Lancaster Thriving Winter 2026

WINTER 2026

THE TECH ISSUE:

Explore how AI, automation and digital tools are helping Lancaster businesses work smarter, strengthen teams and drive productivity.

Technology Solutions for Business pgs. 6, 12, 17, 20, 24, 28 Beyond the Website: Your Google Business Profile is a Marketing Engine pg. 21 Transforming Business with AI: Lancaster’s Path to Productivity pg. 25

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AI: The Next Renaissance

Contents 11

Leaders Who Ignore AI May Not Lose Their Job—But They’ll Lose Their Relevance Today’s leaders must learn and leverage AI to remain relevant in a future defined by rapid technological change.

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Building Responsible, Ethical & Creative AI-Ready Leaders Elizabethtown College is shaping responsible, AI-ready graduates through ethical innovation and industryaligned learning.

COVER PHOTO: Zack Kass, CEO & founder of ZK.AI Advisory and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI at the Lancaster Chamber 153rd Annul Dinner on June 18, 2025, presenting his keynote, AI The Next Renaissance.

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At the Lancaster Chamber’s 153rd Annual Dinner, Zack Kass, former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI and a futurist advisor, delivered a powerful keynote centered on the transformational impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for thoughtful adoption. Kass urged business leaders to embrace adaptability, learn continuously and lean into the human side of work—empathy, storytelling, creativity—because those qualities will become increasingly valuable in an AI-driven world.

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Small Teams, Big Impact: How AI Can Accelerate Your Business Small teams can use AI to automate tasks, spark innovation and drive major impact through practical, real-world examples.

6,12,17, 20, 24, 28 Technology Solutions for Business Find curated resources of technology tips from local technology solution & consulting companies that help your business harness the power of technology.

31 | O ut & About: Member Ribbon Cuttings & Grand Openings 33 | Welcome New Members 34 | L ancaster Chamber Upcoming Events 35 | L ancaster Chamber Member Anniversaries

Spread the Word #LCThriving #LancasterThriving #HoffPubs #LancChamber

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A Letter from Heather Valudes

President & CEO of the Lancaster Chamber

A

s we enter a new year, this edition of Thriving! invites us to look ahead with both curiosity and confidence.

Across Lancaster County, businesses of all sizes and

industries are considering the question: How can we use

technology not just to keep up, but to move forward with purpose?

In this issue we explore how digital tools are reshaping the way we work, serve customers and grow. These innovations aren’t abstract concepts or distant trends, they’re tools that Lancaster’s businesses are already putting to work to streamline operations, strengthen cybersecurity, boost productivity and create new opportunities for both teams and customers.

We’re thrilled to feature insights from Zack Kass, 2025 Annual Dinner speaker, recapping his reflections on thoughtful adoption, responsible leadership and the human side of

Lancaster County has always been a place where innovation is matched with intention and where businesses lean into change with both optimism and grit. This issue reflects

technological changes—messages that resonate in other

that spirit.

articles throughout this issue. You’ll see insights from

Thank you for your continued partnership and for the energy

leaders across our community who are using AI to help small businesses compete locally, educators preparing students for an AI-driven economy and companies leveraging automation to solve real challenges on the ground.

From practical tips to conversations about ethics, creativity and workforce readiness, each article underscores the idea that embracing technology is not about becoming something

you bring to our community. Together, we will navigate this next chapter with clarity, courage and the collaborative mindset that defines Lancaster County.

Here’s to a year of learning, leading and thriving—powered by technology, but driven by people!

Warmly,

different, but about becoming stronger at what we already do.

Heather Valudes President & CEO, Lancaster Chamber

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Flexibility Is the New Workplace Standard.

Is Your Business Protected?

Today’s employees expect options. Hybrid work models, compressed workweeks, and flexible hours are no longer perks, but essentials for attracting and retaining top talent.

Supporting work-life balance keeps your team engaged and productive, but it also brings new risks and insurance considerations.

At Horst Insurance, we help Lancaster businesses stay protected while empowering employees with the flexibility they demand. Our tailored coverage ensures your business is secure — no matter how or where your team works.

Support your employees.

Safeguard your business.

The opinions expressed in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

EDITOR & CONTENT MANAGER: Justin W. Johnson Director of Marketing & Communications, Lancaster Chamber jjohnson@lancasterchamber.com Jared Spackman Marketing & Communications Specialist jspackman@lancasterchamber.com Aliyah Mengel Marketing & Communications Coordinator amengel@lancasterchamber.com

©2026 All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced electronically or in print without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

Lancaster Thriving!

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is published quarterly by Hoffmann Publishing Group, Reading, PA • 610.685.0914 HoffmannPublishing.com

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5

Technology Solutions for Business feature

PRACTICAL AI FOR YOUR BUSINESS Customer Service, Staff Support and Workflow Automation with Today’s LLM Tools Large language models (LLMs) are the engine behind many of the new “smart” features showing up in software—tools that write, summarize or answer questions from a plain-English request. For a small business, that means faster customer responses, quicker marketing content and easier access to your own information. The pattern is the same: Let the model do the routine language work so employees can focus on the parts you can’t automate.

(“when an email comes inhave the LLM classify itsend leads to the CRM, send support to tickets”) and n8n runs it. AI is one step inside the process, not the whole product.

Areas of Opportunity

2. S tart simple: Prototype non-sensitive tasks with public models, harden later.

Customer-Facing Chatbots and Assistants An easy starting point is customer service. Add an AI chatbot to your website or ordering page to handle the questions you get every day—hours, location, inventory, bookings, order status. Most people have seen these already: An LLM lets the bot understand normal questions and reply clearly, which means faster answers for customers and less inbox time for staff.

Internal Knowledge Assistants The same idea works inside the business. In retail, tech or service settings, an LLM can sit on top of your employee handbook, HR policies, new-hire training, and store procedures so staff can ask, “What’s the return policy on sale items?” or “How do I log inventory adjustments?” and get an answer right away. That cuts down on manager interruptions and enables staff to unblock themselves. In healthcare settings, a private assistant can surf visit notes or care instructions quickly and even draft parts of the note, so more of the visit is spent with the patient instead of in the EMR. Marketing and Content Creation Generative AI is effective at repetitive content: social posts, promo emails, product descriptions, event writeups. A local restaurant, boutique or nonprofit can keep a steady posting schedule by having AI draft the first version and a human adjust tone and local references. That’s how you stay visible without adding staff hours.

Two Ways to Add AI to Your Stack Most businesses will do one of two things: Put an AI assistant in front of customers/staff, or let AI help run a process in the background. OpenAI’s AgentKit is used for the first case—you define what the assistant can do (answer from your data, call a tool, complete a task), give it a chat-style interface and monitor it, which is ideal for support or “chat with our docs.” n8n is used for the second case—you draw the workflow

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Implementation Considerations 1. D ata/security: If you handle sensitive info, use business/ enterprise or hosted models; HIPAA-friendly setups exist but cost more.

3. I ntegration is the lift: Connecting AI to your site/CRM/EMR is where tools like n8n help.

4. K eep supporting documentation current: Chatbots/RAG systems can only answer from up-to-date documents. LT

BY LEONID KUKUYEV,

Founder, Red Rose City Tech Contact Leonid at leo@redrosecity.tech

Red Rose City Tech helps Lancaster-area organizations turn the current wave of AI into real, everyday improvements. That means looking at how work gets done—customer requests, internal emails, reporting, content creation—and using AI to speed up the parts that are repetitive or slow. It could be customer-facing responses, internal knowledge access, or content and documentation—the focus is always on getting tangible productivity gains quickly.

The goal is to enable teams to spend more time on the higher-value work that grows the organization.

AI: The Next Renaissance An In-Depth Summary & Analysis of Keynote Speech from Zack Kass (Summary generated by ChatGPT 4.0 from full keynote speech transcript) On June 18, the Lancaster Chamber hosted its 153rd Annual Dinner with Keynote Speaker Zack Kass, CEO & founder of ZK.AI Advisory and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI. Zack delivered a powerful keynote centered on the transformational impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for thoughtful adoption.

