Real questions. Real answers.

Jon Harmeling is a current Chick-fil-A Operator in Miami Shores, Florida, a West Point graduate and former West Point systems engineering instructor, and an Army veteran with an MBA and a PMP. He gives one keynote, Frontline AI Leadership, and his book of the same name launches October 27, 2026.

Yes. Jon currently operates Chick-fil-A Miami Shores.

$15,000 plus travel in person; $7,500 virtual. Both are for up to 60 minutes total, including Q&A, and include a 30-minute preparation call and one 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days.

Yes. Frontline AI Leadership: How to Use AI to Free Up Time, Strengthen Judgment, and Develop People launches October 27, 2026. 100% of net proceeds from every book sale go to the team members Jon leads.

Signed paperback preorders are available at jonharmeling.com/book/ for $16.99 per copy, shipping to U.S. addresses only. For 6 or more copies, email jon@jonharmeling.com for a quote.

Leaders responsible for frontline teams, including hospitality, retail, restaurant, and franchise audiences. It is especially relevant to managers and operators who want to use AI to prepare better conversations, recognize contributions, and follow through on employee development.

No. The session uses everyday operating examples and a simple framework: Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop. During our preparation call, we discuss what your audience already uses so the examples meet them at the right level.

The emphasis is on coaching, recognition, difficult conversations, and leadership judgment. Attendees do not need to code or understand how AI models are built. We use practical questions and everyday leadership situations to make the applications accessible.

A way to prepare a coaching conversation, examine an assumption before giving feedback, and recognize a specific contribution. Participants build a practical 30-day plan. Identify one person whose growth you can support, prepare one important conversation, make one leadership commitment, and set a date to follow through.

For hospitality, we can focus on coaching around verified guest feedback, recognizing quiet contributions, and supporting a team member across busy shifts. For retail, we can focus on associate development, difficult feedback, and preparing future store leaders. My firsthand stories come from my restaurant; we choose relevant applications together during preparation.

The goals and coaching practice draws on my published account of using AI to track individual goals and notice overlooked people. A separate field note describes a specific recognition action I took. I track employee goals, progress, and accomplishments in an internal goals database. Published interviews let you hear my account, and the Chadwell keynote case provides client feedback on my stage delivery. A separate Google Ads case documents supporting operating evidence, and a field note lists the 10 AI systems running in my restaurant and the rule they all follow: every system drafts, and a human decides.

Yes. The free Frontline AI Leadership Field Guide at jonharmeling.com/prompts/ gives every attendee copy-ready AI prompts for shift handoffs, coaching, recognition, guest recovery, and decisions, plus the Frontline AI Data Rule and a chapter-by-chapter companion to the book. A printable version and one-page Shift Card are available on the page.

Listen to the Franchise Secrets and QSR Uncut interviews for a discussion of AI in the operation, and read the Chadwell case and reviews for client feedback on Jon's stage delivery at the Chadwell Supply ONE Conference. The media page links to original publishers and the Chadwell conference agenda. Interviews and client feedback are different kinds of evidence; they are not presented as an AI-keynote stage reel. A fit conversation lets us discuss your audience and the session you need.

Most clients book 60-180 days out. I have done bookings as tight as 14 days when the calendar allows. Just ask.

Jon responds within one business day with availability and a fit assessment. A 20-minute fit conversation to discuss your audience, date, format, and goals. A proposal follows within 48 hours after the fit conversation and receipt of the event details needed to confirm scope. The proposal confirms the format, fees, travel, follow-up, and payment terms before you commit.

Yes. I work directly with planners and through a select group of speaker bureaus. If you have a bureau relationship you prefer, send me their contact and I will work with them.

I limit bookings to roughly 30 events per year. This is intentional. Every audience gets a keynote customized for them, and I stay accessible through the event.

Cancellation and rescheduling terms are confirmed in your written proposal and agreement before you book.

A 30-minute preparation call and audience-specific customization are included. We adapt the examples, audience exercises, and Q&A to your event while keeping firsthand stories grounded in Jon's own experience.

I focus on one keynote, Frontline AI Leadership, and customize the examples, exercises, and Q&A for every audience at no extra cost. I don't write entirely new talks.

Yes. My firsthand stories remain grounded in my operating experience. We adapt the applications, discussion questions, and audience exercises to your industry during the preparation call.

Yes. Send me 5-10 questions from your audience one week before the event and I will weave answers into the keynote.

Up to 60 minutes total, including Q&A as agreed. We confirm the presentation and Q&A split during planning. For more time, the 90-minute leadership team session is $10,000, and the half-day workshop is $5,000 added to a keynote or $10,000 on its own.

Yes. The virtual keynote is $7,500 for up to 60 minutes including Q&A. A 30-minute preparation call and audience-specific customization are included. One 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days is also included. The session is delivered from a professional studio setup; there is no travel charge.

One 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days of the event is included in both standard paid in-person and virtual keynotes. One shared Q&A or application discussion with your audience or leadership team, scheduled together. This is not ongoing or individual coaching. The follow-up is separate from the keynote's presentation and Q&A time.

Lavalier mic preferred, with a handheld backup if available. A confidence monitor is preferred but not required. HDMI input to my laptop is fine. I bring my own clicker.

Tell me how you plan to use the recording. Recording permissions, distribution, and any related fees are confirmed in your written proposal and agreement.

Yes. Frontline AI Leadership releases October 27, 2026. Attendee books are optional and priced separately. Quantity, availability, delivery timing, and shipping are confirmed for your event.

The keynote is $15,000 plus travel in person or $7,500 virtual, for up to 60 minutes total including Q&A as agreed. Both include a 30-minute preparation call, audience-specific customization, and one 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days. The half-day workshop is $5,000 added to a keynote or $10,000 on its own, and the 90-minute leadership team session is $10,000. South Florida events have no travel fee. Attendee books are separate.

Two or more paid events booked together qualify for the existing 15% multi-engagement package rate. The included 30-minute follow-up is part of one keynote engagement, not a second paid event. Other scope and travel are confirmed in the written proposal.

No. The proposal identifies the keynote fee, travel, and any additional scope before booking. In-person travel is quoted separately and reconciled to actuals without markup; South Florida events have no travel fee. Recording reuse and books are separately agreed when requested.

Your deposit and final-payment dates are confirmed in your written proposal and agreement before you book.

We can discuss a suitable format or scope, the published multi-engagement package rate, or a limited mission-based reduced-fee engagement. Mission slots and association arrangements have their own agreed scope and inclusions. The final proposal makes any exception explicit rather than presenting it as the standard paid package.