May 2024 Trends

A Businesses can link up with new police system

Real Time Information Center was launched last year in Greensboro.

Amap of Greensboro covers a series of screens on the wall at the police department’s substation on South Swing Road.

Those eight screens are combined into what’s called a “single pane of glass” to create one large picture. Hundreds of cameras across the city are represented on the digital wall map in colorful icons. They represent the cameras that officers wear and the ones on their patrol vehicles. Some reflect cityowned cameras at parking decks and venues like Tanger Center. Some show license

plate reader cameras.

Many represent local businesses who have agreed to share their camera feeds with the Greensboro Police Department’s Real Time Information Center.

“With all of our commercial and retail establishments, they are very frequently the victims of crime,” said Lt. Ryan Todd, executive officer of the department’s Information and Analysis Division, which includes the Real Time Information Center. “So, having that sort of swift integration, officers know exactly what’s happening, who’s involved, and what should be

the best approach.”

The Real Time Information Center officially launched last year with three sworn officers assigned to work there. Sometimes other officers will rotate in to help out. The team will soon expand with the addition of two non-sworn personnel.

Greensboro joins a list of North Carolina cities and counties that now utilize such centers. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Winston-Salem Police Department began operating

their centers in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Raleigh and Charlotte opened their centers more than a decade ago.

“Greensboro is starting this at a good time because of how technology has advanced. It is easy to integrate cameras that are already being used,” Todd said. “You don’t have to have a tech wizard or an IT guru to get started anymore.”

Greensboro Police Department piloted parts of the

GMA aids school careers program

t Southeast High School, students this fall will be able to study for careers as fabricators, machinists or engineers — indemand jobs with potential salaries as high as $93,000. They’ll be able to enroll in internships or apprenticeships while in school, earn professional credentials, and get college credit that they can use to pursue higher education.

They’ll be able to do this in the new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Signature Career Academy at Southeast High, which will serve students in grades six through 12, joining a slate of other academies also focused

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Center City AM Briefing

Music man

Chris Eaton, director of development and public relations, shares the latest news about the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra during the April 9 Center City AM Briefing. The briefings are open to anyone who lives in, works in or supports the downtown Greensboro area.

Greensboro Police Department launched a Real Time Information Center last year. It connects with cameras across the city to provide officers with information in real time.

Photo courtesy of Greensboro Police Department

Name: Nicholas Pappas

Residence: Graham Age: 32

Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Alabama

Business: Brand Connect

Role: Brand specialist

Responsibilities: I lead strategic initiatives to cultivate and enhance brand identities through signage and branded, print materials for our clientele. I am dedicated to helping local businesses in North Carolina

REMEMBER WHEN ...

J.M. Hendrix founded GMA

The Guilford Merchants Association was founded in 1906 by businessman J. M. Hendrix in an effort to create a spirit of cooperation among downtown Greensboro merchants.

Through GMA, a group of center city businesses banded together to promote downtown commerce, organize marketing promotions, share resources and champion community initiatives.

One of the services the new organization provided was a book of credits which was the precursor to the credit information and collections company operating as the Credit Bureau of Greater Greensboro and known today as FirstPoint Inc.

President & CEO

Vice President

Operations/Special Events Coordinator

Membership Development

Administrative Assistant

TRENDS is published for the members of the Guilford Merchants Association.

Publication Coordinator – Michelle Bolick Phone (336) 378-6350

225 Commerce Place, Greensboro, N.C. 27401 www.mygma.org

with marketing solutions that not only captivate but endure.

On GMA: As a first-year member, I’ve already found value in the networking opportunities provided by GMA. We are given the tools and support to engage local business while positively impacting the community overall.

On GMA benefits: One benefit of joining GMA is the access to exclusive networking events that offer opportunities to make meaningful and professional relationships.

These connections have given me knowledge and mutual support within the local business community.

On Risers: Because of Riser’s meetups and workshops, I have had the chance to meet others who share similar goals and interests, plus the workshops offer practical advice that helps us grow in our careers. Overall, it’s been a fantastic way to network as a young professional.

Personal: Taekwondo black belt, acoustic guitarist, video editor, and foodie

Nicholas Pappas Brand Connect 336-706-2511 nick@brandconnect.online brandconnect.online

March 29, 2024 at GMA

G. Mark Prince

Michelle Bolick

Monzi Jimenez

Sharon Smith

Melinda Thomas

The Guilford Merchants Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1906. The Association is a business membership organization focused on supporting member companies with educational programming, lead generation activities, marketing opportunities, and overall enrichment while serving as a catalyst for community growth and prosperity.

