Computer Engineering

# 🎤 Code With Me Presents: Mock Interview Night 📍 **AWS Skills Center** 🕕 **Tuesday, March 24 · 6–8 PM** Ever wish you could **sit inside a real interview** and see how it unfolds? At **Mock Interview Night**, we’ll run **live interviews in front of the audience** — tough questions, awkward pauses, cultural fit moments, and the answers that almost worked. Then we break it down together: **What worked? What didn’t? What could have been said differently?** And if you're feeling bold… **you can volunteer to be interviewed live.** 👔 **Professional attire encouraged** 🍴 **Light bites & refreshments provided** *** ## 📅 Agenda **6:00 – 6:30 PM** Arrival, networking, food & drinks **6:30 – 7:30 PM** Live mock interview + **two audience interview rounds** **7:30 – 8:00 PM** Lessons learned, interview tips, wrap-up discussion **8:00 PM** Optional **happy hour at Highline RxR** (one block away) *** ## 🎙 Interviewers We’re excited to have: **Cherokee Boose** — Senior Technical Trainer at AWS with 15+ years helping people break into cloud and grow their careers **Tariq Habib** — AWS Solutions Architect working across government and top universities on secure, scalable systems 👉 Full bios in the LinkedIn post: [Interviewer Bios](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shijitdasgupta_ever-feel-like-you-almost-got-the-job-or-activity-7440436088768417792-2paj?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAALWCswBeZJErJwAbOs3LBTGc_ZsvDBX0c8) *** ## 🤝 Partnerships This event is **in partnership with Young Bengali Professionals**, a community supporting professionalism and cultural connection for the next generation of Bengali professionals. Hosted with support from the **AWS Skills Center**, which provides learning spaces and opportunities for the DC tech community. *** ## 🚗 Parking There is a **parking garage right next to the venue** that is **free after 5 PM for attendees.**

We are happy to announce this month’s Happy Hour and Production Meeting on 3/24/26. **This event was rescheduled to 3/24/26 (previously on 3/26/26, but we lost the space that night due to a wedding, you can't argue with love.)** * Happy Hour from 5-7pm * Production Meeting from 7-9pm Please see below for more details. Register on Eventbrite at [https://happyhour3-24-26.eventbrite.com](https://happyhour3-24-26.eventbrite.com). If you have any questions, please email us at info@wheatonfilmfestival.com. See you there! **Happy Hour from 5-7pm** This Happy Hour is for creative people and folks who appreciate creativity. Whether you attend, produce, appreciate, or promote, you are welcome to join us on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 from 5pm-7pm for a HAPPY HOUR at Silver Branch Brewing Co in Silver Spring, MD. We upgraded to the private room at Silver Branch Brewing Co. So head toward the back left corner behind the curtains, past the restrooms. Come meet, network, and enjoy. Only those ages 21 and up can attend. Happy Hour specials are from 5pm-6pm: $5.95 beer and select drinks. Entrance is free. This is a casual event. Register on Eventbrite at [https://happyhour3-24-26.eventbrite.com](https://happyhour3-24-26.eventbrite.com). **Production Meeting 7-9pm** Join us for a production meeting to launch a short film project to be completed within 30 days. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build new connections, and collaborate on a creative project. The theme for this Make a Movie in a Month initiative is "Signal Film Festival.” Participants will create a short film up to 5 minutes in length, eligible for submission to the Signal Film Festival, benefiting the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter. Films may be narrative, documentary, or any genre of your choosing. The entry fee for this Make a Movie in a Month is $15.00 per team. If you have an idea for a 5-minute short film, please come prepared to pitch it. We will review production logistics and discuss potential group-sponsored projects, so be ready to contribute and collaborate. The meeting and subsequent Happy Hour are open to filmmakers, editors, directors, producers, service professionals, actors, writers, hair/makeup artists, investors, students, etc. Don't forget your business cards. We look forward to seeing you there. See you there on 3/24/26! Please register on Eventbrite at [https://happyhour3-24-26.eventbrite.com](https://happyhour3-24-26.eventbrite.com). This event is produced in partnership with [TIVA](https://www.tivadc.org/) (Television, Internet, and Video Association of DC), [WIFV](https://www.wifv.org/) (Women in Film & Video), [Wheaton Film Festival](https://www.wheatonfilmfestival.com/), [ReelAbilities Film Festival: Greater Washington](https://reelabilities.org/greaterwash), [Docs in Progress](https://www.docsinprogress.org/), DC Media Makers Group, etc. Sponsored by [Brian Frankel Law Firm PLLC](https://brianfrankel.com/), [Creative Colony Spaces](https://www.creativecolonyspaces.com/membership), and Adobe Software. Enjoy delicious craft beers, tasty snacks, and great company in a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or just looking to unwind after a long day, this event is perfect for you. Don't miss out on the opportunity to kick back and relax with us at Silver Branch Brewing Co. Use the QR codes at the table to order food and drinks, and be prepared to mingle. Check out the Silver Branch Brewing Company's menu at [https://www.silverbranchbrewing.com/lagerhaus-biergarten/](https://www.silverbranchbrewing.com/lagerhaus-biergarten/)

