Jonathan Werle

Hi! Tell us about you!

I’m Jonathan Werle. I live in Maplewood with my amazing wife and two incredible daughters. I’m a Vermont son of a Jersey native, so

I’ve felt at home in the nearly ten years we’ve been here. After 20+ years running operations in government, education, and nonprofits, I now run

FlowForge, helping businesses work smarter.

Tell us about your business.

FlowForge is based in Maplewood and works with small businesses, nonprofits, and growing organizations that want to operate more efficiently. I help streamline day-to-day operations by automating repetitive workflows, organizing information, and introducing practical, right-sized AI tools that actually get used. Most of my work focuses on saving time, reducing manual effort, and helping teams make better, faster decisions without needing a big tech investment or in-house expertise.

How many years have you been in business?

I officially launched FlowForge at the very end of 2025.

How did you find yourself doing this work?

I spent over two decades leading operations across education, nonprofits, and government, often in complex, fast-moving environments. A big part of my role was figuring out how to make things run better, whether that meant redesigning processes, building systems, or introducing new tools. More recently, I’ve focused on AI and automation to help organizations stay current, efficient, and ready for the future. FlowForge is a natural extension of that work.

What excites you the most about what you do?

I’m an Ops nerd at heart and a tech tinkerer. I love finding smart solutions to operational problems and bringing practical, affordable tech, like AI and automation, within reach for small businesses and mission-driven organizations.

What inspired you to start your own business?

I wanted to take the lessons I’d learned and make them widely accessible. Many small businesses and nonprofits aren’t aware of the practical tech and automation tools that could save time and reduce headaches, and I wanted to change that.

What have you learned about yourself since becoming an entrepreneur?

I’ve discovered that I really enjoy building something from the ground up, especially since this work truly excites me. I’ve also learned that without the built-in rhythms of an organization, I have to be intentional about focus and structure to keep things on track. My solution (unsurprisingly) has been to build an AI accountability buddy that briefs me every morning on my calendar, email, and tasks, and keeps me on track throughout the day. I solve for my clients what I've had to solve for myself.

What's your superpower in your business?

I’m bilingual in human and tech. And I know when to use each.

What's the weirdest thing on your desk right now?

A 3D-printed daily pill dispenser I've been tinkering with for over a year, sitting next to speakers on custom Def Leppard-branded risers I also designed and printed. I contain multitudes.

Share a piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you started your biz.

Be patient and be ready to put yourself out there in ways that might not feel natural.

What's your go-to celebration meal when you hit a milestone?

A Corner Slice slice.

What’s your favorite ’90s jam?

Impossible question! 93 ‘Til Infinity by Souls of Mischief because  I saw them perform it in a teeny basement at Wesleyan University in 1996. Jane Says by Jane’s Addiction because it’s perfect.

Favorite songs to listen to when working

I don’t “like” it in the traditional sense, but Brian Eno’s atmospheric, ambient music (like Music for Airports) TRULY helps me focus and get things done.