD support for veterans who are trying to find their footing after service
-
Opening doors to independent mental health advocacy where silence used to dominate
I’m not a clinician. I’m a peer who’s walked the road and isn’t afraid to talk about it.
Speaking Engagements
Whether it’s a room of veterans, a business leadership team, or a university audience, I bring stories that connect. Topics include:
-
Resilience and leadership under pressure
-
Mental wellness in high-stress professions
-
Strategy and discipline in finance and business growth
Lessons learned as a veteran motivational speaker and mental health advocate speaker
I also work with those just starting out in motivational speaking classes, sharing what it really means to speak with authenticity.
Business Finance Work
At FOCUSCFO, I help owners strengthen their companies without having to hire a full-time executive. My work includes:
-
Fractional CFO services – clarity on cash flow, planning, and operations
-
Fractional CFO for small business – practical solutions scaled to fit tighter budgets
-
Business growth services – long-term strategies for sustainable expansion
-
Financial controller services – getting the details right so leaders can focus on running the company
This work balances my advocacy where numbers meet people, and strategy meets care.
Book Released: September 9, 2025
West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Wellness
This memoir lays out the story behind the headlines: the medals, the promotions, the boardrooms. It’s about what those successes cost, how they were carried, and the fight to find balance and mental health along the way.
This memoir explores vulnerability, resilience, and strength as Omar transitions from combat zones to the financial world battling inner conflict while achieving outward success.
Leadership, Resilience, and the Power of Asking
I go by a few roles: motivational speaker, mental health advocate, and fractional CFO. Different work, same thread. It always comes back to people listening, asking for help when it’s needed, and stepping up when it’s time to lead.
Testimonials
Words from those I've had the honor to serve and support.
May 10, 2025
THE IMPORTANCE OF COST MANAGEMENT AND COST SYSTEMS,..
Cost management is essential for organizations striving for long-term success and sustainability. By effectively
May 10, 2025
LESSONS LEARNED AS A CFO: THE POWER OF STRATEGI......
Cost management is essential for organizations striving for long-term success and sustainability. By effectively
