Featured on How I AI Podcastwith Claire Vo

John
Blackman

From earning $1.55 an hour as a blueprint operator in 1955 to building sophisticated AI applications at 91, John's seven-decade career reflects a simple philosophy: keep learning, stay curious, and find ways to serve others.

John Blackman sitting outdoors with his dog, showing his approachable and friendly personality
"In 2 days, the program was basically completed. I spent about 3 weeks debugging and adding features. Sometimes the best solutions come from understanding exactly what people need."

The Journey

1955–1965

The Foundation

John started at Kansas City Power & Light on March 7, 1955, earning $1.55 per hour as a Blueprint Machine Operator. He progressed from tracer to draftsman, creating ink drawings on cloth, eventually moving into the Planning Design Engineering Department.

By 1972, he was a System Construction Designer, trading his slide rule for one of the new Texas Instruments calculators— an early sign of his willingness to embrace new technology.

1978–1984

Expanding Horizons

In 1978, John earned his private pilot's license. A year later, he left KCPL to own a wholesale hardware company in Enid, Oklahoma, where he encountered his first Radio Shack computer. He then attended Spartan School of Aeronautics, graduating as an Avionics Technician in 1980.

After working as an Avionics Wiring Diagram Designer at King Radio Company, he returned to KCPL in 1984, bringing with him a broader perspective on technology and systems.

1987–1995

The CAD Revolution

John took courses in MicroCAD and AutoCAD Version 9 at Johnson County Community College. In 1989, he helped implement KCPL's overhead and underground design system using AutoCAD with IntelliCAD, writing computer code to ensure compatibility with existing KCPL symbolism.

When he retired from KCPL in 1994, he continued working with IntelliCAD to complete the system, then started his own Planning, Engineering and Technical Services group, contracting back to KCPL for design work.

2006–2018

Major Projects

John worked on significant infrastructure projects: redesigning the power system in downtown Kansas City for the Sprint Arena, upgrading electrical systems in St. Louis through "Power On" projects, and designing the attachment of Google Fiber to KCPL's pole system.

He finally retired for real in November 2018, ending a career that spanned the transition from hand-drawn blueprints to digital design systems.

2022–Present

Service & Innovation

At 87, John began attending Impact Events at The Well Church in Sidney, Nebraska—community service events providing free services like oil changes, eye clinics, and food pantries. He has since participated in 23 Impact Events across Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia, with 7 more planned this year.

When his grandson Brett introduced him to AI in 2024, John saw an opportunity to solve a real problem: managing the complex logistics of these community service events.

Get in touch

The Church Impact Event Tracker

Built in just two days using Claude, ChatGPT, and Replit, then refined over three weeks, this multi-tenant application manages the complex logistics of community service events across multiple states. It demonstrates how AI can solve real organizational challenges with elegant, practical solutions.

System Architecture

  • • Multi-tenant design with System and Local Administration levels
  • • Automated user approval and email notifications
  • • QR code integration for pre-event registration
  • • Unique ID systems for participants, events, and administrators
  • • Comprehensive waiver management and archival

Event Management Features

  • • Pre-event registration via QR codes on neighborhood flyers
  • • VIN lookup system for oil change supply lists
  • • Automated food pantry ordering spreadsheets
  • • Individual passport printing for participants
  • • Eye clinic participant tracking
  • • Comprehensive reporting and analytics

How It Works

Community members scan QR codes on flyers to pre-register for services. For oil changes, they enter their VIN number, and the system automatically determines the correct oil type and filter needed. On event day, individual "passports" are printed showing which services each participant selected.

The system generates shopping lists for volunteers, manages food pantry orders, tracks eye clinic appointments, and archives all liability waivers—turning a complex multi-service event into a streamlined operation.

"We use a VIN system to find the oil and filter needed for each oil change. Each participant, administrator, and event has a unique ID number. It's all about making sure nothing falls through the cracks."

Community Impact

23 Events and Counting

Since 2022, John has participated in Impact Events across seven states, providing free services to communities in need. These events offer oil changes, eye exams, food pantries, and other essential services to anyone who needs them.

His application now manages the logistics for these complex multi-service events, ensuring smooth operations and better service delivery to community members.

States Served

• Kentucky
• Missouri
• Kansas
• Oregon
• Texas
• North Carolina
• Georgia
• Nebraska

7 more events planned for the remainder of this year

John and Shirley Blackman in a formal portrait from 2013

In Memory of Shirley

John’s journey was strengthened by the faithful partnership of his wife, Shirley, who went to be with the Lord in 2021. She lived with a quiet strength rooted in Christ—marked by steadfast prayer, servant-hearted hospitality, and love for her family. Through every chapter of John’s calling—whether in engineering, small business, or aviation—Shirley’s support was steady and sacrificial, reflecting the love of Jesus in everyday ways.

"She was an honorable vessel—set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, and ready for every good work. Her prayers echo through generations, and her love continues in every act of service."

Connect

John enjoys discussing technology evolution, sharing experiences from different eras of engineering, and demonstrating how AI can solve practical problems. He's happy to talk about career transitions, community service, or show how the Church Impact Event Tracker works in real-world scenarios.

Great topics for conversation:

  • • Seven decades of technology evolution
  • • Building AI applications for community service
  • • Career transitions and lifelong learning
  • • Impact Events and community outreach
  • • From blueprint machines to AI development

Send a message

Website

johnbeng.com

John Blackman Engineer