Tompkins Chamber is proud to bring you a L.E.A.R.N. workshop:
Getting Comfortable and Staying Safe with A.I.
Presented by Gretchen Schoser of Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions
Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses work, communicate, create, hire, serve customers, and make decisions. For many business leaders, the challenge is not whether to use A.I., but how to begin using it confidently without putting company information, employees, customers, or the company's reputation at risk.
In this practical, approachable 90-minute session, Gretchen Schoser will help business leaders at all experience levels better understand what A.I. can—and cannot—do. Attendees will explore real-world ways businesses of every size can use A.I. to save time, improve communication, generate ideas, streamline repetitive work, and support better decision-making.
The session will also address the risks leaders need to understand, including data privacy, inaccurate information, bias, copyright concerns, security, and the importance of maintaining human oversight.
This is not a highly technical session, and no prior A.I. experience is required. Attendees will leave with practical examples, safer-use guidelines, and a clearer plan for experimenting with A.I. that supports their business while preserving the human judgment, creativity, and trust that make their organization successful.
The program will include a 60-minute presentation, followed by 30 minutes for audience questions and discussion.
Gretchen Schoser is the owner of Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions, where she helps small and midsize organizations strengthen their recruiting, employee experience, workplace wellness, and change management through practical, human-centered solutions.
Gretchen has become an enthusiastic, highly creative adopter of artificial intelligence, using A.I. to build business tools, develop custom resources, streamline complex workflows, create training content, support podcast production, generate video and marketing assets, and turn early-stage ideas into functional digital solutions. Her approach is grounded in experimentation, curiosity, and a firm belief that A.I. should support people—not replace human judgment, creativity, or connection.
In addition to her consulting work, Gretchen is the Business Manager and Co-Host of the award-winning mental health podcast Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads and of Paperback Confessions, and a passionate mental health advocate. Across her business, podcasting, and advocacy work, she uses technology, storytelling, humor, and candid conversation to help people and organizations navigate change with greater confidence.
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Date and Time
Thursday Aug 6, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
Thursday, August 6th
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location
Tompkins Chamber
124 Brindley Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Fees/Admission
$10 for members
$20 for not-yet-members
Please note: Requests for refunds made 48 hours or more in advance will be honored. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the event will be charged in full.
Contact Information
Aleshia Akers, Event & Program Coordinator
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Recurring Events
Business After Hours
Business After Hours is our premier networking event where you can connect with dozens of Chamber members, community leaders, and potential clients. Network with professionals across the region to exchange contact details, discuss current industry trends, and generate sales leads in an informal setting.
Networking at Noon
Each month, members enjoy lunch with Chamber members while meeting new people, expanding their networking, and learning more about our diverse base of businesses and organizations in Tompkins County. Our goal is to enhance opportunities for our members to share what’s new and exciting in their workplace, discover new customers, and create meaningful connections that lead to lasting business relationships.
Community Conversations
Tompkins Chamber hosts community-specific conversations throughout the county, offering a space for businesses and leaders in our smaller municipalities to convene for hyper-local networking, conversation, mentorship, and advocacy. These events will serve as a forum for the Chamber to engage businesses who rarely attend Ithaca-based events and allow us to better understand and support the unique needs of each community.
L.E.A.R.N.
The L.E.A.R.N. professional development series is designed to give Chamber members access to tools and resources that will help them grow and strengthen their businesses. The series is made up of workshops relevant to the themes of Leadership, Equity, Action, Resilience, and Navigation.
Participants in this series enjoy the following benefits:
- Access to qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced presenters
- Clearly defined course objectives
- Relevant and timely topics
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training Series
To aid Chamber Members’ desire to cultivate diverse, equitable, and Inclusive (DEI) workplaces, a group of experienced facilitators are partnering with the Tompkins Chamber to host a webinar series. The series has the added benefit of introducing Chamber members to local consultants and facilitators who can assist their respective businesses and organizations to develop strategic DEI plans, conduct follow up workplace trainings, and assist in recruitment/retention strategies for a diverse workforce.
Roundtable Series
Roundtables are free & for Chamber Members only.
Women in Business Roundtable
Open to all women and those who identify as female from within the Chamber’s membership base, this group includes small business owners, nonprofit leaders, managers, and women in all types of roles discussing work-life balance, gender in the workplace, and more through facilitated discussion and activities, or open sharing.
Small Business Roundtable
All Small Businesses with less than 50 employees from within the Chamber’s membership are welcome to join our Small Business Roundtable discussions. A mix of topic based and speaker facilitated discussions are blended with general roundtable sharing, mentorship, and brainstorming to result in connections and deliver information to keep moving area small businesses forward.
CEO Roundtable
CEO level discussion including leaders from the area’s largest employers and institutions, as well as area nonprofit executive directors, meet quarterly to provide important updates and discuss key community and economic concerns.
Featured Annual Events

Economic Summit
The Tompkins Chamber presents key local issues impacting local businesses and developers, policy issues impacting the business community, and local insights from participants in a national economic outlook survey. Partnering with Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED), the event includes important updates about our economy, workforce, upcoming projects, and strategies to move forward and achieve a sustainable economic recovery.

Annual Dinner & Awards
One of the premier business community events of the year, the Annual Meeting highlights the Chamber community and previews the goals and initiatives for the coming year. Come and celebrate the success of our business community and economic development with hundreds of local leaders and elected officials! Join us as we raise a glass to the companies, not-for-profits, and volunteers who partner with us to help our community thrive.

Golf Tournament
This day on the green combines top-notch golf with valuable networking and advertising opportunities. Held at one of the County’s finest and professionally-rated golf courses. Staggered start golf tournament with several prizes, including skins. Lunch and beverages provided.

Great Big Chamber Auction
See and be seen by the region’s top business executives and small business owners. The Great Big Chamber Thank You & Auction holds tremendous value to our sponsors, donors, and attendees as it is one of our most highly publicized and attended events. The Great Big Chamber Auction portion helps underwrite the events and programs that support our Chamber members. Traditional silent and live auction, networking, and nonprofit recognition awards.