KeTesha Little-Cofield, city of Greensboro (left) and Kelly Ingram, city of Greensboro, enjoy the sunny weather as they pose for a photo at the March 29 Meet and Eat at the Guilford Merchants Association. Giannos served up some delicious, free pizza, compliments of GMA.

GMA members line up for pizza. Pictured from left are: Angela Brooks, FirstPoint; Nikki Corbett, Precise Creative; Laila Hosseinzadeh, United Way of Greater Greensboro; Tinker Clayton, stitchFX; Emily Shaffer, More Time Concierge Services; and Salem Owens, Rent-A-Home of the Triad Inc.

RTIC

Continued from page 1

program first with various segments of the department, from crime analysts to patrol officers to detectives, Todd said.

Now that it is up and running, they’re working to expand the network of cameras that feed into the system, which uses a platform by Fusus, a Georgia-based company.

Todd gives tours of the facility, which is temporarily housed at the department’s District 3 substation on South Swing Road. The goal is to move the Real Time Information Center to the downtown police headquarters once space there is renovated.

Most of the 300-plus cameras connected directly to the Greensboro Police Department system are through businesses. About three dozen are Greensboro Department of Transportation cameras.

That doesn’t count the hundreds of other cameras the Real Time Information Center can also access but don’t feed directly into the department’s system. And it doesn’t include any residential cameras where homeowners have agreed police can contact them when they are looking for video in that area.

Along with camera locations, the system has access to data from 911 and the police department’s records management system. The latter includes officer reports, including any notes and updates.

The department also has two mobile video trailers that were donated in October by the Greensboro Police Foundation. The devices, which are self-powered, can be used at large events such as festivals. The trailers have four cameras with pan, tilt and

Courtesy of Greensboro Police Department

Lt. Ryan Todd talks about the integrated data being used at the Greensboro Police Department’s Real Time Information Center during a Dec. 6 interview with Itinease McMiller from WFMY News 2.

How it works

Business

• Get connected to the police department’s Real Time Information Center system by sending an email to rtic@greensboro-nc.gov

• GPD will send out an officer to help the business in integrating its existing security camera system with the department’s Fusus system.

• Pick which cameras you want the police department to have access to. Only the cameras identified can be accessed by police.

Residential

• Sign up directly at https://greensboropd.fususregistry.com/ or by scanning the barcode.

• Indicate how many cameras you have available.

• If police need video from your location, they will contact you, usually by text or email. You can respond with any video clips you want to share.

zoom capability.

“It’s a bit of a deterrent,” Todd said, noting that people see the cameras and might decide not to commit a crime.

Having access to real time feeds means police can observe and investigate a suspect fleeing a scene or check on the status of a reported wreck.

For residential cameras — a Ring doorbell, for example — police would

reach out to ask if the homeowner had any footage from a certain time period. If they do, they can send it directly to the Real Time Information Center, which can then share it with officers. This comes in handy when trying to track down information on break-ins in a neighborhood, for example, Todd said.

At no time does the police depart-

ment have access to a real-time feed of residential cameras, Todd said.

Officers in the Information center can also pull up building schematics to help guide emergency personnel at a scene to victims or show officers the safest approach when facing an armed assailant, for example.

For cameras where they have access to live feeds, officers in the Information center can view what is happening by “jumping in” to the feed to watch in real time. That can be useful in such situations as a patrol officer chasing a suspect who throws something out the window. Officers in the center can note on the map where the item was thrown out and dispatch another officer to search the area, all while the original officer continues to concentrate on the pursuit.

Cameras are often part of a company’s security plan.

“The cameras themselves do not make someplace safer, necessarily. Crime can still occur there,” said Sgt. Eric Sigmon, noting that banks have had cameras for 50 years but still get robbed.

However, sharing that live feed with police, “that gives us a better opportunity to send the right amount of resources,” when something does happen, Sigmon said.

Connecting to the police department’s system is not a far stretch for businesses that are already making security investments, Todd said.

“Most businesses that you go to are making some kind of security investment, whether it’s camera systems or burglar alarms. I mean, that’s all security investment,” Todd said.

“And since they’re already making that investment, what they’re doing through the Real Time Information Center is giving us the opportunity for our response to be swifter, more accurate.”

