Speaker Series & Workshop: John Chen - AI as Your Small Team’s Superpower

Speaker Series & Workshop: John Chen - AI as Your Small Team’s Superpower

Unleash the power of AI to level up your small team's game - discover how to do more with less at this innovative workshop & Speaker Series!

By NCIC - North County Innovation Center

Date and time

Location

North County Innovation Center (R&R Marketplace)

10174 West Florissant Avenue St. Louis, MO 63136

Agenda

5:45 PM

Doors Open

6:30 PM

Introduction: Mr. John Chen, President + Co-Founder of NIC & Urban Eats

Shonda Gray

Darius Williams

6:35 PM

Demonstration

John Chen

John Chen will walk through real-life examples of how AI tools like ChatGPT and voice notes can be used to create SOPs, training guides, and efficient workflows from everyday team tasks. Watch how si...

6:50 PM

Conversation

John Chen

Engage in a guided discussion around the practical challenges your organization faces. Share insights with fellow leaders and learn how others are using AI to overcome knowledge gaps, improve communi...

7:15 PM

Q&A

John Chen

Darius Williams

Shonda Gray

Bring your questions! This open session is your chance to ask John Chen about specific use cases, tools, or roadblocks. Whether you’re a beginner or already experimenting with AI, get personalized fe...

About this event

  • Event lasts 1 hour
  • Free venue parking

Small businesses and nonprofits often find themselves caught between ambition and execution, hindered by limited budgets and knowledge gaps. In this interactive workshop, John Chen will demonstrate how simple, accessible AI—using tools like voice notes, ChatGPT, and smart prompts—can transform everyday work into effective systems. You'll learn to build SOPs, training guides, and repeatable processes from what your team already does, empowering you to amplify capacity and close the execution gap without hiring more staff or spending more money.

John Chen is an engineer-turned-social-entrepreneur and the co-founder of the Neighborhood Innovation Center and Urban Eats in St. Louis. With a background in process improvement consulting and real-world experience as an “accidental restaurateur,” he brings both technical acumen and grassroots creativity to community-led innovation. Passionate about empowering local organizations, John combines technology, systems thinking, and accessible tools to help small teams scale impact and build sustainable operations.

Frequently asked questions

Who is this workshop for?

This session is designed for small business owners, nonprofit leaders, team managers, and anyone working with limited resources who wants to learn how to use AI to streamline operations, train their team, and scale impact.

Do I need to have AI experience?

No prior experience with AI is needed! This is a beginner-friendly session focused on practical tools and real-world applications using tools like ChatGPT and voice notes.

What should I bring?

We recommend bringing a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to follow along with demonstrations. A notebook for jotting down ideas or action steps is also helpful.

Will there be networking opportunities?

Yes! You’ll have time to connect with other professionals during the Conversation segment and before/after the session.

Is this an in-person or virtual event?

This is an in-person event held at NCIC (North County Innovation Center) - 10174 W Florissant Ave

Will food or drinks be provided?

Light refreshments will be available, but we highly recommend either eating dinner beforehand or grabbing something Cathy's Kitchen next door on the way in!

Is there a cost to attend?

The workshop is free (or include fee if applicable), but space is limited. Registration is required to attend.

Can I bring a team member or colleague?

Absolutely! We encourage small teams to attend together for maximum impact. Just make sure each person registers separately.

Tags

Organized by

NCIC - North County Innovation Center

NCIC organizes events that infuse purpose, passion, and practicality for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders looking to stabilize, sustain, and scale ideas that generate wealth and magnify economic legacy in and for the North County St. Louis area.

FreeJul 30 · 6:30 PM CDT