Memphis Technology User Groups

Interested in coding with other people or getting help on a project that you're working on?

If you said yes to this, then this might be the event for you!
This Code Together event is a time for you to work alongside and connect with other people in your local community.

Now, it's important to note that this isn't a class, so there won't be a teacher, but it is your opportunity to talk with other people and get help jumpstarting your learning process or with a programming lesson / personal project you've been working on.

Come with your laptop, a notebook & pen, and/or a drive to learn!

2:00PM MEETUP LOCATION:
We'll be meeting and working inside Panara Bread off of Poplar. Just look for a person with a purple Code Connective lanyard. It should be easy to find us!

Join the Code Connector Slack community with this invite link:
https://join.slack.com/t/code-connector/shared_invite/zt-6e1idsg6-wYI1hdfk_hR_QKahSBwldQ

Event Name: Design & Code: Creating and Navigating in Tech — James Q. Quick on Modern Web Tools, Steph Lambruschini on Career Transitions

Date: July 23rd, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Crews Center for Entrepreneurship

Who is this for:
This MeetUp serves as a check-in with the community of designers and developers in the City of Memphis. Whether you're a passionate beginner looking to get into tech, an experienced professional eager to share your knowledge, or someone curious to learn from others, this MeetUp is perfect for you.

Agenda:

• Mix, Mingle, and Munch (5:30 – 5:45 PM)
  Grab a plate, say hello, and get to know others in the room.

• Keynote Speaker #1: James Q Quick (5:50 – 6:40 PM)
  Talk Title: Creating a Visually Editable Blog with Contentful, Next.js, and Makeswift
  In this talk, James will share how to build a modern, visually editable blog using Contentful, Next.js, and Makeswift. He’ll walk through how these tools work together to create a seamless experience for content editors while maintaining full flexibility and performance for developers. Attendees will gain insight into bridging technical structure with visual design, along with real-world strategies for building scalable, user-friendly content workflows.
  Q&A (6:35 – 6:40 PM)

• Keynote Speaker #2: Steph Lambruschini (6:40 – 7:40 PM)
  Talk Title: From Pipettes to Prototypes: Navigating a Career Pivot into UX Design
  This talk explores Steph’s unconventional path from biotech scientist to Senior UX/UI Designer at AutoZone. She highlights the mindset shifts, transferable skills, and intentional strategies that helped her thrive in the tech world. Attendees will learn the habits and principles that helped her build trust in cross-functional teams, gain confidence in a new industry, and stay grounded and motivated throughout her transition. Whether you're considering a pivot or looking to grow your impact, this session offers practical tips and real-world insights for designing a purposeful career.
  Q&A (7:25 – 7:40 PM)

• Community Wrap-Up & Closing (7:50 – 8:00 PM)
  We'll wind down with conversation, connection, and appreciation—thanking our speakers and attendees, giving shoutouts for upcoming events, snapping a group photo, and sharing a feedback QR to close out the night.

• 🍻 After-Event Vibes @ RP Tracks (8:00 PM – whenever)
  Keep the conversations going! After the meetup, we’ll head over to RP Tracks for anyone who wants to hang out, grab a drink or bite, and vibe in a more casual setting. Whether you want to talk shop, share ideas, or just chill—everyone’s welcome.

Sponsors:
Our food is generously sponsored by Epicenter and hosted at the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship.

Parking details:
Simply park outside. There should be ample street parking close by.

Please visit https://www.meetup.com/memphis-net-and-azure-developers-group/ to RSVP for this event. See you over there!