Rural Leader Magazine DECEMBER 2025

DECEMBER 2025

COVER STORY

Danger at the Counter: Synthetic Opioids Are Flooding Gas Stations — What Rural Leaders Need to Know Now, pg.8 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2025 1

Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

About Us

Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad.

Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.—

7 The Light Between Us: How Small Towns Shine Brightest in December

12 ‘Share the Love’ and grant wishes this holiday season

COVER STORY 8 Danger at the Counter: Synthetic Opioids Are Flooding Gas Stations — What Rural Leaders Need to Know Now

14 Anesthesiologist-led research improves care for patients of all ages

10 Barbershop Talks Brings Community to the Table: A Holiday Dinner With Purpose

17 How AI agents help the ‘Fortune 5 million’ thrive

Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief Contact Us ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at RuralLeaderMagazine@gmail.com— 2

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Editor’s Note

The Light We Carry Into the New Year

By Dr. Kuanita E. Murphy, Publisher Rural Leader Magazine

December always arrives with a kind of quiet wisdom. It asks us to pause, take stock, and remember that even in a year that stretched us, blessed us, and challenged us, we are still here — still building, still rising, still showing up for the people and places we love.

As I flipped through this month’s issue, I was struck by how perfectly it reflects the heart of rural leadership. You’ll see it in the holiday artwork on page 6 — a peaceful winter street lined with warm windows glowing against the cold. You’ll feel it in our feature on page 7, where we talk about how small towns shine brightest not because of what we have, but because of who we are. And you’ll see it again in the powerful reminder etched boldly on

page 4: What you do matters.

This month’s stories prove that truth again and again. From the urgent call to action in our cover story on synthetic opioids — an issue that is finding its way into the very places our youth visit daily — to the Barbershop Talks community dinner bringing people together in honest conversation, the message is the same: rural leadership is rooted in vigilance, compassion, and community.

We close out the year spotlighting resilience — in children facing critical illnesses, in families navigating hardship, and in the quiet heroes working behind the scenes to make their corners of the world better. December reminds us that hope isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like porch lights glowing on a cold night, a shared meal at a barbershop, or a neighbor checking in “just because.”

As we step into a new year, I want to leave you with this thought: Your presence is a gift to your community.

Your work is a thread that strengthens the whole fabric. Your light — yes, yours — helps someone else find their way.

Thank you for every bold idea, every late-night planning session, every time you chose to pour into people who needed you. Thank you for leading with heart in places the world doesn’t always see, but desperately needs.

May this season bring you rest, clarity, and renewed vision. And may you never forget: what you do matters.

Warmly,

Dr. Kuanita E. Murphy Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Rural Leader Magazine

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2025 3

What You Do Matters. In the image above, he’s just young, standing on tiptoe, gripping a paintbrush too big for his hand. The wall in front of him is dull gray—blank, forgotten. But with one bold stroke of blue, everything starts to change.

This isn’t just paint. It’s possibility.

In that small moment, he reminds us of something we too often forget: what you do matters.

The choices we make—especially the quiet ones, the unseen ones—have the power to shape the world around us.

Whether you’re raising a child, planting a garden, helping a neighbor, or showing up when it would be easier to walk away—every act of effort, care, and courage adds color to the world. It may not feel big. It may not look like much. But it matters.

So pick up the brush. Make your mark. Because someone, somewhere, is watching you create hope where there used to be gray.— Rural Leader Magazine

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The Light Between Us: How Small Towns Shine Brightest in December Rural Leader Magazine Staff

December has a way of softening the edges of a long year. Even in the busiest seasons, small towns seem to glow a little warmer, walk a little slower, and treat one another with a little more intention. In rural communities, the holidays aren’t just a date on the calendar — they’re a reminder of who we are, who we’ve always been, and the quiet strength that comes from belonging to a place where neighbors still look out for each other.

While big cities drown in lights and commercial noise, the glow in a small town comes from something different. It’s not the size of the celebration, but the spirit behind it. A single string of lights across Main Street can carry more heart than a million-bulb display in Times Square. That’s because here, every bulb was hung by someone’s uncle, every wreath was tied by someone’s auntie, and every ornament on the courthouse tree was placed by a child who will remember it for years.