Zack Kass opened his keynote with an urgent message: the time to adopt artificial intelligence isn’t coming—it’s already passed. “The time to adopt was yesterday,” he declared, highlighting that the real barrier is no longer cost or access, but mindset. Kass cited the rapid drop in operational costs for running AI models: “GPT-4 was $60 per million tokens… today, it’s less than $1.40.” For businesses in Lancaster County, especially small-to mid-sized enterprises, this means the entry point to AI is more accessible than ever. Those who embrace this shift can unlock efficiencies, enhance

LancasterChamber.com

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service, and stay ahead of competitors who are slower to adapt. Adoption doesn’t have to start big—introducing AI to automate repetitive tasks or support customer service are practical first steps. What matters most is cultivating a culture of exploration, where teams are encouraged to learn and experiment.

Kass introduced the concept of “unmetered intelligence”—a future where access to advanced machine intelligence is as commonplace as electricity or water. “The cost of running machine intelligence will be so low that the computational power of our brain will pale in significance,” he explained.

This marks a pivotal change in the way businesses must think about AI—not as an elite innovation, but as a utility that underpins everything. For Lancaster County’s business community, this shift means the value won’t lie in merely having AI—it will lie in how it’s applied. Businesses should begin mapping where intelligence can be injected across departments: optimizing inventory, enhancing forecasting, automating communication. The winners won’t be those who adopt AI, but those who integrate it purposefully and creatively into everyday workflows.

While the promise of AI is immense, Kass made a critical distinction about the human experience of this transformation. “We’re not facing a job displacement crisis… we’re facing an identity displacement crisis,” he cautioned.

As roles evolve and traditional pathways shift, people may struggle not because they’re unemployed, but because the work that once defined their sense of purpose has changed. Lancaster businesses should take this to heart.

It’s not enough to talk about automation; leaders must also talk about meaning. Companies can prepare by investing in communication that reassures employees, providing reskilling opportunities, and fostering a culture where purpose is reinforced—even when roles shift. Supporting the emotional journey through change will be just as important as supporting the logistical one.

One of the most poignant moments of Kass’s address came when he described what he sees as the defining value of the human worker in an AI-driven world. “The immutable feature of being human has so much to do with not what we know, but how we make each other feel,” he said, recalling a story about his father, a physician who was chosen by patients not for having the best treatment plan—but for how he made them feel during their care. This is a powerful call to action for Lancaster’s service-oriented businesses. While knowledge

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may be commoditized by AI, qualities like compassion, trust, humor and empathy will only grow more valuable. Whether in healthcare, finance, education, or retail, organizations should double down on emotional intelligence. Training customer-facing teams to lead with empathy, personalizing service experiences and building authentic relationships will become key differentiators in a world where technical capabilities are universally available.

At the heart of Kass’s message was a call to lead with hope.

“Are you telling stories about how the future is getting better? Because if not, it doesn’t matter,” he said. In an age where fear and uncertainty often dominate headlines, Kass urged leaders to be intentional about creating and sharing narratives of progress and opportunity. For business leaders, this is not a soft skill—it’s a strategic one. A workforce motivated by fear is a workforce that hesitates. A workforce inspired by vision is one that innovates. Leaders across Lancaster County would do well to craft their own version of a hopeful future—whether it’s how AI will help them serve more people, improve their community impact or empower their teams. Optimism is not naïve, Kass reminded us. It’s foundational to action.

In a surprising but deeply resonant shift, Kass turned attention to the real world—literally. He argued that while we’ve become immersed in digital progress, we’ve neglected the physical spaces that foster true connection. “Can you create a world in which people want to go outside? That matters,” he said. For a place like Lancaster County— known for its strong sense of place and community—this is especially meaningful. Businesses have a role to play in restoring balance. Whether through office environments that prioritize wellness, events that bring people together or advocacy for vibrant public spaces, there’s opportunity to anchor innovation in human experience. Technology may connect us, but community keeps us grounded.

Kass also emphasized that the ability to adapt—to learn continuously and embrace change—will be the defining skill of the modern professional. “Please, please learn how to learn,” he urged, explaining that formal education matters less now than the capacity to stay curious and agile.

Businesses in Lancaster can lead by example, fostering cultures of learning that reward experimentation and allow room for iteration. Encouraging cross-functional collaboration, sharing AI resources internally and even hosting informal learning sessions can build resilience from

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within. In the face of AI-driven change, it won’t be the most experienced who thrive—it’ll be the most adaptable.

Perhaps one of the most locally relevant ideas Kass offered was this: transformation will be led not from the top down, but from the community up. “More change is going to be effected at a local level…in your school, in your community, in your city.” This is a powerful insight for a region like Lancaster, where civic pride, business collaboration and grassroots innovation are longstanding strengths. Local chambers, peer groups and small businesses have the agency to drive responsible AI integration, workforce development and ethical innovation at a scale that’s both personal and powerful.

Business owners don’t have to wait for federal policy— they can lead now, right here.

Finally, Kass reminded everyone that while AI may change the rules of work, it will never replace what it means to be human. “AI is going to make the world a weird place…and at the end, we are going to be forced to reconcile the fact that we have to be more human, not less.” For Lancaster’s business community, this is both a challenge and a charge: embrace the tools of the future but lead with the values of today. Innovation isn’t just about moving fast— it’s about moving with care, with intention and with each other. LT

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Key Takeaways from Zack for Business Leaders: AI is the Next Utility Kass introduced the idea of “unmetered intelligence”—a future where AI is as abundant as electricity or Wi-Fi: “The cost of running machine intelligence will be so low that the computational power of our brain will pale in significance.”

This shifts the competitive advantage from access to application. The real value lies in how local businesses use AI to solve problems creatively and efficiently.

Emotional Impact Will Outpace Economic Disruption Kass reframed the job loss narrative as something deeper: “We’re not facing a job displacement crisis…we’re facing an identity displacement crisis.”

This warning urges leaders to recognize that workers may struggle not with unemployment, but with the emotional consequences of change.

Supporting staff through transitions will require more than training—it will demand empathy, purpose, and clear communication.

Leadership Must be Human-Centered In an AI world, Kass argued, the competitive edge lies in being more human, not less: “The immutable feature of being human has so much to do with not what we know, but how we make each other feel.”

He shared the story of his father, an oncologist whose patients chose him not for his medical expertise— available anywhere—but for his compassion. That same principle applies in business: the human touch will remain irreplaceable.

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Build a Culture of Optimism “Are you telling stories about how the future is getting better? Because if not, it doesn’t matter.”

Kass urged the audience to reject doom-andgloom thinking and instead become sources of hope. For Lancaster County’s business community, that means using storytelling in marketing, HR, and leadership to energize teams and customers.

Reinvest in the Physical World While Kass is a technologist, he acknowledged the dangers of digital overdependence: “We built a world so fixated on our virtual experiences that we forsake the physical one…Can you create a world in which people want to go outside? That matters.”

This point is especially relevant for a region like Lancaster, where quality of place is a competitive asset. Businesses that invest in employee connection, experiential marketing and real-world engagement will thrive.

Learn, Adapt, and Lead Locally Kass closed with this charge: “Start telling the truth. And… start telling stories about how the world can get better.”

In a time of great transformation, local leaders have an opportunity—and a responsibility— to lead not just through innovation, but through example. By embracing adaptability, doubling down on humanity and uplifting their communities, Lancaster County’s business leaders can help shape a future that is both technologically advanced and deeply human.

Point of View Leaders Who Ignore AI May Not Lose Their Jobs— But They’ll Lose Their Relevance Zach Kass, former OpenAI executive, painted a vivid picture of a utopian future at the Lancaster Chamber’s annual event—a world where artificial intelligence fuels scientific breakthroughs and gives back our most precious resource: time.

As much as I believe in AI’s potential to do radical good, I’m also skeptical that society will allow it to blossom free from the politics and consolidation of power that have defined every technological revolution. Kass’s message—that innovation should move fast, unregulated, with society left to self-police—follows Silicon Valley’s familiar playbook: let us cook so all can eat. It’s not entirely wrong. The geopolitical race for AI dominance is real, and America must compete.

But buried in that optimism was a warning: you better pay attention.

Kass acknowledged the nearer term, darker outcomes— “idiocracy,” “dehumanization,” and what he called “identity displacement.” That last phrase struck me deeply. If AI fulfills its promise of abundance, what becomes of our identity as workers? At Goodwill Keystone, part of a federated model of non-profits making the largest workforce development provider in North America, our collective mission is rooted in the power of work—the belief that work provides purpose, independence, dignity and stability. But what happens when work itself is no longer necessary? Humanity will need to redefine purpose in a world where survival and productivity are no longer the same thing.

