AI Essentials for Business Owners: Understand It. Use It. Grow With It.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future-forward concept; it’s a practical tool available to every business owner right now. But knowing where to start, which tools to trust, and how to make AI work for your specific business is a challenge that stops most people before they begin.

In this dynamic, hands-on session, AI consultant and trainer Melissa Duff Brown breaks down the essentials in a clear, approachable, and immediately applicable way. You will leave with a working understanding of how AI tools actually function, a confident framework for choosing and using the right platforms, and real use cases you can implement in your business the very next day.

What You’ll Learn:

• What Large Language Models (LLMs) are and how they generate results
• The mindset shift required to use AI effectively and responsibly
• A side-by-side comparison of ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, and when to use each
• How to build your “Business Brain”: a personalized AI profile tailored to your voice and goals
• Practical use cases in sales, market research, data management, and business analytics

Who This Is For:

Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals ready to move beyond curiosity and start using AI with confidence.

Format: In-person with hybrid (Zoom) option | 90 minutes | April 16, 3:30–5:00 PM

Location: Bradley University, Business and Engineering Convergence Center, Room 1122, Peoria, IL

OUR SPEAKER:  Melissa Duff Brown

Melissa Duff Brown is a strategist and Director of Strategy at Joseph Business Services and Carver Cloud, where she architects data-driven growth initiatives and AI-powered transformation for entrepreneurs, mid-market firms, and public-sector partners that deliver measurable impact. She is known for making complex topics simple, aligning innovation with SBA standards, and turning strategy into measurable outcomes. With more than two decades of experience across accounting, banking, and hospitality, she blends financial discipline with practical creativity to improve marketing, operations, and customer experience. Her approach is data-driven and people-focused: clear frameworks, playbooks, and safeguards for cybersecurity and privacy so owners can adopt AI confidently.

Melissa advises on AI readiness, cloud strategy, strategic planning, and process improvement; designs governance plans; and mentors entrepreneurs. She serves in leadership on several boards, reflecting her commitment to economic and community development. Whether supporting a startup or modernizing an established firm, Melissa’s promise is straightforward: practical tools, guidance, and results that strengthen revenue, capacity, and impact.