The Power of Small Gatherings. In rural communities, December is a season of potlucks, parade routes, church programs, and family reunions where the macaroni never changes and neither do the stories. These gatherings, no matter how humble, strengthen the fabric of the town. When people sit elbow-to-elbow sharing a plate, they’re also sharing hope, resilience, and the unspoken truth that even hard years can be softened by togetherness.

Events like community dinners, holiday markets, and neighborhood initiatives don’t just bring holiday cheer — they build trust. And trust is the currency of rural leadership. It’s what allows coalitions to form, young people to feel supported, and elders to know their wisdom still matters. In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, rural towns still know how to gather, talk, and remember that the simple act of showing up is half the blessing.

Hope in the Hard Places. Let’s tell it like it is: rural communities carry their share of challenges — economic strain, healthcare deserts, loss of industry, and the everyday grind of making a life in places the world sometimes overlooks. December doesn’t magically erase those burdens, but it does remind us of our ability to face them with grace.

There’s something powerful about a small town

preparing holiday meals for families in need, lighting a candle for loved ones lost, or organizing a youth service day to deliver gifts to elders. These aren’t grand gestures; they’re steady acts of care that say, “We’re in this together,” and that message goes further than people realize.

Hope isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a handwritten card, a casserole dish on a doorstep, or a volunteer sweeping the church steps before service. Rural people have mastered the quiet art of helping without fanfare — and December brings that gift into full view.

Lighting the Way Forward. As the year winds down, many rural leaders find themselves reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and what they want to build in the year ahead. December isn’t just a conclusion; it’s a launchpad. The same warmth that fills the month can fuel new partnerships, innovative ideas, and renewed momentum.

This is the perfect season to ask questions like: What can we create that brings more belonging to our town?

Where can we strengthen relationships or restore old ones?

How can we honor our history while preparing for our future?

Rural communities thrive when tradition and vision walk side by side. December reminds us to slow down long enough to see the path clearly — and then step boldly into the new year with intention.

A Closing Note for Rural America. As lights flicker in windows and voices rise in familiar carols, remember this: small towns shine not because of what they have, but because of who they are.

This season, may your community be filled with peace that steadies, joy that lasts, and light that carries you into the new year. And may every rural leader — the visible ones and the quiet heroes — feel the deep truth that what you do matters, especially now.

After all, in the heart of December, the greatest gifts we give each other aren’t wrapped. They’re lived.—

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COVER STORY

Danger at the Counter: Synthetic Opioids Are Flooding Gas Stations — What Rural Leaders Need to Know Now When an email starts circulating among health officials, hospitals, universities, and community organizations across West Georgia, you know something serious is brewing. And this time, the warning is as urgent as it gets: dangerous synthetic opioids — some 13 times stronger than morphine — are quietly slipping onto the shelves of gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops, packaged to look like harmless candy and wellness supplements.

On November 13, 2025, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued a statewide Consumer Alert sounding the alarm on products containing 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) and tianeptine, a drug commonly nicknamed “gas station heroin.” These substances aren’t just unsafe — they’re engineered to hook young people and devastate families, especially in small towns where healthcare access is already limited and prevention efforts require every community leader’s attention.

What’s Being Sold — and Why It’s So Dangerous 7-OH is a concentrated, chemically amplified derivative of kratom. In its natural plant form, kratom contains only trace amounts. But the products popping up on store shelves aren’t natural and they’re not regulated. Instead, these tablets, gummies, tinc8

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tures, and “energy shots” often contain synthetic or lab-enhanced forms designed to deliver a powerful, addictive punch.

The risks are severe: Seizures Respiratory depression Substance use disorder Overdose Death Even worse, many of these products are disguised to attract teenagers — gummy bears, flavored shots, candy-coated capsules, even items shaped like ice cream cones. In rural communities, where gas stations are often the most accessible store for youth, this becomes a ticking time bomb.

Tianeptine — another synthetic sold as a “cognitive enhancer” — is equally dangerous. With street names like Zaza, Neptune, and Tianaa, it has been linked to rising emergency room visits, poison control calls, and cases of rapid-onset addiction.

