Emerson Sklar is the Chief Evangelist of Amazon Alexa, where he helps enterprises and developers around the globe realize the benefits that conversational AI can bring to their customers. He is a recognized thought leader, public speaker, and recipient of the 2022 AI Excellence Award. He has spent his whole career helping companies improve their apps, devices, and experiences with a user-centric focus on quality. Before Amazon, Emerson worked at Applause, Bespoken, Borland, and the Army Research Lab. Outside of work, Emerson can be found volunteering for Scouting America, relaxing with his family and flat-coated retrievers, and making unnecessarily complex meals.