# Strategy & The Machine

> Strategy & The Machine is an AI consulting practice based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, serving small businesses across the Las Cruces and El Paso region. Founded and operated by Jerry Prochazka. The practice focuses on practical AI implementation for independently owned businesses. Services are available in English and Spanish.

The tagline is "AI Strategy for Main Street." The approach is practical, jargon-free, and outcome-focused. No enterprise contracts. No six-figure budgets. No consultants who disappear after the invoice clears.

## About Jerry Prochazka

Jerry is the sole consultant. Background:

- Former Head of People at Riot Games (2012 to 2015), where the company twice landed on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For (2014, 2015).
- Former Chief HR Officer and Head of Third-Party Publishing at Wargaming (2015 to 2018), where he shipped Total War: Arena.
- Founder of Ganymede Games (now closed), which shipped Dark Sky to Steam in October 2024 and signed a partnership with Amazon Gaming in February 2025. Techstars Boulder 2022 graduate.
- US Navy Nuclear Engineer and Surface Warfare Specialist. Plankowner of USS George Washington (CVN-73) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). 12 years active duty, exited September 2000.
- Stanford GSB Executive Program (2016). MA Social Sciences, University of Chicago (2002). BS I/O Psychology, Old Dominion University (2000). MS Rehabilitation Counseling, UW-Stout (in progress).
- Resident of Las Cruces, NM. Married. Speaks at Ingenuity Venture Fund, Reboot Dev, The Conference Board, NAAAHR.

The full bio lives at https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/about.

## What we do

Most clients start with an AI Readiness Assessment and go from there. Nothing is packaged. Nothing is one-size-fits-all.

### AI Readiness Assessment

An in-depth conversation about your current workflows, followed by a written summary of where AI can realistically save you time or money, and where it isn't worth the effort. Includes:

- In-depth conversation about your current workflows
- Written summary of recommended tools and why they fit
- Honest assessment of what's a poor fit
- No upsell pressure. The assessment stands alone as a deliverable.

### AI Tool Selection & Setup

Once we know where AI can help, Jerry identifies the right tools, handles the setup, and confirms they're working before handoff. Includes:

- Research and shortlist of options that fit your budget
- Full configuration and integration with your existing systems
- Documentation written for your team, not for engineers
- Follow-up check-in after 30 days

Most setups take 2 to 4 weeks from assessment to handoff. Timeline depends on the complexity of your existing systems and how many workflows we're improving at once.

### Team Training & Workshops

A tool only helps if your team uses it. Workshops are practical, hands-on, and customized to your specific tools and industry. In-person or remote. Includes:

- Half-day or full-day workshop formats
- Customized to your specific tools and industry
- Hands-on practice, not slides
- Follow-up Q&A session

### Ongoing Advisory

For clients who want a steady hand month-to-month. Includes:

- Two strategy sessions per month, video or in-person
- Async support for quick questions between sessions
- Priority access when something urgent breaks
- Quarterly review of tools and ROI

### One-time and add-on services

- **Website AI Integration:** chatbot, review responder, or booking assistant added to an existing site. Priced per project.
- **Bilingual Content Package:** AI-assisted social media, email templates, and website copy in English and Spanish, built for the Las Cruces and El Paso market.
- **Staff Training Workshop:** focused half-day session on a specific AI tool or workflow you already use.

## Who we work with

Independently owned small businesses in the Las Cruces and El Paso region. Industries currently served:

- **Healthcare and medical:** dentists, chiropractors, urgent care, physical therapy. Reduce no-shows, handle after-hours inquiries, capture more potential patients.
- **Professional services:** lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, financial advisors. Spend time on billable work, not on admin and unqualified leads.
- **Restaurants and food service:** fill more tables with less effort. Manage online reviews, keep social active, handle reservations without tying up staff.
- **Local retail:** consistent marketing, better customer follow-up, more time on the in-store experience.
- **Trades and contractors:** HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping. Capture more leads during peak season, tighten scheduling, automate the follow-ups that slip through the cracks.
- **Auto services:** repair shops, detailing, tire shops. Stop losing customers to booking chaos and missed follow-ups.
- **Nonprofits:** grant writing, donor communications, volunteer coordination. Reduced rates available where Jerry can offer them.

If your industry isn't listed, reach out anyway. The list isn't exhaustive.

## How an engagement works

1. **Discovery.** Free 30-minute conversation about your business. No tech talk. The biggest time drains, the workflows, where you feel like you're falling behind. Jerry listens more than he talks.
2. **Recommendation.** Plain-English report: what AI can realistically do for your business, what it'll cost, what to ignore. No upselling.
3. **Implementation.** Jerry sets it up, trains your team, and stays on to confirm it's working. You don't need a tech department.

Book the free 30-minute call at https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/contact.

## Real results

These are realistic hypothetical case studies based on typical outcomes for small businesses in this region.

### A local Las Cruces restaurant (family Mexican, 12 employees)

- **Problem:** owner spending 3 to 4 hours weekly on review responses, no system for catering lead follow-up, no visibility into underperforming menu items.
- **What we did:** AI-assisted review response system, sales tracking dashboard, automated catering lead follow-up sequence.
- **Results:** 3+ hours per week recovered. Catering bookings up 40% in 90 days. Eliminated $400/month marketing assistant cost. First-year ROI ~$8,200.

