Lightning Talk (30 min)

Rebecca Bakels

From Likes to Job Offers: Crafting Your Tech Persona Online

You don’t need a massive following to open doors in tech – you just need the right presence. In this quick, practical session, we’ll explore how developers at any stage can use social media to showcase their work, build authentic connections, and attract career-changing opportunities. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up your personal brand, you’ll leave with simple strategies to make your online presence work for you (without feeling cringey).

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Rick Tuttle

People Over Products: A Humans First Approach to AI

The human impact of technology gets overlooked in pursuit of engagement metrics and profit margins. Treating users as products rather than people has led to unintended consequences in our social fabric, from divisiveness on social media to digital addiction. This talk proposes a framework for technologists and organizations to embed ethical considerations and human wellbeing into the development process from the start—not as an afterthought. By adopting a ‘Humans First’ approach, we can create technology that genuinely enhances human flourishing in an age when people aren’t even sure what it means to be human.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Hans Bacares

Prompt Engineering: Real-World Applications From Prototype to Production

Large Language Models are reshaping how we build software—but using them effectively takes more than clever prompts. This session introduces a systematic approach to prompt engineering that transforms LLMs into reliable coding assistants. Learn how to break down tasks, stage prompts, and manage context to generate everything from UI layouts to API endpoints and unit tests. We’ll walk through real-world examples, explore techniques like prompt chaining and constraint embedding, and share tips to avoid common pitfalls when using LLMs in production workflows.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Pierre Donyegro

AI Use Cases and Deployment in Hospitality Industry

Discover how luxury resorts are embracing AI to redefine guest experiences. From hyper-personalized service to operational efficiency, this talk explores how cutting-edge technology is being seamlessly woven into the fabric of high-end hospitality to deliver unforgettable, intelligent, and intuitive stays.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Vitalii Kostenko

From C to Rust: An AI-Powered Path to Safer Code

In response to growing concerns from the NSA and CISA over memory-unsafe programming languages, this session introduces a new open-source framework that automates the transformation of C programs into their Rust equivalents. By combining AI capabilities with robust open-source tools, the framework provides a practical path for modernizing legacy codebases and improving software security. Attendees will learn how the system works, explore real-world use cases, and discover how to contribute or apply the tool to their own projects. The project is now live on GitHub and open to the community.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Reneida Leon

Let It Sell Itself! – A Crash Course on Product Led Growth

In an increasingly competitive tech solutions market, the most successful companies aren’t just selling products—they’re letting their products do the selling. This talk explores the principles of Product-Led Growth (PLG), a strategy that turns your product into your primary growth engine. We’ll break down how leading teams are designing experiences that drive acquisition, activation, retention, and expansion—all without heavy reliance on traditional sales or marketing tactics. Whether you’re an early-stage founder, product manager, or growth leader, you’ll walk away with practical frameworks, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to implement PLG in your own business. 

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Shaun Walker

The Cost of Free: Rethinking Open Source Sustainability

Open source software plays a critical role in the infrastructure of most modern organizations. Yet despite this fact, the health and long-term viability of most open source projects are fraught with risk and uncertainty. Establishing sustainable business models to support open source is a non-trivial problem. A few companies have demonstrated that it is possible to build a successful business around open source software, however far more open source maintainers are suffering from fatigue and burnout. In this session we are going to explore the challenges and opportunities related to open source sustainability, including a candid and unbiased view into the mechanics of these fragile ecosystems.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Yesenia Yser

Digital Portfolio Framework to Navigate the Cybersecurity Maze

In the rapidly evolving realm of cybersecurity, professionals often find themselves at a crossroads, navigating through a complex maze of opportunities and challenges. This talk introduces the ‘Digital Portfolio Framework’, a strategic guide designed to empower individuals in their cybersecurity careers. This framework is not only a tool for job hunting and personal branding but also a lens through which the vast landscape of open source software communities can be explored and utilized.

Hands-On Workshop (60 min)

Damian Montero

RAG to Riches: Building Chatbots with Company Knowledge

Ready to turn your company’s internal knowledge into a powerful AI assistant? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to build and deploy a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)-powered chatbot from scratch using your organization’s own data. Whether you’re creating a customer-facing support tool or an internal expert assistant for your team, you’ll walk away with the skills to build a responsive, intelligent chatbot tailored to your business needs. No prior AI experience required—just bring your curiosity and your content.

