SPIN Events

The Next Wave of Work Efficiency: How Copilot for M365 is Leading the Change

Discover the dawn of a new era in office productivity with Copilot for M365. We will explore the dynamic ways AI integration within Office applications is reshaping the way we work.

Date and Time
Tuesday, 04/30/2024
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Announcements and Presentation
 
Location
Milliman
Michigan Room
17335 Golf Pkwy Ste 100, Brookfield, WI 53045
Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:

Anthony Escobedo currently works in an Office 365 role as a Senior Power Platform Cloud Solution Architect for Microsoft. He has over ten years of consulting experience in Information Technology, system design, and implementation for numerous clients, including multiple Fortune 500 organizations. His growth mindset and customer-obsessed passion for problem-solving help him achieve his goals for inclusivity and collaboration in his community.

 

Ultra-productivity Without Burnout

In today's fast-paced world, the pressure to be productive is at an all-time high. While it's important to achieve our goals and succeed in our careers, it's equally crucial to prioritize our well-being and avoid the pitfalls of burnout. This presentation will explore practical strategies and tips for achieving ultra-productivity without sacrificing your health and happiness.
 
Key Takeaways:
 
Setting Realistic Goals: Learn how to set achievable and meaningful goals that align with your values and long-term vision.
 
Time Management Techniques:  Discover effective time management strategies to optimize your workflow, minimize distractions, and maximize your productivity.
 
Self-Care and Stress Management:  Explore essential self-care practices and stress management techniques to maintain your physical and mental health while pursuing your goals.
 
Building Sustainable Habits:  Gain insights into forming positive habits that support your productivity and overall well-being.
 
Adapting to Change:  Learn how to adapt and thrive in the face of unexpected challenges and changes in your personal and professional life.
 
 
Target Audience:
 
This presentation is designed for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to enhance their productivity and achieve their goals without compromising their well-being.
Date and Time
Tuesday, 03/19/2024
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
National Business Furniture
770 S 70th St
Milwaukee, WI 53214


Please use the rear entrance. Parking is available on the side and back of the building.


Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Oliver Degnan
 
Oliver is a CIO, CTO, author, and inventor passionate about technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. He holds technology patents for breakthrough inventions cited by Fortune 50 companies, such as Apple, Google, and Intuit in Silicon Valley.
 
Over the past 20 years, Oliver led more than 1,600 employees worldwide to disrupt the status quo in healthcare innovation to help prevent physician burnout and improve people's health. 
 
As SVP for IBM Watson Health and CIO for ChenMed, Experity, and Fortium, Oliver led engineering efforts to advance artificial intelligence to improve healthcare patient outcomes and boost operations efficiency toward a sustainable Value-based Care model in the United States.
 
Oliver is a published author on AI topics and currently works as a fractional CIO and partner with Fortium Partners, supporting healthcare and PE-backed organizations to leverage AI as a competitive advantage to improve people’s health further
 

AGILITY: It's Just Good Business (agile mindset isn't enough)

Rescheduled!

Why Agile? IT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS! Mitigate risk, deliver more frequently, increase visiablity, and maintain the ability to change. 

 
Many organizations want these attributes, but are not willing to setup an environment that can execute on these results. Too often when agile is talked about the phrases "agile mindset", "psychological safety", "agile manifesto" are used. It's wishful thinking...and it is not enough. Join us for a talk about how to go from wanting agility to setting up an environment that is just good business.
Date and Time
Thursday, 02/08/2024
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
Landmark Credit Union Corporate office
555 S Executive Dr, Brookfield, WI 53005 Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:
Chad Beier
Chad is an organizational agility advisor, external change agent, and Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org. He promotes organizational agility and positive pressure for change through speaking, advising, coaching, and training.
 
As a trusted advisor, he works with all levels of the organization to optimize your business to respond to change. Developer, project manager, product owner, business owner - Chad has a diverse background that helps him connect with people throughout the entire organization.
 
In addition to speaking at conferences across the United States, Chad is active in the Wisconsin agile community - organizing meetups in multiple regions (Mad City Agility and Central Wisconsin Agile) and founder of the Mad City Agility Conference.
 
Jeff Bubolz
Jeff is a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org, organizational agility advisor, and speaker. He has been a Product Owner, Scrum Master and Development Team member and has worked with companies ranging from enterprise to small start-ups.
 
