AI Unlocked: Practical Tools and Tips for Small Business Growth

Local business owners filled the room at the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce recently for a lively and eye-opening session led by Andy Gyurisin, Director of the Laurel Ridge Small Business Development Center (SBDC). His presentation, titled “AI Unlocked: Practical Tools and Tips for Small Business Growth,” offered attendees a powerful mix of real-world examples, clear strategies, and plenty of humor.

“Welcome to the revolution,” Gyurisin began. “We are on the cusp of something enormous when it comes to AI.” His message? Artificial intelligence isn’t a far-off trend — it’s a tool that small businesses can use right now to save time, increase efficiency, and grow faster than ever before.

Chamber Executive Director Nike Foster Cales introduced Gyurisin, celebrating “a rejuvenated partnership with the Laurel Ridge Small Business Development Center.” She also thanked local leaders for their help in bringing timely and relevant programming to the community. “Our business development committee through the Chamber is working really hard to bring relevant programming to our local small businesses,” she said.

Throughout his high-energy talk, Gyurisin shared examples from around Virginia to show just how accessible AI tools have become. A bakery in Staunton doubled its online engagement using AI-generated content. A Strasburg-based bookstore used AI to boost rare book sales by 45%. Even a local Etsy seller in Warren County experienced a 60% increase in traffic after utilizing AI to enhance product images and descriptions.

“You don’t need millions of dollars. You don’t need a team of engineers,” he said. “You need curiosity, clarity, and a willingness to experiment.”

For many in the room, AI still felt mysterious or even intimidating. But Gyurisin worked to break that down. “AI is not here as a threat or as a mystery. The way that we are pivoting and looking at AI is that they are your next employee… incredibly capable, fast learning, always available.”

He explained how platforms like ChatGPT, Canva, Mailchimp, and Shopify already include AI features, some of which business owners may be using without even realizing it. “If Netflix has made a recommendation to you, that is AI. If your phone has completed your sentence for you, that is AI as well.”

Still, he cautioned against using AI just for the sake of using it. “If you left that seminar and you opened a Facebook page and you did nothing, it was actually more of a disservice,” he said, drawing a comparison to past technology trends. “AI is the exact same way. I would not recommend adopting AI to claim that you’ve used it. Make it a part of your business platform and model.”

When asked how to get started, Gyurisin had simple advice: “Choose one, two, or three repetitive tasks. Literally, the things you despise or don’t want to do every day when you get up to start your business.” From there, he said, experiment with AI tools that are right for your needs, whether it’s for writing social media posts, drafting grant proposals, or responding to customer inquiries.

And yes, AI can save time — but only if used wisely. “You don’t need to become an AI expert, just become an AI strategist within your own business,” he said. “Let AI handle the tedious so that you can work on the meaningful.”

Gyurisin even shared a humorous personal story involving a winery trip and a strange AI-generated image of his wife, smiling in the arms of a mysterious man. “She looked extremely happy,” he joked. “I don’t know why that happened.” The laughter in the room underscored his point: AI is a tool, and just like any tool, it requires a thoughtful hand.

But with power comes responsibility. “Verify facts,” Gyurisin stressed. “AI can hallucinate… Review content, test automations, and apply your human judgment.” He also warned about AI-generated content that might unintentionally carry bias or cross copyright boundaries. “Transparency matters,” he said. “If you’re using AI to respond to customer reviews or write job descriptions, just tell people.”

Closing out the session, Gyurisin left the audience with three options. “You can wait. You can worry. Or you can work the opportunity.” He emphasized that it’s not too late to start. “You’re not behind. You’re at the beginning of all of this.”

With free support from the SBDC and easy access to tools, he encouraged attendees to start small and stay curious. “Challenge it and allow it to surprise you,” he said. “That’s really what it is.”

And while AI may not be perfect, Gyurisin’s final reminder stuck with many: “It is not a substitute for your voice or your mission or your values. It is a tool.”

Watch the presentation on this exclusive Royal Examiner video.