We spoke to three Richmond-based business leaders about how they’re currently using AI in their day-to-day operations. Their answers show that you don’t need a big budget or tech team to make AI work for your business.
Learning with AI—Without Compromising Values
Wes Gutting
Digital Strategist | Brand Management | Analyst, Wes Gutting Digital
Wes Gutting uses AI sparingly—as a reference tool and to quickly bullet-point large amounts of text. “I currently use AI sparingly, as a reference tool and a simple way to bullet-point a large amount of text,” he shares. While he avoids using AI in creative capacities for philosophical reasons.
One clear benefit AI has brought to his business is the ability to quickly grasp the basic building blocks of a wide range of subjects. “It gives me a sort of learning path to deepen that understanding,” Wes explains. For him, AI is less about generating content and more about accelerating how he learns and organizes information.
Time-Saving AI for Everyday Tasks
Jack Shannon
Payroll and HR Solutions, Dominion Payroll
Jack uses AI in simple but impactful ways each week:
- Route Planning: He uses AI to map out efficient routes when delivering thank-you notes to clients and prospects.
- Email Editing: Like many professionals, he uses AI to edit emails for clarity and brevity.
Dominion Payroll also integrates AI into its core services:
- Resume Sorting: Helps hiring managers match applicants to job descriptions.
- Conversational Virtual Assistant (CVA): Offers an AI support option alongside classic human support from the Richmond team.
- Predictive People Analytics (PPA): Uses AI to analyze workforce trends and predict hiring needs across roles and locations.
From small daily wins to strategic HR planning, AI is enhancing the way Dominion Payroll serves clients.
Using AI to Streamline Internal Processes
Maurice Sykes
Founding Member, Cam’s Cleaning Service
Maurice is putting AI to work in his back-office operations. He uses it to:
- Write job postings
- Refine employee handbook content
- Craft disciplinary documentation
- Create slide decks for training
“AI has helped me craft messages and documents that would have otherwise taken a significant amount of time to create,” Maurice explains. It’s especially useful when tailoring messages for tone and audience.
What This Means for Your Local Business
These Richmond business leaders prove that AI can help local businesses save time, improve communication, and support better decision-making—without a steep learning curve or major tech investment.
You might consider using AI to:
- Polish emails
- Draft social media captions
- Write job descriptions
- Summarize meetings
- Learn new topics faster
- Analyze trends in your industry
Want to Try It?
Start small. Pick one task you do often—like writing a job post or summarizing a meeting—and test how AI can assist. Free tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, or AI features already built into your software can help you get started.
Want to learning more about how AI works? We’ve broken it down into easy terms in this Learning Lab post.
Share Your Story!
Are you already using AI in your local business? We’d love to hear how!
Drop your experience in the comments—your insights could help another business owner take the next step.
