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While there are many tasks that artificial intelligence can perform, some jobs are best left to humans.
Experts are discovering new tasks that AI can perform every day. However, there’s limited value in using AI to take on certain business tasks — and in many instances, a human touch can significantly improve the customer experience. As you seek to integrate AI into your business operations, keep in mind that it can’t completely replace your employees. Ultimately, AI is best deployed as a tool for automating mundane, repetitive tasks. Anything more advanced is better suited to human intervention. Provide five-star customer service There are parts of customer service that AI can improve. For instance, a chatbot installed on your company’s website can help answer basic questions and troubleshoot simple issues. These bots can learn over time and be set up to escalate more advanced queries to the right team member. And they can be available 24/7 to help customers navigate the website and find the information they need. Any time a customer concern goes beyond a bot’s training, it should immediately be routed to a live support agent. “There’s nothing more frustrating than when a company’s only contact method is a chat box where you’re getting generic responses back that don’t apply to your situation,” wrote Crummy Media Solutions, a digital marketing company. “While you can potentially use AI for some customer service tasks, or generic emails, you also need to recognize when a process or situation requires the human touch.” Create a marketing strategyAI can generate blog posts, write marketing emails, distribute content on social media, and even create images and videos. But it can’t ensure this content will resonate with your customers. “Generating content and generating leads or sales are two very different job descriptions. And at the end of the day, whether a human or AI creates your content, you need to have a strategy in place to turn that content into results,” wrote Daniel Griggs, Founder of ATX The Brand, in Forbes. As Griggs noted, AI can help you create content, but it doesn’t automatically create results. It’s up to your team to know your audience inside and out. Only those involved in your business on a deeper level can set goals, interact with your customers day to day, and perform quality control to ensure content is unique to your brand identity. Human resources and hiringHiring is another area where AI can automate repetitive tasks, such as interview scheduling, skill testing, and posting open positions on different job boards. But AI can’t find the right fit for your unique business culture. It also can’t personify your employer brand and convince a candidate to accept your job offer. Likewise, you’ll need a real person to help meet your employees’ needs. “It's kind of in the name — but your company's Human Resources department will likely always need a human at the helm to manage interpersonal conflict with the help of non-cognitive and reasoning skills,” wrote HubSpot. Quality control Tools like ChatGPT and Bard can create content fast, but there are quality issues — and possible copyright infringement risks — that can damage a small business’s reputation. It’s essential to have an editor or copywriter look over AI-generated content before releasing it to the public. AI tools sometimes include errors, bad or repetitive syntax, and poor grammar. It can also lead to questions of plagiarism if you don’t have a human review the content. “AI doesn’t cite its sources, making it challenging to confirm whether the information it’s providing you is uniquely written, or incredibly similar to the original work that inspired it,” wrote Crummy Media Solutions. In addition, any content generated by AI should be tailored to your unique brand voice. Only a human can ensure that your content is consistent, cohesive, and compliant.
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 The Chamber Center for Excellence is a separate 501c3 organization, administered by the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. It serves as a fiscal sponsor for short-term projects by individuals or groups without a nonprofit designation to receive funds. These initiatives promote, educate or enhance the community and align with the mission of the organization. Coming to fruition this month is the latest by Susanna Tanner Photography with the “50 Over 50 Project”. “In the spring of 2021, I decided to launch a photography project aimed to propel and empower women over the age of 50. As I enter this demographic myself, I’ve realized the declining perception of women in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s+ in that they’re no longer beautiful by society’s standards and less capable than their younger peers. Invisibility sets in, as well as transitional times that leave a woman feeling less than; empty nesting, parental caretaking, divorce, overcoming health issues, and job loss name a few of the stories and compelling reasons women have told me they seek this opportunity. On the other hand, some women are taking their careers and lives into their own hands. In doing this, they are creating new businesses or ventures, switching gears or turbo-charging the area of a career, making a difference in their community, industry or the world—and shattering misconceptions about age and gender along the way.” – Susanna Tanner With the goal of creating a supportive community and reminding people that beauty does not diminish with age, the effort that started with a few willing participants quickly developed into a meaningful experience. “I’ve spent most of my life striving for the approval of others, often at my own expense,” said Darcey Meredith. “Just now, at 55, I’m starting to work on being more authentic—letting go of whom I think I’m supposed to be, or whom others expect me to be, and instead, uncovering and developing my true authenticity.” Susanna partnered with Richmond native Kate Jetmore who collaborated on the project. Kate hosts “The Listen Podcast” and put her story-telling skills to work