While working with many teams across many companies Jeff has found that most problems are not technology problems, but are organizational structure, process, and people problems. Jeff brings storytelling, a broad array of experience, along with a collaborative approach to teaching and speaking. 
 
Jeff is the co-host of The Agile Wire podcast where he speaks with industry leaders around the world. He also speaks at conferences across the United States. Jeff is active in the Wisconsin agile community - organizing meetups in multiple regions (Mad City Agility and Central Wisconsin Agile) and founder of the Mad City Agility Conference. 
 
 
Thanks to Wisconsin Agility: https://www.wisconsinagility.com/

Event Files

 

UX/UI and the Software Dev Life Cycle

The integration of UX/UI design within the SDLC is not merely a process but a mindset that puts users at the forefront of software development. By fostering collaboration, embracing iterative design practices, and leveraging appropriate tools, organizations can create software that not only meets technical requirements but delights users and ultimately leading to greater success. 
Date and Time
Tuesday, 11/28/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
Landmark Credit Union Corporate office
555 S Executive Dr, Brookfield, WI 53005 Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:
Ken Otte, Principal UX/UI Product Strategy - Sparq 
Ken has over 20 years of UX/UI product strategy experience spanning from local to global, having worked with clients in most industry verticals, including: PepsiCo, Jack Daniel's, Zurich Insurance, Harley-Davidson, Leinenkugel's, and Berkshire Hathaway. He has designed and maintained products and applications for web, mobile, enterprise and Saas on local and scaleable platforms. His design approach is product-centered and he is a strong advocate for user ecosystems. 
 

Demystifying Product Thinking and How it Relates to Every Organization

Join us for an engaging discussion on "Demystifying Product Thinking." In a world where Product Thinking has become ubiquitous, organizations are increasingly embracing a "product-centric" approach. But what does that truly entail?

During this session, we will peel back the layers of abstraction surrounding "product thinking" and delve into its real-world implications. We'll explore what these terms and concepts actually mean and, more importantly, how you can seamlessly integrate and apply them in your daily operations with a practical and adaptable approach. 

Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights into harnessing the power of Product Thinking in your organization.

Date and Time
Thursday, 10/26/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
National Business Furniture
770 S 70th St
Milwaukee, WI 53214

** A bridge out south of I94 on 70th Street so enter from Greenfield Ave**

Please use the rear entrance. Parking is available on the side and back of the building.


Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:

Beth Jagodinsky is a product management leader and practitioner with over a decade of experience discovering and delivering B2B and B2c innovative, digital products from idea to launch. Beth is currently the Director of Product Strategy at Sparq, a product & engineering consultancy. She has experience advising clients across industries from fortune 100 companies to start ups, with the goal of delivering meaningful outcomes by merging user needs with strategic business objectives.

Ryan Finco is a Principal product strategist at Sparq with 20+ years of experience serving a myriad of roles in the product vertical, ranging from the highly tactical, team-centric roles including Product Owner and Scrum Master, to the more strategic business driven perspectives of Product Manager and Transformation Coach.  In his career, he has coached and assisted over 70 different organizations in their mission to drive toward delivering real product value, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies.

Event Files

Registration is currently closed.
 

Exploring The Rock Crusher: A Flow-Based Model for Backlog Management

The latest publication from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®), "The Rock Crusher," offers an agile approach to backlog management, highlighting the power and simplicity of this essential tool in modern agile organizations. This concept emphasizes the importance of the backlog as a single repository from which a team pulls its next most valuable work item, enabling agility through the ability to add, remove, reprioritize, and visualize potential work for a product. 

Date and Time
Wednesday, 09/27/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
Concurrency Inc 13600 Bishops Ct, Brookfield, WI 53005 Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:
With over 25 years of IT experience, Ms. Wilterdink holds multiple business analysis and agile certifications. As a consultant, Rachael has served clients in the financial, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, government, education, and insurance industries. Very active in the professional community, Ms. Wilterdink has served on the boards of both her local IIBA® and PMI® chapters and chaired the Advisory Committees for two local colleges. As a passionate public speaker, Rachael presents various topics at conferences and user groups across the country and the world. Rachael is also a blogger and the author of the popular eBook “40 Agile Transformation Pain Points (and how to avoid or manage them).”

Event Files

Registration is currently closed.
 

