ABOUT US
Built by Business Owners. Powered by AI.
We didn’t come from Silicon Valley. We came from the same place you did — years of building businesses, solving real problems, and figuring out how to grow without a safety net. Now we’re helping small business owners like you put AI to work.
50+ Combined Years in Business · 500+ Clients Served · Inc 5000 Recognized
OUR STORY
We Started in the Trenches — Not in a Tech Lab
Between us, we’ve built and sold a franchise company, grown a landscape business for over two decades, launched a digital marketing agency to the Inc 5000 list, and served more than 500 clients across industries ranging from medical practices to home services to childcare.
Along the way, we’ve made payroll when the bank account was tight, figured out marketing that actually works, hired and fired, negotiated leases, written business plans for bank loans, and done all the unglamorous work that real business ownership requires.
That experience is what makes us different. We don’t just understand AI tools — we understand the businesses they’re supposed to help.
Then AI Changed Everything — And We Dove In
When AI tools started changing how businesses operate, we didn’t just read about it. We started using AI to run our own businesses: writing marketing campaigns, building automated workflows, setting up AI-powered phone answering, creating content, and streamlining operations.
And we quickly realized that most small business owners were stuck. Not because they didn’t want to use AI — but because nobody was showing them how to do it in a way that made sense for their business.
That’s why we started SmallBizStrategy.ai. We combine real business experience with practical AI implementation to help small businesses stop guessing and start growing — with AI tools that actually fit how they operate.
Meet the Team
Two Business Owners. One Mission.
Neil Gass
AI Strategy & Implementation
The one who geeks out on AI tools at midnight and then figures out how to make them save your business 20 hours a week by morning. Neil leads all AI strategy, assessment, and implementation work.
Chad Howald
Sales & Client Relations
The one who answers the phone, understands your problems before you finish explaining them, and makes sure everything runs smoothly. Chad is your first point of contact and ongoing advocate.
AI Strategy & Implementation
Neil Gass
Neil’s career started about as far from AI as you can get — building a high-end preschool franchise company from the ground up in 1995. Over the next 18 years, he and his family grew Sunbrook Franchising to seven locations in metro Atlanta, handling everything from writing business plans for bank loans to managing construction to marketing and franchise sales.
After selling the franchise company in 2013, Neil founded Grow Smart Marketing, a digital marketing agency specializing in medical and chiropractic practices. He spent millions in managed Facebook ad spend, served 500+ clients, and grew the company to #751 on the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list in 2020.
Today, Neil uses AI tools every day — Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, OpenClaw, workflow automation platforms, AI video tools, and more — to run his own businesses. He brings that hands-on, daily-use experience to every client engagement. Neil doesn’t recommend tools he hasn’t used himself.
He also spent 15 years on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Child Care Association (serving multiple terms as President), helped write state childcare legislation, and has delivered keynote speeches to audiences of over 1,000 people.
MBA, Georgia State University
Business Management, Minor in Business Psychology
Inc 5000 #751
Fastest Growing Companies, 2020
500+ Clients Served
Medical, contractor, and small business verticals
Keynote Speaker
Audiences of 1,000+, industry events
Legislative Experience
Helped write Georgia childcare laws, 15 years on GCCA Board
Daily AI Practitioner
Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, OpenClaw, automation platforms, AI video
Sales & Client Relations
Chad Howald
Chad doesn’t just understand small business — he lives it every day. For over 20 years, he’s owned and operated a successful landscape business, giving him a firsthand perspective on the challenges that small business owners face: managing crews, chasing leads, dealing with seasonality, and trying to grow while keeping everything from falling apart.
When Chad joined Neil at Grow Smart Marketing, he brought that owner’s mentality to the agency — managing financial operations, leading sales, and building client relationships that lasted years, not months. He was a key part of the team that drove Grow Smart to the Inc 5000 list.
At SmallBizStrategy.ai, Chad is the person you’ll talk to first. He handles discovery calls, manages ongoing client relationships, and makes sure every engagement stays on track. When you explain your business challenges, Chad gets it — because he’s dealt with the same ones himself.
After selling the franchise company in 2013, Neil founded Grow Smart Marketing, a digital marketing agency specializing in medical and chiropractic practices. He spent millions in managed Facebook ad spend, served 500+ clients, and grew the company to #751 on the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list in 2020.
Today, Neil uses AI tools every day — Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, OpenClaw, workflow automation platforms, AI video tools, and more — to run his own businesses. He brings that hands-on, daily-use experience to every client engagement. Neil doesn’t recommend tools he hasn’t used himself.
He also spent 15 years on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Child Care Association (serving multiple terms as President), helped write state childcare legislation, and has delivered keynote speeches to audiences of over 1,000 people.
What Chad Brings to the Table
- 20+ years as a small business owner — He’s walked in your shoes and understands the daily reality of running a business.
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Proven sales leadership — Chad built the client relationships that helped Grow Smart reach the Inc 5000.
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Financial and operations management — He keeps the business side running so Neil can focus on AI strategy and delivery.
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Your ongoing advocate — Chad doesn’t disappear after the sale. He checks in, follows up, and makes sure you’re getting results.
Our Approach
What We Believe
These aren’t corporate values on a poster. They’re how we actually work with every client.
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Business First, Technology Second
We don’t start with AI tools and look for problems to solve. We start with your business goals and find the AI tools that get you there. If AI isn’t the right answer, we’ll tell you that too.
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Implementation Over Theory
We don’t hand you a report and wish you luck. We help you set up the tools, train your team, and make sure everything is working before we step back. Strategy without execution is just a fancy document.
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Straight Talk, No Jargon
We explain things in plain language because that’s how we’d want someone to talk to us. If you don’t understand something, that’s our fault — not yours. We’ll never try to impress you with complexity.
Trusted by Business Owners
What Business Owners Say About Working with Us
“Chad, Neil, and their team provided exceptional work. They set realistic expectations and the outcomes were much better and quicker than we thought. Revenues are increasing and I will be using them for future projects.”
— Fred Wied
“The team is attentive to every aspect of your account and genuinely wants the best results for your business. They are extremely communicative and we are so grateful to be working with them. Top notch customer service!”
— Sophia Mary
They have been just wonderful to work with! True craftsmen of their field! Always friendly and very approachable. They are so patient when it comes to educating, as well. I would highly recommend them!”
— Rebecca Sumner
Ready to Talk?
Let’s See If We’re the Right Fit for Your Business
Book a free 20-minute discovery call with Chad. He’ll ask about your business, listen to your challenges, and give you an honest answer about whether AI consulting makes sense for your situation.
No pitch, no pressure. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll tell you — and point you in the right direction if we can.