By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector—
MUNCIE, IN—Technology is changing nearly every aspect of running a business. For many business owners, however, the challenge is no longer recognizing that change is happening. The challenge is determining which technologies matter, where to invest limited time and resources, and how to use new tools to achieve meaningful business results. On October 22, Technology That Grows Your Business brings together regional and statewide experts to help business owners use technology, automation, AI, and cybersecurity more effectively.
The Innovation Connector is addressing those questions at its upcoming Business Impact Masterclass: Technology That Grows Your Business, scheduled for Thursday, October 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Innovation Connector, 1208 W. White River Blvd., Muncie. The program aims to move the technology conversation beyond buzzwords and toward practical application. Throughout the day, participants will explore emerging technology trends, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technology purchasing decisions, and real-world experiences from business leaders who are using these tools.
Technology in Business Today and Tomorrow
The day begins with welcome and opening remarks from Ted Baker, CEO of the Muncie Innovation Connector, followed by “Technology in Business Today and Tomorrow,” presented by John Wechsler, founder of Launch Fishers and Fishers IoT Lab, and founder and President/CEO of Spokenote in Fishers. Wechsler will explore how technology is reshaping how businesses operate, compete, and connect with their customers. The session will also look ahead, helping business owners better understand today’s key technology trends and what to consider now as they prepare their companies for what comes next.
Technology Tools – The Role of AI
Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most talked-about technologies in business, yet many owners are still determining where it can deliver genuine value. David Colgan, founder of Colgan Technology Services, and Ryan Hunter, Technology & Education Director for the Innovation Connector, will lead a session on AI’s role in business. Participants will learn how AI can save time, increase productivity, enhance customer experiences, and support better decision-making. The session will also explore how these tools can help businesses identify and create new growth opportunities, rather than simply adopting AI as a trend.
IT & Business Systems Security and Protection
As businesses grow more dependent on technology, protecting it becomes increasingly important. Sara Turner, Chief Technology Officer at First Merchants Bank, will lead a session on securing IT and business systems. Turner will focus on practical steps businesses can take to safeguard their data, systems, customers, and day-to-day operations. The discussion will address cybersecurity threats, technology failures, and other risks that can disrupt operations and undermine the value of technology investments.
Following the morning sessions, participants will have an opportunity to continue conversations and build relationships during a lunch and networking period from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.
Peer Perspective Panel Discussion
The day’s final major session will bring the technology conversation down to a real-world level through a Peer Perspective Panel Discussion. Panelists include Dr. Huseyin Ergin, a Computer Science Professor at Ball State University; Remal Salim, an Independent AI Specialist; and Brian Bunner, retired from the Indiana State Police Forensics Investigation Division. The panel will share the technologies they use, lessons learned, and challenges encountered along the way. The candid discussion aims to give participants practical insights into what has worked, what has not, and what the panelists wish they had known before making technology investments.
Building Your Business Technology Stack
With thousands of technology products competing for a business owner’s attention and budget, deciding what to buy is a challenge in itself. John McDonald, President & CEO of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Community in Fort Wayne, will present “Building Your Business Technology Stack: What Should I Buy & What Should I Skip?” Rather than treating technology as a collection of individual purchases, the session will encourage participants to think strategically about building a technology stack that fits their businesses. McDonald will emphasize selecting tools that work well together, support future growth, and avoid unnecessary costs and complexity.
Together, the five sessions are designed to help business owners view technology not as an isolated IT issue, but as an increasingly important part of business strategy.
The October program is one of four Business Impact Masterclasses powered by the Muncie Innovation Connector. Each Masterclass is a standalone program, allowing business owners to choose the topics most relevant to their needs or attend all four for a broader business-growth experience. The series addresses four areas that directly influence business performance: Marketing, Technology, Financial Intelligence, and Business Resiliency. In addition to Technology That Grows Your Business, the series includes Marketing Mastery: Marketing That Drives Growth; Financial Intelligence for Business Owners; and Growing a Resilient Business.
The programs also support the Innovation Connector’s broader emphasis on equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge, resources, and connections needed to build and grow successful businesses.
Registration Information
Technology That Grows Your Business will be held Thursday, October 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Innovation Connector, 1208 W. White River Blvd., Muncie. Registration is $49 per Masterclass and includes lunch, Masterclass materials, business tools and resources, take-home templates and guides, and a certificate of completion. First Merchants Bank is the title partner for the Business Impact Masterclasses.
Register at BusinessImpactMasterclasses.com.
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