Still, that’s tomorrow’s challenge. Today’s reality is that AI— especially large language models—has already transformed access to knowledge. The question every person should be asking is: How will this technology affect me, positively or negatively?

At Goodwill Keystone, we’re not waiting to find out. We’re the first Goodwill in the nation to teach AI Literacy as part of our workforce programs (January 2024). We’ve seen firsthand how AI helps people with barriers to employment—including those with disabilities and single parents facing what I call “time poverty.” For the mother juggling two jobs and kids, AI can act as a legal assistant, tutor, mechanic or dietician— imperfect, yes, but accessible where once it wasn’t.

That accessibility is revolutionary. For the first time in history, expertise once reserved for the affluent and highly educated is available to anyone with digital access. But it forces a new question: If knowledge is democratized, what is the new value of expertise?

Kass opened with the “zombie apocalypse paradox”—our tendency to believe we’ll survive better than others. His warning: Don’t assume you’re immune from disruption.

The message isn’t fear; it’s preparation. The leaders who understand how AI works—and how it fails—will shape its direction. My plea to every leader: Lean in. Learn it. Use it wisely. Because this AI future won’t wait for the cautious— and neither will relevance in a world powered by AI. LT

BY ED “KINGFISH” LADA, JR.,

President & CEO, Goodwill Keystone; Goodwill Keystone Area Foundation; Adjunct Professor, Penn State Harrisburg, BS in AI Methods and Applications Contact Ed at elada@yourgoodwill.org

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11

Technology Solutions for Business feature

THE GRAVEYARD OF CYBER SECURITY Do you or your company have a “graveyard” of end-oflife IT equipment sitting in a closet or storage area? If you answered yes, don’t worry, you are not alone. Or maybe you should worry but not because you are the only one storing those devices. I happen to run into this scenario on a regular basis. There are lots of businesses out there holding on to this equipment. Often, because they aren’t sure what to do with it. They know not to throw it in the trash. That’s good, right. Afterall, it’s just sitting there in a closet. What’s the harm in that?

Did you know this “graveyard” of IT equipment poses a cyber security risk? Honestly, it’s a potential “time bomb” waiting to go off. Let me tell you why.

First, did you know IBM does a study every year (https:// www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach) researching the average cost of a data breach? The 2025 report indicates globally that the number is $4.4 million dollars. The US, however, averages a whopping $10.2 million dollars! So why would a closet full of “dead” equipment pose a potential data breach?

Think about who has or potentially has access to the closet.

How about a disgruntled employee? One day, said employee decides to sneak into that closet, and takes a laptop home.

Or what about the outside vendor who decides to take a peek in that closet and thinks who is going to miss one of these computers? There are lots of them in there and the closet doesn’t seem to change. If anything, it gets fuller.

Vendor decides to snag a computer and now has access to all that information. What about a break in? The items in that closet have value. I think you got the picture.

Your company’s cyber security should have a cradle to grave process. And yes, the grave is as important as the cradle aka when the computer is turned on. There is lots of information sitting on those hard drives you wouldn’t want to get out into the world, causing a data breach. Unfortunately, we don’t always think of those turned off computers as a risk. They are! Your cyber security plan should include what you are doing with that closet full of computers.

The good news is there is a way to safely and securely dispose of those items, all while keeping your data safe and as a bonus, protecting the planet. Omega ECycles will pick up your end-of-life IT equipment. All asset identification tags as well as all memory aka hard drives/solid-state memory are removed. The drives are shredded, leaving no doubt the information is destroyed. The rest is recycled. You receive a Certificate of Destruction along with a Certificate of

12 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

Recycling. The best part is, it’s FREE. It’s free because Omega works with certified recyclers who purchase those items from them in bulk.

Remember, cyber security is a cradle to grave process. We, at Omega ECycles, can take care of your “grave.” LT

BY REESY NEFF,

CEO/Founder, Omega ECycles Contact Reesy at reesy@omegaecycles.com

Omega ECycles is a woman-owned, woman-led, endof-life IT asset recycling and data destruction company founded in 2021 by Reesy Neff. Built at the intersection of environmental responsibility and cyber security, Omega ECycles exists for one clear purpose: to protect both the planet and the sensitive information stored on retired technology.

After years of working in the highly regulated banking industry, Reesy saw a gap in the market. Businesses often had no clear, trustworthy option for disposing of outdated computers, servers and related electronics, especially one that also ensured data-bearing components were handled with the highest level of care.

Too often, equipment sat in closets or storage areas because leaders were unsure where to take it, how to document it or how to verify that data was truly gone.

Omega ECycles addresses that need with a secure, transparent approach to IT asset disposition. The company helps organizations confidently retire equipment through responsible recycling practices paired with verified data destruction, ensuring devices don’t become environmental waste or a future security risk. From small businesses to larger organizations, Omega ECycles is committed to making end-of-life IT simple, compliant and accountable.

Rooted in service and community, Omega ECycles reflects Reesy’s belief that success means leaving people and places better for having been there. By combining integrity, security-minded processes and a sustainability-first mission, Omega ECycles is helping organizations modernize how they manage technology from deployment to final disposition or as Reesy likes to say, from cradle to grave.

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Winning Local with AI:

How Lancaster Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Can Outrank Big Brands

W

ith adoption of artificial intelligence picking up pace by the day, small businesses in Lancaster and across the country no longer need enterprise budgets to win local search.

With a lightweight AI-assisted system, you can turn everyday data (reviews, FAQs, locations and community events) into search-ready content that helps you show up online in front of the right people and earn organic clicks while building brand loyalty.

I’ve been digging in quite a bit to discover ways to leverage AI to create efficiencies and level the playing field for the small players in the region. What I’ve found works is too good to keep to myself, so here are some of the things I’ve learned to help your business grow against the odds.

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Why AI matters, right now, for local businesses Local searchers reveal purchase intent in their queries, and national brands rarely match how Lancastrians speak or what they need. Anyone who has lived here for longer than a few years knows that Lancaster is indeed a unique place with unique traditions, values and business practices.

AI helps small teams translate real customer language into focused pages, add structured data that powers rich results and AI overviews, and lets you publish faster, so you show up first when it counts.

Add structured data to power Map Pack and AI answers Search engines, and now those pesky AI summaries, depend on structured hints to trust and display your content. Schema makes your pages easier to parse, verify and rank. By marking up services, FAQs, and locations, you increase eligibility for rich results and keep your brand visible as search evolves (and it is indeed evolving). Tip: Draft JSON-LD with ChatGPT and validate in Google’s Rich Results Test before publishing.

Cluster keywords with entities (how locals search) Generic “Services” pages spread authority too thin. The key is to take it a bit further by creating clusters. Clustering lets you build tightly focused, intent-matched pages around places, problems and products. Use AI to group keywords by town and task, then map one strong page per cluster with internal links that guide users deeper. Tip: For fast clustering and outlines, use ChatGPT plus the Semrush Keyword Magic tool.

Action steps: • Feed services and towns (Lititz, Manheim, Ephrata, Columbia) into an AI tool and request clusters by intent (emergency, maintenance, replacement) and locale.

• For each cluster, define a primary query (“furnace repair Lancaster”), related entities (brands, parts, neighborhoods), and 4-6 supporting FAQs. • Interlink clusters (“HVAC Repair, Emergency HVAC, SameDay HVAC Lancaster”) to signal topic depth.

Mine reviews to build winning FAQs and snippets Your reviews capture the exact words buyers use and the objections that stall conversions. Instead of tediously pouring through hundreds of reviews (definitely not fun), AI can surface themes fast and turn them into high-performing content. Summarize sentiment, extract benefit statements and convert recurring concerns into concise Q&A blocks that win featured snippets and reduce calls. Tip: Export reviews to CSV and have ChatGPT or Perplexity summarize themes and pull snippet-ready quotes.

Action steps: • Export Google/Facebook reviews and have AI group themes (speed, cleanliness, financing, after-hours—things that make you look like a hero).

• Write FAQ answers that resolve hesitations in two to four sentences. Keep one 35-45 word “snippet candidate” per question.

• Add a short “Why Lancaster chooses us” paragraph per service using review language and proof points.

