LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Tahoe Chamber is launching a new four-part Level UP: AI for Small Business webinar series, designed to help local business owners move beyond the buzz around artificial intelligence and learn practical ways to make AI work for their businesses.
Beginning September 9, the series will guide participants through a progression from understanding whether their business is ready for AI to developing a strategy, selecting and connecting the right tools, and ultimately incorporating AI into regular business operations.
“AI is evolving quickly, and for many small business owners, knowing where to begin can be the biggest challenge,” said Jessica Grime, president & CEO of Tahoe Chamber. “We designed this series to make AI approachable and practical. Business owners don’t need to become AI experts; they need to understand where it can create value, which tools make sense for their business, and how to use them effectively.”
Each webinar builds upon the previous session while also providing standalone value, allowing participants to attend the entire series or select the topics most relevant to their business.
Webinar 1 | AI Readiness: Preparing Your Business for What’s Next
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar (registration now open)
Every successful AI strategy starts with understanding where your business stands today. This interactive kickoff webinar will help business owners assess their current operations, identify recurring processes and tasks that may benefit from AI, and recognize opportunities to improve efficiency and productivity. Participants will also explore common misconceptions and important considerations around AI adoption, leaving with a clearer understanding of where to begin.
Register today – https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/level-up-webinar-ai-readiness-preparing-your-business-for-what-s-next-26163
Webinar 2 | Build to Sell: Driving Holistic Growth & Enterprise Value Through AI
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar
Presented by Shamus McNutt, Founder, Volare AI
A valuable business should be able to operate and grow without everything depending on its owner. This strategic webinar will explore how AI can help reduce founder reliance, improve operational efficiency, capture institutional knowledge, and strengthen the systems that drive long-term enterprise value.
Whether the goal is growth, scalability, greater freedom from day-to-day operations, or an eventual sale, participants will learn how to approach AI as a business-building strategy rather than simply another technology tool.
Webinar 3 | Plugging AI In: Choosing the Right Tools and Connecting Them to Your Business
Wednesday, January 27, 2027 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar
Presented by Austin Rodriguez-Woodard, Founder, RW Business Services, LLC
With hundreds of AI platforms available, choosing the right technology can quickly become overwhelming. This practical webinar will help owners move from “AI sounds useful” to actually putting it to work.
Participants will learn how to evaluate AI tools based on the problem they need to solve, data privacy and security, accuracy, cost, and integration capabilities. Practical examples across marketing, sales, finance, recruiting, and operations will demonstrate how businesses can connect AI with systems they already use and start small without adding unnecessary complexity.
Webinar 4 | From Set Up to Systematized: Running AI Week to Week
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar
Presented by Amanda St. Laurent, Founder, Sonder North Co.
Implementing AI is only the beginning. The final webinar will focus on turning one-time AI wins into repeatable business habits.
Participants will learn how to establish an operating rhythm for recurring AI-assisted tasks, incorporate those tasks into existing routines, and create trust checkpoints to ensure AI-generated work remains accurate and reliable. A practical example will demonstrate the process in action, with participants leaving with a framework they can apply to a recurring task within their own business.
From AI Curiosity to Everyday Business Use
Together, the four webinars create a practical progression:
Prepare → Build → Connect → Systematize
The series is designed to help small businesses approach AI intentionally starting with their business needs rather than chasing the latest technology. By the conclusion of the series, participants will have a clearer understanding of where AI can add value, how to select and implement appropriate tools, and how to incorporate AI into sustainable business practices.
Registration is required. Webinars are free for Tahoe Chamber members and $10 for community members. Registration for the September 9th webinar is now available through TahoeChamber.org/events.
