Be a part of our ChatGPT, chatbot and AI roundtable conversation.
Join us as we discuss the latest in this technology, what potential impacts it will have in our future, and why this is so important to examine today!
• Interactive Roundtable with our amazing panelists
• Heavy hors d’oeuvres (wings, pizza, veggies, fruit) will be served
• One free drink ticket for each attendee!
Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Time: 5:00pm Doors open, food & networking
5:45 pm Welcome & Roundtable with Panelists
Additional networking to follow.
Event location: Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
Cost: $0 Members (free), $10 non-Members, $5 Students with school ID
5:45pm Session: ChatGPT – What’s next for this ever-growing AI technology?
Chatbots have been with us for a number of years. So when ChatGPT recently began to take center stage with its advanced conversational capabilities many people wondered is this just another buzz in the headlines, or truly another stepping stone in artificial intelligence that will take the world by storm.
Join us for this interactive panel discussion to share your thoughts on chatbots and gain insights from educators and technologists in our community.
Panelist: Brent Presley
Brent is a professor of software development at Mid-State in Stevens Point, with over 20 years of experience in managerial roles in various business fields dealing with IT. Since 2015, Brent has been teaching software development in education.
Brent will be discussing his thoughts on ChatGPT and AI, including how ChatGPT is trained and how it works, as well as the ways in which AI can benefit a wide range of industries. He hopes to encourage discussion around AI and its role in shaping the future of technology. In particular, he will be addressing the natural concerns around job security in the IT industry and aims to help attendees become more informed about AI in general.
Panelist: Matt Meis
Matt has several years of experience in software development, Cybersecurity, and threat hunting. Most recently Matt has taken on an educational role as an IT Security Instructor at Mid-State Technical College.
Matt has been using AI image generators and chatbots recreationally and has worked through many issues these tools create for the education environment and student learning.
Panelist: Joe Baldwin
Joe is a Business Productivity Engineer – Modern Work Team for Heartland Business Systems. He has 25 years’ experience in IT, 19 years in the Microsoft Stack and 3 years as an IT Instructor. He is experienced in SharePoint On-premises Stand-ups and Rescues, Fileshare & SharePoint to Cloud Migrations, Cloud to Cloud Migrations, and Azure & O365 Integrations.
He also has a healthy fear of Robots and AI since he saw “The Black Hole” at age of 3.
Panelist (MC): Jared Alfson
Jared is a redneck geek, serving as a humble Scrum Master at Navitus Health Solutions. With a start in customer phone support at a local, dial-up Internet Service Provider in rural Northeast Wisconsin, he made his way to healthcare where he’s served over 15 years in various healthcare IT roles. A notable achievement was leading a rural, community hospital through a paper to Electronic Health Record conversion as part of the federal government’s incentive in the early 2010’s.
Jared is active in his church and other community organizations, including those his three kids are involved in. As a struggling gamer (that is, a gamer struggling to find time for gaming), he also enjoys podcasts, movies, and road trips with his kids in the RV.
As a geek always on the lookout for lifehacks, he’s excited to be a part of this conversation on ChatGPT and explore how this implementation of AI can help us all.
Join us as we discover what the 5th Question is all about from Gina Glover, a talented and rising star on the national speaker circuit who calls Northeastern Wisconsin home!
- Engaging session with our distinguished speaker
- Come hungry! Plenty of hors d’oeuvres (veggies, fruit, wings and pizza) will be served
- One free Drink ticket for each attendee!
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Time: 5:00pm Doors open, food & networking
5:45 pm Welcome & Speaker Presentation, additional networking to follow
Event location: Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
Cost: $0 Members (free), $10 non-Members, $5 Students with school ID
5:45pm Session – Focus on the 5th Question: Networking Know-How for Real Relationships
In your heart of hearts, you want to focus on doing what you love most whether that includes serverless systems, cloud-based application development, document storage, etc., but first you have to show up like a salesperson, create and foster connections, and use the right language to bridge the communication gap between you and your clients, partners, and teams.
Focus on the 5th QuestionTM is foundational for developing real relationships, so prepare to be educated, engaged, and entertained during this session where attendees will learn about the 5th Question, and develop a variety of 5th Questions they can use and apply as part of their own networking know-how.
Packed with powerful personal stories, Gina inspires her audiences to push past the boring small talk and “get to the good stuff” by mastering their own 5th Question. By attending this talk you will learn:
- how to move from the mundane to the meaningful in your networking opportunities, both within and outside your own company.
- recognize the most common obstacles that jeopardize the application of your 5th Question and how to overcome each of them.
- understand how to apply the seven steps you can take before, during, and after your events to get the most out of every networking experience.