Action steps: • Implement Local Business schema (hours, phone, geographic location, service area) and Service schema for each core offering.

• Mark up FAQ Page on service and town pages using the review-derived Q&As. • Use Organization and Offer where relevant (maintenance plans, seasonal specials) to support conversions.

Build hyperlocal landing pages that feel human Enterprise competitors often deploy thin, boilerplate city pages. So, here’s how we see local businesses taking advantage. The key is to win by publishing helpful, placesavvy pages that show real presence and faster response.

Ground each page in landmarks, recent jobs and seasonal context, and pair it with clear CTAs that promise speed and certainty. Tip: Draft town-page copy with ChatGPT, then refine entities and on-page signals using SurferSEO. Action steps: • Create town pages (Lititz, Elizabethtown, Millersville) with a consistent template: value prop, neighborhoods/landmarks served, two recent projects with photos, and a “Book Now” module. Just make sure to make them different enough to avoid duplicate content issues.

• Publish event/seasonal content tied to Lancaster’s calendar: First Friday retail tips, cold season roofing checks, pre-winter plumbing, spring allergy HVAC. We craft seasonal content for our home services clients to capitalize on increased, high-intent search during harsher months.

• Add driving-time badges (“At your door in 30 minutes from Prince Street”) and service-window CTAs (“Call before 2pm for same-day”).

Turn support tickets into automated Q&A content Your inbox and chat transcripts (if you don’t have a chatbot on your site, it’s definitely something to consider) reveal persistent questions that national sites overlook; AI can classify, summarize and transform them into a living Help Hub that captures long-tail search and reduces friction.

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Keep it fresh and interlinked so answers feed discovery and conversion. Tip: Use Zapier + ChatGPT to tag incoming questions and queue monthly Q&A updates.

•M ap Pack presence & engagement: rankings, click-to-call rate, and incremental calls by query.

Action steps:

•O rganic conversions by page type: booked jobs, forms, and tracked calls from service and town pages.

• Export six months of emails/chats and have AI categorize by topic (pricing, scheduling, prep, warranty).

•A ssisted conversions & paths: assists from FAQs/Help Hub/seasonal posts to bookings.

• Convert the top 10 questions into short guides with images or 30-second clips. Then link each guide to the relevant service/town page.

•V isibility quality: impressions, CTR for clustered keywords, eligibility for FAQ/snippet rich results.

• Schedule a monthly AI refresh that adds new Q&As and flags outdated entries.

Use AI well (and avoid the traps) AI should accelerate drafting, clustering and structured-data suggestions. It can do so much for your business, but as Peter Parker’s uncle wisely stated, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t add a section to caution you against using AI the wrong way. For example, our team safeguards local voice, accuracy and proof by digging deep and using AI as a partner, not a replacement for the strategy and creativity the team brings to the table. Misused, AI creates thin, generic “city pages” and other content that erode trust. Treat it as an analysis and drafting assistant, then add real Lancaster specifics only you can supply.

• Start with first-party data so copy reflects your services, towns, reviews and tickets.

• Keep a human in the loop to fact-check, tune voice, ensure accessibility and add proof.

• Don’t mass-produce boilerplate; publish fewer, better local pages with unique photos and job blurbs.

• Structure for machines, write for people with LocalBusiness/Service/FAQ schema and clear, helpful prose.

• Verify claims and sources to prevent inaccuracies that can destroy trust and remove superlatives you can’t substantiate.

• Protect privacy and brand by redacting PII and aligning drafts to your style guide.

Measure what matters to local growth Pick a small set of KPIs that connect effort to revenue, review them monthly and let results guide your next content and ads, not vanity metrics. Traffic doesn’t matter unless it leads to more conversions and growth for your business. Don’t lose that in all the excitement surrounding AI. Here are a few ways to measure your success.

16 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

•R eview momentum: new Google reviews per month (these are extremely important), response time and theme shifts that inform FAQs. • Sustainable cadence: a realistic, repeatable publication rhythm that you can maintain every month.

Bottom line: Win local with AI, on your terms With the data you already own, AI helps small Lancaster teams grab attention via search (including AI overviews), transform reviews and support questions into helpful FAQs, add structured data, and publish hyperlocal pages that win visibility and organic clicks.

Use AI as your analyst and drafting assistant, but be sure to keep humans for voice, proof, and local detail, and track what matters (calls, bookings, assisted conversions, and CTR) to refine what works.

The payoff is a repeatable, budget-friendly system that builds trust, turns searches into calls and converts firsttime customers into loyal advocates, so Main Street brands outpace national players at the exact moments customers choose. LT

BY ANTHONY GAENZLE,

Chief Marketing Officer, Sharp Innovations

Contact Anthony at agaenzle@sharpinnovations.com

Technology Solutions for Business feature

FINDING THE STORY BEHIND THE NUMBERS incredibly approachable and cost effective. You can build them yourself with some invested time and a willingness to learn, maybe even using AI tools like ChatGPT to act as a tutor. Or, if someone on your team enjoys figuring things out, give them a little time each week to explore. Many small businesses are surprised by how far a few hours of focused effort can go. If that’s not realistic, you can outsource a simple project or use prebuilt integrations. A small investment can create a lot of value.

I meet a lot of business owners who don’t realize they have company-transforming insights hidden in their data. They have reports, spreadsheets and tools that track all kinds of things, but lack a well-structured overview of what matters most each week. It’s not that they’re lacking the data, but they can’t visualize it in a clear way; a way that would ultimately change their perspective of the business.

That’s why I love helping business owners leverage reporting dashboards to understand their company better. Once your data is organized in a way that is easy to ingest, it’s surprising how often you will stumble across new insights.

Maybe specific inventory items are sitting much longer than you realized. Maybe customers are churning faster than you thought. Maybe certain product lines are trending up or down and no one even noticed. A great dashboard will tell you things you never even thought of asking by presenting the data in a clean way.

It’s exactly like reading the morning news. You don’t open the paper with one specific question in mind. You skim until something catches your eye, you click into it and suddenly a story you did not expect begins to unfold.

Imagine if you had to go searching for news headlines, rather than being served them automatically. How would you have heard about changes in local tax code? Would you have known to investigate tariffs and their impact on your business? Similarly, your data is no different. If you don’t know things are changing, you’ll miss giving them the due diligence they deserve. Instead, every dimension of your business data should be visually formatted in a way that makes any major trend stand out.

And here is the good news: You do not need a big IT team to build these dashboards. Today’s tools, like Power BI, are

At the end of the day, I believe every company should be equipped with the right systems for them. Not because they want to make their business higher tech, but because the right systems help people do their best work with confidence. And when a business owner tells me they saved a huge amount of money or discovered a new opportunity they would have missed, it reminds me why this work is so rewarding. Clear, accessible data that tells the right stories helps leaders make better decisions, and those decisions ripple out into stronger businesses. LT

BY ALEX MYERSV,

Data Analyst Consultant, Koble Systems Contact Alex at alex.m@koblesystems.com

Koble Systems is a Lancaster-based software company that equips inventory-heavy businesses with the ERP tools they need to run confidently. They support manufacturers, distributors, and service & supply companies with a single system that keeps orders, inventory, and financials in sync; helping them cut down on manual work, improve accuracy, and make decisions with clarity and confidence.

Koble’s mission is rooted in the belief that good systems should serve people, not replace them.

If your business is outgrowing spreadsheets or juggling disconnected tools, Koble can help you take the next step toward a fully integrated ERP. Reach the team at sales@koblesystems.com or (717) 442-3247.

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Building Responsible, Ethical & Creative AI-Ready Leaders

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lizabethtown College is committed to preparing graduates to become responsible, ethical and creative contributors to society. As the world adapts to rapid technological change and the rise of generative artificial intelligence, we must ensure our students have the tools, skills and knowledge to remain relevant and confident as they enter the workforce.

Across nearly every industry, AI is reshaping how professionals work, solve problems and innovate—and higher education is no exception. To support our students’ success, Elizabethtown College is focused on staying ahead of these shifts, integrating forward-thinking approaches that empower students to grow, lead and thrive in an AI-driven future.

18 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

First, we have an obligation to responsibly demonstrate the value and potential consequences of AI to students. As a tool, it can support and expand learning, but it can also easily overreach if used without caution. Allowing students to discover the tool and brainstorm is appropriate; however, establishing clear parameters for its use is essential and helps our students work more efficiently while holding set standards and boundaries to complete their research, which will benefit them in their future careers.