A magical night

Annual Dinner Scenes

Koury Convention Center

A performer dressed in a costume covered in mirrors poses for a photo with Felita Donnell, retired (far left); Mebane Ham of Hanes Lineberry (second from left); and Louise Courts of Guilford Education Alliance (right).

Katie Nordeen of Fox8 WGHP served as emcee during the Guilford Merchants Association Annual Dinner.

Dylan Denning, High Point University (left) and Connor Harris, High Point University share a drink during the cocktail party that was sponsored by the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Tina Jenkins, MI-BOX Moving & Mobile Storage (left) and Dede Potter, MI-BOX Moving & Mobile Storage (right) pose for a photo at the Annual Dinner.

Comedian, author and magician Penn Jillette amazed the audience at Guilford Merchants Association’s Annual Dinner on April 16 in the Guilford Ballroom of the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel/Koury Convention Center. Hundreds of GMA members with their employees and family members attended. The annual dinner is the only official meeting of the members of the association.

At right: Dan and Jana Tucker of Triad Boat Detailingnever miss a GMA Annual Dinner.

A group from GMA member and Annual Dinner sponsor Brown Investment Properties, Inc. poses for a photo with guest speaker Penn Jillette (back row). Pictured from left are: Doug Fogartie, Vince Howard, Holly Harmon, Martha Brown and Chester Brown. Penn Jillette wowed the crowd with illusions,

gig. He’s

an author, comedian and businessman. He currently co-hosts the CW series “Penn & Teller: Fool Us!”

Above: Penn Jillette (left) poses for a photo with Chris Brewer of Bravo Signs.

At right: Penn Jillette performs a magic trick with the help of a volunteer from the audience — Lisa Hazlett, president of the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship.

First Bank employees Gladis Cheriyan (left) and Erin, pose for a photo together.

David Parrish, chairman of the Guilford Merchants Association Board of Directors, speaks at the Annual Dinner.

Mark Prince, president and CEO of GMA/FirstPoint (left) poses for a photo with Michelle Bolick, GMA vice president

Follow these best practices for using AI in sales, marketing

BY ADRIENNE CREGAR JANDLER BUSINESS

Small businesses can now affordably leverage AI to maximize efforts in sales and marketing; it’s no longer just for tech giants. There has been an explosion of integrated AI functionality in almost all software as a service platforms, which can feel overwhelming when trying to determine which tools to use, and how. Here are some tips to help navigate best practices and to avoid common pitfalls.

Things to do:

• Focus on Personalization: Customers have become accustomed to having experiences tailored to their needs. AI can analyze data to understand and serve up individual preferences. You can leverage this to craft personalized emails, product recommendations, and more. For example, sending birthday discounts or suggesting complementary products based on past purchases.

• Automate the Mundane, Not the Magic: AI excels at repetitive tasks, freeing up your team’s time for strategic outreach and building relationships. Automate tasks like meeting scheduling, email sending, data entry, or social media posting. However, resist the urge to automate everything. The human touch remains

Donation

Continued from page 1

on career and technology education in Guilford County Schools.

And soon, students will get to study in a space renovated to support their career paths, thanks to a $1 million boost through grants from GMA/ First Point and the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation. The two grants — $500,000 from each organization — will be combined with $800,000 in federal funding to pay for the renovations, said Jose Oliva, chief of staff for Guilford County Schools.

GMA announced the donation at its Annual Dinner last month.

SUCCESS

vital in sales, especially for building rapport and handling complex inquiries.

• Data is King: AI thrives on data. Integrate your CRM, marketing automation platform, and website analytics to create a rich data pool. Focus on collecting relevant, high-quality data with user consent to ensure accurate insights and avoid privacy concerns.

• A/B Testing is Your Friend: Don’t just assume what works. AI can help you A/B test marketing campaigns, email subject lines, and landing page layouts. You can see what resonates best with your audience and continuously refine your approach based on data-driven insights.

• Measure and Adapt: Don’t implement AI and walk away. Track the performance of your AI-powered initiatives. Analyze metrics like lead conversion rates, customer engagement, and website traffic to maximize your results and ROI.

• Embrace Transparency: Be upfront about your use of AI. Let customers know how their data is used to

“Since 1906, GMA as an organization has backed significant projects for the Piedmont Triad area. As we look to continue supporting economic development in the region, we are excited to make a substantial investment in young talent in our community,” said David Parrish, chairman of GMA/ First Point. “This will be the largest grant distributed since our foundation fund was established in 2015.”