Introducing LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Join Dave Snyder, certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, as he introduces you to LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. Formally, the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) method is defined as a facilitated thinking, communication and problem-solving technique for organizations, teams and individuals. It draws on extensive research from the fields of business, organizational development, psychology and learning, and is based on the concept of “hand knowledge.” In this introductory session, we will explore some of the theory behind the methodology and look to understand how it can be applied in a software organization or team.

Date and Time
Tuesday, 05/16/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
Landmark Credit Union Corporate office
555 S Executive Dr, Brookfield, WI 53005 Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:

Dave Snyder is an experienced software engineer, agile practitioner and Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL). He believes in using non-traditional methods for achieving business results, as a way to engage people and make sure that all voices not only have a place at the table but can also contribute to a solution. When Dave stumbled across LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, he was intrigued. After attending training, he was hooked.

Registration is currently closed.
 

Our approach was so hot we messed up our Deployment!

There is no IT value until a service is fully delivered. This includes not only the application being developed, but the ongoing infrastructure management capabilities. Hear a highly entertaining talk on how development projects fail for lack of operational planning and readiness. Learn a successful approach used at other companies that insert operational planning and readiness into their software development lifecycles to ensure a holistic solution is being developed. Learn how operational readiness can be built in parallel with development activities. Hear examples of what works and not works from real industry companies (names withheld to protect the guilty…).

Date and Time
Tuesday, 04/25/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
Concurrency Inc 13600 Bishops Ct, Brookfield, WI 53005 Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:

Randy Steinberg has over 25 years of hands-on IT Service Management, development and operations experience gained from many clients around the world. He was the lead author for the ITIL Service Operation book. He was a Global Head of Service Management for a worldwide media company with 176 operating centers around the globe. He recently led a major IT Service Management transformation project for a large government agency crossing implementation of management technologies, process, organizational and governance changes that was awarded an ITIL project of the year award from itSMF. Randy is also the author of several popular ITIL books: Implementing ITSM, Measuring ITSM, Servicing ITSM and Architecting ITSM focused on IT operations support for application development. One client went on to win a Malcolm Baldrige award for the quality of their IT services. He carries ITIL Expert, ISO20000 and PMP certifications.

Registration is currently closed.
 

The secret to getting agile and staying agile

Imagine a world in which organizations grow larger, remain profitable, and fulfill their vision without sacrificing agility. We are about two decades into the agile revolution. As we enter the "Roaring ‘20s of Agility" the need for being adaptable in the fast-paced world we live in is exponentially increasing.
 
 
Unfortunately, the majority of organizations are still structured and operated with management models and practices created more than 100 years ago! The default mindset that people won’t “be their best” without pressure from management is still very pervasive.
 
 
We’ll discuss changes required to reshape our organizations to be adaptive and responsive.
Date and Time
Tuesday, 03/21/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Presentation and Q&A
 
Location
Milwaukee Tool, 13135 W Lisbon Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005 Click here for map.

Meeting will be held in the new office building in Brookfield.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:
Chad Beier
Chad is an organizational agility advisor, external change agent, and Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org. He promotes organizational agility and positive pressure for change through speaking, advising, coaching, and training.
 
As a trusted advisor, he works with all levels of the organization to optimize your business to respond to change. Developer, project manager, product owner, business owner - Chad has a diverse background that helps him connect with people throughout the entire organization.
 
In addition to speaking at conferences across the United States, Chad is active in the Wisconsin agile community - organizing meetups in multiple regions (Mad City Agility and Central Wisconsin Agile) and founder of the Mad City Agility Conference.
 
Jeff Bubolz
Jeff is a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org, organizational agility advisor, and speaker. He has been a Product Owner, Scrum Master and Development Team member and has worked with companies ranging from enterprise to small start-ups.
 
While working with many teams across many companies Jeff has found that most problems are not technology problems, but are organizational structure, process, and people problems. Jeff brings storytelling, a broad array of experience, along with a collaborative approach to teaching and speaking. 
 
Jeff is the co-host of The Agile Wire podcast where he speaks with industry leaders around the world. He also speaks at conferences across the United States. Jeff is active in the Wisconsin agile community - organizing meetups in multiple regions (Mad City Agility and Central Wisconsin Agile) and founder of the Mad City Agility Conference. 
 
 
Thanks to Wisconsin Agility: https://www.wisconsinagility.com/

Event Files

Registration is currently closed.
 

Software quality roundtable

Join us for our roundtable discussion focused on quality software where we will be discussing QA involvement in a project's lifecycle, test automation, and much more!

