Naperville AI Enthusiasts Meeting - July 20, 2026
I recently joined the Naperville AI Enthusiasts Meetup, led by James ("Jim") Harmon. The concept is refreshingly simple: bring together a few presenters and a room full of people who are genuinely interested in learning, sharing ideas, and discussing their experiences with AI. Each meeting typically features two or three presentations, along with plenty of time before and afterward for informal conversations and networking. Those discussions are often just as valuable as the presentations themselves.
One of the things I appreciate most is the diversity of the group. You'll find experienced software engineers, data scientists, entrepreneurs, and AI practitioners alongside people with little or no technical background who are simply curious and eager to learn. That mix creates an environment where everyone can contribute. One of the most impressive demonstrations I've seen was from a self-taught salesperson who built an outstanding user interfaces leveraging AI tools —proof that innovation isn't limited to traditional technical roles.
Jim is a genuinely kind and welcoming host. He has a natural ability to bring people together, keep discussions engaging, and make newcomers feel comfortable. His leadership has created a community where people are excited to share what they're building and to learn from one another.
If you're interested in AI—whether you're an experienced developer, a business professional exploring new possibilities, or simply curious about where the technology is headed—I highly recommend attending.
The next meeting is:
Agenda
5:30 PM Doors open
6:00 PM Talks begin
7:30 PM Open Lab
Product managers no longer have to wait on an engineering sprint to see an idea come to life. Ken Louise shows how he uses Claude to turn a rough concept into a clickable, working prototype in a single sitting — drafting the UI, generating an interactive mockup, and iterating on it live. Bring an idea; you'll leave knowing how to build the first version of it yourself.
What does AI look like away from the desk? John Hansen opens ChatGPT's voice mode when he walks onto a job site — capturing observations, working through problems hands-free, and turning field notes into finished writing. He'll share that workflow plus the sharpest lessons from publishing 140+ AI articles in a single year. If your work happens anywhere other than a keyboard, this one's for you.
Live demo: James builds a LinkedIn post generator skill from scratch in Claude Code, writes a Python validator to check the output, and then watches Claude quietly break a rule — caught only by the script, not the human eye.
One of the things I appreciate most is the diversity of the group. You'll find experienced software engineers, data scientists, entrepreneurs, and AI practitioners alongside people with little or no technical background who are simply curious and eager to learn. That mix creates an environment where everyone can contribute. One of the most impressive demonstrations I've seen was from a self-taught salesperson who built an outstanding user interfaces leveraging AI tools —proof that innovation isn't limited to traditional technical roles.
Jim is a genuinely kind and welcoming host. He has a natural ability to bring people together, keep discussions engaging, and make newcomers feel comfortable. His leadership has created a community where people are excited to share what they're building and to learn from one another.
If you're interested in AI—whether you're an experienced developer, a business professional exploring new possibilities, or simply curious about where the technology is headed—I highly recommend attending.
The next meeting is:
**Monday, July 20, 2026**
**Northern Illinois University – Naperville Campus**
**1120 E. Diehl Road, Room 119, Naperville, IL 60563**
Agenda
5:30 PM Doors open
6:00 PM Talks begin
7:30 PM Open Lab
From PRD to Prototype: Designing Products with Claude
Ken LouiseProduct managers no longer have to wait on an engineering sprint to see an idea come to life. Ken Louise shows how he uses Claude to turn a rough concept into a clickable, working prototype in a single sitting — drafting the UI, generating an interactive mockup, and iterating on it live. Bring an idea; you'll leave knowing how to build the first version of it yourself.
AI in the Field: ChatGPT Voice on the Job Site
John HansenWhat does AI look like away from the desk? John Hansen opens ChatGPT's voice mode when he walks onto a job site — capturing observations, working through problems hands-free, and turning field notes into finished writing. He'll share that workflow plus the sharpest lessons from publishing 140+ AI articles in a single year. If your work happens anywhere other than a keyboard, this one's for you.
Claude Skills: Build Once, Run Reliably Every Time
James HarmonLive demo: James builds a LinkedIn post generator skill from scratch in Claude Code, writes a Python validator to check the output, and then watches Claude quietly break a rule — caught only by the script, not the human eye.
Click here to read more about the Naperville AI Enthusiasts.