Georgia’s Law Is Clear — and It’s On Our Side Thanks to the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, in effect since January 1, 2025, Georgia now has strict

limits on how kratom and related substances can be sold. As of July 1, 2025, the law bans: Any product with synthetic kratom compounds 7-OH levels higher than 0.5 mg per gram Sales to anyone under 21 Vaping or inhalation of kratom products All kratom products must be properly labeled, locked behind the counter, and kept away from minors. If a retailer is skipping these steps, they’re breaking the law — and putting your community at risk.

Why Rural Leaders Must Pay Attention In small communities, the front line of prevention isn’t a big city task force — it’s us. It’s local coalitions, barbers, pastors, teachers, nonprofits, Family Connection collaboratives, and the folks at the store who know everybody by name.

MWhen substances like 7-OH and tianeptine slip into our everyday spaces, they slip into our families.

The good news? Awareness is our first shield.

The email sent to regional partners from the Georgia Department of Public Health made one thing clear: information saves lives. Sharing alerts like this strengthens the safety net that rural counties work so hard to maintain.

What You Can Do Right Now 1. Spread the word.

Share this alert with your networks — civic groups, churches, youth programs, and family coalitions.

ful products. Many simply don’t know what these substances are.

3. Watch for packaging that mimics candy or supplements.

Anything that looks “too fun” and sits near the counter deserves a second look.

4. If you see something suspicious, report it.

Local law enforcement Georgia Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222 FDA Consumer Line: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (723-3366) 5. Support youth engagement and prevention efforts.

Open conversations prevent quiet harm.

Our Rural Communities Deserve Protection This isn’t just a drug story. It’s a community safety story, a public health story, and a children-deserveto-grow-up-safe story.

The opioid crisis taught us one lesson clearly: waiting until the damage is done is far too costly. In small towns, we protect each other by getting ahead of the danger — by watching the store shelves, asking questions, staying informed, and refusing to let deceptive products blend into our everyday places.

As Attorney General Carr put it plainly: “We’re staring down the next wave of the opioid crisis, and we have to take action before it’s too late.”

Let’s meet that call — with vigilance, with unity, and with the steady leadership rural Georgia is known for.—

2. Talk to gas station and convenience store owners.

Most small business owners don’t want to sell harm-

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Barbershop Talks Brings Community to the Table: A Holiday Dinner With Purpose Rural Leader Magazine Staff

In small towns, the barbershop has always been more than a place to get a haircut. It’s where stories meet wisdom, where generations trade ideas, and where the pulse of the community can be felt between clippers and conversation. This December, Unique Images Barbershop in Cuthbert is taking that tradition one step further—turning a familiar gathering place into a powerful space for dialogue, prevention, and hope.

According to the flyer released by Randolph County Family Connection, South Georgia Starz, and Unique Images Barbershop, the Barbershop Talks Community Dinner will be held on Tuesday, December 2nd at 6 PM, at 40 East Dawson Street, Suite 34, Cuthbert, Georgia. Seating is intentionally limited to create room for authentic connection—only the first 50 guests will be admitted, and attendees must RSVP

by November 21st.

The evening promises more than a warm meal. It’s an invitation to join a deeper conversation about substance abuse prevention in Randolph County, led by partners who understand the heart of rural communities. The flyer highlights that the DBHDD Partners in Prevention (PIPP) team will be providing insight into two important initiatives: Sources of Strength and Safe Homes—both focused on equipping youth, families, and communities with tools that strengthen resilience and reduce risk.

And in true small-town fashion, the gathering will blend the serious with the celebratory. The flyer notes door prizes, raffles, and more, creating a welcoming environment where attendees can learn, laugh, and

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lean on one another. The event is being hosted by South Georgia Starz in partnership with Randolph County Family Connection and Unique Images, led by owner Freddrick B. Cannon—a community voice who understands that prevention requires presence, relationships, and spaces where people feel seen.

What makes this dinner so meaningful isn’t just the food or the giveaways. It’s the recognition that real prevention work grows out of conversations rooted in trust. Rural communities have always known how to come together, especially when challenges hit close to home. Substance abuse—especially among youth—is one of those challenges that requires every chair at the table filled, every voice heard, and every partnership active.