Date and Time
Monday, 02/27/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Roundtable and Q&A
 
Location
Broken Bat Brewing Co.
135 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204 Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:

Moderator: Nick Remme

Panelists : Lee Barnes, David Cox, Michael Koepke and Isaac Neher

Nick Remme – Nick is Cuna Mutual’s Director IT Engineering Competency. In his role as a competency leader, he is dedicated to staff development and focused on removing barriers to individual growth, development, and opportunity. As one of the founding members of the Accessibility Council within CUNA Mutual Group, he has been an advocate and change agent in fulfilling our company’s promise – believing that a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone.

Lee Barnes – Lee is Chief Quality Officer at Forte Group. Lee has over 25 years of experience in the Software Quality Assurance and Testing field. He has been involved in the implementation of test automation and performance testing solutions in hundreds of environments across a wide array of industries. Most recently, Lee has been focused on bringing quality practices (with a focus on automation and performance) to agile and DevOps teams.

Lee regularly speaks at industry conferences including StarEAST/WEST, DevOpsDays, Agile+DevOps East/West, STPCon, EuroStar, and TestCon Europe

David Cox - David is Director of Quality Assurance for HSA Bank, bringing over 20 years’ experience to the role. In three years with the bank David has automated the software testing program for improved quality and speed of delivery. HSA Bank is in the midst of executing a multiyear revamp of public-facing portals and core systems.

Michael Koepke - Mike is the Director of Software Quality Assurance at AccuLynx in Beloit, leading a team of QA Analysts and Engineers in testing SaaS and mobile applications for the roofing industry. AccuLynx is the leading all-in-one software solution for roofing contractors, designed to manage and streamline every aspect of a roofing business.

Earlier in his career, Mike worked as a software developer until moving into QA through opportunities in test automation and performance testing. He developed a passion for automation and consulted with various companies in the greater Chicago area for about 7 years until moving into a leadership position and back to his home state of Wisconsin.

Prior to AccuLynx, Mike spent 14 years at Milwaukee-based Zywave, helping lead their QA team through Agile transformation and the implementation of automated and performance testing frameworks.

Outside of work, Mike is an avid photographer, musician, cyclist, and general lover of any outdoor activities he can find the time for.

Isaac Neher - Isaac is a seasoned software quality professional with over 10 years of experience in software testing. Currently, he leads the Software Quality Automation team at Pkware, a company that specializes in discovery and protection of sensitive data. At Pkware, Isaac is responsible for developing and implementing the company's testing strategy. He also specializes in continuous integration and deployment, enabling teams to get fast feedback on all code changes.

Registration is currently closed.
 

20 Great Agile Debates

After being an Agile practitioner for a dozen years, I still hear debates about many Agile topics that people are passionate about. In this interactive presentation, you’ll hear both sides of 20 highly contested topics so you can decide for yourself. 

Date and Time
Thursday, 01/26/2023
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Free Food and Networking 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM Announcements Followed by the Interactive Agile Discussion
 
Location
Continuus Technologies
301 N Broadway Suite 204, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Enter on Buffalo Street just west of Broadway Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our sponsors!
Speaker Bio:
Ms. Wilterdink is a Principal Consultant with Infotech Enterprises. With over 25 years of IT experience,
she holds multiple business analysis and agile certifications. As a consultant, Rachael has served clients
in the financial, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, government, non-profit, and insurance industries.
Giving back to the professional community, Ms. Wilterdink served on the boards of her local IIBA® and
PMI® chapters. As a passionate public speaker, Rachael presents various topics at conferences and user
groups across the country and the world. Rachael is also the author of the popular eBook “40 Agile
Transformation Pain Points (and how to avoid or manage them).”
Registration is currently closed.
 

A holiday networking happy hour!

Celebrate the Christmas and Holiday season!
 
Eat, drink and connect with the MKE-SPIN community at Reunion Restaurant in West Allis on Tuesday December 13th from 5pm to 7pm.
 
Space is limited and only those registered will be provided with free refreshments and appetizers.
 
Invite a coworker or business associates.
 
Hope to see you there!
Date and Time
Tuesday, 12/13/2022
5:00 - 7:00 Happy hour with 2 drink tickets and free appetizers Parking available in the rear of the entrance after 4pm
 
Location
Reunion Restaurant

6610 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis, WI 53214

Click here for map.
 
Cost
FREE - Thanks to our host New Resources Consulting and the Sponsors of MKE-SPIN
Registration is currently closed.