Presenter: Gina Glover
Gina Glover is a speaker, coach and connector with a diverse background spanning more than two decades in northeast Wisconsin. In addition to growing her business, Gina Connects, she is actively engaged in our community, serving on the local Habitat for Humanity board and mentoring entrepreneurs through Mid-Day Women’s Alliance. Gina is on the board of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Speakers Association and has been part of Toastmasters since her college years.
She is working on her first book, a guide to help business professionals navigate job change, and she’s on a quest to run a race in every state in the U.S. A 10K this past September in Vermont was state number 26 so she’s just over halfway there. When she’s not speaking, running, or writing, she’s in the garden, singing in her car, or traveling with her family and trying to keep their insatiable cat, Jinx, well fed.
NEW AITP February 2024 – AI Cybersecurity and Privacy Considerations
Join us for an interactive session on AI’s convenience and the concerns it raises in security and privacy.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
5:00pm Doors open, food will be served. Wings, Chips, Veggies, Fruit and Pizza.
5:45 pm Welcome & Speaker Presentation, additional networking to follow
Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
$0 Members (free), $20 non-Members, $10 Students with school ID
5:45pm Session – “Honey, my AI bot blew our retirement funds: Cybersecurity and Privacy Considerations in Using AI”
In this session, Jarrod will dive into the rise of AI, blending his personal passion with its transformative role in the business landscape. We’ll touch on governance, usage, and the varied opinions of leading CISOs, questioning the real-world application and potential of AI. The discussion will pivot to the balance between AI’s convenience and the concerns it raises in security and privacy. We’ll wrap up by considering how we can thoughtfully adopt AI, ensuring it aligns with our goals and ethical standards.
Presenter: Jarrod Coulter
Jarrod is a cybersecurity maverick with over two decades of diving deep into the digital trenches, where he’s built and commanded elite squads in the high-stakes world of cyber warfare. His journey spans from the gritty frontlines of offensive security—where he’s orchestrated masterful cyber assaults to test the mettle of defenses—to the strategic command centers of defensive operations, fortifying fortresses small and grand against the dark tide of digital threats. Recently, Jarrod’s taken the helm of a Cybersecurity Operations department, where he’s playing a critical role in shielding the global gaming industry from the shadowy chaos of cyber threats. With a keen eye for vulnerability and a hacker’s heart, Jarrod’s mission is to outmaneuver the unseen adversaries and keep the digital playground safe for gamers around the world.
^^^ 100% AI generated!
March 2024 – Agility: Back to Basics with Jen Kalz – Follow -up Session
Come join us for the follow up session to last September’s discussion about Agility best practices and how to implement them in your organization. Engage in the conversation with your peers to find out what practices work, what challenges have been faced, and how to overcome the obstacles set before those ready to embrace an Agility mindset.
• Take part in our interactive session
• Wings, Pizza, Veggies and Fruit will be provided
Date: Tuesday, March 26th, 2024
Time: 5:00pm Doors open, food & networking
5:45 pm Welcome & Speaker Presentation, additional networking to follow
Event location: Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
Cost: $0 Members (free), $20 non-Members, $10 Students with school ID
5:45pm Session – Agility: Back to Basics
Let’s get together for an evening of sharing knowledge in Agility. In this follow up session to last September’s discussion – Agility Back to Basics, we’ll cover the last half of the Agility diagram: Collaboration, Trust, and Technical Excellence. Our facilitator, Jen Kalz, will discuss the principles of what these areas in agility mean in our day-to-day delivery of solutions. This is an open conversation for all to share knowledge in Agility and Jen will also sprinkle a bit of SAFe, Lean, and Kanban into the discussion. Let’s all share the knowledge we have experienced to help overcome those pesky challenges.
Presenter and Facilitator: Jen Kalz
Jen Kalz is an independent consultant and coach with over 20 years of experience in delivering solutions for organizations in several industries. She has served as a project and product manager, agile coaching and business analyst.
She holds several certifications including: Certified Business Analysis Profession (CBAP), Certified Usability Analyst (CUA), Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Professional Scrum Master (PSM) along with training as a Six Sigma Green Belt. Jen is passionate about advancing the use of Agile in organizations and showing the value teams can deliver to move strategic objectives forward for organizations.
April 2024 -Mastering Solution Design in Generative AI Projects
Join us as our technical guru Greg Levenhagen dives into the technical aspects of designing solutions for generative AI projects!