Events like Barbershop Talks remind us that leadership doesn’t always happen at city halls or in boardrooms. Sometimes it happens right in the barber’s chair, where people show up as themselves—open, unguarded, and ready to engage.

As the holiday season begins, this community dinner offers more than a night out. It offers connection. It offers collaboration. And it offers a powerful reminder that when small towns come together, meaningful change follows.—

PLEASE JOIN US

Barbershop Talks COMMUNITY DINNER

Join the Conversation About Substance Abuse Prevention in Randolph County DBHDD Partners in Prevention (PIPP) Provides Sources of Strength & Safe Homes

Hosted by South Georgia Starz In Partnership With Randolph County Family Connection and Unique Images

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TUESDAY

DOOR PRIZES, RAFFLES, & MORE

DECEMBER STARTS AT 6 PM SEATING LIMITED TO THE FIRST 50 MUST RSVP BY NOVEMBER 21ST @ 229-732-3796

Freddrick B. Cannon, Owner

UNIQUE IMAGES BARBERSHOP

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40 East Dawson Street, Suite 34, Cuthbert, GA 39840

‘Share the Love’ and grant wishes this holiday season For children facing critical illnesses and their families, the experience of having a cherished wish fulfilled can make a huge impact on their lives.

Thanks to the ongoing partnership between MakeA-Wish® and Subaru through the Share the Love® Event, even more wishes are being granted for these children every year.

A Hollywood-worthy wish During the summer before he was about to enter fifth grade, 11-year-old Christian was diagnosed with lymphoma, but his determination and strength remained admirable, along with his positive, happy-go-lucky attitude. Despite undergoing treatment throughout the school year, he continued to shine on his town’s travel soccer and baseball teams, and received A’s on all his math tests.

When he learned he was eligible for a wish through his local Make-A-Wish chapter, Make-AWish Connecticut, Christian knew exactly what to choose. His love for films and the way film characters can be or do anything they want inspired his choice: to play a role in a movie production.

While Christian waited for his wish to come true, Bertera Subaru of Hartford hosted a celebration fit for a movie star. Christian walked the red carpet, with his family and the entire staff loudly cheering 12

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him on and waving foam stars in the air. Sitting in a personalized director’s chair, he confidently shared his wish with the group, describing what the experience would mean to him. Christian was then surprised by a director informing him that filming for his role in a movie would begin in the summer!

“Being at Subaru was such an amazing and fun experience that made me ready for the red carpet,” Christian said.

The excitement shared by everyone in the room was incredible, and the line to get Christian’s headshot and autograph was almost out the door.

“Christian received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in a movie, which has had a tremendous impact on our whole family,” said his mom, Christine. “The experience of being on a movie set, rehearsing lines with other actors and filming multiple takes of scenes was such a special experience that he will remember for the rest of his life.”

Even better, Christian’s wish experience gave him the confidence to try out for (and get) one of the leading roles in his school play, which will be performed next spring.

“Thanks to this experience through Make-A-Wish, his special talent was fostered, and we can’t wait to see what he does next,” Christine said. “This was an incredible experience for Christian, and it brought joy to our entire family.”

Christian and his family are grateful to Subaru and its retailers for making his wish come true, and for granting many more wishes for kids through their generous support. Christian said that the hope of his wish helped him get through his toughest days, and he firmly believes it’s the same for many other wish kids.

“When Subaru helped make Christian’s wish come true, it was about so much more than one incredible day,” added Christine. “Their support and enthusiasm made him feel genuinely celebrated and gave him a sense of confidence that will last a lifetime.

We’ll always be grateful for the joy and encouragement they brought to our family.”

Bertera Subaru of Hartford’s unwavering partnership with Make-A-Wish Connecticut has continued to make wishes come true year after year for children with critical illnesses.

The need for continued support. When families are dealing with unplanned hospital stays and uncomfortable treatments, a wish can give children a chance to reclaim a piece of their childhood and a sense of control. Most wish kids go on to overcome their illness and lead healthy lives, and they often credit their wish as a turning point in their medical journey, giving them the strength to fight their critical illness. Research shows that many doctors believe a wish is a necessary part of a child’s medical treatment, because it can lead to better health outcomes and increased chances of survival.

Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted over 390,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses in the U.S. and its territories, making a huge impact over the past 45 years. With help from donors, volunteers, and partners like Subaru, many more wishes will come true for children this coming year.

Together with generous donors, corporate partners, supporters, staff, and over 20,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. To help further this vital mission, over the last 17 years, the Subaru Share the Love Event, taking place this year from Nov. 20, 2025, through Jan. 2, 2026, has raised over $38 million for Make-A-Wish, helping to grant more than 3,900 wishes to date.

Approximately 27,000 children are diagnosed with a critical illness that makes them eligible for a wish each year. But because of limited resources, it is simply not possible to be able to grant them all. MakeA-Wish is committed to ensuring that children don’t have to wait even one unnecessary day for their wish to come true.

How you can help Every donation, large or small, helps make it possible for even more kids to see their wishes come true.

Learn how you can make a difference at Wish.org/ Subaru.—

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Anesthesiologist-led research improves care for patients of all ages Opioid overdose deaths among people 65 and older have surged by 9,000% in less than a decade.

Most children fast longer than needed before surgery.

And women who have C-sections may have pain that disrupts sleep for months. These were among the findings - aimed at exploring trends that could improve care for patients of all ages - unveiled at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

“These studies highlight how anesthesiologists can make health care safer, more comfortable and more effective at every age,” said ASA President Patrick Giam, M.D., FASA. “From reducing and monitoring opioid use in older people, to ensuring parents safely and appropriately give their children clear liquids before surgery, to easing pain after C-sections so mothers can sleep and recover, anesthesiologist-led research continues to drive innovation and improve outcomes in medicine.”

Here are a few of the important findings anesthesiologists presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025.

Adults 65 Years and Older Not Immune to the Opioid Epidemic While the opioid epidemic previously affected mostly younger people, seniors are now experienc14

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ing surging opioid overdose rates. In fact, overdose deaths in people age 65 and older from fentanyl mixed with stimulants have risen by 9,000% in less than a decade, according to an analysis of more than 400,000 fentanyl-related deaths collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nearly half of the deaths involved mixing fentanyl with stimulants, such as cocaine or methamphetamines. Older adults are especially at risk because many have chronic health conditions, take multiple medications and metabolize drugs more slowly, according to Gab Pasia, M.A., lead author of the study and a medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

While opioids are effective for pain control, they should be used sparingly, especially in older people, researchers cautioned. They note that anesthesiologists and other pain medicine specialists should choose other pain management methods when possible and carefully monitor older patients when prescribing opioids. That includes educating them and their caregivers on overdose prevention tools such as naloxone.

Children Fast From Clear Liquids Much Longer Before Surgery Than Guidelines Recommend

More than two-thirds of children and nearly 80% of infants forgo clear liquids before surgery for at least twice as long as guidelines recommend, according to a study of more than 71,000 children aged 17 or younger.

Healthy infants and children may safely drink clear liquids until two hours before receiving anesthesia, according to current ASA guidelines. Yet researchers found that on average, children over a year old go without clear fluids for nearly nine hours before surgery - more than four times longer than needed. Infants go without clear fluids on average more than six hours before surgery.

Parents may worry about giving their child anything to drink before surgery due to the risk of liquid entering the lungs, but allowing children to drink clear liquids up to two hours before surgery is generally safe and helps prevent problems such as dehydration and low blood sugar, according to Alexander Nagrebetsky, M.D., M.Sc., senior author of the study and an anesthesiologist and intensivist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Parents should talk with their anesthesiologist before surgery to confirm the latest fasting guidance and ensure their child stays hydrated and safe. For example, most children are encouraged to drink water or sugar-containing clear liquids, such as fruit juices without pulp or those with electrolytes, for up to two hours before the start of the procedure, Dr. Nagrebetsky noted.

Cesarean Delivery Linked to Higher Risk of Pain and Sleep Problems After Childbirth Women who have a cesarean delivery (C-section) may be more likely to experience ongoing pain and sleep problems after childbirth compared to those who have a vaginal delivery, according to a nationwide analysis of more than 1.5 million mothers.