Presentation & Live Demo (60 min)

Cecilia Brusatori

Power BI 101: A Guided Tour from Raw Data to Real Insights

Designed for users who are new to Power BI, we’ll start with a high-level overview of the tool and its key components, providing essential context for beginners. Through a live demo, we will walk through the typical content creation lifecycle, from connecting to raw data to transforming it into meaningful insights. Along the way, we’ll highlight important considerations, best practices, and key features to help you get started confidently. By the end of this session, you’ll have a foundational understanding of Power BI and be ready to explore its powerful capabilities further.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Kelly Boyle

To Infinity & Beyond: Setting Yourself Up for Financial Success

It’s time to reach for the stars—financially speaking! In this fun and approachable lightning talk, we’ll take you to infinity and beyond with the basics of financial planning and beginner-friendly investment strategies. You’ll learn how to harness your inner Space Ranger to set smart financial goals, build a budget you won’t want to escape from, and start investing with confidence. Whether you’re just getting started or looking for your next money-saving adventure, this session will give you the tools to make your wallet say, “You’ve got a friend in me!”

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Valeria Ferrin

Who is in your Meta? – Empowering Your Business with Risk Assessment & AI

As businesses embrace AI and explore the Metaverse, understanding risk isn’t optional—it’s essential. In this insightful talk, we’ll explore how modern risk assessment strategies can help leaders confidently navigate emerging technologies. From AI-driven decision-making to virtual environments, we’ll uncover how to identify hidden vulnerabilities, build resilient systems, and empower your teams to lead with clarity and confidence in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This is more than tech—it’s about trust, foresight, and future-ready leadership.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Matthew Tremellen

From Idea to Impact: Building a Startup That Truly Matters

Great startups don’t just launch—they solve real problems with purpose and clarity. In this session, we’ll walk through what it truly takes to build a startup that makes a meaningful impact. From validating your idea and finding product-market fit to building early traction and staying focused through the chaos, you’ll gain practical insights and hard-earned lessons to help you launch with intention—and momentum.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

AJ Silberman-Moffitt

Taming the Machine: How I Trained AI to Work My Way (and What It Taught Me About Being Human)

What happens when a human with strong opinions goes head-to-head with AI? In this fast-paced, relatable talk, AJ Silberman-Moffitt shares her journey customizing ChatGPT to meet real-world needs—including one personal mission: banning the em dash. With humor and insight, she explores the quirks of shaping AI from the user’s side, the friction points that remain, and why curiosity, persistence, and a bit of quirkiness may be your best tools in the age of machines.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Claudio Luis Vera

Top Accessibility Pitfalls in Mobile & Native App Design

Are your apps unintentionally leaving users behind? In this practical and eye-opening talk, we’ll explore the most common accessibility mistakes app builders make—like poor text resizing, missing semantic structure, low color contrast, and lack of screen reader support—that create barriers for people with disabilities. You’ll walk away with actionable insights to design and build apps that are not only compliant, but truly inclusive, usable, and empowering for all users.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Glen Benjamin

Empowering Work & Education with AI: Microsoft Copilot and Hatz.AI in Action

In this session, we’ll explore the practical impact of AI across education and small business. Learn how Microsoft Copilot for Education helps educators save time and enhance learning with generative AI tools for lesson planning, quizzes, rubrics, and more. Then, dive into Hatz.ai, a secure AI platform built for SMBs that offers access to multiple large language models while maintaining strict data privacy. This talk will highlight how to choose the right AI models for your needs—and how to use them responsibly and effectively.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Adrian Cole

Million-Dollar MVP: Build & Launch Your App in 30 Days with AI

Ready to turn your app idea into a real product—fast? This talk introduces a proven 30-day framework to help you validate your concept, plan strategically, build efficiently, and launch confidently. You’ll learn how to harness AI tools to cut costs, save time, and streamline your workflow so you can go from zero to launch with clarity, focus, and momentum. Whether you’re a solo founder, builder, or just getting started, this roadmap is your shortcut to success.

Hands-On Workshop (60 min)

Jeremy Cianella

Orchestrating Intelligence: Building Collaborative Multi-Agent Systems with Amazon Bedrock

Dive into the rapidly evolving world of generative AI agents and discover how multiple specialized agents can collaborate to solve complex problems. This hands-on session will demystify what AI agents are, explore their underlying architecture, and walk through the process of building your own agents using Amazon Bedrock. Participants will learn the frameworks and patterns that enable effective multi-agent collaboration, including communication protocols, task delegation, and knowledge sharing between autonomous AI systems. The session will finish with a live demonstration showcasing a team of specialized agents working together in a software development workflow, highlighting the practical applications of this technology in real-world scenarios.