IMPORTANT: The REGISTRATION should be done via the GW event site : https://library.gwu.edu/events/women-and-non-binary-women-mentorship-networking-mixer-2026-03-24 We’re delighted to invite you to our **Mentorship & Networking Mixer** on **March 24th from 5:00–8:00 PM in the SEH Basement Space**, hosted by [Women and Gender Expansive Coders DC](https://wgxcodersdc.org/) and the[ GW OSPO.](https://ospo.gwu.edu/) This gathering is designed to foster meaningful connections between women and non-binary students and early-career professionals and those more advanced in their careers across academia, industry, and research. Our goal is to create an intentional space for mentorship, peer support, and lasting community building in a welcoming, conversational setting. **This event is intentionally centered on creating an empowering and supportive space for women and non-binary individuals to build community and grow professionally.** Allies are welcome, and we ask that all attendees be mindful of this focus and help us maintain an environment where women and non-binary participants can connect openly and fully. We hope you’ll join us —please register in https://ospo.gwu.edu/form/gw-oscon-mixer to attend, and enjoy refreshments and light snacks with us.

Come and join Northern Virginia porcelain artists. We will provide all the paints and materials needed. Just bring your smile and creativity. We paint from 10:00 am - 2:00pm every Tuesday & Wednesday. Please RSVP in advance if you like to join oir group. Text: 703-906-9150 We are located few minutes from Tyson’s corner in McLean.

Holy Cross-Words Toastmasters Club (http://1341379.toastmastersclubs.org/) open to all. The club meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm in the Professional and Community Education Center (PCEC). The PCEC is located on the first floor of Holy Cross Hospital, 1500 Forest Glen Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Join us for an in-person conversation with two Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) as they break down how Bitcoin fits into modern portfolios. We’ll explore risk, return, custody, and real-world allocation considerations. Cut through the hype with a fiduciary lens. Streamed live with audience Q&A. 👉 [Please RSVP for FREE on Luma!](https://luma.com/ckes5be8) * 6:30pm - Arrive, grab food & drink * 7-8pm - Programming + Q&A * 8pm - Networking/Social Hour **Asi de Silva** is a Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Capital Squared Financial, a Rockville-based investment advisory firm. With 25 years of global and macro investing experience, he recognized Bitcoin’s unique value and now incorporates it into disciplined, long-term client portfolios. **Mike Casey, CFP** is an early Bitcoin adopter and President of AE Advisors, LLC a leading registered investment advisor firm that specializes in integrating Bitcoin into private wealth and institutional portfolios. 👉 [Please RSVP for FREE on Luma!](https://luma.com/ckes5be8) **About the Bitcoin District Initiative** This event was organized by The Bitcoin District Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to build a grassroots Bitcoin circular economy in Washington, DC through education, business onboarding, and community outreach programs. If you’d like to get involved or support the Initiative, visit [https://bitcoindistrictinitiative.org](https://bitcoindistrictinitiative.org/).

It's been too long. Cover6 Community is bringing back in-person meetups — and we're starting where it makes sense: the DC/Crystal City area. No conference. No panels. No $200 ticket. Just the community showing up, connecting face-to-face, and talking cybersecurity the way we always have. **What to expect:** * Pure open networking — no agenda, no presentations, no slides * Three hours to connect, catch up, and build real relationships * Genuine conversations with practitioners, newcomers, students, and professionals from across the industry * Good energy, familiar faces — and plenty of new ones * The hotel bar is right downstairs if you want a drink **🅿️ Parking is on us — 50% off in the hotel garage.** **Who should come:** Anyone in or entering the cybersecurity space in the DMV. It doesn't matter if you've been in the industry for 20 years or you're still studying for your first cert. You belong here. **Bring a friend.** Seriously — the more the merrier. Tag someone who needs to be in this room. 📍 **AC Hotel by Marriott Arlington National Landing** 1999 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202 *(Metro accessible — Blue/Yellow Line, Crystal City Station)* 📅 **Wednesday, March 25, 2026** 🕕 **6:00 PM – 9:00 PM** RSVP so we know how many people to expect. This is the first of what will be a **monthly event — last Thursday of every month starting April 30.** Mark your calendar now. See you in the room. — Tyrone & the Cover6 Community team

