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!