Enterprise Architecture

**Can R tame the MCP chaos? Or better yet… can it speak foreign? 🤖** “I Like It When You Talk Foreign” An evening exploring MCP, AI tooling, databases, and graphs — all through R. Two talks. Two live demos. One evening that might completely change how you think about R in the age of AI. Refreshments and networking from 18h00. **Agenda** **16h30 – 16h45 \| Welcome and News \- Handre Williams & Luis de Sousa** **16h45 – 17h20 \| Handre Williams** **Talking to Your Database in Plain English — MCP Clients in R** What if you could query your database conversationally? This talk explores how R can act as an MCP client — allowing LLMs to interact with databases through natural language while R orchestrates the workflow underneath. You’ll see: \- How MCP clients work in R \- How LLMs can interact with databases safely \- Where structured workflows still matter \- A live demo of conversational data access **17h20 – 17h55 \| Luis de Sousa** **Talking to Your Graph in Plain English — MCP + Graphs in R** Graphs are everywhere: relationships, systems, networks, dependencies. But what happens when AI can explore them conversationally? This talk explores how MCP and R can expose graph structures to LLMs — turning graph queries, traversals, and analysis into natural language interactions. You’ll see: \- How graphs can be exposed through MCP workflows \- Conversational querying over connected data \- Where graph reasoning becomes powerful \- Where the abstraction breaks \- A live demo **17h55 – 18h00 \| Wrap up\, questions & close** **18h00 \| Refreshments & networking** Continue the conversation in person. **Details** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ When: 12 May 2026 @ 16h30 to 18h00 (GMT+2) Where: Microsoft Campus in Bryanston, South Africa Location: https://goo.gl/maps/4ffcC3N6T7S2 Keen to speak at a future event? Submit your session abstracts at https://sessionize.com/johannesburg-r-user-group/ **Stay connected** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ \* Website: https://www.rusergroup.co.za \* Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/joburg-r-users-group \* Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHBRUserGroup \* GitHub: https://github.com/rusergroupcoza \* WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/3CeDifS

**Can R tame the MCP chaos? Or better yet… can it speak foreign? 🤖** “I Like It When You Talk Foreign” An evening exploring MCP, AI tooling, databases, and graphs — all through R. Two talks. Two live demos. One evening that might completely change how you think about R in the age of AI. Refreshments and networking from 18h00. **Agenda** **16h30 – 16h45 \| Welcome and News \- Handre Williams & Luis de Sousa** **16h45 – 17h20 \| Handre Williams** **Talking to Your Database in Plain English — MCP Clients in R** What if you could query your database conversationally? This talk explores how R can act as an MCP client — allowing LLMs to interact with databases through natural language while R orchestrates the workflow underneath. You’ll see: \- How MCP clients work in R \- How LLMs can interact with databases safely \- Where structured workflows still matter \- A live demo of conversational data access **17h20 – 17h55 \| Luis de Sousa** **Talking to Your Graph in Plain English — MCP + Graphs in R** Graphs are everywhere: relationships, systems, networks, dependencies. But what happens when AI can explore them conversationally? This talk explores how MCP and R can expose graph structures to LLMs — turning graph queries, traversals, and analysis into natural language interactions. You’ll see: \- How graphs can be exposed through MCP workflows \- Conversational querying over connected data \- Where graph reasoning becomes powerful \- Where the abstraction breaks \- A live demo **17h55 – 18h00 \| Wrap up\, questions & close** **18h00 \| Refreshments & networking** Continue the conversation in person. **Details** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ When: 12 May 2026 @ 16h30 to 18h00 (GMT+2) Where: Microsoft Campus in Bryanston, South Africa Location: https://goo.gl/maps/4ffcC3N6T7S2 Keen to speak at a future event? Submit your session abstracts at https://sessionize.com/johannesburg-r-user-group/ **Stay connected** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ \* Website: https://www.rusergroup.co.za \* Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/joburg-r-users-group \* Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHBRUserGroup \* GitHub: https://github.com/rusergroupcoza \* WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/3CeDifS

An open space for real conversation about how technology is shaping our world, and how we can respond with wisdom, purpose, and values. ## COMING UP: ## Life with Augmented Intelligence **Shaping how we live, work, and build in an AI-driven world** From assistants → to collaboration → to autonomous systems *** **A different way of thinking, working, building.** Most people are still using AI at the surface. Answers. Shortcuts. Quick help. But underneath, work is starting to look different: * systems instead of tasks * collaboration instead of commands * design instead of effort This is a space to step into that. Not a workshop. Not a panel. A place to see what’s emerging, hear how others are thinking, and explore what it means for your own life and work. *** ## Tech & Truth Café 📍 Greencourt Innovation Center 🗓️ May 10 & 17 🕐 1:30 – 5:00 PM 1:30 → arrive and connect 2:00 → ideas and conversation 3:00 → demos and exploration 4:30 → wrap up *** **WHO:** If you’ve been experimenting with something interesting, building something, or thinking differently about AI… reach out. We’d love to include you in the conversation. *** **Bring a laptop.** *** For people who feel like: “there’s more to this than what I’m currently doing with AI.” **Come be part of it.** **WHO** **For people who feel like:** "There's more to this than what I'm currently doing with AI." Come be part of it. **WHAT TO EXPECT**