Moving AI-forward in an ethical environment is a priority. At Elizabethtown College, we take the use of AI very seriously across the campus with both students and employees. We’ve already created a taskforce with subcommittees focused on

responsible data use, curriculum, teaching, and advising, and the student experience. These task forces aim to ensure that the vast opportunities, concerns and rapid advances of AI get thoughtful and ethical consideration. The goal is how AI use on our campus can strengthen academic excellence, protect individual rights, enhance the student experience and support the College’s long-term vitality.

AI also enables us to create a safe and innovative environment where students can explore new ideas. With safety as our guiding priority, students are encouraged to experiment, take risks and learn through discovery.

It promotes students to think critically, broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding of an infinite number of possibilities. With responsible constraints, we are confident that AI is helping us to shape stronger college graduates that will go on to create positive impact on the world around us.

In respect to that commitment, Elizabethtown College partners with businesses and industries to develop programs that shape the world around us and help organizations move forward. The launch of our Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology reflects this commitment. The program prepares educators and professionals for leadership roles across K–12 education, higher education, educational technology, training and development, and a range of interdisciplinary fields.

Designed to equip aspiring leaders with essential expertise in artificial intelligence, educational technology, online learning best practices and cybersecurity, the certificate serves as a model for the type of forward-thinking, industry-responsive programming we can create. The College’s Office of Strategic Partnership and Innovation welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with any organization seeking to strengthen workforce capabilities and advance employee skillsets in an ever-changing world. LT

23 Annual rd

Art Auction & Gala February 26th, 2026

4:00 - 8:30

pm

Hosted at the Eden Resort Proceeds benefit Heart Gallery & Market, a Friendship Community program empowering artists with intellectual disabilities and autism. All auction artwork is created by these artists.

Scan QR to buy Tickets

BY KERI STRAUB, MBA,

Vice President, Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications, Elizabethtown College Contact Kei at straubk@etown.edu

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Trent Landreth & Family @DrawingsByTrent on social media LancasterChamber.com

19

Technology Solutions for Business feature

EMERGING WORKFORCE TECHNOLOGIES: Practical Adoption Strategies for Small & Mid-Sized Businesses

Workforce technology is evolving at a pace that can feel overwhelming. Artificial intelligence, digital learning ecosystems, collaboration platforms and automated HR tools are reshaping how organizations operate and how employees experience their work. For many small and midsized businesses, the question becomes less about what technology exists and more about what technology makes sense.

The encouraging reality is that today’s workforce innovations are more accessible and scalable than ever. Businesses no longer need large HR departments or significant budgets to benefit from AI-enabled tools. What they need is clarity, alignment and a thoughtful adoption strategy.

AI-driven hiring platforms, for example, help reduce bias and improve candidate matching by evaluating skills, experience patterns and behavioral indicators rather than relying solely on résumés. This allows smaller employers to compete more effectively for top talent. Digital learning platforms personalize employee development by recommending training modules based on current skills and career aspirations—ensuring continuous growth without adding administrative work.

Modern collaboration tools have also become integral to workforce productivity. They combine chat, video, scheduling, task management and workflow automation into unified platforms. For growing businesses where individuals juggle multiple responsibilities, these tools reduce friction, improve communication and support hybrid or distributed teams.

Info-Matrix works with organizations to help them determine which technologies address real pain points and align with their long-term strategy. The goal isn’t adopting every trend; it’s adopting solutions that simplify operations, improve employee experience and create sustainable value.

For businesses beginning their workforce-technology journey, a practical starting point includes: •A utomating repetitive administrative tasks, such as onboarding paperwork, approvals and documentation workflows.

• I ntroducing AI-enabled analytics to provide insight into performance, engagement and workforce needs.

•W orkforce scheduling to optimize resource utilization, provide adequate coverage, improve employee satisfaction and enhance customer experience.

•L everaging digital learning tools to build skill pipelines and support employee growth.

• I mplementing integrated collaboration platforms that eliminate communication silos.

20 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

These steps help organizations build a solid digital foundation without overwhelming teams or budgets. The key is incremental adoption—starting with solutions that solve immediate problems and gradually scaling as needs evolve.

Workforce technology does more than modernize processes—it enhances culture. By reducing administrative burdens, improving communication and providing tools for growth, organizations create environments where employees feel valued and supported. Technology becomes a catalyst for stronger teams, clearer decision-making and long-term resilience.

In an era where adaptability defines success, embracing workforce innovation isn’t optional—it’s essential. And with the right support, even the smallest organization can adopt technology with confidence and purpose. LT

BY NADINE KASSASSIR,

Business Analyst, Info-Matrix Corporation Contact Nadine at nkassassir@info-matrix.com

We are a Pennsylvania-based consulting and technology firm dedicated to helping organizations transform data, modernize operations, and unlock meaningful business outcomes. For more than 20 years, Info-Matrix has supported state agencies, county governments, and private-sector companies with solutions that blend analytics, strategy, and human-centered design.

From AI-driven insights and workflow automation to IT modernization, data governance and business intelligence, our team delivers technology that empowers people—not replaces them.

Our work spans human services, manufacturing, transportation, financial services, engineering, and other critical sectors across Pennsylvania. We specialize in simplifying complex operations, enhancing decisionmaking, and helping leaders deploy practical digital tools that improve efficiency, strengthen teams, and support community impact.

As a woman-owned business led by CEO Lisa Diamond, Info-Matrix is built on a culture of trust, service, and purpose. We are committed to helping organizations adapt with confidence in a rapidly changing digital landscape—turning technology into a catalyst for growth, connection, and long-term success. https://www.info-matrix.com/

Beyond the Website:

Your Google Business Profile is a Marketing Engine— Are You Giving It Enough Attention?

F

rom my experience working with small business owners over the years, most have claimed a Google Business Profile, but as many as eight out of ten neglect to update it. They treat it as a “set it and forget it” tool and that is bad for business.

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most critical digital assets you own. For too long, the GBP has been treated like a necessary evil—a box to check—and then forgotten about. Today, it is your business’s digital front door, primary marketing landing page and now the engine that feeds Google’s new, powerful Artificial Intelligence.

Did You Know: Your GBP can provide a helpful boost to your other marketing efforts? If you link your social media profiles directly to your Google Business Profile, Google will recognize and include those social media sites in its search rankings for your business. It’s a quick and easy win that ensures your entire digital footprint is connected, strong and highly visible to potential customers.

Your Google Business Profile: The Place Where Customers Take Action Think about how you use Google. When you search for “Lancaster coffee shop” or “plumber near me,” you are interacting with local results, not sifting through pages of organic links. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift:

continued LancasterChamber.com

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• Local Intent Dominates: Nearly half (46%) of all Google searches are driven by local intent.

(GEO), and continuous, active management of your GBP is the best way to influence this new customer journey.

• Instant Conversion Power: Shoppers on their smartphones are making high-value decisions fast. 28% of people who conduct a local search on their phone visit a physical location within 24 hours, and that same percentage results in a purchase.

Treat your profile like your storefront: polished, stocked and welcoming. Businesses that adapt now will find themselves front and center in AI-powered searches, while those that don’t risk becoming invisible in the age of AI.

• Action Happens on the Profile: Consumers are skipping the website! On the GBP alone, customers show high-intent signals: 34% request directions, 17% place a direct phone call, and 48% click through to the website for more details.

The Bottom Line: Your GBP is where customers go from searching to acting.

Future-Proofing Your Business: The AI Connection AI isn’t just reshaping how people search—it’s reshaping how they discover local businesses. Your GBP is no longer just a directory listing; it’s the data source AI is using to decide who gets shown and who gets skipped.

Google has declared your GBP as the verified, singular source of truth for your business data across its entire ecosystem, including Google Maps and, most importantly, the new AI Overviews (AIO).

The rollout of AI Overviews is changing how search results are consumed, often presenting a summary at the very top of the page. How does Google’s AI know what to include in that summary? It relies heavily on your GBP! If your profile is fully optimized, your business significantly increases its likelihood of being cited by the AI itself. This isn’t just old-school SEO; it’s Generative Engine Optimization

22 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

Three High-Leverage Activities to Master If you are committed to making your GBP a consistent lead generator, you need to focus on the elements that deliver returns—the things that send strong “active” signals to Google and your customers.