RSVP here: **[https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=)[RHCTN1260000475092](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000475092)** Is configuration drift silently killing your stability? Join us for the next Red Hat User Group (RHUG) event in Washington D.C. and discover the future of IT infrastructure management with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 10 Image Mode. This isn't just another operating system update—it's a new paradigm. You’ll learn how to treat your entire OS as a versioned, container-native artifact, bringing the speed and control of DevOps to your foundational layer. **Event Highlights:** * Deep Dive: Deploying and maintaining a truly immutable, compliant operating system. * Expert Insight: How to use familiar container-native tools to build bootable RHEL images. * Networking: Connect with peers, Linux administrators, security engineers, and infrastructure architects. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your IT services. Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST Location: Red Hat Tysons Corner, McLean, VA Secure your spot today and get ready to eliminate operational "noise" for good. We look forward to seeing you there! Your RHUG Team

**Is configuration drift silently killing your stability? Join us for the next [Red Hat User Group (RHUG) event in Washington D.C.](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000475087) and discover the future of IT infrastructure management with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 10 Image Mode.** **This isn't just another operating system update—it's a new paradigm. You’ll learn how to treat your entire OS as a versioned, container-native artifact, bringing the speed and control of DevOps to your foundational layer.** **[Event Highlights:](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000475087)** * **Deep Dive: Deploying and maintaining a truly immutable, compliant operating system.** * **Expert Insight: How to use familiar container-native tools to build bootable RHEL images.** * **Networking: Connect with peers, Linux administrators, security engineers, and infrastructure architects.** **Don't miss this opportunity to transform your IT services:** **Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026** **Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST** **Location: Red Hat Tysons Corner, McLean, VA** **[Secure your spot today!](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000475087)** **We look forward to seeing you there.**

Title: Frontrunners, the Mid-Atlantic's AI conference! You're invited to the Frontrunners AI conference, March 27th, in Arlington, VA at GMU's Van Metre Hall. Frontrunners will be a single day tech conference this year featuring AI and data topics. You can read all about Frontrunners here: [Frontrunners](https://frontrunners.tech/) If you want to speak at Frontrunners, submit your talk here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedNNa4N64vgfsvAtGcBngKJrtd3h1_x0T019GTW-rSwCj0jQ/viewform This is a paid event, so you will have to register at the Frontrunners AI site or at the direct registration link is as follows (but please also RSVP on this meetup to help us reach others): https://frontrunners.ticketspice.com/frontrunners-2026 Thanks. We hope to see you there.

**RSVP here: [https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=)[RHCTN1260000475092](https://reg.experiences.redhat.com/flow/redhat/3558153/redhatfieldeventspreregnoappform/page/landingregistrationpage?sc_cid=RHCTN1260000475092)** Is configuration drift silently killing your stability? Join us for the next Red Hat User Group (RHUG) event in Washington D.C. and discover the future of IT infrastructure management with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 10 Image Mode. This isn't just another operating system update—it's a new paradigm. You’ll learn how to treat your entire OS as a versioned, container-native artifact, bringing the speed and control of DevOps to your foundational layer. Event Highlights: * Deep Dive: Deploying and maintaining a truly immutable, compliant operating system. * Expert Insight: How to use familiar container-native tools to build bootable RHEL images. * Networking: Connect with peers, Linux administrators, security engineers, and infrastructure architects. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your IT services. Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST Location: Red Hat Tysons Corner, McLean, VA Secure your spot today and get ready to eliminate operational "noise" for good. We look forward to seeing you there! Your RHUG Team Questions? Email [rhug@redhat.com](http://rhug@redhat.com/)

Welcome back from Spring Break, hope all of you had a restful time! We’re back for our next event: **Build Your Own Full-Stack App**, taking place on next Wednesday(March 25th) @6:15 in Duques 255. In this meeting, we’ll look over common AWS full-stack architectures, and walk you through the steps of building one yourself. Join us for: - Exclusive AWS Cloud Club Merch - Cookies - Review of AWS database, API, and front-end services - Hands-on guide as to how to build your own - Additional AWS resources and ways to get involved We hope to see you all there!

