The Buzz: ChatGPT and AI discussion Nov. 7 for small businesses
A free SCORE webinar on “ChatGPT, AI, and How They Can Help Your Small Business” will be held on Zoom from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7. To register, visit https://www.score.org/easternct. For information, email Anne Driscoll, [email protected].
AI and ChatGPT in Small Businesses
Artificial Intelligence, and ChatGPT specifically, have rapidly become valuable tools to make small businesses more creative and efficient. In this free webinar, SCORE mentor and technology expert Charlie Morris will review the current state-of-the-art AI tools focusing on ChatGPT’s capabilities.
Attendees will learn: how ChatGPT works; how it can help a small business to be more creative and efficient; ChatGPT’s limitations and weaknesses; other emerging AI tools and what they will mean for small businesses. Attendees will receive a copy of the presentation PDF and a link to the webinar recording.
Recognitions and Awards
The Naval Submarine League announced that Jacob Moreau, top Carpenter, Linesman, and Instructor at General Dynamics Electric Boat, will receive an NSL Workforce Stars Award. The annual award recognizes trades personnel who have been identified and selected as exemplary contributors to the industrial support infrastructure for the construction, maintenance, or repair of U. S. submarines.
Connecticut Sea Grant will sponsor three recent graduates of advanced degree environmental science programs as part of the 2025 class of of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant program John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. The three 2024 Knauss fellows who will be managed by Connecticut Sea Grant are: Maddy Meadows-McDonnell, who expects to complete her doctorate in natural resources at UConn in December; Mari Cullerton, who recently completed her master’s degree in natural resources at UConn; and Christy Mueller, who recently completed her master’s degree in environmental management at Yale University. Connecticut Sea Grant, based at UConn’s Avery Point campus in Groton, is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.
The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce recognized Christian Coronado, a dedicated entrepreneur and community leader, in the latest installment of its Community Proud series, sponsored by CorePlus Federal Credit Union. Coronado, originally from Peru, moved to the Mystic area six years ago. When he first arrived, he barely spoke English but has since built a thriving business, PubliCreatives Marketing Agency. Beyond running his marketing agency, Christian is also passionate about wedding videography and photography. He also actively supports initiatives like Hope in Focus for Dinner in the Dark and the United Way’s food drives. For more information on PubliCreatives, visit www.publicreatives.com.
Linda Mariani and her husband, David Neusner, have both been named to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers published by Thomson Reuters. Mariani was featured in an article and on the front page of Super Lawyers magazine. Fewer than 5% of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at superlawyers to receive this honor.
Michael Alberts, Jewett City Savings Bank’s president & CEO, was elected to the Connecticut Bankers Association Board of Directors at the CBA's annual meeting Sept. 21. Alberts will serve a three-year term.
Industry Updates
Alice’s Haunted Bookshop in Old Mistick Village will be hosting author Nikk Alcaraz from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, for a book signing for his new twisted baking guide, “Peculiar Baking: A Practical Guide to Strange Confections!” Alcaraz has a huge following on Instagram. According to his website, “Practical Peculiarities is a platform where food meets art, magic meets reality, and practicality meet peculiarity. On social media, Nikk’s food art and DIY videos have reached international audiences, received recognition from the press and even gained the attention of Chef Gordon Ramsay himself.”
The Wireless Zone Gives program has given the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut a $10,000 donation towards the purchase of a vehicle for its Israeli Emissary program. Scott Gladstone, the owner of several Wireless Zone stores in the region, learned that last year one of the emissaries’ cars was totaled in an accident, and a vehicle was necessary to enable the young Israelis to visit with youth, homebound seniors, and high school students, religious schools, public schools and Rotary clubs across the region. With the donation, JFEC was able to purchase a car from Denny Gates and his family, owners of Wile Hyundai in Columbia and Capitol Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep in New London.
O,R&L Commercial announced the sale of an Industrial building at 243 Vergason Ave., Norwich, for $3.3 million. On 10.1 acres with access to I-395, Route 2 and Route 32, the 57,000-square-foot building was 53% occupied at the time of the sale with the existing tenant, American Systems, occupying approximately 30,000 square feet. Frank Hird and Will Braun of O,R&L Commercial in Branford represented the seller, 243 Warehouse LLC, and also procured the buyer, 243 Vergason, LLC. For more information, contact O,R&L at 203-488-1555 or online at www.orlcommercial.com.