Individuals who had C-sections are 16% more likely to be diagnosed with a new sleep disorder in the first year after giving birth, compared to those who have vaginal births, according to Moe Takenoshita, M.B.B.Ch., lead author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar in the department of anesthesia at Stanford University Center for Academic Medicine, Palo Alto, California. Additionally, in interviews with 41 mothers who had C-sections, more than two-thirds said the pain disrupted their sleep and activities of daily living.

New mothers, especially those recovering from C-sections, should manage their pain to help them get better sleep and discuss any concerns with their physician. Getting regular exercise as appropriate, sleeping when the baby sleeps and avoiding caffeine late in the day can also help.

To learn more about the importance of physician-led anesthesia care - including how anesthesiologists keep patients safe before, during and after surgery - and explore the latest advances in the specialty, visit: https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/.—

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How AI agents help the ‘Fortune 5 million’ thrive While today’s Fortune 500 companies have largely automated many processes, smaller businesses, the “Fortune 5 million,” often find themselves stuck due to the friction of manual workflows. For the millions of busy small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that power the U.S. economy, numerous back-office tasks like validating W-9s, reconciling receipts, user onboarding and other routine duties are slowing down the gears, making it harder for those companies to succeed and grow.

Offering SMBs tools to automate the functions that are clogging up their processes, intelligent financial operations platform BILL is introducing new AI agents that power touchless transactions. With this suite of intelligent AI agents and features, SMBs can delete manual workflows that are holding them back from success.

Highly trained AI agents BILL AI has helped accelerate billions in payments and processed over 1.3 billion documents. Since the beginning of 2025, their AI solutions have increased fully automated bills by over 80% and stopped 8 million fraud attempts in fiscal year 2025 alone. The company currently serves nearly half a million businesses and 9,000 accounting firms, making BILL a trusted AI solution for SMBs, with AI agents that are smarter, faster and more reliable from the start.

“The Fortune 5 million deserve the same power and precision as the Fortune 500,” said René Lacerte, CEO and founder of BILL. “With data from trillions of dollars in transactions and a network of millions of businesses and accounting firms, we are uniquely positioned to deliver AI at a scale that is unmatched in our category. The future of fintech is touchless B2B transactions, and BILL is leading the way for SMBs.” Streamlined processes with AI agents. Inefficiencies force many leaders into trade-offs between running the back office and growing their business.

BILL’s new AI agents and features automate critical financial workflows and handle routine tasks accurately, so business leaders can focus on what matters most.

Here are just a few ways BILL’s AI agents can streamline formerly manual workflows: BILL W-9 agent: Based on data from BILL customers, over 90% of businesses say collecting W-9s is the most painful part of doing taxes. But touchless tax compliance helps eliminate over 80% of manual steps for collecting W-9s. BILL’s first-of-its-kind agent autonomously requests and pre-validates W-9s from vendors. It can erase most of the work associated with collecting up to 3 million W-9s, saving BILL customers an estimated 650,000 hours. The agent GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2025 17

is available to over 170,000 businesses, making tax compliance faster, easier and more reliable.

BILL reconciliation agent: The touchless receipts agent automatically codes transactions so receipts reconcile themselves while maintaining full visibility into expenses, helping financial teams stay organized and compliant. In its early rollout, transactions processed entirely by AI increased 533%, at 92% accuracy. Within six months, it is expected to scale to over 40,000 businesses managing more than 72 million receipts annually, with the ultimate goal of making receipts touchless.

BILL’s new agentic-powered onboarding: Agentic-powered user onboarding is expected to deliver a more intuitive set-up for new Spend & Expense users, tailored to each business so employees can start spending compliantly from day one. The new agentic-powered BILL Assistant will also provide personalized, instant answers, intelligent recommendations 18

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and complete tasks on behalf of small businesses, to help them spend less time managing the back office and more time on business growth and development.

BILL is also introducing other AI-powered features like BILL Assistant aimed at instant, personalized business support.

A touchless future. While web apps digitized manual workflows, well-built agents can actually eliminate them. BILL AI is building toward a future of touchless B2B transactions, so business operations run themselves, while people stay in control.

Learn more about how BILL’s AI agents can help your business thrive and grow at BILL.com/product/ ai.

This content is presented ‘as is’ and is not intended to provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult your advisors.—

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