Hands-On Workshop (60 min)

Evgeniya Simmons

Building an Open-Source VR Multiplayer Framework

Ready to bring your VR ideas to life? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to quickly create and publish standalone VR apps using the Unity game engine and the open-source Vertex Form 3D multiplayer framework. We’ll guide you step-by-step through the setup process, from project creation to deployment on Meta Quest, giving you all the tools and knowledge you need to start building immersive, multiplayer VR experiences—no prior VR experience required.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Joe Homnick

Querying the Bitcoin and Ethereum Blockchains

Ever wondered how to access and analyze blockchain data directly? In this technical talk, we’ll dive into the underlying data structures of the Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains, then explore three practical methods for querying them. Whether you’re a developer, data analyst, or just blockchain-curious, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to extract meaningful insights straight from the source.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Alex Funkhouser

Timing the Jump: When to Start Your Job Search (and How to Make It Count)

Whether you’re actively job hunting or just thinking about your next move, timing and preparation are everything. In this practical session, we’ll explore strategies to stay career-ready—so you’re prepared when the right opportunity comes along. Learn how to build your personal brand, keep your materials fresh, and network with intention, even when you’re not actively looking. The best time to job search might be sooner than you think.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Yadira Diaz

From Greenwash to Green Code: Building the Buzz Lightyears of Climate Tech

Discover how developers can lead the charge in solving the climate crisis. This fast-paced talk explores how code is driving sustainability across industries, offers a roadmap for integrating climate goals into your work, and shares strategies for funding and launching mission-driven ventures. Whether you’re greening your code or building the next eco unicorn, this session will ignite your path to impact.

Lightning Talk (30 min)

Kay Anar

To the Mesh and Beyond: Building Off-Grid Comms in the Sunshine State

In a world of growing natural disasters and fragile infrastructure, reliable communication is vital—especially in hurricane-prone regions like Florida. This talk introduces Meshtastic, a low-cost, open-source mesh network that enables off-grid communication via long-range radios and smartphones. Like Buzz Lightyear’s wrist communicator, Meshtastic keeps communities connected without cell towers or internet. Discover how this tech builds resilient, decentralized networks that work when traditional systems don’t. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or resilience advocate, this session will help you get started—and stay connected when it matters most. No cell towers required!

Presentation & Live Demo (60 min)

Robert Hellestrae

Cross-Platform Mobile Apps with .NET MAUI & AI

Learn how to create cross-platform mobile apps for iOS and Android using .NET MAUI with C# and XAML—all while harnessing the power of ChatGPT to speed up development. This session will show you how to streamline UI design, generate clean code, and troubleshoot faster by combining modern AI tools with Microsoft’s multi-platform app UI framework. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting started, you’ll walk away ready to build smarter and ship faster.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Jennifer Newton

Decoding DeFi: Legal Risks and Compliance Realities in the Crypto Frontier

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is rewriting the rules of banking, but regulators are quickly catching up. This session will break down how DeFi platforms function—lending, staking, liquidity pools, and DAOs—and the legal frameworks that apply (or should apply). We’ll explore hot-button issues such as securities classification, KYC/AML obligations, smart contract liability, and token governance. Whether you’re launching a protocol, investing in crypto assets, or building a Web3 product, this session will equip you with a clearer understanding of the risks, regulations, and legal strategies essential to staying compliant while innovating boldly.

In-Depth Presentation (60 min)

Ron Fulton

Gains & Guardrails: A Practical Guide to Secure AI for SMBs

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries, creating opportunities for businesses of all sizes to innovate and improve. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), AI offers tools that can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experiences. The advent of generative AI has further amplified these opportunities by enabling businesses to create personalized content, enhance customer interactions, and streamline operations. However, the adoption of AI, especially generative AI, also brings challenges, particularly in the areas of security, privacy, and ethics. This session aims to provide SMB leaders with actionable insights to navigate these challenges, enabling them to deploy AI successfully and responsibly.

Presentation & Live Demo (60 min)

Alejandro Sanchez

AI Unleashed: Build, Design, and Ship in Half an Hour with Vibe Coding

What if you could go from idea to launch in just 30 minutes? In this high-energy, live demo, we’ll show what’s possible when AI meets skill, speed, and creativity. Watch a full product come to life—marketing, design, code, and all—using today’s most powerful AI tools. You’ll walk away inspired by what’s possible and equipped with insights to supercharge your own build-and-ship process.

Presentation & Live Demo (60 min)

Drs. Avi & Sara Rushinek

AI Callers + Visual Recognition: Driving SERP Results with Vanity Phone Numbers

Explore how AI-driven callers can integrate with object, image, and video recognition apps to create powerful, real-time user experiences. This session features a live demo showcasing how to build and deploy AI caller functionality connected to visual recognition tools—complete with webhook integration and real-time APIs. Learn how pairing these technologies with strategic vanity phone numbers (like (800)CHAT-GPT or (640)CALL-SAM) can enhance discoverability, improve branding, and even boost your position on search engine results pages (SERPs). We’ll also cover how to structure custom toll-free and local exchange numbers for niche applications like PiccyBot and more.