By Lauren Tam
The Aug. 6 meeting of the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce focused on equipping local business owners with tools to grow smarter, connect better and stay ahead in a rapidly changing business landscape.
The meeting opened with a call for members interested in civic planning and committee involvement to reach out and help shape the future of the chamber through active participation.
Board Secretary Lauren Tam then took the floor to highlight the chamber’s Lunch & Learn series, held every second Wednesday of the month. Last month’s session on LinkedIn was a big hit — and for those who missed it, the recording is available on the chamber’s website via the events calendar.
Looking ahead, the Aug. 11 Lunch & Learn will feature the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center. While many are familiar with the SBDC name, Tam noted that most small business owners are unaware of the full range of services the organization provides — from consulting and workshops to funding guidance and strategic planning. The session will offer an overview of how the SBDC can help local businesses grow and thrive. Attendees were reminded to register early, as seating is limited to 35.
The morning’s featured speaker was Brandon Lee, founder of Edison House and advisor with the SBDC, who presented on practical AI implementation for small businesses.
Brandon’s presentation was interactive, fast-paced and packed with insights. Drawing from his experience founding and operating 17 businesses, he shared how AI has helped him streamline operations, boost productivity and reduce overhead. From automating follow-up emails in his entertainment company to creating chatbots that eliminate phone tag for a sleep center, Brandon offered real-world use cases that resonated with the audience.
“AI is a force multiplier,” he said. “If you’re disorganized, it’ll multiply that. But if you’re intentional and strategic, it can save you hours each week.”
He also gave a live demonstration of “Victor,” one of his custom-built AI agents, and walked attendees through how to build similar tools using platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Make.com, and Perplexity. He emphasized the value of tracking repetitive tasks and finding ways to offload them using AI, freeing up owners and staff to focus on work that truly moves the business forward.
Brandon also spoke to data privacy concerns, encouraging attendees to use paid platforms when working with sensitive information and to understand the trade-offs of free tools.
The session wrapped with a reminder that adopting AI doesn’t require being tech-savvy, it requires curiosity, clarity on your business goals and a willingness to experiment.
For more information about the chamber, visit https://easternplainschamber.com or contact the chamber at 719-352-2670.