### A local outdoor retail shop (sporting goods, 6 employees)

- **Problem:** over-ordering slow inventory, stockouts on fast movers, customer emails piling up, no profit visibility.
- **What we did:** AI inventory forecasting, automated customer service assistant for common questions, profit-margin dashboard.
- **Results:** overstock down 30%, freeing $12,000 in working capital. 8 hours/week saved on email. Stockouts eliminated on top 20 products. First-year ROI ~$18,500.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does an AI readiness assessment include?

An in-depth conversation about your current workflows, a written summary of recommended tools and why they fit, an honest assessment of where AI isn't worth the effort, and no upsell pressure. It stands alone as a deliverable.

### Do you work with businesses outside Las Cruces?

The primary focus is independently owned businesses in the Las Cruces and El Paso region. Jerry also works with clients remotely via video call when the fit is right.

### How much does AI consulting cost?

Pricing varies by service and scope. Most clients start with an AI Readiness Assessment, then move to tool setup and training as needed. Everything is scoped individually. Nothing is packaged. The 30-minute introductory call is free, so you can ask before committing.

### What kinds of businesses do you typically work with?

Independently owned small businesses across healthcare, professional services, restaurants, retail, trades, auto services, and nonprofits in the Las Cruces and El Paso area.

### How long does it take to get AI tools running in my business?

Most setups take 2 to 4 weeks from assessment to handoff. Timeline depends on the complexity of your existing systems and how many workflows we're improving.

### Can you work in Spanish?

Yes. Services are available in English and Spanish. The bilingual content package is built specifically for the Las Cruces and El Paso bilingual market.

### What AI tools do you actually use with clients?

The toolkit depends on the use case, but commonly recommended tools include Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, MidJourney, Buffer for social scheduling, and Feedly Pro+ for content curation. Tool selection always follows the workflow, never the other way around.

### Do I need to be technical to work with you?

No. The whole practice is built for non-technical owners. Jerry isn't a coder either. He directs AI tools the same way he asks his clients to.

### What's the difference between you and a generic AI agency?

Two things. First, Jerry lives in Las Cruces and knows the businesses here. Second, the engagement is bounded. The Readiness Assessment stands alone as a deliverable, so you can stop after step one if that's all you need.

### How do I know if my business is "ready" for AI?

If you're losing time, customers, or money on problems that already have AI solutions, you're ready. The Readiness Assessment exists to answer this question without you having to commit to anything else.

### Can you work with my existing software stack?

Usually yes. AI tools today integrate with most common SMB stacks (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Square, Toast, QuickBooks, HubSpot). The setup phase includes integration work.

### Do you offer remote-only engagements?

Yes. Video-call discovery, video-call training, and async support all work. In-person is preferred for clients in Las Cruces and El Paso, but it's optional.

### Do you sign NDAs?

Yes. Standard mutual NDAs are fine. Bring your own template or Jerry can provide one.

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/): overview, why AI matters for small businesses, how the engagement works, case study highlights.
- [About Jerry Prochazka](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/about): full bio, career timeline, consulting philosophy.
- [AI Consulting Services](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/consulting): detailed service descriptions, industries served, case studies with ROI projections, FAQ.
- [Contact](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/contact): contact form. Free 30-minute introductory call available.
- [Board Games](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/board-games): Jerry's board game collection and the Picacho Mountain Gaming group in Las Cruces.
- [Blog](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog): articles on AI for small businesses, prompt engineering, strategy, and technology trends.

## Recent blog posts

- [Five AI Ideas That Should Keep Every Business Owner Up at Night](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/five-ai-ideas-that-should-keep-every-business-owner-up-at-night)
- [What We Just Learned About How AI Actually Thinks (And Why It Matters for Your Business)](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/what-we-just-learned-about-how-ai-actually-thinks-and-why-it-matters-for-your-business)
- [Your Software Vendors Are About to Make a Big Decision](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/your-software-vendors-are-about-to-make-a-big-decision-heres-what-it-means-for-you)
- [Claude AI Explained: Understanding Claude, Claude.ai, Artifacts, and Projects](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/claude-ai-explained-understanding-claude-claudeai-artifacts-and-projects)
- [Why Your AI Prompts Keep Failing: The Four Disciplines Nobody Talks About](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/why-your-ai-prompts-keep-failing-the-four-disciplines-nobody-talks-about)
- [The AI Skill Everyone Talks About Is Already Outdated](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/the-ai-skill-everyone-talks-about-is-already-outdated)
- [Your Business Doesn't Need AI -- It Needs These Problems Solved](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/why-your-business-needs-ai-consulting)
- [5 AI Tools That Actually Help Small Businesses in Las Cruces](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/ai-tools-for-small-business)
- [Why I Think Strategy Games Make You a Better Business Thinker](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/why-strategy-games-matter)
- [Getting Started with AI When You're Not a Tech Person](https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/blog/getting-started-with-ai)

## Related properties

- [vVv Gaming](https://www.vvv-gaming.com/): community Jerry founded in 2007. First LGBTQ+-founded esports organization. Now a values-driven adult community focused on growth and casual gaming.
- [Picacho Mountain Gaming](https://www.lascrucestabletopgaming.com/): weekly board game and TTRPG groups Jerry hosts in Las Cruces.
- [Las Cruces Room Rental](https://www.lascrucesroomrental.com/): two rental units at Jerry and Jordan's Picacho Mountain home.

## Service area

Primary: Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. Remote engagements considered for clients outside the region when there's good fit.

## Contact

- Website: https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/
- Contact form: https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/contact
- Owner identity (canonical Person node, used as `@id` across all four Jerry-owned sites): https://www.strategyandthemachine.com/#jerry