Hello. I'm Jake.
People call me The Community Guy.
I help organizations navigate AI business transformation by designing deep, growth-oriented relationships with customers, communities, and intelligent AI systems.
Here's how I do it...
AI Experience Design (AIX)
AIX is the practice of designing relationships between humans and intelligent AI systems. In my work, I use AIX to help companies create AI experiences that feel human, build trust, and support real customer engagement.
AIX designs how humans relate to intelligent systems
Community Driven Product Development
I help companies integrate passionate users and engaged communities directly into the product development process, to create better products, deeper trust, stronger loyalty, and a shared sense of ownership that drives long-term business growth.
Community Driven Product Development (CDPD) invites customers into the product development process
Customer Engagement
Programs
Direct customer engagement creates meaningful, ongoing relationships that make customers and communities feel valued and involved. I help companies design engagement strategies where customers actively participate, contribute, and connect with the brands they love to help grow your business.
Customer engagement ensures people feel connected to the brand they love and value
HOW I BUILD MY OWN COMMUNITY.
AIXperience Sessions is a comfortable, casual virtual gathering I host once a month at no charge for senior-level community professionals across the country. I designed it as a free, small group, no-sales event where people can relax, relate and get real about the challenges and rewards of customer communities.
I help companies create deeper connections and more rewarding relationships with their most passionate and loyal customers through the power of online and offline customer communities.
One Day
Engagement Sprint
Intensive, hands-on workshop designed to help teams rapidly align on customer engagement, AIX, and community strategies that drive real business impact. In about 6 hours, we identify 3 key opportunities, prioritize actions, and create a practical plan to execute within 90 days.
Community Driven Product Development Program Design
A tailored program that brings passionate customers into the heart of product development, complete with clear ways for them to contribute and stay engaged, structured feedback loops, and pre- and post-launch advocacy building.
Customer Engagement Strategy
Growth Through Engagement
My weekly newsletter for people who care about building better relationships…with customers, communities, and intelligent AI systems.
I share real-world strategies, stories from the field, and practical frameworks for turning engagement into loyalty, trust, and product innovation.
If you’re navigating customer experience, community building, or AI transformation—this one’s for you.
Hi! I’m Jake McKee, the original Community Guy. Going all the way back to 1996, I’ve played an instrumental role in building customer engagement programs, online communities, and product development activities for some of the world’s most successful and recognizable brands, including LEGO, Apple, EA Games, Southwest Airlines, Canon, and H&R Block.
I consult with organizations of all sizes to help solve community and business challenges of all kinds. I’ve co-authored books on social media and community strategy, and spoken to and run workshops for audiences of business professionals countless times. I created AIXperience Sessions, a community project that connects senior-level professionals interested in how AI Experience Design impacts their businesses, careers, and lives. Every month a unique group of 5 professionals meetup virtually for conversation, connection, and camaraderie. As if that’s not enough community nerdery, I also created a web comic about community management, Confessions of a Community Manager.
