CCSC Central Plains 2025

AI Engineering: Lessons from the Frontlines

John Emmons

Conference Banquet on  Fri, 18:00 ! Livein  Shivers
From self-driving cars to generative AI, John Emmons (Drake Graduate, 2016) shares the career decisions that took him from the Midwest to Silicon Valley—then back again—and the lessons learned along the way. Drawing from his experience leading high-pressure AI projects at Tesla Autopilot and Salesforce AI, he provides insights into how real-world AI systems are built, the skills that matter most in the industry, and practical advice for those looking to break into the field from the perspective of an AI engineering manager.

 Overview  Program