AI Lunch and Learns

Topic: Answer Engine Optimization: The Future of Search and How to Stay Visible in the AI Era

The Southern Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce (SCWCC) is excited to launch Quarterly Virtual Lunch and Learns via Zoom exploring the evolving world of AI and its impact on business, marketing and productivity. Designed for professionals across industries, these interactive sessions will feature expert insights, real-world applications and practical strategies to help you harness the power of AI for growth and efficiency. Whether you're an AI novice or looking to refine your knowledge, these virtual events will provide accessible, relevant, and actionable takeaways to keep you ahead of the curve. Get ready to learn, connect, and innovate!

Search is changing—and fast. As AI-powered "answer engines" like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google SGE replace traditional keyword search, businesses must adapt or risk becoming invisible. This engaging session will introduce the rising trend of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and explain how it differs from traditional SEO. We’ll dive into how search behavior is shifting, what AI engines prioritize when delivering answers, and most importantly, what your business can do right now to prepare. You’ll walk away with clear strategies to optimize your website, content, and online presence to stay competitive in this new digital landscape. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a marketing professional, or leading a growing company—this talk will demystify AEO and provide a roadmap for future-proof visibility.

Three Takeaways

Understand the AEO Landscape: Learn what Answer Engine Optimization is and how AI-powered search is fundamentally different from traditional SEO.
Optimize for Visibility: Discover practical steps to prepare your website and content for AI-driven discovery—think schema markup, authoritative content, and structured answers.
Future-Ready Strategy: Walk away with future-focused strategies to maintain digital visibility as AI continues to reshape the way consumers search, choose, and engage.

Speaker

Jonathon Leibert
CEO of The Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado

CEO/Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado and the Southern Colorado Impact Group, Jonathan is a Social Entrepreneur and a Colorado Springs native. He is a recognized leader by the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute (CSLI, class of 2017), a Rising Star Award recipient from the Colorado Springs Business Journal, and a 2022 State of Colorado, CiviCO Governors Fellow. Jonathan is a champion for Social Impact, Small Businesses, and Trust in the marketplace.

Jonathan is the Chair and Chief Architect of the international BBB Trustmark Program, titled BBB4Good. This program verifies Higher-Purpose businesses and is the first new Trustmark from BBB in more than 20 years.

Jonathan is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. In partnership with UCCS, he created the curriculum for the first course for Social Impact Strategies in the School of Business. He believes in building strategies that accelerate the evolution of business by providing tools and training designed to enhance and organize the emerging Fourth Sector of the economy and leveraging entrepreneurial strategies that solve social and environmental issues across the globe.

Jonathan is also a recognized leader in AI education and strategy. He teaches AI for Small Businesses and AEO Digital Marketing Strategies, equipping organizations with the knowledge and tools to harness AI for growth, efficiency, and innovation.

Jonathan currently serves on the National Board for the International Association of BBB and the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, the Business Advisory Committee for the Colorado Secretary of State and is the Past Chair of the Colorado Nonprofit Association. He was appointed to the Colorado Workforce Development Council Board by Governor Polis and currently chairs this state board.

Jonathan holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center and is also a Trustee of the Bee Vradenburg Foundation.