Thursday Aug 20, 2026
Thursday, August 20 | 11a-1p Koerner Distributor, Inc. $30 | members
Nicole Morrison Photo & Video Disclaimer Any person or organization not affiliated with Chamber may not use, copy, alter, or modify Chamber photographs, graphics, videography, or other similar reproductions and recordings without the advance written permission of an authorized designee from Chamber.
Date and Time
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
• What is AI?
• What's already happening in businesses like yours
• Live demo block: ChatGPT and Copilot in action
• Real applications for marketing, HR, operations, and communications
• Risks, guardrails, and what to watch
• Where to start if you're brand new
• Q&A Location
1601 Pike Ave., EffinghamFees/Admission
$40 | non-members
*includes lunch
Cancellation Policy
*Cancellations of registrations and refunds will be issued in full if received on or before noon a week (seven weekdays) prior to the event. After noon CST on said date, no refunds will be issued. If the event is rescheduled, all registrations will be honored for the rescheduled date or may be refunded in full of a refund request**. If the event is canceled, all registration will be refunded in full. **Refund requests must be submitted in writing by email to Nicole Morrison. Please allow up to five (5) business days to process your refund request.Contact Information
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Description
Effingham County Chamber (Chamber) reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by the Chamber, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. The Chamber may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used, or contracted by the Chamber, including but not limited to brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc. If you do not wish to be photographed/video, please inform the Chamber.
AI in the Workplace
AI isn't just for tech companies anymore — it's already reshaping how businesses of every size operate, communicate, and compete. In this session, Chris Eley will cut through the hype and bring AI down to earth, showing real-world examples of how organizations are using tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, and other generative AI platforms to save time, serve customers better, and work smarter.
Whether you're completely new to AI or already experimenting with it, you'll walk away with practical takeaways you can actually use - from automating everyday tasks to improving your marketing and communications, to knowing what to watch out for as these tools continue to evolve. No technical background required. Just an open mind and a willingness to see what's possible.
Bio:
Chris Eley is the Director of Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Strategy at Midland States Bank, where he leads teams spanning data, analytics, automation, custom development, and AI - helping a community bank compete and innovate at a level typically reserved for institutions many times its size.
Before returning home to Effingham, Chris spent the better part of a decade in the St. Louis market, including nearly five years at World Wide Technology, one of the nation's leading technology solutions providers, where he partnered with Fortune 500 clients to deliver enterprise-grade technology at scale.
Today he builds and deploys AI tools in production environments - from employee-facing AI assistants to intelligent automation systems changing how his organization operates day to day. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Chris is passionate about making AI and technology practical and valuable for everyone - not just to engineers, but to the business owners, managers, and everyday professionals actually running organizations. He lives in Effingham with his wife and two sons.