When: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 5:30 – 8:30 Location: Lost Rhino, 21730 Red Rum Dr, Ste 142, Ashburn, VA 20147 Come network with other local GovCon Executives and enjoy a few free beers on us and engage with our sponsors and Industry speakers. Speaker: Advanced Technology International (ATI), Tom Bailey – Director of Strategic Engagements. Largest Consortium Management firm, will discuss collaborations and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) – allows agencies to enter into agreements for research, development, prototyping, and sometimes production of new technologies or capabilities. Will provide overview of these collaborations with discussions and Q&A. Please register here for your spot and please enter full name and company so a badge will be waiting for you. If you would like your company logo to appear on the digital board, please message the logo to me. Feel free to pass along to another colleague or GovCon Executive in your network. Co-Sponsorships: Insperity, Pinnacle Financial Partners

An ancient dark wizard has hidden three priceless, powerful weapons in his volcanic stronghold. Can you brave its dangers and bring them to light? This event is hosted using the Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition Adventurers League rules. This is a Tier 2 adventure, appropriate for both experienced and relatively new players. \*\**[Join us on Discord!](https://discord.gg/mG24YCk7wj) Attending this event indicates that you agree to follow NOVA Adventurers League Code of Conduct, which can be found in the #code-of-conduct channel on our Discord. You must join and accept the Discord rules before signing up to any MeetUp events. These rules include but are not limited to:* *\- Assigning your name and pronouns as your server nickname;* *\- Confirming your age as 18 or older;* *\- Participating in a respectful environment for both our AL DMs and your fellow players\.*

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Resource Presentation** **What You Really Need to Know from an HR Professional** **Presented by Donna Giarratana** **Wednesday\, May 27 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for a practical and insightful resource presentation designed to help small business owners navigate one of the most critical — and often overlooked — areas of growth: **Human Resources**. *** ## **About the Session** As your business grows, so do the complexities of managing people, processes, and compliance. Many entrepreneurs wait too long to think about HR — and by the time they do, they’re already reacting instead of planning. In this session, **Donna Giarratana** will break down what small business owners *really* need to know about HR — in a way that is clear, actionable, and relevant to your stage of growth. This conversation is designed to help you move from uncertainty to confidence when it comes to building and managing your team. *** ## **What You’ll Learn** * When it’s the right time to hire * How to set your business up for success before bringing on employees * Why HR matters — even for small businesses * Common pitfalls and how to avoid them * The foundational HR knowledge every business owner should have *** ## **Who Should Attend** * Entrepreneurs preparing to hire their first employee * Small business owners currently managing a team * Founders looking to strengthen operations and compliance * Anyone who wants to build a business with a strong, scalable foundation *** ## **Why Attend?** * Gain clarity on one of the most important aspects of business growth * Learn how to avoid costly mistakes before they happen * Ask questions and get real-world insight from an HR professional * Walk away with practical knowledge you can apply immediately *** ## **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **May 27** for coffee, connection, and a conversation that will help you build your business the right way from the inside out. We look forward to seeing you there.

Shut up & Write! meets at the Gum Springs public library room C. We hope to see you there! Shut Up & Write is not affiliated with the Loudoun County Public Libraries.

**ProductTank NoVA is back!** After a brief hiatus, we are relaunching the chapter with a format that cuts out the fluff and gets straight to the reality of building. Every product feed is flooded with AI hype right now, but what does it actually look like on the ground? Instead of a polished keynote, we are hosting **0 to 1 with AI: Real Product Talks**—a "Show & Tell" featuring 3–4 lightning talks focused on the intersection of AI and product. The framing for the talks is simple: *"Here is what I'm building, and here is what I'm stuck on."* We want to look at the messy, 0-to-1 reality of integrating AI into your workflows and products. *(Want to share what you are working on? Reach out! The bar is low-pressure, just 10–12 minutes to talk about a real AI problem you are trying to solve.)* **Agenda:** * **5:30 PM - 6:00 PM:** Doors open, networking, & name tags * **6:00 PM - 6:10 PM:** Welcome + Chapter Relaunch Intro * **6:10 PM - 7:30 PM:** Lightning Talks (Three 12-min talks + 5 mins Q&A each, with a 5-min stretch break) * **7:30 PM - 8:00 PM:** Open networking * **8:00 PM:** Soft close **Location & Logistics:** Herndon Fortnightly Library (Extended Hours Meeting Room) 768 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170 * **Parking:** We'll meet at the library, located just behind the Herndon Municipal Center. There is plenty of free public parking available around the municipal center. * **Metro & Bus:** Take the Silver Line to Herndon Metro Station, then connect via Fairfax Connector Route 921 or 950 to Historic Downtown Herndon. * **Driving (via VA-267/Dulles Toll Rd):** Take Exit 10 North (Centreville Rd, which becomes Elden St). Turn left onto Station St or Lynn St. * **Driving (via VA-286/Fairfax Co Pkwy):** Take the Elden St West exit. Turn right onto Lynn St. Looking forward to seeing everyone again and getting back to building!