This year marked the inaugural Small Business Summit presented by our friends at the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. If I hadn’t been in the loop, I would have thought the folks at the Chamber had been presenting this event for years.
I was super impressed by the production value, the organization, and the quality of the sessions. As a first-time gathering, it brought together an incredible range of local professionals, each passionate about solving real business challenges and driving growth here in our community.
From conversations with business owners and marketing leaders to sitting in on several insightful talks, the event offered tremendous value, both in learning about the unique issues companies in Lancaster face and in discovering fresh, forward-thinking solutions.
It’s clear this new annual tradition has already found its place among the region’s most meaningful business events. I would be remiss if I kept the value I received to myself. So, in this latest article from the Sharp Innovations blog, I’m letting you inside, giving you a view of the event with key takeaways you can use to help grow your small business.
Innovation Starts with Mindset
The morning keynote, led by Jen Reiner of Align Limited, focused on what it truly means to lead an effective innovation team.
Her presentation challenged the traditional myths that surround innovation, including the idea that it’s something you’re either born with or something only large corporations can afford to pursue.
In reality, innovation is a skill that any small business can learn and nurture. Reiner outlined what she called the “Four I’s of Innovation” to help small businesses approach innovation in the right ways.
- Insights – Define the needs of your organization and customers.
- Ideas – Generate creative solutions that improve how you operate and serve.
- Increments – Test ideas in small, manageable ways before scaling.
- Impact – Measure how those changes actually move the needle.
One of her most practical takeaways was the value of customer feedback as a driver of innovation. Rather than assuming you know what your clients want, you should listen without selling. Find patterns in their feedback, test new ideas, and make space for structured brainstorming within your team.
Small business innovation doesn’t have to mean inventing something new. Sometimes it’s about improving what’s already working and building a culture that encourages creativity.
The AI Advantage: Doing More with Less
Another highlight came from Dominic Tancredi of Dom & Tom, whose talk, “Small Teams, Big Impact: How AI Can Accelerate Your Business,” explored how artificial intelligence can help small teams compete with organizations ten times their size.
He shared how AI can automate repetitive tasks, augment creativity, and accelerate output, freeing up small business owners to focus on strategy and growth. From proposal writing and data analysis to content generation and CRM updates, AI can help reduce the friction between ideas and outcomes.
At the same time, Tancredi emphasized the importance of keeping a “human in the loop.” AI should enhance your business, not replace your judgment or authenticity. The best results happen when technology supports human decision-making rather than taking it over.
Used strategically, AI gives small businesses the power to act bigger, faster, and smarter, leveling the playing field with large competitors without sacrificing personality or quality.
Staying Relevant Without Disruption
The final session, led by Greg Orth of Sandler Training, tied everything together by addressing one of the hardest challenges in business: staying relevant as the market evolves. His session, “Innovation Without Disruption,” encouraged business leaders to stay curious and adaptable.
Orth challenged the classic sales mindset of “Always Be Closing,” replacing it with “Always Be Curious.” Curiosity, he said, is what keeps companies from becoming the next Kodak or Blockbuster, both of which fell behind because they stopped asking what their customers really needed. We also got to play with Play Doh, so there’s that! A fun way to show the curiosity that led to the success of the Play Doh brand as well as to use the doughy delight for an exercise attendees participated in during the session.
He also reminded small business owners to continually ask:
- “Is the problem we solve still the problem our customers face?”
- “Who else can benefit from what we do well?”
To stay ahead, Orth recommended building habits that foster curiosity:
- Schedule curiosity. Make innovation part of your routine, not a reaction.
- Stay close to customers. Listen before the market forces you to.
- Refresh, don’t replace. Evolve thoughtfully so you don’t alienate loyal clients.
- Build a curiosity network. Surround yourself with people who challenge your assumptions.
- Reflect and reinforce. Turn curiosity into a feedback loop for continual growth.
For small businesses in Lancaster and beyond, this approach is both practical and empowering, reminding us that staying relevant isn’t about reinventing everything. It’s about never stopping learning.
Moving Forward: Applying These Lessons
This year’s Small Business Summit reinforced that growth comes from curiosity, creativity, and connection. Whether it’s using AI to work smarter, leading your team through small-scale innovation, or staying tuned in to customer needs, every strategy circles back to one theme, progress doesn’t require a massive budget, just an open mindset and willingness to adapt.
Small businesses are the backbone of Lancaster County’s economy, and events like this serve as a reminder that innovation starts small, one insight, one experiment, one conversation at a time.
Anthony is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Sharp Innovations. He is a two-time published author and award-winning marketing & brand strategist. He has helped brands both large and small grow and thrive across multiple industries through strategic marketing campaigns and leveraging a powerful network of influencers.