interviewing many of the women featured in the project. The recorded podcasts will be able to be accessed on the 50 Over 50 website with the photographs. “This allows exhibit visitors the opportunity to hear a woman’s own voice tell a piece of her story while studying her image,” Susanna said. Dr. Lucinda Wright was initially hesitant. “You see, I do not like being photographed. However, after talking with (Susanna) about the project, I realized there was more to it than just being photographed. It was about telling my story to possibly help others.” The exhibit tells stories of women as young as 50 years old to the oldest of 93 years of age. They all had heartwarming feedback on their experiences. “Susanna’s gentle reminders to shut off the critique mode we were in when seeing ourselves in the mirror, allowed me truly to see myself as a confident, proud, adventurous grammy with tattoos,” explained Shelley Miller. The portraits will be on display at Reid Health beginning August 5 and remaining through October. Those with 3–5-minute audio interviews will be accessed via a QR code. Each print will be for sale during the exhibition opening with all proceeds going toward women’s health initiatives at Reid Health. Throughout the exhibition, individuals, families and groups of all ages are welcome to peruse the images. “I envision younger girls or women exposed to the exhibit through school trips or nonprofit groups,” Susanna said. Each one will leave with a message that resounds the significance of beauty at any age. Norene Groth summed up the experience, “The 50 over 50 project reminds me that aging is a privilege, and with aging comes wisdom, experience, grace, and gratitude.” Special thanks to the following: Reid Health Womens Fund Bill and Ruth Carter Koechlein Family Fund Warm Glow Candle Co. Kate Jetmore (In-kind) Suzanne Allain Designs (In-kind) Richmond, Ind. – Professional Development and growth opportunities for members of the Wayne County workforce remain a top focus for the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. This is evident in their latest announcement showcasing a partnership with the Shafer Leadership Academy.
A new educational offering called “Next Level” will bring experts to Wayne County to facilitate interactive workshops on various topics, such as leading multi-generational teams and discovering the power of introverts. In addition, Chamber members will be able to attend virtual workshops such as Creating Extraordinary Moments and Fostering a Welcoming Workplace. “We know that when our businesses invest in their people, performance improves and loyalty strengthens,” said Chamber President/CEO Melissa Vance. “This added member benefit could be one of the best we have added in recent years.” The Chamber has demonstrated leadership in workforce education through its annual Chamber Business Summit in partnership with Indiana University East. This will be the third year of bringing in keynote speakers and utilizing local experts to lead breakout sessions. This year’s Summit will be held on October 13. Registration will open on August 28. HYPE Wayne County (Helping Young Professionals Engage), a committee of the Chamber, holds several learning and social opportunities throughout the year. They are now accepting applications for their program, WC Leads, a cohort of young professionals honing skills such as leading a team, project management, emotional intelligence, and excellence in communication. The program kicks off at the Chamber Business Summit in October and meets on periodic half-days in the following months. Those completing the program will be recognized at the Chamber Annual Dinner in January. A Harvard Business Review article states, “The evidence suggests…: We could improve productivity if we stopped systematically underinvesting in human capital…. Beyond wages, other forms of investment in human capital include education and training, improved healthcare, and other, less obvious investments, such as the time and space to explore new ideas and professional development opportunities.” Roy Ferman of Forbes Finance Council sums it up, “Organizations that maintain a high-development culture are more likely to have engaged employees. Plain and simple.” To learn more about the Chamber’s educational offerings or how to further engage your team, visit WCAreaChamber.org. Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce statement -
“The Chamber recognizes the strong need for quality healthcare in Wayne County. We realize in a demanding and ever-changing market, organizations are adjusting their models to remain strong and viable long-term. We plan to continue gathering information, convene important conversations, and proactively work with our local health care providers, such as Reid, to help ensure our community has the health services it needs to thrive in the coming years.” Reid Health Press Release - Reid Health undergoes restructuring to bring down costs July 11, 2023 Faced with an increasing gap between rising expenses and reduced reimbursement rates from insurance providers -- in particular Medicare Advantage and Medicaid -- Reid Health is taking steps to reduce costs and streamline efficiencies. Recently, healthcare systems across the country have been battling a widening imbalance between rising costs related to inflation and reimbursements that haven't kept up with those costs, resulting in major financial issues unlike any Reid has dealt with in the past. The factors at play include:
Adding to the burden is the fact that insurance companies are slow to reimburse for patients with commercial insurance after care has been delivered. In many cases, claims are even outright denied despite having prior authorization. "Healthcare organizations across the state and nation are making difficult decisions to stay afloat in this challenging environment," said Brian Tabor, President of the Indiana Hospital Association. "I'm concerned we may see more reductions in hospital services over the coming months as Medicare and Medicaid payments continue to fall further below the cost of delivering care, exacerbating the fragile state of hospital finances. "We need Congress to reject proposals that would impose Medicare cuts and urge the State of Indiana to provide short-term Medicaid relief to avoid this trend continuing across the state." The Reid Health Governing Board has been working with a consultant to identify opportunities to streamline organizational operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiencies. Over the past few weeks, Reid has taken steps to reduce duplication and costs within its executive leadership and middle management teams. Doing so allows Reid to streamline reporting structures and identify efficiencies for cost savings. As a result, some roles are being eliminated. Affected employees have the opportunity to apply for other open positions for which they're qualified, and some have chosen to stay with Reid. In addition, Reid will close the Reid Employee Wellness, Sports Performance, and Massage Therapy departments along with the HealthWorks Fitness Center in Connersville. HealthWorks will close on July 31. The same factors affecting Reid's finances are impacting other health systems across the country, including here in Indiana. For example, Ascension St. Vincent recently closed a hospital in Bedford as well as 11 primary care and other centers across Central Indiana. "These are the kinds of tough conversations families have around the kitchen table during hard times," Kinyon said. "When your income is reduced while your expenses increase, changes must occur. That's the situation we're in today. "This process to better align our costs and resources will ensure we can continue to provide exceptional care for those we serve. We remain committed to our mission to lead our communities to well-being, one person at a time." Date: July 6, 2023
Contact: Robin Henry Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Phone: 765.598.5009 Email: rhenry@trfcu.org For Immediate Release 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, one of the top performing credit unions in the state of Indiana, announces the addition of 10 Member Service positions in their Richmond, Indiana based Call Center. This expansion represents 3Rivers commitment, dedication and investment in Wayne and Union Counties to provide rewarding employment opportunities while delivering exceptional member service to 3Rivers members and the community. 3Rivers Credit Union has consistently received national award recognition for workplace excellence, and is known as an employer of choice in the region. 3Rivers seeks team members who thrive in a fast paced environment, are motivated by growth, innovation, and a culture rooted in community giveback. 3Rivers offers generous benefits and compensation plans to reward continuous performance and personal growth. The minimum starting wage is $15.75. Pay is commensurate with experience. Benefits Include: - Ongoing training and career advancement opportunities - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans - 401(k) plan with generous matching contributions - Paid vacation, sick, and float time. Including 9 paid federal holidays. - Paid volunteer time to give back to the community - Employee assistance program for personal support Joining 3Rivers means becoming part of a dynamic and inclusive work environment where contributions are valued, rewarded, and make positive impacts in the lives of our team members, members, and community. For more details on benefits and to apply for one of the 10 Contact Center positions or any other open position, please visit www.3riversfcu.org/careers and submit your application online. Experience in the financial industry is not required. Qualified individuals are passionate about learning, growth and helping others. By Miriam Gridley, Chamber Intern
You have probably seen advertising signs at McDonald’s. Or, perhaps felt a soft touch, matte-covered book. Surprisingly, these are just some of the products made locally by Transcendia. In addition, they also make lamination films for packets used for sterile, surgical instruments. The special film that covers the holograph in passports for India and Pakistan is also provided by Transcendia. They serve many different markets. In fact, there are twenty plants across the world: seventeen for manufacturing, and three for distribution. The Transcendia plant, located in Richmond, was established in 1931. In fact, it was one of the first film converters and distributors. Their focus was food packaging wraps, but during the 60’s, and 70’s there were shortages in those areas. So, they got into extrusion. In the 80’s they started investing in the sheet extrusion market. By the 90’s they bought a liquid coating line, which is the soft touch, matte feel on books. In 2010 Jordan Group purchased Transcendia Transal Wrap, then it was sold again in 2017 to Golden Sacks. Finally, it has grown into what it is today, Transcendia. Cody Cohoon, site manager, is very organized and thoroughly enjoys what he does. He has been with Transcendia for quite some time working as an operations manager, production manager, and supervisor. With valuable experience, he knows the importance of teamwork. In total, there are one hundred and twenty-nine people employed at Transcendia. Fifty have been there for ten years. One of Cody’s favorite things about Transcendia is the people. He is very personable with all the employees, knowing every person by name. Cody has worked hard to transform the culture and has created a positive environment. Cody does many things for the benefit of his employees, including a monthly giveaway for perfect attendance and organizing events for his employees and their families. Cody grew up in Ohio and currently lives in Tip City, Ohio. Although he lives and was raised in the North, his heart is in the South where he was born, and where all his family resides. He married his high school sweetheart, Samantha, and they have two children together, Kingsley and Keegan. He says that the coolest thing in his life is being called Dad. Before coming to Transcendia, he owned his own concrete business. Professionally, Cody has a strategic plan that will benefit Transcendia. He wants to reinvest in Richmond, add to their current site, add a packaging leader, and add new technology. He has a goal to give his employees sixteen paid hours a year to volunteer in the community. Cody chose to be a part of the Chamber because he wants to invest in the people and invest in this great community. He is eager for Transcendia to evolve, learn, and grow as a business through being a Chamber member. Also, it gives his employees opportunities to get outside of work and involved in the community. Cody’s favorite thing about the Chamber, so far, is the overall number of events and community involvement. The Richmond Transcendia Plant is located at 300 Industrial Pkwy. Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are building a better world
