What we’re about
The Northern Virginia Data Platform MeetUp ( formerly, "NOVA SQL Server Users Group") is a SQL Server and Azure Data Platform MeetUp. As data platform roles and responsibilities have evolved, we have broadened our scope to include Microsoft Azure Advanced Analytics, Big Data, and general Azure topics. The goal of the leadership of NOVA Data Platform MeetUp is to provide a comfortable environment where members can participate in multi-disciplinary discussions of Microsoft data platform related issues.
Main Website - https://azurecloudevents.com
Presentation Downloads - https://aka.ms/novasqlug-downloads
You Tube Channel - https://aka.ms/azurecloudevents
Check us out on twitter - @novasql
Benefits to Northern Virginia Data Platform MeetUp Attendees include:
• We host at least two full-day technology conferences a year (e.g., Global Azure Bootcamp, Azure Data and AI Fest)
◾Networking with local data platform professionals
◾The latest and greatest Microsoft SQL Server news
◾Microsoft SQL Server and Azure Advanced Analytics and Big Data questions answered by Microsoft insiders
◾Valuable information for career development
◾Free food, drinks, and giveaways
Sponsors
See all
MicrosoftAn awesome meeting space at the Reston Microsoft Training Center
Applied Information Sciences2017 Azure DataFest Sponsor- MicrosoftAn awesome meeting space at the Reston Microsoft Training Center
- Applied Information Sciences2017 Azure DataFest Sponsor
- MicrosoftAn awesome meeting space at the Reston Microsoft Training Center
- Applied Information Sciences2017 Azure DataFest Sponsor
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Hands-On: Prompt Engineering Online BootcampLink visible for attendees$100.00
Hands-On: Prompt Engineering Online Bootcamp
Date: 06 September 2025, 9 AM to 12.30 PM Eastern Time
Level: Beginners/Intermediate
Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-on-prompt-engineering-bootcamp-tickets-1443819937299?aff=oddtdtcreator
Who Should Attend?
This hands-on workshop is for developers, senior software engineers, IT pros, architects, IT managers, citizen developers, technology product managers, IT leaders, enterprise architects, chief analytics officers, chief information officers, chief technology officers, and decision-makers who want to learn how prompt engineering can help bring AI into next-gen apps and agents.
Experience with C#, Python, or JavaScript is helpful but not required. No prior knowledge of AI is necessary.
While this isn’t a data & analytics-focused session, data scientists, data stewards, and tech-savvy data protection officers will also find it super valuable.
Description:
The rise of generative AI, led by ChatGPT and other large language models, has sparked serious interest across industries and leadership teams. Models like OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, GPT-4o, and GPT-4.5 rely heavily on the quality of the prompts they're given. The better the prompt, the better the output. That makes prompt engineering a must-have skill.
In this half-day virtual hands-on workshop, Microsoft AI and Business Applications MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer, Prashant G Bhoyar, will cover these topics in detail:- What is Prompt Engineering? Learn how prompts work, why they matter, and what affects their performance.
- Advanced Prompting Techniques:
- Few-shot prompting (use examples to get better answers)
- Chain-of-thought prompting (step-by-step reasoning)
- Instruction fine-tuning (force the model to follow your rules)
- Persona-based prompting (get responses in specific roles)
- Multi-step prompting (refine results through iteration)
- Debugging & Refining AI Responses
- How to fine-tune prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and other tools
- Automating prompts with APIs and workflows
- Working with reasoning models like o3
- Best practices for real-world use
By the end of this bootcamp, you'll be ready to create clear, powerful prompts that unlock the full potential of generative AI in your projects.
The labs will feature a mix of Python, C#, and low-code/no-code UI tools, so even if you don't want to write code, you're covered.
Workshop Resources:
You’ll get access to Microsoft Copilot, Azure, and Azure OpenAI services (worth $500) for hands-on labs. If you already have your own Microsoft Copilot or Azure subscription, you’re welcome to use that too.
Attendee Workstation Requirements:
You must have your own computer (Windows or Mac) with:- Camera, speakers, microphone, and a reliable internet connection. Tablets will not work for this workshop.
- A modern browser (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).
- Access to www.azure.com and https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com.
- Nice to have is the ability to run C# 10 or Python code, using Visual Studio 2022, VSCode 1.66+, Visual Studio for Mac, Rider, or a similar IDE.
