About

About Clarkston Technology

20+ years of building software. Now focused on building software that thinks.

01

The Short Version

I'm John Lee, and I've been building software professionally since 2004. Over the years, I've worn most hats—developer, architect, engineering manager, VP of Engineering, CTO.

What I've learned: the best technology disappears into the background. It just works. You don't think about it. It anticipates what you need and handles it.

That's what I build now—intelligent software that learns your patterns, adapts to your needs, and gets better over time.

What I Believe

01

Ship working software

Demos and decks don't count. The only measure that matters is whether it works.

02

Learn from users

The best systems observe, learn, and adapt. Build feedback loops into everything.

03

Simple beats clever

The right solution is usually the simplest one that works.

04

Technology serves people

If users need a manual, you've failed. Good technology is invisible.

Quick Facts

Founded
2004
Location
Atlanta, GA
Experience
20+ years
Focus
AI & Smart Home
Approach
Build, Don't Advise

Journey

2004

Founded Clarkston Technology Group

Started as an IT consulting firm in Atlanta.

2004–2020

Engineering Leadership

CTO roles, VP Engineering positions, building and scaling teams.

2020–2023

AI/ML Deep Dive

Intensive focus on machine learning and practical AI applications.

2024–Present

AI-First Development

Building intelligent software—smart home systems and AI agents.

Stack

Tech I Work With

Modern tools, battle-tested practices. The right technology for the job, not the trendiest.

01

AI/ML

  • LLMs (GPT, Claude, Llama)
  • Vector Databases
  • RAG Systems
  • Multi-Agent Architectures
02

Frontend

  • React / Next.js
  • React Native
  • TypeScript
  • Tailwind CSS
03

Backend

  • Node.js
  • Python
  • PostgreSQL
  • Redis
04

Infrastructure

  • Vercel
  • AWS
  • Docker
  • CI/CD

Let's build something

Whether you have a specific project in mind or just want to explore what's possible—I'd love to hear from you.