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The Person Behind the Consulting

About Jerry

Jerry Prochazka is an AI consultant based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, helping small businesses in the Las Cruces and El Paso region use AI tools to save time, reduce costs, and serve customers better. He is the founder of Strategy & The Machine, and previously founded and led Ganymede Games (Techstars Boulder 2022) through 2025. Earlier he served as Head of People at Riot Games during its growth from 450 to 2,200 employees, Chief HR Officer and Head of Third-Party Publishing at Wargaming, and Senior Manager at Accenture. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic, the University of Chicago, and Old Dominion University, and completed Stanford GSB's Leading Change and Organizational Renewal executive program. Before his corporate career he served twelve years in the U.S. Navy, from 1988 to 2000, as a nuclear engineer and surface warfare specialist and a plankowner of USS George Washington (CVN-73) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Strategy & The Machine is owned in equal shares by Jerry Prochazka and Jordan Kahn.

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Jerry Prochazka, AI consultant based in Las Cruces, New Mexico

I'm Jerry Prochazka, an AI consultant based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I founded and ran Ganymede Games through 2025, and before that I was Head of People at Riot Games. My career has taken me from the engine rooms of U.S. Navy nuclear vessels to the executive floors of some of the world's most recognized tech and gaming companies.

At Riot Games, I helped build the people and culture foundation behind League of Legends during its explosive growth years: scaling the organization from 450 to over 2,200, maintaining 95% global employee engagement, and earning back-to-back spots on Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. From there, I took on a global CHRO role at Wargaming in Cyprus, then came back to the U.S. to found my own game studio, Ganymede Games, right here in Las Cruces.

Running a startup through Techstars Boulder, shipping a title to Steam, and closing a strategic partnership with Amazon Gaming has given me a ground-level perspective on what AI tools actually do in a working organization, not in a pitch deck. That's what I bring to the businesses I advise.

Outside of client work, I serve on the board of Film Las Cruces and stay involved in the local business and startup community. This city has given me a lot, and I try to give some of it back.

What I Believe

Practical over flashy

I've watched AI hype cycles come and go. I'm not interested in the demo. I'm interested in whether the tool actually saves you time and stress six months from now. If it won't, I'll tell you.

Small businesses deserve serious advice

I spent years advising Fortune 500 companies and scaling global teams. The same quality of strategic thinking applies here in Las Cruces. The businesses are just more interesting.

Culture and community are strategy

At Riot Games I learned that values aren't a poster on the wall. They're operational. I bring that same belief to how I work with clients and how I show up in this community.

Honest about what I know and what I don't

Executive work since 2001 has taught me that the most valuable thing an advisor can do is tell you the truth, including when the answer is 'this isn't the right move for you right now.'

Career Background

Founder & CEO

December 2025 – Present

Strategy & The Machine

AI consulting for small businesses in Las Cruces and El Paso

Founder & CEO

2019 – 2025

Ganymede Games

Techstars Boulder 2022 · Amazon Gaming partnership 2025

Chief Human Resources Officer & Head of Third-Party Publishing

2015 – 2018

Wargaming

Nicosia, Cyprus · 14 global locations

Head of People

2012 – 2015

Riot Games

Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work For" 2014 & 2015

Director, Research & Advisory Services

2010 – 2012

Mediatec Publishing

Chicago, IL

Consultant / Senior Manager

2001 – 2010

Accenture

Fortune 500 clients · HRIS, people strategy, org effectiveness

Nuclear Engineer – Electrical Power Distribution

1988 – 2000

United States Navy

Graduate, Naval Nuclear Power Training Command

Education & Credentials

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)

Professional certification

CRCC

Effective August 2026

MS, Rehabilitation Counseling

University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic

Conferred 2026

Leading Change & Organizational Renewal

Executive Program (non-degree)

Stanford University GSB

2016

MA, Social Sciences

University of Chicago

2002

BS, Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Old Dominion University

2000

Want to work together, or just connect?