Better preparation for a hard conversation
Use AI to examine an assumption and draft questions before a coaching or feedback conversation. The manager still decides what to say, and still has the conversation in person.
Store managers, district managers, and retail summits
A retail leadership summit keynote for store and district managers.
A retail leadership summit succeeds when store managers and district managers leave with something they can use with their people, not a forecast about the next wave of technology. Jon Harmeling gives one keynote, Frontline AI Leadership, on practical AI for frontline managers.
Jon is the owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Miami Shores, where he leads about 90 team members from 18 countries. He is a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan.
Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop.
Send your date and audience. You'll get availability and a quote within one business day.
Audience
Who this keynote is for
- Planners of retail leadership summits, store-manager meetings, and district or regional leader gatherings.
- Store managers, assistant managers, district managers, and operator groups responsible for people on the floor.
- Retail leadership teams that want help using AI to prepare coaching, recognize work that is easy to overlook, and follow through on development.
Takeaways
What attendees leave with
The goal is a retail leader who can apply the ideas in a one-on-one, a walk of the floor, or a district visit the following week.
A wider view of who deserves recognition
The most visible sales or recovery stories are easy to praise. The keynote shows how to look at the information you already have, verify a quieter contribution, and recognize it personally.
A 30-day development plan
Identify one person whose growth you can support, prepare one important conversation, make one leadership commitment, and set a date to follow through.
After the session
Sample outcomes from the keynote
These are examples of how store and district managers apply Frontline AI Leadership. They are not claims about conversion, shrink, or labor.
- 1
Prepare a feedback conversation with an associate, then confirm the context face to face before acting on what a tool suggested.
- 2
Identify one under-recognized person on the team and thank them for a specific contribution.
- 3
Leave with a dated commitment to develop one future store leader, and a plan to check in within 30 days.
The speaker
Why a retail audience books Jon
Jon is not a futurist and does not present as a retail systems consultant. He still leads a frontline team and talks about using AI to free up time, strengthen judgment, and develop people. His credential includes leading about 90 team members from 18 countries at Chick-fil-A Miami Shores. In the preparation call, he adapts the applications to store and district leadership while keeping firsthand stories grounded in his own experience.
Send your date and audience. You'll get availability and a quote within one business day. A 30-minute preparation call and audience-specific customization are included. One 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days of the event is included in both standard paid in-person and virtual keynotes. Check availability.
Planner questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this keynote only for restaurant audiences?
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No. Frontline AI Leadership is for leaders responsible for frontline teams, including retail store and district managers. Jon adapts the applications, discussion questions, and exercises to a retail room during the preparation call. His firsthand stories remain grounded in his own operating experience.
Will district managers get something different from store managers?
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The framework is the same: Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop. For a mixed retail summit, the preparation call covers how store managers and district managers will use the exercises, so both groups leave with a 30-day plan they can keep.
Do attendees need to be technical?
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No. The emphasis is on coaching, recognition, difficult conversations, and judgment. Attendees do not need to code or understand how models are built.
How do we check availability?
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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. Use Check availability to start that conversation.
Who I speak for
Audiences that book this keynote.
Frontline AI Leadership is for leaders responsible for people. Start with the page that matches your event, or explore the keynote.
Restaurant, QSR, and fast casual conferences
A restaurant leadership conference keynote for the people who lead the shift.
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Miami and Florida keynote speaker
A Miami keynote speaker who still leads a frontline team.
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West Point leadership and AI speaker
A West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan on leading people with AI.
Read this planner page →
Bring Frontline AI Leadership to your event.
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