Mark Prince, president and CEO of GMA/FirstPoint, said he’s excited to “launch this project, which will empower our students while investing in our future workforce.”

Jim Melvin, president and CEO of the Bryan Foundation, added: “We are proud to

personalize their experiences. Things to avoid:

• “Shiny Object” Syndrome: Just because a tool boasts AI doesn’t mean it’s a great product or the right fit for your business processes. Identify specific problems in your sales and marketing processes that AI can address. Don’t get caught up in the hype – choose tools that solve real business challenges.

• Ignoring the Human Touch: AI is a powerful tool, but it can’t replace human interaction. Don’t rely solely on AI-generated sales or support efforts. We’ve all experienced impersonal, canned, poorly-done automated responses. AI is a great support for your team but shouldn’t replace it.

• Neglecting Data Security: AI relies on data, and data breaches can be devastating. Implement robust security measures to protect customer information. Regularly update software and ensure that any AI tools you use comply with data privacy rules.

• Letting AI Run Wild: AI algorithms can perpetuate existing biases that are present in the data they’re trained on. Regularly review your AI tools for biases and adjust them as needed. Ensure that they are aligned with your company’s values and don’t

continue making significant investments in economic development in the Piedmont Triad.”

There are a lot of jobs coming to North Carolina, Oliva said, pointing to the Toyota battery plant in Randolph County as one example.

“We are the talent pool for many of these jobs,” he said. “So we’re trying to make sure students are able to participate.”

The district launched the specialized academies in the 2020-21 academic year as part of its career and technical education programming. They cover such career pathways as pharmacy technician, biotechnology research, engineering, drone technology, artificial intelligence, and

lead to inaccurate conclusions or discriminatory practices.

• Beware of illegal usage: While AI is great for doing research and generating ideas, it can sometimes supply trademarked information, artwork, and other protected material sourced from the internet. Always prompt for sources and check them to ensure you are not inadvertently using someone else’s content without permission (which does have legal repercussions).

• Setting Unrealistic Expectations: AI isn’t a magic bullet. It’s a tool that requires proper implementation and ongoing optimization. Don’t expect immediate results. Be patient, track progress, and refine your approach to maximize the benefits of AI.

From streamlined sales processes to hyper-personalized marketing campaigns, AI can be a game-changer. The key to success lies in using it responsibly and with a clear focus on achieving your business goals.

Remember, AI is a powerful tool, but it’s your involvement and direction that unlocks its true potential.

Adrienne Cregar Jandler is president of Atlantic Webworks.

336-855-8572 www.atlanticwebworks.com

global logistics and supply chain management.

Enrollment has grown from just under 400 students to about 660 last year, which saw the first cohort of students graduate, the district said.

At Southeast, an existing building between the high school and middle school will be renovated for the new

program. Part of the building is already being used for career and technical education programs so it is a good fit, Oliva said.

The program will kick off at Southeast High before the renovations are complete.

The district is also replicating the Southeast program at Jackson Middle School and Smith High School.

Mark Prince, president and CEO of GMA/First Point (left) and Richard Beard, Greensboro Sports Foundation and past chariman of GMA/First Point (right) present a $500,000 check to Guilford County Schools during GMA’s Annual Dinner on April 16.

Dynamic Quest

March 19, 2024

Top right: Summer Wall (left), NXT Level Construction, poses with Tammy Kindley, Piedmont Paramedical Associates Inc.

Bottom right: Rome Clinard, Sir William Financial Group, poses with rolls of stickers used for the After Work Network event.

New member orientation

New members participated in orientation on March 19. Pictured are: top row, from left: Candler Matthew, Russell & Cook Insurance; Taylor Brown, Chubby’s 22; Robin Ivey, Chubby’s 22; Joe Michel, eBike Central; Kevin Sasser, Weaver Investment Company; Joshua Bondy, Josh Bondy Insurance & Financial; Richard Cole, Ace Home Check.

Bottom row, from left: Lee Mortensen, Revolution Mill; Bob Thomas, Gardener Bob; Kathy Bull, Kellin Foundation; William Porter, Porter & Co. Builders; Michelle Bolick, GMA.

Jody Clayton, Kisco Senior Living, hands out stickers to GMA members. The stickers are a fun way to get members to meet new people during the networking event by looking for someone with the same sticker. The more stickers matched, the more chances to win a prize.