1. The Review Engine: The Ultimate Trust Signal The single most powerful factor under your control for achieving local search prominence is your review profile.

Reviews are integral to Google’s ranking algorithm and the primary determinant of customer trust.

• Your Job: Be proactive! Consistently ask for new reviews and reply to every single review, positive or negative.

A well-managed review profile separates your business from your competitors.

2. Photos & Videos: Visually Show Off What Makes You Great Businesses that commit to consistently uploading photos and videos can expect to see an increase in customer engagement. Visual content has been found to align with high-intent customer action. Imagine you’re traveling and hungry. You search for “pizza near me,” and right there—on the Google result—you see an amazing photo of the Meat Lovers Pizza from a restaurant just down the street.

•Y our Job: At a minimum, upload photos and videos (of products, staff, your storefront, events, etc.) once a week.

AI systems are using imagery to assess your business’s credibility and atmosphere—make sure you look your best!

3. Keep Your Profile Active with Posts (and Advertise Your Sales!)

This is the feature most of your competitors skip! GBP Posts are like social media posts and essential for maintaining your profile’s active status, communicating urgency and driving conversions directly from the search result page.

•Y our Job: Once a week, share a post about sales, upcoming events, new products or timely updates like weekly specials. It can be a post repurposed from your social media. Posts keep your profile looking current to customers and signal to Google that your business is active. They’re also perfect for sharing time-sensitive deals directly in search results.

Consistency is King (and Easier Than You Think) The great news is that managing your profile is incredibly easy—the challenge is consistency.

Treat your GBP like a high-value social media account, not an old phone book listing. A simple, 30-minute weekly check-in to post a new photo and/or video, schedule a post and reply to recent reviews can create a massive competitive advantage.

However, if you know that finding the time for this consistency is a hurdle, the data is clear: The high return on investment justifies professional help. The “set it and forget it” strategy not only misses opportunities but also exposes you to operational risk like profile suspensions or competitor tampering.

Whether you manage your GBP yourself with a weekly routine or choose a professional service, the choice is clear: Active, continuous management of your Google Business Profile is crucial for growth and visibility in today’s AI-driven world. LT

BY KRIS BRADLEY,

Founder, Namespark

Contact Kris at kris@namespark.co

Reyna ITS is a Cloud Solutions Provider.

Our Managed Services offering is based on the robust and best-in-class Microsoft 365/Azure Cloud Platform.

We have been serving small businesses with long-term commitment and dedication since the first day we opened our doors in 2008.

When you work with Reyna ITS, you engage an experienced and customer-focused professional Information Technology services provider and accomplished Microsoft partner.

Visit our website: https://reynaits.com or contact us today at (717) 553-2803.

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Technology Solutions for Business feature

EVERY CLICK COUNTS: Building Cyber Security Awareness at Work

You’re checking your email between meetings, and one pops up from what looks like HR. There’s a new benefits form to review. Just click the link. You’re in a rush, so you do.

Except it wasn’t HR. It was a scammer. And with one click, you may have handed them the keys to your company’s network.

•P ause before you click. If an email feels odd, verify it another way.

• Use strong passwords and MFA. A password manager plus multi-factor authentication is one of the easiest ways to reduce risk.

That’s how quickly things can go sideways online. Cyber security awareness at work isn’t just an “IT problem.” It’s everyone’s job. Anyone who uses a laptop, a phone or even that smart coffee maker on the office Wi-Fi.

• Lock your screen. Even if you’re just grabbing coffee or stepping into a quick conversation.

What Cyber Security Awareness Really Means

•K eep learning. Short, regular refreshers keep security top of mind.

Cyber security awareness isn’t about memorizing jargon or living in fear of your inbox. It’s about learning to spot trouble early and slowing down before you react. Cyber criminals count on people being busy, distracted or overly trusting.

Awareness breaks that pattern.

Think of it this way: • At home, you lock your doors and don’t hand out spare keys to strangers.

• Online, awareness is locking your digital doors and thinking twice before opening them.

The Most Common Traps A few tricks show up again and again in real incidents:

•R eport suspicious activity. Don’t delete and move on.

Loop in your IT or security team.

Cyber threats will continue to evolve, but people are always the strongest, or weakest, link. When everyone in the organization stays alert, the business becomes much harder to trick.

The next time an email feels “off,” trust your gut. Don’t click.

Ask a question. Double-check. Every safe click (or non-click) keeps your organization a little safer and helps everyone sleep better at night. LT

BY CHUCK MINGUEZ,

Sales and Marketing Team Lead, ONE 2 ONE IT Solutions Contact Chuck at cminguez@one2oneinc.com

•P hishing emails that look legitimate but are fake, often asking you to click a link or “verify” information.

•W eak passwords that are easy to guess, like “Password123” or anything based on your pet, kids or favorite team.

•O versharing online, where details about your role, travel plans or vendors can be used to craft convincing scams.

Once employees know what these look like, they can stop attacks before they start.

A Simple Story with a Big Impact Emma from accounting receives an email from what appears to be a software vendor saying her payment failed. The logo looks right. The sender name seems fine. But the tone feels a little off and oddly urgent.

Instead of clicking the link, Emma pauses and checks with IT. It turns out to be a phishing attempt designed to steal her login. Because she stopped and asked, nothing bad happened.

That’s cyber security awareness at work: quick, thoughtful decisions that protect the entire company.

Habits That Build a Safer Workplace You don’t need to be a security expert to make a difference.

Small habits add up: 24 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

ONE 2 ONE IT Solutions is a Lancaster-based managed service provider (MSP) that helps growing businesses simplify technology, strengthen cybersecurity and keep their teams productive. For more than two decades, ONE 2 ONE has partnered with organizations across Central Pennsylvania and beyond, providing fully managed and co-managed IT support, strategic vCIO guidance and layered security solutions designed for today’s threat landscape.

From day-to-day help desk support to long-term IT road mapping, ONE 2 ONE focuses on proactive, relationshipdriven service. The team works closely with business and community leaders to align technology with realworld goals, whether that means reducing downtime, protecting sensitive data or planning for growth.

Deeply rooted in the Lancaster community, ONE 2 ONE is committed to giving back through local partnerships, nonprofit support and leadership initiatives. At every level, the company’s mission goes beyond technology: to help organizations do their best work, confidently and securely, every day.

Transforming Business with Automation:

Lancaster’s Path to Productivity

W

alk into almost any Lancaster County business today, and you’ll likely hear the same story: “We can’t find enough workers.” This isn’t temporary.

The workforce is shrinking across industries, while customer expectations keep rising. Local businesses are discovering an unexpected solution: autonomous AI-powered robots that streamline operations, enhance customer experiences and drive productivity.

Today’s autonomous robots are sophisticated systems combining electrical engineering, mechanical design, advanced software, hardware integration and electronics— all working together to navigate and make decisions independently.

Real-world applications include autonomous delivery robots that transport food or supplies, self-guided cleaning robots that map spaces and optimize routes, interactive greeter robots that enhance customer experiences, and intelligent security robots that strengthen cybersecurity and physical safety protocols.

These robots work alongside people, handling repetitive or physically demanding tasks so staff can focus on customer service and strategic thinking.

Autonomous robots represent the convergence of AI and digital transformation reshaping business. Artificial intelligence enables real-time decision-making and

continued LancasterChamber.com

25

continuous improvement. Advanced sensors allow safe navigation and enhanced interactions. Sophisticated software coordinates electrical, mechanical and electronic systems seamlessly.

What once required enterprise-level budgets is now accessible to businesses of any size throughout Lancaster County.

Real-World Results: Strategies Any Business Can Use Hospitality: A major hotel chain struggled to clean 30 floors daily with limited staff. Autonomous cleaning robots now streamline operations, reducing overtime costs by 40% and improving guest satisfaction through consistent service.

Food Service: An entertainment center had servers walking miles daily. AI-powered delivery robots now handle transport, allowing staff to focus on customer engagement— resulting in faster service and 25% reduction in staff turnover.

Healthcare: A senior living facility faced meal delivery delays and complaints. Autonomous robots now deliver food and maintain common areas, improving satisfaction scores by 35% while reducing overtime costs.

