AWS User Group Tech Talk

Join the Portland AWS User Group for an evening of technical learning with other cloud and security professionals!

🕒 New Time: Starting networking at 5:30 PM, Presentation at 6:00 PM
📍 Location: ProFocus Headquarters
📍 Address: 10200 Eastridge St, Ste 100, Portland, OR 97225
🥂 Food & Drinks: Enjoy drinks provided by ProFocus, Food is NOT provided this time. Sponsors are welcome to inquire!

Agenda

• Kickoff @ 5:30 PM: Networking & introductions
• Tech Talk @ 6:00 PM: Talk nerdy to me: how to explain technical concepts to non-tech people.
• Ever struggled to explain your work to people who don't "speak tech"? In this session, you'll learn how to break down complex ideas so anyone can understand — and actually care about — what you're saying. We'll cover the biggest communication mistakes techies make, the art of using analogies and stories, and how to tailor your message to different audiences. Whether you're pitching a project, training a team, or just trying to survive small talk at a family gathering, these tools will help you make your ideas clear, memorable, and impactful. Perfect for engineers, analysts, developers, and anyone who’s ever been told, "Can you say that in English?"

Speaker
Michelle Bird is an experienced Data Analyst with a proven track record in the financial services and information technology industries. Over the course of her career, Michelle has developed strong expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, SQL; with some experience in Python, R, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Most recently, Michelle served as a Data Specialist at Green Leaf Lab, where she built and maintained KPI dashboards, implemented machine learning models to predict client behavior, and supported internal data operations through advanced SQL and Excel automation. Her work combined technical precision with a keen understanding of how to make complex concepts clear and actionable for colleagues and clients alike.

Michelle holds a strong passion for communication, lifelong learning, and helping people unlock the power of data, regardless of their technical background. In her free time, she enjoys competitive running, strength training, and exploring innovative ways to simplify technical concepts for broader audiences.

🔗 Join our Slack community: AWS Portland User Group
Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and level up your cloud skills!