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Time: 5:00pm Doors open, food & networking
• Come hungry! Plenty of hors d’oeuvres (veggies, fruit, wings and pizza) will be served
5:45 pm Welcome & Speaker Presentation, additional networking to follow
Event location: Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
Cost: $0 Members (free), $20 non-Members, $10 Students with school ID
5:45pm Session – Mastering Solution Design in Generative AI Projects
This session dives into the technical aspects of designing solutions for generative AI projects. Without resorting to code walk-throughs, Greg will provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying concepts critical for success in this domain. Participants will explore the intricacies of generative AI, dissecting terminology, patterns, and frameworks essential for crafting effective strategies and solutions. Through a blend of theoretical insights and practical examples, the session seeks to equip attendees with the knowledge to make informed decisions and drive innovation in their generative AI initiatives.
Key Takeaways:
- In-depth Understanding of Generative AI Concepts: Gain a solid grasp of the key terminologies and operational mechanics of generative AI, enabling a deeper comprehension beyond the basic definitions.
- Strategic Frameworks and Patterns: Learn about the strategic frameworks and design patterns specific to generative AI, facilitating more structured and effective solution design.
- Decision-Making Insights: Acquire insights into critical decision-making processes in generative AI project management, from conceptualization to execution.
- Innovative Solution Design: Understand how to leverage the unique capabilities of generative AI to design innovative solutions that address complex problems.
- Future Trends and Implications: Explore the future trajectory of generative AI technology and its implications for strategy and solution design in various industries.
Presenter: Greg Levenhagen
Greg Levenhagen is a Technical Fellow with Core BTS, a Microsoft Regional Director (http://rd.microsoft.com) and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). Helping make people’s lives better through technology and software. Having spent significant time in Linux, UNIX, Apple and Microsoft stacks, along with the big three cloud providers in Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure) and Google (GCP), believes strongly in a best tool for the job/solution approach.
A true enthusiast of computer science, with passions and interests including AI (several subcategories of Artificial Intelligence – neural networks, machine learning, and vision), data science, AR/MR/VR, mobile, User Experience/User Interaction, architecture, distributed computing, 3D/games, cloud, security, devops/devsecops, automated testing, web, agile, languages and much more. Greg speaks at conferences like THAT Conference, CodeMash, VSLive, Code PaLOUsa and various Code Camps.
He has a great passion for giving back to the community and teaching. He volunteers through TEALS and code.org to get computer science into schools, and sits on several non-profit and education boards. He is also a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), board member of THAT Conference, president of the Milwaukee Code Camp, president of the Northeast WI Code Camp, president of the Northeast WI Developers User Group (NEWDUG), co-organizer of the Fox Valley Game Development Meetup, co-organizer of the Northeast Wisconsin Cloud User Group (NEWCUG), organizer of MobileMKE, cofounder of the Northeast WI Agile User Group, INETA speaker and IEEE and ACM member.
Along with being a life-long geek, Greg enjoys golfing, football, woodworking, philosophy and stimulating conversation.
May 2024 -Night of Networking and Socializing with the NEW AITP!
Join Us for a Night of Networking and Socializing with the NEW AITP!
Date: Wednesday May 22nd, 2024
Time: 5:00pm Doors open, food & networking
• Come hungry! Plenty of heavy appetizers (veggies, fruit, wings and pizza) will be served
Event location: Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
Cost: $0 Members (free), $20 non-Members, $10 Students with school ID
5:45pm Session – Mastering Solution Design in Generative AI Projects
Get ready to expand your professional network and socialize with like-minded individuals at the upcoming Networking and Social Opportunity hosted by the NEW AITP! Save the date for Wednesday, May 22nd, as we dive into an evening filled with insightful discussions, valuable connections, and plenty of fun.
Join us for an evening of insightful discussions and networking opportunities. This month, NEW AITP is hosting a social event featuring an interactive panel chaired by Karla A. Miller, M.A.Ed., Career Advisor from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with contributions from NEW AITP board members. The panel will discuss employment trends in Information Technology, including trending technologies, key hiring areas, and tips for navigating the industry, followed by open networking.
Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional, a budding tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the latest industry trends, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and explore exciting career opportunities.
But that’s not all! In addition to the panel discussion, enjoy refreshments and interactive networking activities designed to foster meaningful connections in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to mingle with industry professionals, gain valuable knowledge, and expand your professional horizons. Mark your calendars and join us on May 22nd for an evening of networking and socializing you won’t want to miss!
Join us on July 18 for NEW AITP’s 47th annual Sherry Anklam Memorial Golf Outing!
Enjoy 18 holes of golf at Mid Vallee Golf Course, in a scramble format, with proceeds benefiting our local Information Technology students and school initiatives through the Sherry Anklam Memorial Award. Bring your boss, co-workers, clients and friends for a wonderful day of golf at one of Northeastern Wisconsin’s finest golf courses.
Through this Award and your support of this event, the NEW AITP Chapter has awarded $14,000 to IT Students in Northeast Wisconsin in the last 7 years!
