Where are they now?: Dustin Gannon (Class of 2001)
Q: Current occupation
A: AI Inciter for Nvidia and ServiceNow
Q: What post high school education did you pursue?
A: Purely certifications in AI and Computer Technology from MIT, Berkeley and WGU
Q: Describe your career path and current occupation
A: I started out almost following the conventional advice—borrowing $250,000 for college—but thankfully chose a different route. I dove into video game development and learned real-world tech skills directly from engineers. That foundation opened the door to a software development role at a banking software company.
From there, I pivoted into technical sales at an insurance software company, more than doubling my compensation. That success led to a role at Salesforce, where I helped lead the expansion of Industry Cloud solutions—tripling my previous package.
I then joined ServiceNow, drawn by the opportunity to shape their industry strategy. The role offered another significant increase in compensation, this time in equity. At ServiceNow, I helped design and build industry-specific digital workflows.
Today, I lead AI agent development for ServiceNow and Nvidia—two of the most strategically aligned companies in tech putting AI to Work for People. This work sits at the forefront of enterprise AI, in the most transformative era in either company’s history.
Q: What JHS experience(s) helped prepare you for your future career?
A: Had a rock star computer science teacher.... Who was awesome, but also taught me when and how to break the rules to win.
Q: Do you have a favorite high school memory you would like to share?
A: Got attacked by a bear with Mr Munson in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the rest of the football team.
Installed quack and had a school wide lan party for 3 months without teachers knowing it.
The camaraderie and teamwork of football, basketball, and baseball.
Q: How did attending JHS help form the person you are today?
A: Small towns teach people to be good. They also allow you to walk in many circles and not just be in one click.
Using these skills allows me to be the kind of person who is welcome in any circle. And helping people of all walks of life is where the big $$$ are at.
Q: What are you most proud of achieving since leaving JHS?
A: Having an awesome set of kids and the freedom of setting sail to an unknown adventure.
Q: What were you passionate about in high school?
A: Computer science and video games.
Q: What are you passionate about now?
A: AI, financial sovereignty, escaping the matrix of the collapsing American empire by being a global citizen and not stuck in one countries rules.
Q: What obstacle(s) have you faced that have helped mold you into the person you are today?
A: Society more then ever is designed to get young people to sell their potential for someone else's cause.
Anyone who is telling you something, is selling their vision and dream. Bring serious skeptical reasoning to anyone asking you to sacrifice your mission for their gain in any way.
Q: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your high school self?
A: Make sure you filter HARD and cut out people, governments, belief systems, religions and other things that don't have your personal well being as the most important thing. You have to win so the people you care about can ride with you. And that is a morally and most honorable life worth having.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Retired rotating between sailing the world and traveling in Latin America and emerging markets doing business with my best friends in interesting places.
