Thirty years in business is something worth celebrating! And what better way to mark the occasion than getting together with the people who have helped make WRIS what it is today?

In September, members of the WRIS team traveled to Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, for a few days of reconnecting, reflecting on the past 30 years, and talking about where we're headed next.

With five of us living in Northeast Ohio and others flying in from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida, Geneva-on-the-Lake was a great meeting spot. And while we had plenty of business to discuss, we also made sure to leave lots of time for fun!

From a Log Cabin to 30 Years in Business

It's pretty amazing to think about how much has changed since WRIS got its start in 1996.

Back then, we were Western Reserve Internet Services, a small dial-up internet business started by Charlie Meyers. What began as a part-time venture eventually became a full-time business operating out of a log home in Newbury, Ohio, with Charlie's bedroom doubling as the office.

There was no Google, no WordPress, no Facebook, and certainly no generative AI. Websites were written by hand, internet connections were painfully slow, and businesses were just beginning to understand what the internet could do for them.

Over the years, WRIS evolved right along with the technology. From dial-up internet and early website development to ColdFusion applications, WordPress, digital marketing, and modern web solutions, we've continued to grow and adapt.

One interesting full-circle moment? WRIS started as a work-from-home business, and 30 years later, we're a fully remote team!

Getting Together Beyond the Computer Screen

Working remotely has plenty of benefits, but one thing we all miss is the opportunity to just hang out together.

Our first evening at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake was all about that. We gathered for appetizers, drinks, dinner, and lots of catching up. For some of us, it had been quite a while since we'd seen each other in person, and it's always fun to spend time together without a computer screen between us.

There were plenty of laughs, stories, and conversations that had absolutely nothing to do with work. Sometimes those are the best parts of getting the team together!

A Little Business, a Lot of Good Conversation

The following day, we traded the dinner table for the conference table.

Our company meeting covered a little bit of everything, including operations, financials, marketing, production, and opportunities to continue improving how we work together and serve our clients.

It was a chance to step away from our daily projects, look at the bigger picture, share ideas, and discuss what's working well and what we can do better.

But one topic generated an especially interesting conversation: artificial intelligence.

Embracing AI — Thoughtfully and Responsibly

If you think about how much technology has changed since 1996, AI may be one of the biggest shifts we've seen yet.

And just as WRIS embraced the internet in its earliest days, we're looking at how we can embrace AI as another tool to help us work smarter and better serve our clients.

During our meeting, team members shared some of the ways they're already putting AI to work, including:

• Troubleshooting and development: Helping identify bugs, understand complex code, research technical solutions, and streamline development tasks.
• SEO and content creation: Researching keywords, identifying optimization opportunities, brainstorming ideas, and developing content more efficiently.
• Improving workflows: Finding ways to organize information, automate repetitive tasks, and make better use of the knowledge and resources we've built over 30 years.
• Research and problem-solving: Exploring solutions, comparing approaches, and getting a head start on challenging technical and business questions.

There were some great examples of how tasks that once required hours of research or troubleshooting can now be approached much more efficiently with the right tools.

But our biggest takeaway wasn't simply that AI can save time. It was that AI should be used responsibly, with human expertise, judgment, and oversight remaining at the center of what we do.

We discussed the importance of protecting confidential information, verifying AI-generated work, establishing clear internal guidelines, and making sure the technology supports our expertise rather than replaces it.

The goal isn't to use AI just because it's available. It's to find practical, responsible ways to improve efficiency, solve problems, and deliver even better results for our clients.

Technology has changed dramatically over the past three decades, and our willingness to learn and adapt has always been part of the WRIS story. AI is simply the next chapter.

Dinner, Wine, and a Table for 30!

Of course, we couldn't celebrate 30 years without a proper anniversary dinner!

We started the evening at Baci Winery, where, completely by coincidence, we were seated at table #30! We couldn't have planned that better if we'd tried.

From there, we hopped on a shuttle to Vincent William Wine, a beautiful lakefront winery with a unique story and a gorgeous setting. It was the perfect place for our big anniversary celebration.

The food was delicious, the setting was beautiful, and, most importantly, we had a wonderful time together. Lots of laughs, great conversations, and a chance to celebrate everything WRIS has accomplished over the years.

It was definitely an evening to remember.

Here's to the Next 30 Years!

When Charlie started WRIS back in 1996, it's hard to imagine anyone could have predicted what the internet would become or how dramatically technology would change.

From dial-up connections and hand-coded websites to cloud computing, remote collaboration, and artificial intelligence, we've seen a lot in 30 years.

But some things haven't changed: our commitment to our clients, our willingness to tackle new challenges, and the talented people who make it all happen.

Our time together in Geneva-on-the-Lake was a great reminder that while technology is at the heart of what we do, it's the people and relationships that have made these 30 years possible.

Thanks to everyone who has been part of the WRIS journey, including our team members, clients, and partners, past and present.

Here's to 30 years of WRIS, and to whatever comes next!