Photo: AI In The South founder and AI strategist Stephanie Johnson guides the cohort through her signature “SOUTH Method” for delivering professional-level prompts. SGBC’s “Fingertips to Keyboard” Lab focused on moving Valdosta’s small businesses from theoretical planning to actual digital execution.
VALDOSTA — Black Chambers, South Georgia will host AI integration training for small businesses during the 2026 Small Business Academy.
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VALDOSTA, Ga. — While many small businesses still treat artificial intelligence as a futuristic concept, South Georgia Black Chambers (SGBC) is now transforming the region’s entrepreneurs into “AI architects.”
On Tuesday, April 7, SGBC hosted Session 5 of the 2026 Small Business Academy with support from the City of Valdosta, Georgia Power, and ACE South Georgia. This session featured guest lead instructor Stephanie Johnson, founder of AI In The South and The Downtown Business Collective. The training, titled “AI Integration & Workflow Automation,” moved beyond standard theory to “fingertips-to-keyboard” deployment of a civilian autonomous digital workforce.
“Most business owners are using AI to write emails, but our members are using AI to build their infrastructure,” said Dwayne Johnson, president and CEO of SGBC. “The goal of the 2026 Academy is not just to inform, but to equip. We are building the ‘engine room’ of Valdosta’s future economy. If you are not in this room or connected to this room, you are working harder than you need to be.”
During an intensive three-hour lab at Valdosta State University’s Langdale College of Business, participants performed a sophisticated three-step cycle. Using the unique SOUTH method (Share, Overview, Upgrade, Test, Run), entrepreneurs moved from a basic chatbot to deploying a private AI business hub via Google’s NotebookLM. These hubs allow business owners to transform proprietary data such as contracts, proposals, and brand guidelines into internal consultants to automate up to 10 or more hours of operational “heavy lifting” per week.
The impact was immediate. Dynasty Miles, CEO of Mylestone Accounting Solutions and current member, said during the session, “SGBC will definitely give me the tools and talent I need to take my business to the next level. Thanks to this lab, I can start my YouTube channel tonight.”
This high-production residency is part of a larger 11-session movement supported by the City of Valdosta, Georgia Power, ACE South Georgia, and Valdosta State University. SGBC’s focus on technical assistance ensures that minority-owned businesses in South Georgia have the same technological competitiveness as businesses in metropolitan areas.
The Southern Georgia Negro Chamber is the region’s authority on technical business execution and advocacy. For those who missed the start of the Academy in 2026, there is still an opportunity to expand through membership. Members have exclusive access to the technical resources, SGBC network of experts, and the infrastructure needed to secure high-level contracts and grants.
To inquire about membership or register for the remaining 2026 Academy sessions, please visit www.sgablackchambers.org or contact the Chamber directly at info@sgablackchambers.org.
The South Georgia Black Chamber is dedicated to the economic empowerment of South Georgia’s small businesses and broader community. Through its Year of Execution initiative, SGBC provides technical training, advocacy, and a robust ecosystem designed to move businesses from survival mode to scale mode.
