More than 20 MBA member companies came together in Cranberry Township for our first Business Roundtable, centered on one timely question: How are you using AI effectively?
The room reflected where most organizations are right now. Skill levels ranged from those just getting started to others already using AI in more advanced, strategic ways. That mix led to a productive, honest conversation with plenty of real-world insight.
Lori Joint, MBA President & CEO, facilitated the discussion and grounded it in a simple but important takeaway: the most immediate value of AI is saving time. From there, the conversation quickly expanded into how companies are actually putting that into practice and where they’re still figuring things out.
Key Takeaways from the AI Business Roundtable in Cranberry Township
One theme was clear. There is no single approach to managing AI in the workplace yet. Companies are experimenting, learning, and adapting in real time. At the same time, one experienced participant emphasized the importance of setting a foundation early by creating policies and guardrails around how AI is used and what information should remain internal.
As the discussion opened up, attendees shared a wide range of use cases. Some are using AI to draft social media content, build prospect lists, and create newsletters. Others are applying it to more specialized tasks like preparing visa documentation, analyzing competitors while redesigning websites, and cleaning up large data lists. The variety showed just how flexible these tools have become.
There were also moments where more advanced users helped move the conversation forward. When one attendee mentioned hitting limits with ChatGPT, the group naturally shifted into a discussion about upgrading tools. One participant summed it up simply: moving to a paid version gives you more bandwidth, like having more gas in the tank. It allows teams to do more, more consistently.
The biggest takeaway from the roundtable was the value of the conversation itself. Every company, regardless of where they are in their AI journey, had the chance to share what’s working, ask questions, and walk away with new ideas.
This was just the beginning. The next Business Roundtable in Cranberry Township will be held on August 5 at the Regional Learning Alliance (RLA) Learning and Conference Center. The topic will be “Learn About the Revolution: AI, PJM, Grid, Energy and Data Centers”. Our members can register here.