This one-day, hands-on workshop is designed to equip participants with the practical skills, strategic understanding, and confidence needed to use AI responsibly and effectively in their daily work. Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future consideration - it is the present reality shaping how organizations operate, innovate, and remain competitive.

AI is designed to support human work, not replace it.

Topics Covered:

Why AI Anyway?

Understanding How Effective Prompting is Key

Case Studies - Data Analysis

Bias, Hallucinations, and Overcoming Them

Ethics

Build a Custom GPT & Agents!

A fast-paced 2-hour preview of the full series. Includes a live AI demo using real audiencesuggestions, a hands-on prompt exercise, and an overview of all upcoming sessions.

Participant Takeaway: Series Overview Card plus a Prompt Quick-Start Sheet with five prompts to trybefore the next session

*Breakfast will be provided*

Six hands-on workshops plus an Introductory Sampler and built-in Flex Session coveringAI basics, practical tools, small business applications, leadership and change management,enterprise governance, and consent law - all built for working professionals in the Danvillearea. No jargon. No hype. Just skills you can use the next day. This series is great for Business owners, managers, supervisors, operations and manufacturing staff, HR andcompliance professionals, career changers, and anyone who wants to stay ahead of AI intheir workplace. No technical background required. 

9/8/26 - Introductory Sampler - 8am-10am

Most Valuable For: Everyone - no prerequisites, open to allA fast-paced 2-hour preview of the full series. Includes a live AI demo using real audience suggestions, a hands-on promptexercise, and an overview of all upcoming sessions. Participant Takeaway: Series Overview Card plus a Prompt Quick-Start Sheet with five prompts to try before the next session.

9/22/26 - Workshop 1 - AI Basics for the Real World - 8am-11:30am

Most Valuable For: Everyone - no prerequisites, open to allA fast-paced 2-hour preview of the full series. Includes a live AI demo using real audience suggestions, a hands-on prompt exercise, and an overview of all upcoming sessions. Participant Takeaway: Series Overview Card plus a Prompt Quick-Start Sheet with five prompts to try before the next session.

10/6/26 - Workshop 2 - AI Tools for Your Job - 8am-11:30am

Most Valuable For: Working adults, workforce program students - basic AI awareness helpful, Practical prompt engineering, writing and communication tasks, research support, and AI tools mapped by job type. Includes the Prompt Rewrite Challenge and industry-specific breakout groups. Participant Takeaway: Laminated Prompt Formula Card and a curated AI tools list organized by job type.

10/20/26 - Workshop 3 - AI for Small Business and Operations - 8am-11:30am

Most Valuable For: Small business owners, managers, operations staff, entrepreneurs. Where AI delivers real ROI, a practical use case framework, AI for operations and marketing, what not to automate, andcybersecurity basics. Includes the ROI Estimation Exercise and Tool Evaluation Mini-Lab.Participant Takeaway: AI Opportunity Worksheet - a one-page self-assessment tool participants complete for their own business.

11/3/26 - Workshop 4 - Leading Through AI - 8am-11:30am

Most Valuable For: Supervisors, department heads, managers, decision makersWhy AI initiatives stall, building an AI-ready team culture, governing AI use, Lean-informed change management, andbuilding a 90-day adoption plan. Includes the Scenario Table exercise and Stop/Start/Continue activity. Participant Takeaway: 90-Day AI Adoption Playbook template - completed during the session, ready to implement Monday morning.

11/17/26 - Workshop 5 - AI Governance - 8am-12pm

Most Valuable For: IT leaders, compliance teams, department heads, HR staff Enterprise AI governance using a three-tier classification framework, Tool Registry, and AI Champion Program. Drawn fromreal-world implementation experience. Includes a hands-on tool audit and shadow AI scenario exercise.Participant Takeaway: Three-Tier Classification Reference Card and a blank Tool Registry template.

12/1/26 - Workshop 6 - AI Transcription and Consent Law

Most Valuable For: Managers, HR teams, legal and compliance staff, anyone using AI meeting tools Federal and Illinois consent law, all-party consent states, BIPA and voiceprints, cross-state exposure rules, and real 2025-2026 case law. Includes a consent audit, state map exercise, and policy gap analysis. Covers practical compliance, not legaladvice. Participant Takeaway: All-Party Consent State Reference Card and an AI Recording Policy Template ready for legal review.

12/15/26 - Flex Session (included at no additional cost) - 8am-12pm