Addressing Workforce Transformation Do robots eliminate jobs? No—they transform work and create opportunities. While robots handle repetitive tasks, they generate demand for higher-skilled positions: robot service technicians, automation integration specialists, AI-driven marketing coordinators, training specialists and operations managers.

Facilities using robots reduce staff turnover because employees feel more supported, less physically strained and can focus on meaningful customer interactions.

26 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

Understanding the ROI Autonomous AI robots deliver measurable returns through streamlined operations (30-60% reduction in time on repetitive tasks), enhanced customer experiences, increased productivity, strengthened security, workforce development pathways and operational stability.

Businesses that harness technology effectively gain sustainable advantages in efficiency, customer satisfaction and talent retention.

The Future of Work in Lancaster County Businesses embracing autonomous AI robots aren’t replacing people—they’re reimagining operations while creating new career pathways. Just as computers created IT departments and email spawned digital marketing careers, autonomous robots are generating entirely new technical professions.

Lancaster County businesses that harness technology effectively today position themselves for sustainable growth tomorrow—streamlining operations, enhancing customer experiences, driving productivity and building a skilled technical workforce for the future.

The question isn’t whether automation will transform your industry. It’s whether Lancaster County will lead that transformation or follow from behind. LT com

BY SAM PARANJPE,

Branch President, RobotLAB Delaware Valley Contact Sam at sam.paranjpe@robotlab.com

Getting Started with Business Automation Three Steps Any Business Can Take: 1. F ree Consultation: Discuss operational challenges and explore automation solutions 2. P ilot Program: Test a robot in your environment before committing 3. C omprehensive Training: Get your team operational—no tech expertise required Industries Seeing Results: Healthcare and senior living, hospitality, warehouses, education and corporate offices

The Workforce Opportunity: Every autonomous robot requires skilled technicians who understand: • Electrical power and battery management • Mechanical motors and moving parts • AI software and navigation algorithms • Hardware processors and sensors • Electronic circuit boards and cybersecurity Career pathways: Robot Service Technician, Automation Integration Specialist, Robotics Maintenance Engineer, AI Systems Coordinator Local Support: 610-427-2445 | robotlab.com/delawarevalley

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Technology Solutions for Business feature

STREAMLINE YOUR MARKETING with Purposeful Technology

In a competitive business landscape, efficiency and brand integrity are paramount. Many organizations struggle with disconnected marketing efforts, leading to inconsistent messaging, wasted resources, and missed opportunities.

The key to overcoming these challenges lies in adopting technology that not only streamlines processes but also empowers teams to make smarter, data-driven decisions. By centralizing marketing operations, businesses can unlock new levels of productivity and growth.

Tip 1: Automate and Empower Your Teams Marketing and sales teams often face bottlenecks when creating customized materials. Manual processes can be slow, cumbersome, and prone to error. A marketing automation platform, like GregoryScott’s MAP+, allows you to have a secure, browser-based portal where employees can create and deploy brand-compliant assets with just a few clicks. This empowers non-marketing staff to produce necessary materials quickly, freeing up your core marketing team to focus on strategic initiatives.

Tip 2: Ensure Unbreakable Brand Consistency

The platform now supports 27 uniquely branded properties, producing over 221,000 printed pieces monthly. Tim Eller, Senior Director of Production, called the solution a “game changer,” highlighting how it created operational, resource and cost efficiencies while improving their time to market.

This partnership demonstrates how the right technology can turn marketing challenges into a competitive advantage.

Take Control of Your Marketing By embracing technology designed with purpose, your business can streamline complex workflows and build a stronger brand. If you are ready to enhance your marketing efficiency and achieve measurable results, we invite you to see what GregoryScott can do for your organization.

Schedule a demo or visit GregoryScott.tech to learn more. LT

BY AMY LAPORTE,

VP, Client Engagement, GregoryScott Contact Amy at amy.laporte@theygsgroup.com

As a company grows, maintaining brand consistency across distributed teams becomes increasingly difficult. A centralized digital asset management system with built-in approval workflows is essential. Our MAP+ solution provides customizable templates and a structured approval process, ensuring every postcard, banner, or digital asset adheres to brand guidelines. This control eliminates costly design errors and reinforces a strong, unified brand identity in the market.

Tip 3: Leverage Data for Smarter Decisions Effective marketing relies on accurate data. To optimize your strategy, you need clear visibility into how your assets are being used, what your return on investment is, and where your resources are going. MAP+ offers real-time reporting on inventory levels, order statuses and CRM data integration.

This gives leadership the actionable insights needed to allocate budgets effectively, monitor campaign performance and make strategic decisions backed by reliable data.

Real-World Success with Erickson Senior Living These principles are more than just theory; they deliver tangible results. Erickson Senior Living, a national leader in retirement communities, transformed its operations using a custom storefront powered by GregoryScott. What began as a brand management tool evolved into a comprehensive marketing vehicle that drove significant efficiencies.

28 | LANCASTER Thriving! | Winter 2026

GregoryScott is a technology solutions provider dedicated to helping businesses streamline their marketing output with efficiency, control and brand integrity. Our mission is to look beyond today and anticipate how our clients can succeed tomorrow, delivering “Technology with Purpose.” We empower organizations to overcome common marketing challenges by centralizing complex processes into a single, user-friendly platform.

Our innovative MAP+ solution enables companies to create and deploy customized, brand-compliant marketing materials quickly and efficiently. From automating asset fulfillment to ensuring consistency across distributed teams, MAP+ provides the tools for growth. We believe in more than just software; we offer hands-on support and training to help our partners maximize their return on investment through actionable data and seamless system integrations. By partnering with us, businesses can focus on what they do best while we revolutionize their marketing outcomes.

Discover how GregoryScott can transform your marketing operations at GregoryScott.tech.

Small Teams, Big Impact:

How AI Can Accelerate Your Business

W

ith the rise of modern AI—barely three years old in its current form—small businesses keep asking the same question: How do we compete with bigger players using this technology?

At the recent Small Business Summit here in Lancaster, I spoke about this in my talk, “Small Teams, Big Impact: How AI Can Accelerate Your Business.” The focus came down to three things any organization can begin applying today: • A simple framework for understanding AI • A practical way to incorporate it into your workflows • A mindset that unlocks creativity, security and innovation I’ve been on the “technology treadmill” for more than two decades. We’ve survived—and thrived—through new

programming languages, new devices and the rise of mobile.

A colleague recently told me, “It’s been exhausting.” I get it.

But I’m still excited, because AI isn’t just another tool.

It’s a Lego-flywheel—a system that lifts us from the mundane, sparks new ideas and accelerates our ambitions.

AI is going to augment businesses, not replace them.

Hopefully, yours as well.

The Power of Small Small businesses have more going for them than they realize.

We’re lean, adaptive and fast. After running Dom & Tom—a boutique digital agency—for 16+ years, I can say confidently: Our size is our advantage.

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AI amplifies that advantage across three core parts of any business: • Back-office operations • Sales and marketing • Your core services or product delivery Before we ask where AI can help, we need to understand how it helps.

Automate, Augment, Accelerate Three practical ways to put AI to work inside your business: 1. Automate Automation hands off repeatable tasks to AI agents—whether using Zapier, n8n or baked-in meeting tools. Many virtual meeting platforms now handle automated notetaking (Otter, Firefly, Gemini for Google Meet, Zoom Notes), freeing your team to focus entirely on the conversation.

You instantly reduce noise and reclaim time.

2. Augment Augmentation makes your team more effective without replacing anyone. Think of AI as laying out the “tools on the table” so your people can focus on the work that matters.

Open Minds—AI Knowledge Engine (Healthcare) Problem: Tens of thousands of PDFs and research reports trapped essential knowledge.

Solution: A Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system turning their entire library into a conversational knowledge engine.

Results: Searches that once took hours now take seconds.

Dom & Tom Internal—AI for Engineering Velocity Problem: Multiple simultaneous projects slowed execution and increased coordination overhead.

Solution: AI-driven GitHub/Teamwork/Slack summaries, automated ticket creation, sprint retrospective intelligence and code-pattern scanning.

Results: Engineering velocity increased 25%; defect resolution doubled; QA cycles shortened—without adding staff.

The Human Side of AI AI works best when paired with human creativity, judgment and integrity. At Dom & Tom, our “no surprises” approach means we treat AI as a partner—not a replacement for the relationships and expertise that drive real business outcomes.