Middletown, Ohio, Wednesday, June 14 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that CEO Angela Phillips of Phillips Tube Group, Inc., was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 East Central Award winner. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. Angela was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs, investors and other regional business leaders. The candidates were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. “This recognition is the honor of a lifetime,” Angela Philips said. “I’m so proud and credit my entire team for the success of Phillips Tube Group. This is about all of us.” Phillips Tube Group, Inc., is a woman-owned business that produces steel tube for the appliance, automotive, HVAC, construction and recreational vehicle industries. A great American success story, Phillips Tube Group has been the embodiment of local growth, entrepreneurial spirit and community development throughout the Ohio region for decades. With plants in Middletown (OH), Shelby (OH) and Richmond (IN), Phillips Tube Group products are found in automobiles, furnaces, dishwashers, recreational vehicles, appliances and more. For nearly four decades, EY US has honored entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies’ success, transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities. Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources. Since 1986, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 US executives. As an East Central award winner, Angela is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 National Awards. The National Award winners including the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in June 2024. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as: Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks Daymond John of FUBU Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani, Inc. Holly Thaggard and Amanda Baldwin of Supergoop! Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company James Park of Fitbit Jodi Berg of Vitamix Joe DeSimone of Carbon, Inc. Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation Sheila Mikhail of AskBio Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In East Central, sponsors also include Valuation Research Corporation, Donnelley Financial Solutions, and Frost Brown Todd LLC. About Entrepreneur Of The Year® Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy. About EY Private As Advisors to the ambitious™, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private. About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. Practical ways to use it in business and what to avoid
At first glance, especially for people who have trouble writing or have difficulty starting out and collecting their thoughts at a keyboard, AI can feel like the smartest kid in the class offering to do your homework for free, forever. It seems like a huge win and I’m not saying it isn’t. But there are a few things you should be aware of as well as some tasks it does tremendously well that could save you a lot of time and energy. AI “Doesn’t Always Get It Right” Google’s new Bard (AI) issued this statement to all users, “Bard will not always get it right. Bard may give inaccurate or inappropriate responses. When in doubt, use the ‘Google it’ button to check Bard’s responses.” This is true of all AI. AI is not a sentient being. It gets its answers and content by crawling the web and condensing information. Sometimes that can cause problems. It doesn’t:
AI Has Different Levels of Sophistication There are many free options out there as well as AI/bot starters where you can build your own “in minutes.” It’s important to know that each one has different capabilities and claims—some have a plagiarism detector, for instance, so you needn’t worry about the copy it creates for you being flagged as duplicate content. It’s Only as Good as What You Feed It The real benefit of using AI lies in its ability to create content in a fraction of the time it takes for a human to write it. Even talented writers using dictation software or ones blessed with 100+ words per minute typing skills, can’t research and write a 300-word blog post in a minute. But the content is only as good as the instructions you give it. For instance, if you were producing a blog post about Golden Retrievers, as a dog walker your blog would be different than that of a dog breeder/dog show participant, which would be different still from a vet’s perspective written for other vets. The level of sophistication and knowledge is different for each of those audiences. You will need to express that in the directions you provide the AI if you want a good piece of content that fits the needs and understanding of your audience. AIs Struggle with Same Names When I asked Google’s AI Bard what Bard does really well as research for this article, it responded with things that a bard/storyteller excels at, not what it does. (However, when I asked “what do you do well?,” it provided a satisfactory answer. So, if your business shares a name with something else or you’re using a play on words or employing a name/word in a different context, the program may not produce helpful results. 5 Things AI Does Well Now that you know what to watch out for, let’s cover a few things it does really well. Using AI for these things can save you lots of time.
