On a September 29th, founders and small business leaders from across Hampton Roads converged at the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) building in Hampton for an event that captured both the urgency and the promise of a fast-changing business landscape.

The workshop, entitled “Turbocharging Your Business Operations with AI Employees“, brought together innovators eager to learn how artificial intelligence could become more than just another buzzword, and instead become a powerful teammate in their daily work.

The session was hosted by the REaKTOR Technology Innovation Center, a cornerstone of the City of Hampton’s innovation economy. REaKTOR has quickly established itself as a launchpad for entrepreneurs, researchers, and scientists developing groundbreaking technologies in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, and beyond. By convening the region’s founders under one roof, REaKTOR once again lived up to its mission: helping bold technology ideas gain traction and scale.

Guiding the founder-to-founder workshop was Charlie O’Brien, Senior Product and Operations Manager of 757 Collab, co-founder of Logentiq™ Solutions, and a serial entrepreneur with a reputation for making AI accessible to everyday business owners. O’Brien’s approach is refreshingly candid: no jargon, no overblown promises, just practical conversations about how technology can solve real problems.

With humor and clarity, he outlined how small businesses can deploy “AI employees” to keep teams aligned while ensuring that Standard Operating Procedures and other documentation stay up to date, and reduce the need for endless meetings and manual updates. Attendees leaned in as O’Brien shared examples of how AI workflows can free founders from the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that often hold back growth, and how local startups could empower their staff: by elevating their employees from operators to trainers and managers of teams of virtual employees.

Logentiq itself was born from that very ethos. The company’s three cofounders: O’Brien, longtime consultancy CEO Chris Davidson, and Old Dominion University entrepreneurship standout Luke Scrivanich, met not in a boardroom but through community work supporting regional entrepreneurs. They quickly recognized a shared frustration: while large enterprises were pouring millions into AI, small businesses were left wondering where to start.

Innovate Hampton Roads recently met up with the trio to feature them in a piece that highlights their story more in depth.

The workshop underscored something larger than just AI, it highlighted Hampton Roads’ growing reputation as a region where technology and entrepreneurship intersect. With institutions like REaKTOR convening talent, and startups like Logentiq emerging from local collaborations, our region is steadily carving out its role in the national innovation narrative.

The diversity of attendees reflected that momentum: solo founders, small business owners, and entrepreneurial support organizations all came ready to learn. For many, the workshop was their first glimpse into practical ways that AI could be woven into the fabric of their operations. For others, it was a chance to take a deeper dive into advanced tools and strategies already reshaping their industries.

As the event drew to a close, what lingered wasn’t just excitement about AI, it was the sense of possibility that comes when innovation is rooted in community. Attendees left with new tools, new ideas, and perhaps most importantly, a new network of peers equally committed to pushing the Hampton Roads innovation ecosystem forward using emerging technology.

For REaKTOR, the training session was yet another example of its mission in action: providing the resources, connections, and inspiration to turn bold ideas into transformative realities.

For Logentiq, it was proof that their message resonates with the very audience they set out to serve, the underdog founders and small teams determined to do more with less.

In the end, the workshop embodied what Hampton Roads does best: blending collaboration, innovation, and a spirit of resilience to build a future where technology works for everyone.

Learn more about REaKTOR here: https://reaktor757.org

Learn more about Logentiq™ here: https://www.logentiq.com/

 

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