Your day of enjoyment includes:
- 18 holes of golf with power cart
- Box lunch & Dinner Buffet
- Hole Events and Hole-In-One Contests
- Raffles and Door Prizes
Schedule of Events:
7:30 am Registration Opens. Check in and pick up Raffle tickets and Mulligan cards.
8:45 am Golfers meet at carts for Announcements and selection of 50/50 winner.
9:00 am Shotgun Start (golfers tee off from their assigned hole on the course)
2:30 pm Scorecards returned in Clubhouse, Happy Hour begins
3:00 pm Dinner Buffet
3:00 pm Event Prizes, Awards, Raffles & Door Prizes handed out
Registration:
$320 – Foursome Special (Now thru May 31) SPECIAL OFFER only available for foursomes!
$360 – Early Bird (June 1 – June 30)
$400 – Regular rate (July 1 – July 18)
Single to Trio Pricing (per golfer):
$90 – Early Bird (Now thru June 30)
$100 – Regular rate (July 1 – July 18)
Golfers can also sign up at the course on the day of the event, if space is available.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Raffle Tickets:
Use your tickets to bid on wonderful prizes provided by Outing Sponsors, Community Businesses and the NEW AITP Chapter. Limit: Unlimited
Mulligan Cards:
Each Mulligan Card will provide one golfer with three (3) additional shots for use during their round to replace a shot which was less than stellar. Player will follow an “on your honor” policy on mulligan use. Limit: One Card per Player
Purchase the SUPER TICKET during registration to include both the Raffle Ticket and Mulligan Card to save a few bucks, shorten your time at the registration table, and increase your fun factor during the round!
SPONSORSHIPS:
NEW OPTIONS to choose from this year! Significant discounts available by bundling Golf sponsorships with an AITP Chapter sponsorship (save 20% or more!) or choosing a Sponsorship package which includes Golfers & Super Tickets!
Contact Chris Nimmer, Outing Chair, (sponsorship@newaitp.org) to get signed up today!
September 2024 -Building Team Culture: A Winning Approach – Joe La Chapell
Building a Winning Team Culture: Insights from Joe La Chapell
In today’s fast-paced technology landscape, where change is the only constant, the strength of a team lies in its culture. But how do you build a culture that not only survives but thrives in such a dynamic environment?
Join us for an insightful presentation by Joe La Chapell, a seasoned IT leader with over two decades of experience and a high school varsity basketball coach with 15 years on the court. Joe will share his unique perspective on creating a resilient, high-performing team culture that transcends the challenges of the tech world.
Drawing parallels between the principles of teamwork, trust, and leadership on the basketball court and in the boardroom, Joe’s approach goes beyond the usual project management tasks. It’s about building a cohesive team that collaborates, supports each other, and consistently achieves its goals.
With a wealth of real-world experience leading high-performing teams, implementing large-scale IT systems, and guiding digital transformations, Joe offers a fresh perspective on team development and true leadership. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing each team member’s strengths to foster a motivated, loyal, and healthy work environment.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn strategies for cultivating a strong, resilient team culture in a fast-changing tech environment.
- Discover how principles from the basketball court can be applied to leadership and teamwork in IT.
- Gain insights into building a motivated, loyal, and high-performing team.
Date: Tuesday September 24th, 2024
Time: 5:00pm Doors open, food & networking
• Come hungry! Plenty of heavy appetizers (veggies, fruit, wings and pizza) will be served
Event location: Holidays Pub & Grill, Appleton, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton WI
Cost: $0 Members (free), $20 non-Members, $10 Students with school ID
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leader who has successfully merged sports leadership with IT excellence. Register now and start building a winning team culture today!
November 2024 – Member Appreciation Night!
Join us for an exciting evening as we celebrate and appreciate our valued NEW AITP members! This Member Appreciation Night is open to all members, guests, and students. Whether you’re a loyal member, a new face, or interested in learning more about us, we’d love to have you there for an unforgettable night of networking, trivia, and plenty of food!
Event Highlights:
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with members, guests, and students in our IT community.
- Trivia Hosted by Holidays Pub: Team up and test your knowledge for some friendly competition!
- Heavy Appetizers Served: Come hungry! Enjoy a variety of appetizers, including wings, pizza, veggies, and fruit.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
- Time: Doors open at 5:00 pm for food and networking, Trivia starts at 5:45 pm
- Location: Holidays Pub & Grill, 3950 N. Richmond Street, Appleton, WI
- Cost:
-
- FREE for Members
- $20 for Non-Members
- $10 for Students (with school ID)
Register today and join us for an evening of fun, connection, and community appreciation. We look forward to seeing you there!