About us
Nerds Like Me is a Chicago-area meetup for people interested in AI, technology, and how things actually work. Not a networking group. Not a sales pitch disguised as a social hour. A room full of people who want to dig into topics, see live demos, and ask questions that don't fit in a LinkedIn comment section.
Upcoming events
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March 31st Nerds Like Me Meetup with Mike Hyzy, Vice President @ CGI ๐ฆ
Glenview IL, 1941 Tower Road, Glenview, IL, US# Nerds Like Me โ March 31st Meetup
Welcome to our next gathering of AI, data, and product enthusiasts. Expect lively conversation, hands-on demos, and plenty of opportunities to grow your network.
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## Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, March 31st
- Time: 7:15 PM to 9:15 PM
- Location: Glenview, IL (exact venue shared after you RSVP)
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## Featured Speaker: Mike Hyzy

Bio:
Mike Hyzy leads the product innovation and strategy practice at CGI and advises Fortune 500 executives on digital transformation. He is a published author and keynote speaker on strategic foresight and innovation. Mike has 15+ years of experience in UX design, product development, and applied futures thinking. An accomplished facilitator, Mike has led numerous executive workshops and creative foresight sessions, earning a reputation for blending imaginative exercises with actionable business strategy.
Discussion:
In this discussion, Mike Hyzy introduces OpenClaw, an open-source framework designed to automate complex tasks using intelligent agents. He will provide a walkthrough of his experience deploying the platform on local computers and virtual machines, bypassing the need for heavy cloud infrastructure. The session focuses on practical use cases for these localized agents and the specific protocols required to leverage them safely. Attendees will learn how to maintain full control over their data by minimizing security risks through a hardened, self-hosted setup.

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## Sponsorship: Parallax Futures
The first round of drinks is sponsored by Parallax Futures. Parallax Futures is a strategic foresight consultancy that offers specialized programs and workshops designed to help corporate innovation teams and government agencies navigate future uncertainty. The company utilizes a data-driven approach to identify emerging trends, develop multiple future scenarios, and create tangible artifacts to unlock radical creativity. By blending methodologies like systems thinking and speculative design, they empower organizations to anticipate industry disruptions and make informed decisions that drive long-term resilience.

## Member Donation: Joseph Targonski
Shout out to our loyal member and nerd Joseph Targonski for sponsoring the ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒโฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒโฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒโฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฃฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ๐ฬฒ!

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## What You Can Do Now
- RSVP and Subscribe โ to reserve your seat and for future updates https://nerdslikeme.dream.page
- Complete your profile โ weโll use it in an upcoming session to spark deeper conversation.
- Whitelist us โ add `support@dream.page` to your contacts so you never miss an invite.
- Help spread the word โ like, comment, or reshare this post on LinkedIn to help others discover Nerds Like Me and grow the community.
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See you soon, both familiar faces and first-timers alike.
Jonathan Shertok
Organizer, Nerds Like Me2 attendees