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Digital Device Detox,”** a guide to breaking free from the addictive and destructive powers of social media and apps, with Jillian Tucker, licensed clinical social worker in private practice, adjunct professor of clinical social work at Columbia University and New York University, and therapist with nearly 15 years of experience in addiction treatment and behavioral change. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-digital-detox](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-digital-detox) .] Many of us have had the same experience: We’re trying to get things done and stay focused on the positive in our lives, but we can’t stop looking at a cell phone that tells us that we live in troubled times, that everyone else is better looking and having more fun, and that escape awaits in the worlds of Candy Crush or Pokémon Go. Maybe it’s time to find effective ways to loosen the grip of that cell phone and rediscover the happiness that comes with using digital devices less. Join Jillian Tucker, who previously has given several excellent Profs and Pints talks related to mental health, for a crash course on how to restore balance in your relationship with digital devices to ensure they’re simply tools you use rather than instruments through which other people use you. She’ll start by discussing social and mental-health trends connected to the use of digital devices. We’ll delve into the specific ways that their overuse can be biologically and psychologically harmful and leads to division, depression, anxiety and anguish on an individual and societal level. Professor Tucker also will look at why digital habits are hard to break, citing neuroscience and what we know about behavioral addiction. You’ll learn the many ways in which devices and apps are deliberately designed to be hard to stop using. You won’t be urged to just chuck your cell phone, though. After all, such devices can keep you socially connected, be sources of joy and learning, and even save your life if you need to summon help in an emergency. Instead, we’ll look at effective strategies for reducing digital device use, considering approaches that treat the overuse of such devices as “addiction” but moving beyond them to consider more nuanced ones as well. We’ll explore how to find our core motivation to change and how to carry out a change plan. We’ll consider how those who failed in past attempts to reduce digital-device use can overcome impasses in their effort to change their behavior. We’ll discuss ways to minimize the feelings of inconvenience and withdrawal that might come with reducing digital-device use, and we’ll discuss strategies for regaining the social skills and reviving the in-person strategies that our device use had compromised. You’ll learn how the same conditioning and power of habit that got us using our devices so much more also can be harnessed to help us use them much less. You’ll learn how to curate and enhance the positive aspects of digital devices, to help maintain them as a source of connection, joy, humor and learning and keep them from causing you unhappiness or stress. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Photo by Japanexperterna (Creative Commons).

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively. This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way. **YouTube Link** TBA

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

**First meetup of the Columbus AI Engineering group.** We’ll kick things off with a practical, beginner-friendly discussion on: **How LLMs like ChatGPT actually work — and how to build real applications with them.** We’ll cover: * what’s actually happening under the hood (at a high level) * why LLMs behave the way they do (hallucinations, prompt sensitivity, etc.) * how people are building real systems with them today * where things break in practice This will be a **short, informal talk (\~15–20 min)** followed by open discussion and Q&A. Whether you’re an engineer, builder, or just curious about how modern AI systems work, you’re welcome to join. No slides, no fluff — just real conversation about real systems. We’ll hang out afterward and get to know each other.

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

OpenClaw, NemoClaw, personal assistants, 24/7 agents. What does it all mean? How does it all work and what should we know about it? Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)

The global Azure community is coming together again, and Columbus is officially on the map. View the session lineup and speakers at [Global Azure Columbus 2026](https://coazure.github.io/cbus-global-azure-2026/) On **Saturday, April 18, 2026**, the Azure Columbus Meetup is hosting our local edition of Global Azure 2026. This is a free, community-driven event packed with learning, networking, and all things Microsoft Azure. Whether you’re building modern cloud-native apps, experimenting with AI agents, deploying containers, automating infrastructure, or just beginning your Azure journey, this event is for you! **What to Expect** * Engaging technical sessions * Real-world Azure architecture & cloud-native patterns * AI, agents, automation, and modern DevOps * Food and drinks (because learning burns calories) * Time to connect with fellow engineers, architects, and cloud enthusiasts **Who Should Attend?** * Software engineers (any language, any stack) * Cloud architects * DevOps engineers * Data professionals * AI explorers * Platform builders * Anyone who loves solving hard problems with great tools If you build, deploy, automate, scale, monitor, or optimize in Azure, you’ll feel right at home. **Why Global Azure?** Global Azure is a worldwide community event where Azure user groups host learning sessions on the same day across the globe. It’s grassroots. It’s technical. It’s practical. And it’s powered by people who genuinely love sharing what they’ve learned. And yes, it’s free to attend!