AI can draft proposals, generate marketing concepts, clean up documentation or create onboarding guides. Automation creates efficiency between steps; augmentation improves the steps themselves.

Technology should empower your teams, not overwhelm them.

3. Accelerate

Where to Begin

Small business owners wear a dozen hats. AI becomes a strategic partner—helping you explore ideas, brainstorm campaigns, validate strategies, draft job descriptions or act as an unbiased sounding board.

Start with one problem. Pilot one tool. Measure the result.

You’ll be encouraged by what you find. LT

The key: Train your AI to be honest, not just agreeable.

Case Studies: ProblemSolutionResult

The future of small business isn’t artificial—it’s amplified.

BY DOMINIC TANCREDI,

CEO & Co-Founder, Dom & Tom Contact Dominic at dom@domandtom.com

Reverse Logistics Invoice Automation (Shipping & Ops) Problem: A client processing cargo disposal at U.S. ports was drowning in manual billing and reconciliation.

Solution: AI-assisted automation that reads emails, extracts data, generates invoices and flags anomalies with Human-inthe-Loop oversight.

Results: Billing cycles shrank from days to hours.

Accuracy surpassed 90%. Collections improved.

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To learn more about how Dom & Tom helps small businesses adopt AI, visit https://domandtom.com or reach out at info@domandtom.com.

OUT&ABOUT GRAND OPENINGS & RIBBON CUTTINGS

BURNHAM HOLDINGS / US BOILER COMPANY

Grand Opening of Expansion 2930 Old Tree Drive, Lancaster, PA

GREET MANHEIM TOWNSHIP

Publication Launch Celebration 2930 Old Tree Drive, Lancaster, PA

BLUEPRINTS FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY

Grand Opening 317 N Queen St., Lancaster, PA

SALT & SUGAR

Grand Opening 113 East Walnut Street, Lancaster, PA

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PEOPLES SECURITY BANK & TRUST

Grand Opening 2343 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA

FILLING’S

Grand Opening 661 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA

FRIENDSHIP HEART GALLERY & MARKET

Grand Opening 118 North Water Street, Lancaster, PA

IVY REHAB & IVY REHAB KIDS

Grand Opening 107 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster, PA

LCA GRAND OPENINGS In partnership with Lancaster City Alliance and CRIZ (City Revitalization & Improvement Zone), the Lancaster Chamber has been honored to be a part of welcoming these new businesses into the Lancaster City business community.

THE DAVID O’SHELL STUDIO

5-Year Anniversary 323 N Queen St 101, Lancaster, PA

CHEVERE CAFÉ 910 South Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602 POCKET BOOKS ON PRINCE 23 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603 NOT BEIGE, HOME & GIFT BOUTIQUE 920 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603

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NEW

Members

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO THE LANCASTER CHAMBER The Lancaster Chamber is thrilled to welcome these business to our network. Because of businesses that choose to be Members and Partners, we are able to fund powerful initiatives that are vastly changing the landscape of business. Now more than ever, your support is truly helping to shape the future of business and making Lancaster County, a thriving community for all.

We are grateful for the many businesses choosing to invest with us and our mission!

Meet some of the new Members and Partners below: SEPTEMBER 2025

OCTOBER 2025

NOVEMBER 2025

Members Ooh So Pretty Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. West Art Sharp Innovations Inc Luxe Laundry Renew Turf Science GregoryScott Catalyst Commercial Development Arcadia Business Solutions Kamau Media GE.BE atelier Co. Parker Hannifin Hatzler and Buehler Harden Architectural Security Products Nissin Foods The Henry at Klein Mills Hilb Group Four Fin Coaching Firelight Logiz

Members Living Rocks Construction Community Options British Swim School of Lancaster and York Reverie Next Level Revenue Howell Engineering Henry Hale Maguire LLC Starlux IT LLC Tru Co Solutions Red Rose City Tech Historic Rock Ford/ Rock Ford Foundation The David O’Shell Studio Property Management Inc Sandera Event Consulting and Design Tectonic Health Supply Tiger Community Insurance Solutions Inc Supporting Empowering Lives Foundation, Inc. MTK Mechanical LLC

Members Friends in Action International Hinton & Associates Jerry’s Kitchen Feeling 22 Aesthetics Hear Lancaster Machine Tracking Senior Financial Analyst Corporate FP&A Bevverage Gear LLC Esh & Associates at Keller Williams Elite Custom Clean Commercial Cleaning Services Filta Enviornmental Kitchen Solutions Kinectiv LLC Keystone Business Alliance River Wealth Advisors Complete Disaster Services Shank Door Luz Medicine

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Upcoming EVENTS A Look to 2026…

An integral element of the Lancaster Chamber experience is our selection of award winning, high-quality and relevant events and programs. We are very excited as we prepare our events and program calendar for 2026, full of options curated just for you and your team! Be sure to check back to our online events calendar at www.lancasterchamber.com/events as we continue to add additional dates for future events and programs.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store for 2026—mark your calendars and join us for a lineup of impactful events and opportunities!

February Mixer: 2026 Directory Launch Party & Expo @115 East King—February 17, 2026 Young Professionals Leadership Lab | 4 Weeks—Starting March 6, 2026 New Manager Academy Virtual | 9 Weeks—Starting March 19, 2026 March Mixer at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Lancaster—March 18, 2026 Professional Women’s Forum—March 27, 2026 New Manager Academy In-Person | 9 Weeks—Starting August 27, 2026

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We are so grateful for the continued support and commitment from our Member businesses!

Please take note of our Members who are celebrating milestone anniversaries as members of the Lancaster Chamber for the months of October, November and December.

Member Anniversaries Lancaster Chamber Member as of 5 YEARS (‘20)

25 YEARS (‘00)

50 YEARS +

Giant Food Stores, Inc. #4 HB McClure Chroma Acrylics, Inc. Commute PA Farrell’s Maintenance Service Citadel Federal Credit Union

Shumaker Plan/Design/Transform Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care

10 YEARS (‘15)

Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, Ltd

MGS Incorporated The Jay Group, Inc. Faulkner Chevrolet, Inc. Baker Tilly US, LLP Kellogg Company Evans Eagle Burial Vault Inc Fenner Precision Polymers Susquehanna Glass Company Burnham Holdings, Inc. LNP Media Group Inc. Eden Resort & Suites American Testing Laboratories, Inc. Colony Business Systems Moore Engineering Company M&T Bank Manor House Apartments DeBord Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory Windstream Communications, Inc. Haverstick Bros., Inc. Engle Hambright Davies, Inc. Autohaus Lancaster, Inc. Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Inc. Maple Farm D&H Electrical Construction LLC Siegel-Ansel Bag & Burlap Co. B.R. Kreider & Son, Inc. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc. RKL LLP Barley Snyder, LLP Yorgey’s & Filling’s Fine Cleaning Majic Services, Inc.

Bench Dogs Legend of Lancaster Asphalt Consultants LLC CovenantMD Hingework, Inc. Ebersole Builders, LLC

15 YEARS (‘10) Tellus360 American Insurance Administrators, Inc. Neffsville Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Bennett Williams Realty, Inc. Mar-Allen Concrete Products, Inc. The Treer Group AFP Advanced Food Products LLC

20 YEARS (‘05) Pendu Manufacturing, LLC Pure Water Technology of Central PA Lancaster Arts Hotel

30 YEARS (‘95) Howells Glass Co, Inc.

35 YEARS (‘90)

40 YEARS (‘85) The H&H Group Manheim Township City Limits Realty Weaver Markets, Inc.

45 YEARS (‘80) Lititz Mutual Insurance Co. Lancaster Electric, Inc. Lancaster Industrial Development Authority Simon Lever

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The best

hospital care for kids.

UPMC Children’s is right here in central Pa., giving families the confidence and comfort that expert pediatric care is available close to home. Caring for newborns through young adults, we offer: •

Teams to assess and treat children with urgent needs

•

A 72-bed pediatric unit in UPMC Harrisburg for mild or critical conditions

•

Pediatric surgical teams for simple to complex procedures

•

Experienced pediatric specialists for ongoing care

•

A dedicated pediatric transport team

To learn more, visit UPMC.com/CPAHospitalPediatrics.

Right here in central Pa.