Joel Rees
Owner / Operator
AI ENGINEER / DEVELOPER
Joel Rees is an innovative entrepreneur and AI engineer with over 13 years of combined experience in software, hardware, and tech systems within the technology industry.
Throughout his career, he has worked with major organizations such as Apple, a global leader in innovation, and Jack Henry & Associates, a top software company in the financial sector, gaining extensive knowledge in systems development, automation, and client-driven technology solutions.
Before co-founding AI Staff Assistant with his business partner Benjamin Waggoner in 2025, Joel built his own successful tech firm and developed a strong clientele by helping businesses and individuals overcome technical challenges both locally and globally through remote support and custom solutions.
Today, as the Co-Owner and Operator of AI Staff Assistant, Joel leads with vision, creativity, and precision, combining hands-on development with strategic insight to design AI-driven tools that simplify workflows, enhance productivity, and create measurable impact. His unique blend of technical expertise and real-world business sense allows him to bridge the gap between innovation and practical application.
Whether developing advanced AI systems, refining user experiences, or leading development teams, Joel’s mission remains clear: to craft intelligent technology that empowers people and drives businesses toward the future.
Benjamin Waggoner
AI ENGINEER DEVELOPER
Co-Founder of AI Staff Assistant
I’ve spent the last 15+ years building businesses, testing ideas, and finding smarter ways to get results. Along the way, I’ve learned one simple truth, when you mix creativity with technology, you can solve almost any problem.
Before launching AI Staff Assistant with my long-time friend and business partner Joel Rees, I worked across a mix of startups and local companies, always focused on one thing: making systems work better.
I built a holiday lighting company that used design software to show clients exactly what their homes or commercial buildings would look like before installation.
It completely changed the customer experience, sales went up, and projects ran smoother because people could “see it before we built it.”
At Petroli Roofing, I helped create digital systems to manage clients, track leads, and streamline the entire sales process. It gave me a front-row seat to how technology can scale even the most traditional industries when applied the right way.
Then came Double My Smile, a nonprofit app I co-created with a developer. We designed it to help nonprofits double their Amazon Smile donations. It hit the top 1% of business ideas nationwide and taught me a lot about testing, troubleshooting, and scaling software in real time.
When the AI boom hit, I knew this was the next big leap. I dove in, learning AI prompt engineering, automation systems, and ways to bring real-world business experience into this new tech era.
Now, through AI Staff Assistant, Joel and I are helping small businesses harness the same kind of tools large companies use — without the complexity or high cost. Our AI receptionist platform helps businesses answer every call, capture every lead, and turn missed opportunities into sales, 24/7.
For me, this isn’t just about software. It’s about giving business owners time back so they can focus on what actually grows their company instead of getting stuck in the day-to-day.
At the end of the day, I’m just a guy who loves solving problems, building systems that work, and seeing people succeed with tools that make life a little easier.