For Lake Forest resident John Black, building a career has always been about more than just technology. It has been about people, leadership, and bringing big ideas to life in meaningful ways.

As a senior project manager with more than 15 years of experience, John has led enterprise technology and business transformation initiatives across the healthcare, gaming, and insurance industries. A certified Project Management Professional and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, he has built a reputation for helping organizations navigate complex change while delivering large-scale programs, acquisitions, infrastructure modernization efforts, and AI-driven solutions. Today, he continues that work with Churchill Downs Incorporated, partnering with executive leaders and cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact strategic programs.

Now, John is adding “author” to his list of accomplishments with the release of his new book, Beyond the Hype: Delivering AI in the Real World: A Practical Playbook for Project Managers, published in June 2026.

The inspiration for the book came from a gap he saw firsthand. “Everywhere I looked, people were talking about what AI could do,” John shares. “Very few people were talking about what it actually takes to deliver an AI initiative inside a real organization. I wanted to write the book I wish I had at the beginning of my own journey.”

Drawing from his extensive experience, the book focuses on the real-world challenges organizations face when implementing artificial intelligence. Rather than diving into technical theory, John offers practical guidance on selecting the right use cases, preparing organizations and data, aligning stakeholders, managing partners, leading teams through uncertainty, and driving adoption long after launch.

At its core, the message is simple but powerful. “Successful transformation is not about having the newest technology,” he explains. “It is about people, leadership, communication, and execution. Those are the things that ultimately determine success.”

For John, becoming a published author is a milestone he is especially proud of. But just as meaningful is the life he has built at home. He recently married his wife, Angela, and together they have created a blended family with four children.

Outside of work, John enjoys investing in the community through mentoring, coaching youth sports, and serving at Southeast Christian Church’s Blankenbaker Campus. Whether in his professional life or personal life, his approach remains the same: lead with integrity, stay focused on purpose, and help others succeed.

“Technology may start the conversation,” John says, “but people, leadership, and execution determine whether transformation actually succeeds. That is the story I wanted to tell in Beyond the Hype.”

Available now: Beyond the Hype: Delivering AI in the Real World: A Practical Playbook for Project Managers by John N. Black is available on Amazon.