Hi, I'm Russell

I'm Russell Powers, founder of Elite Automation. For more than 20 years I've worked in retail, including the last 10 years owning and operating a UPS Store franchise. I started behind the counter as a sales associate right out of high school, became a manager, and worked my way up to franchise owner-operator — so I understand a business from the front counter to the bottom line.

Along the way, I started and sold two businesses of my own. Building and growing companies showed me exactly where time and money leak in a small business — and how little patience any owner has for tools that make the day more complicated, not less.

My introduction to AI came in 2024, and I'll be honest with you: I was hesitant. I didn't want to use it. Then a conversation with my brother about what it could really do made me curious enough to look closer. I started small — a few pieces of my own marketing — and before long I was building fully: web apps, iOS apps, automations, and a wide range of AI tools and agents. The more I built, the clearer it became how much small businesses were leaving on the table.

That's why I started Elite Automation. AI shouldn't be overwhelming, and you shouldn't need a technical background to benefit from it. My goal is simple: help small business owners put AI to work in a way that's clear, practical, and built around how they really run — guided by someone who's spent his career running the kind of business you're running.

What I bring isn't a wall of client logos. It's two decades of real-world business experience and hands-on time building with these tools every day. I've helped friends and fellow owners launch websites and sharpen their marketing with AI, and I'm focused on doing the same for you: finding the one place AI makes the biggest difference, and making it simple.

I'm based in Nixa and proud to serve Springfield and the surrounding area. And since everything I do works remotely, I'm glad to partner with clients anywhere.

— Russell