Is using AI right for you and your business? Perhaps. But keep in mind, it is a tool, not an additional employee. It can produce content in a fraction of the time, but it requires oversight. It does not always generate content ready to be used as is. If you envision what it creates as a starting point product like how a sous chef does the prep work for a top chef, you have a good understanding of how you might use it in your business. By U.S. Chamber of Commerce
What you need to know about small business in America including the latest data on job creation, business starts, and more. Key Takeaways
In terms of their impact on the economy, small businesses aren’t actually that small. Small businesses is generally defined by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) as independent businesses having fewer than 500 employees. Based on SBA's definition, there are 33.2 million small businesses in America, which account for 99.9% of all U.S. firms. Small businesses are credited with just under two-thirds (63%) of the new jobs created from 1995 to 2021 or 17.3 million new jobs. Small businesses represent 97.3% of all exporters and 32.6% of known export value ($413.3 billion). They also employ almost half (46%) of America's private sector workforce and represent 43.5% of gross domestic product. By almost any measure, small businesses are a vital part of the American economy and workforce. Small business starts reach new highsEntrepreneurship is booming in the U.S. In 2021 alone, a record breaking 5.4 million new business applications were filed, and nearly as many (5.1 million) were filed in 2022. "Entrepreneurship is booming in the U.S. In 2021 alone, a record breaking 5.4 million new business applications were filed." New economic needs and changing consumer preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic created more circumstances for new businesses to start. Many individuals turned their ideas and hobbies into a business that could be run from home and the number of e-commerce retailers skyrocketed. Professional and business services was not far behind, as entrepreneurs tapped into the need for personal consulting services. The U.S. Chamber has set up an interactive map to track the increase in new business applications by state. Inflation bitesAmid historically high inflation, many small businesses are struggling to keep up with rising prices. Over the past year, inflation has been the top concern of small businesses by far, according to the MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index. In the latest survey, over half of small businesses said inflation is the top challenge facing the small business community. Access to capital declinesOver the long term, small businesses’ perceived access to capital to fund and grow their business has declined. According to the Q1 2023 Small Business Index, almost half (49%) of small business owners said their current access to capital or loans is good. This is slightly lower than those who rated their access to capital as good in Q2 2022 (54%) and significantly lower than in Q2 2017 (67%). Small business owners are working harderSmall business owners report working longer hours than they used to just a few years ago. Six years ago, 30% of small business said they were working more hours than they were a year ago. In 2022, half (50%) of small business owners said they are working more hours now than they were a year ago. This equates to a very significant 20-percentage point increase in the share of small business owners that report working more hours. One factor that might be contributing to owners working longer hours is the persistent worker shortage. Right now, we have more than 10.8 million open jobs in the U.S., but only 5.9 million unemployed workers. In other words, if every unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have almost 5 million open jobs. The lack of workers is hitting small businesses across almost every industry: Recently, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that almost half (47%) of small business owners reported job openings that were hard to fill. Strengthening local communitiesConsumers are increasingly looking to support businesses in their local communities. Small Business Saturday has become a great way to support small business owners in neighborhoods across the country every year around the holidays—but there are many reasons to support local businesses year-round. At the same time, small businesses are looking to reciprocate the goodwill and give back to their local communities in return. When asked about how they have engaged with their community in the past year, here are small businesses’ most popular answers:
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