Latestsale.com continues its bumper coverage of our 2025 AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity) partnership. We move forward to mid-November 2025 before we will rewind in our subsequent posts with special feature content coverage during October 2025 and the remainder of November 2025.
TECH TRANSFORMATION, AI AND DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ENTREPRENEURS
The Latestsale.com Founder caught up with key stakeholders on November 12th 2025, for the “Tech Transformation: How AI and Digital Tools Are Changing the Game for Entrepreneurs” webinar to review how small businesses can continue to drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen local communities. The panel admitted “digital transformation can make emerging technologies difficult to navigate.”
The AEO Tech Transformation webinar brought together entrepreneurs, ecosystem leaders, and small business advocates to explore ways AI and digital tools can support growth, efficiency, and resilience. Hosted by the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and the Chamber of Progress, the virtual session examined technology adoption, policy developments, inclusive innovation, and real-world opportunities for small businesses. Speakers highlighted the importance of accessible technology, responsible adoption, and collaboration across the public and private sectors to help entrepreneurs compete and grow.
PRACTICAL AI ADOPTION, SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION, THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
Speaker commentary can be summarized as follows with Moderator Kouri Marshall, Director of State and Local Government Affairs at the Chamber of Progress at the helm:
Kouri Marshall highlighted AI’s potential to help small businesses scale, strengthen communication, and improve everyday operations, including scheduling appointments and bookkeeping. He emphasized the connection between technology, entrepreneurship, and policy, encouraging businesses to overcome fear and risk while embracing new opportunities.
Panelist Bethany Abbate, Manager, Artificial Intelligence Policy — SIIA, focused on practical AI adoption, from scheduling and invoicing to marketing, social media, video, and repetitive tasks. She emphasized accessible tools, cybersecurity, workforce upskilling, and responsible adoption. Abbate also discussed the growing patchwork of AI regulations and the need for clearer guidance so regulation does not become a barrier to innovation.
The second Panelist, Alexandra Cooke, Senior Director, Global Membership, ACT, The App Association indicated the prevalence of small businesses as drivers of innovation across healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. She profiled using AI to improve efficiency, identify workforce skill gaps, retrain teams, and develop new opportunities while ensuring small business voices are included in policy discussions.
Finally, Panelist Nathan Lindfors, Policy Director at Engine summarized the regulatory landscape, data privacy, and further challenges policies can create for small technology innovators. Lindfors emphasized inclusive innovation, access to resources and funding, workforce opportunities, and encouraging businesses to participate in policy decisions by contacting their members of Congress. Pon conclusion of the webinar, panelists dissected Colorado’s AI legislation and Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.
FULL PANELIST PROFILES SHARED BY THE AEO:
Moderator: Kouri C. Marshall Director of State and Local Government Affairs· Chamber of Progress
Kouri Marshall is the Director of State & Local Government Affairs at the Chamber of Progress, where he manages a portfolio spanning 33 states and leads advocacy at the intersection of AI, technology, and innovation. His work focuses on shaping legislation that protects consumer choice and enables growth, while building bipartisan coalitions that align business priorities with the public good. His recent accomplishments include helping defeat Colorado’s social media bill, engaging on Colorado’s landmark AI Act (SB 205) to delay implementation and drive a special session, and partnering with industry allies to block Illinois’s proposed digital advertising tax. Kouri has been featured in Bloomberg, Politico, and Axios for his thought leadership on emerging technology policy. He previously served as Deputy Director of Appointments for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Chief of Staff in Cook County government, and State Director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Kouri is a recipient of Campaigns & Elections’ Rising Star Award. Beyond his policy work, Kouri serves as Chair of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) Midwest Council and sits on the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy Alumni Advisory Board. He is also the Founder of Daddy Victory Club, a grassroots initiative uplifting Black fathers through storytelling, wellness, and community events. He resides in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Kayla Marshall, and their son, Kouri II.
Renée J. Johnson Vice President of Ecosystems and Strategic Partnerships The Association for Enterprise Opportunity
Renée Johnson is a nationally respected public policy leader and business strategist with over two decades of experience driving innovation, building partnerships, and advancing equity through government, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. She currently serves as the Vice President of Ecosystems and Strategic Partnerships at the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), where she leads the expansion of the organization’s regional and industry-focused initiatives to uplift underserved small businesses nationwide. Since joining AEO in June 2024, Renee has led the development and execution of the Regional Councils program, an ambitious initiative designed to address the specific economic and cultural challenges facing small business ecosystems across the country. By bringing together stakeholders from government, corporate, philanthropic, and community-based sectors, the program creates locally driven, nationally supported solutions that foster growth, resilience, and opportunity. Renee’s career includes pivotal roles in the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, the Small Business Majority, and Mrs. Michelle Obama’s United State of Women, where she spearheaded policy efforts and campaigns focused on entrepreneurship, economic justice, and leadership development. She is known for her ability to secure strategic partnerships, design high-impact initiatives, and cultivate collaborative, mission-driven teams. Beyond AEO, Renee has served on the District of Columbia Financial Services Sandbox Committee, helping shape the regulatory environment for financial innovation, and currently serves on the board of The Campaign School at Yale University, where she supports the next generation of women leaders preparing to serve in public office.
Bethany Abbate Director, AI Policy·SIIA
Bethany Abbate is the Director, AI Policy at the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), a role to enhance SIIA’s advocacy and support for its members on critical AI-related issues. Bethany joins SIIA with a robust background in policy analysis and regulatory consulting, having previously served as a Senior Associate and Policy Analyst at Capstone LLC, where she provided insights to corporations, hedge funds, and private equity firms. Her experience extends to government affairs, having held a position as the Government and External Affairs Coordinator for Allianz of America. Bethany also gained valuable experience through internships with the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Office of Oregon Governor Kate Brown, and the Oregon State Treasury. Bethany’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Civic Communication and Media from Willamette University and a Master of Arts in Strategy, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence from Johns Hopkins University’s School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Her extensive experience and expertise in artificial intelligence policy make her a vital asset to SIIA as the organization continues to lead in this rapidly evolving area.
Alexandra Cooke Senior Director, Global Membership, The App Association
Alexandra Cooke is the senior director for global membership at ACT | The App Association. In her capacity as executive director of SSBA, Alex supports small software businesses in their fight to restore and retain the critical R&D tax deduction, a critical growth expense that allows these businesses to drive innovation and create incredible technology. Her decade of experience working with small and medium-sized businesses across verticals has given her a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, policy, and innovation. In both of her roles, Alex engages directly with App Association and SSBA members, distilling global regulatory and legislative issues impacting their businesses. In addition to assisting members with understanding a wide variety of policy issues, Alex champions opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs to directly participate in advocacy and promotion of their products and ideas, both with policymakers and the general public.
Nathan Lindfors Policy Director- Engine
Nathan Lindfors is Policy Director at Engine Advocacy and Foundation, where he leads the organization’s research efforts and their AI, competition, privacy, and international trade policy work. Previously, he has held numerous other roles within Engine, including managing the organization’s network of thousands of startups and advocates located throughout the United States. Before joining Engine, Nathan served as a consultant to public sector organizations. He holds a degree in public policy from the University of Michigan Ford School. Go Blue.