I Play Bass, Not Lead Guitar
In my band days, I learned what it means to support from the background: Keep the rhythm steady, fill the gaps, make everyone else shine. That's my consulting approach too.
Your business is the star. I'm just here to make you sound amazing.
The Foundation (English Degree)
I studied English because I love how language unlocks ideas. I never expected it would become my superpower for building AI automation.
The Early Years
I graduated from San Diego State University in 2011 with a BA in English. I was an Alex Smith Guardian Scholar—one of only ten annual awards for foster youth who beat the odds and made it to college. I even published a book, "Thorns and Stars," back in 2010.
I also played bass in a band. Not lead guitar—bass. The backbone. The rhythm keeper. The one who makes everyone else sound better. When the bass is missing, you feel it immediately.
That mindset—support from the background, fill the gaps, make others shine—became the foundation for everything that followed.
The Real World (Customer Service → Salesforce)
After graduation, I did what English majors do: I got a job in customer service.
Navy Federal Credit Union first, then BofI Federal Bank (now Axos Bank). I was helping real people solve real problems every day. That's where I discovered Salesforce—this powerful platform for managing customer relationships and automating workflows.
The Technical Evolution
I started using Salesforce to manage customer cases and discovered something unexpected: I was good at this. Really good.
Salesforce's declarative tools (point-and-click automation, no code required) taught me how to build powerful systems within constraints. I learned to be resourceful, creative, and make due with what I had access to.
Over 13 years, I went from customer service rep to senior Salesforce consultant:
- ⚙️Axos Bank: Condensed 24 Process Builders into 4 Flows—untangling years of automation debt
- ⚙️Versapay: Led Zen Desk to Service Cloud migration, implemented case management system
- ⚙️SPAR Solutions: Salesforce consultant for 2.5 years
- ⚙️Trusted Tech Team: Current role as Senior Salesforce Administrator
I earned 5 Salesforce certifications along the way, including Agentforce Specialist and Advanced Administrator.
The key insight: Salesforce gave me enterprise-level technical skills without requiring a computer science degree. I learned systems thinking, workflow automation, and how to solve complex business problems—all while staying grounded in customer service and communication.
The Aha Moment (AI Changes Everything)
Then, in 2023, I discovered something that changed everything.
Natural Language + AI = 10x Potential
"I have a degree in English. The moment I learned I could use natural language to help prompt and direct AI to do amazing things was my aha moment. I started building side projects I never dreamed I'd be able to on my own—and doing it all quickly."
My first project was called StoryWeaver—an AI chat CLI tool where you could chat with multiple writer personalities to collaborate on stories. It was ambitious, creative, and... I absolutely broke it.
But breaking it taught me everything. I started adopting real developer practices: Git for version control, researching frameworks, learning how developers use IDEs. I wasn't just prompting AI anymore—I was building with it as a partner.
The Realization
"My English degree taught me how language shapes ideas. My 13 years in Salesforce taught me how systems solve problems. AI gave me the bridge between the two. Suddenly, I could build things I never thought possible."
AI opened up my ability to build 10x by giving me access to what I call "a jr dev in my pocket." If you can dream it and direct it properly, you can get a job accomplished.
I didn't learn to code first. I learned to communicate first.
Turns out, that's exactly what AI needed.
The Unicorn Emerges
The Rare Combination
"I have both the English side and technical side—so I can interact with stakeholders, write great documentation, and still have the technical skill to solve issues. I also have a wildly creative edge to me which makes me a bit of a unicorn when it comes to the tech space."
This combination has landed me jobs. Multiple times. Because when you interview someone who can explain complex automation in plain English AND has 13 years of senior technical experience AND brings creative solutions—you hire them.
The Positioning
Most AI consultants are developers trying to explain things to business owners. I'm a communicator who learned to build—which means I speak your language while solving your technical problems.
English Degree
I speak your language (plain business English)
13 Years Salesforce
I build enterprise-grade solutions
AI Automation Skills
I unlock 10x potential
Bass Player Mindset
I support from the background
Why I Do This
Halloween 2016. The whole family committed to the unicorn theme. Yes, that's me in the unicorn hoodie.
Look, I could tell you it's about the technology. Or the business results. And those matter—they really do.
