Artificial Intelligence with Genuine Leadership

Join us for the first event in our 2026 Business Leaders Series!

Session Description:

Modern leaders are confronted with both unprecedented opportunity and unprecedented distraction. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in daily workflows, employees may misuse it, over-rely on it, or misunderstand its role. This workshop explores how leaders can maintain authenticity, elevate human judgment, and leverage AI responsibly—without losing the qualities that make leadership genuinely human.

Learning Outcomes:

• Differentiate between productive AI use and harmful over-reliance, identifying common distractions, pitfalls, and workplace patterns.
• Leverage AI as a leadership amplifier; using it to enhance decision-making, communication, coaching, and strategic insight.
• Apply “human-first” leadership principles; to ensure authenticity, empathy, and ethical judgment remain central in AI-rich environments.
• Develop practical strategies for setting expectations and guidelines for staff using AI responsibly
• Analyze real-world scenarios to determine when AI is helpful, when it is harmful, and what genuine leadership looks like in each situation.

Presenter – Ted Ward, Shafer Leadership Academy

Tickets: $25 (Chamber members)

$35 (Non-Chamber members)

Lunch included in ticket price

Event timeline –

10:30 am – 12:00 pm – Workshop

12:00 – 12:30 pm – Lunch & Networking

Location –

IU East, Whitewater Hall lobby

Parking available in Whitewater Hall parking lot

Brought to you by

Join us for an informative and engaging evening with candidates in contested primary election races at our upcoming Meet the Candidates event. This Q & A forum provides Chamber and Farm Bureau members with the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking office and gain valuable insight into the issues impacting our community.

Event Schedule:

🗓 Tuesday, March 24

🕠 5:30 – 8:00 PM

📍 Reid Health – Lingle Auditorium (lower level of Reid Health)

🕠 5:30 – 7:00 PM | Moderated Q & A Forum with invited candidates

🕖 7:00 – 8:00 PM | Meet & Mingle with candidates and attendees (hors d’oeuvres served)

During the forum, attendees will be invited to submit written questions on provided cards. A moderator will present selected questions, as time allows, to the candidates to ensure a structured and productive discussion.

Following the forum, continue the conversation during a relaxed meet-and-mingle reception featuring hors d’oeuvres — an opportunity to connect one-on-one with candidates and fellow members.

**All candidates running for office in 2026 are welcome to attend and connect with attendees during the meet-and-mingle reception following the forum.

Pre-registration is required. No walk-ins will be permitted.

Registration deadline is 5:00 pm on March 20th.

This event is open exclusively to members of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne County Farm Bureau.

More Upcoming Chamber Events

March 10

5:35 – 7:00 pm

5 Arch Brewing, Centerville

Tickets $20

Celebrate Chamber member milestone anniversaries with the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce! 

Join us on March 10th at 5:35pm at 5 Arch Brewing located in Centerville to celebrate Chamber members’ dedication to the Wayne County community and our Chamber. Guests will enjoy heavy hors ‘doeuvres. 

This is a featured networking event and a great opportunity to meet other Chamber member business representatives.

March 12

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Police & Fire Training Center

Come join us and P.A.C.T. at the Police & Fire Training Center to learn how to protect ourselves.

R.P.D has some of the best that will be coming in from Indianapolis to help us learn tactics that can save lives. They will cover verbal and physical self-defense tactics, including de-escalation. There are 4 A’s of self defense: Attitude, Awareness, Assessment of a situation and Action!

Please be sure to wear comfortable clothes, as there will be hands on training.

**All are welcome, please join us!**

Free to attend, registration requested