Lunch & Learn | Using AI to Solve Real Business Challenges

Description

Join the Seneca County Collaborative for a Lunch & Learn on Thursday, February 12, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, held in Chisholm Auditorium in Franks Hall on the campus of Tiffin University. Lunch will be provided.

This Lunch & Learn is held in partnership with Tiffin University and is designed specifically for small business owners who wear many hats and are looking for practical ways to become more efficient and effective in their day-to-day operations.

Small businesses are being asked to do more than ever. Marketing, advertising, operations, customer engagement, data tracking, and decision-making often fall on the same shoulders. Artificial intelligence can play a meaningful role in improving efficiency and effectiveness, but it is most powerful when applied within the context of real business challenges rather than as a standalone solution.

This session will serve as a kickoff for a hands-on, applied partnership between local small businesses and Tiffin University, focused on identifying real-world business needs and determining where tools like AI can support broader solutions. The presentation will be led by Kellie McGilvray and Anas Blasi.

During the session, Dr. McGilvray and Dr. Blasi will discuss how students work with businesses to assess challenges such as marketing strategy, advertising effectiveness, operational workflows, customer experience, and data use. From there, students help evaluate and recommend solutions, which may include AI tools, but are not limited to AI alone. The emphasis is on understanding the full issue and applying the right mix of tools to address it.

Businesses that attend this Lunch & Learn will have the opportunity to be matched with student groups for the remainder of the semester. These student teams will work directly with participating businesses to support integration efforts, problem-solving, and project development tied to real operational needs. This collaboration benefits both businesses seeking practical support and students gaining real-world experience.

This Lunch & Learn is ideal for small business owners who know they could be operating more efficiently, want help tackling real challenges, and are interested in exploring how tools like AI can fit into a broader strategy without needing to become technical experts themselves.

Additional details on participation and next steps will be shared during the session.