But here's the truth: I do this for my family.
That's my daughter Melody in her unicorn costume, with my wife Amanda and me—all dressed as unicorns for Halloween 2016. She was maybe 2 years old, and in her world, unicorns were the most magical thing that existed.
When I started calling myself "the unicorn consultant," she thought that was the coolest thing in the world. Because in her mind, unicorns make impossible things possible.
And you know what? She's not wrong.
What Drives Me
I'm building this business to show my daughters (Melody and Penny) that you can be different, embrace what makes you unique, and turn that into something valuable.
- 🦄English degree in a tech world? Unicorn.
- 🦄Bass player turned consultant? Unicorn.
- 🦄Dad who codes with AI while his kids play nearby? Unicorn.
I do this for myself—because I genuinely love solving problems with AI and building systems that work.
I do this for companies like yours—because small businesses deserve enterprise-level automation without enterprise-level overhead.
And I do this for my family—because I want my daughters to see that being different isn't just okay. It's your superpower.
The Current Reality
Today
I balance three roles:
- 1.Full-time: Senior Salesforce Administrator at Trusted Tech Team
- 2.Startup: Co-founder & AI Engineer at AgentShelf (handling enterprise work)
- 3.Consulting: Neil Blackman Consulting LLC (focused on small businesses)
The Neil B Consulting Focus
I keep this consulting practice boutique and small-business-focused intentionally. No massive enterprise projects. No year-long engagements that eat up all my time.
Instead, I take on quick, high-value automation projects for small businesses—the kind where I can:
- ✓Deliver real ROI in weeks, not months
- ✓Explain everything in plain English
- ✓Build solutions you can actually manage
- ✓Stay in the background supporting your operations
- ✓Move on when the work is done
Like a good bass player, I'm here to make your business sound amazing—not to be the star of the show.
I Play Bass, Not Lead Guitar
Your business is the star. I'm here to support from the background.
In the past I was in a band and played Bass. I know what it means to support the entire band—to be that backbone. When you're missing, everyone can tell. You fill the sound, you keep the beat, you make everyone else sound better.
Keep the rhythm steady
Your workflows run smoothly, day in and day out
Fill the gaps in the sound
I automate the boring stuff you didn't know could be automated
Make everyone else shine
Your team focuses on what they do best while automation handles the rest
When it's missing, you notice
Good automation is invisible until it's gone
That's my consulting approach too. Your business is the lead guitar. I'm just here to make you sound amazing.
╔═══════════════════╗
║ ┌─────────────┐ ║
║ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ ║
║ │░NEIL B BASS░│ ║
║ │░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ ║
║ └─────────────┘ ║
════╩═══════════════════╩════
████████████████████████████
║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║─║
████████████████████████████
◉ ◉ ◉ ◉
"Supporting your business
from the background"
🎸 🎵 🎶 🎵 🎸Proof Points
When I say I deliver ROI, I mean it. Here's what one recent client achieved:
Cairn Accounting
Faster Processing
15 minutes → 30 seconds
Annual Savings
Based on processing volume
ROI
1.5 week payback period
Neil is a seasoned, talented, and customer obsessed Salesforce Administrator and overall solution provider. I was consistently impressed with his ability to see beyond the specifics of what he was being asked to help facilitate, and to provide solutions and automations that delighted his customers.
Ryan Johnson
Manager, Versapay
The Certifications (If You Care)
Salesforce Certified 5x
- ✅Agentforce Specialist (May 2025)
- ✅Advanced Administrator (Oct 2023)
- ✅Platform App Builder
- ✅Administrator
- ✅Consultant
Other Credentials
- 📚BA in English, San Diego State University
- 🏆Alex Smith Guardian Scholar
- ✍️Published Author: "Thorns and Stars" (2010)
- 🎸Former Bass Player (the good kind of practice)
Ready to Work with the Unicorn?
Let's talk about what you're trying to accomplish. Free 30-minute consultation. No pitch, no pressure.
I'll tell you honestly if AI automation makes sense for your business—and if so, what it'll cost and what results you can expect.
Based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. Serving small businesses nationwide.
English degree proudly displayed. Unicorn costume optional but encouraged.