Microsoft Excel 2010

Join us on **January 29 at ToughTech** for an event that explores Spec-Driven Development - why defining a clear spec up front helps automation and code generation deliver speed without waste - and “Querying Pain with EF”—a candid look at why Entity Framework is so popular, the most common pitfalls, and when alternatives are the better choice. Agenda: * **18:30 "Spec-Driven Development: It’s time to rethink the way we build"** **by Eimantas Tauklys** "Vibe Coding gives us speed, but without a clear target, speed becomes waste. Slow down at the start: define the spec, align the vision, and then let automation and code generation take you farther, faster, and in the right direction." * **19:10** **"Querying pain with EF"** **by Skirmantas Navickas** "EF is a tool that is easy to use and easy to love... yet I have my reasons to dislike it. Let's explore why is this tool so widely used, the most common mistakes and cases where some other ORM would be better (spoilers - I am a fanatic of dapper)" * **20:00 Bytes & Bites** The opportunity to become a student or a lecturer in disguise as you mingle, snack and connect with fellow tech enthusiasts is all yours. Don't worry about grades—here, laughter and nods are the ultimate measures of success! **Tech info about ToughTech:** * ToughTech journey will start at 18:30 - (guests will be welcome to enjoy snacks and network until 21:30) * The event will be conducted in LTU language * [REGISTRACIJA](https://forms.gle/gy5gkhosxH73b8vd6)

Join us on **January 29 at ToughTech** for an event that explores Spec-Driven Development - why defining a clear spec up front helps automation and code generation deliver speed without waste - and “Querying Pain with EF”—a candid look at why Entity Framework is so popular, the most common pitfalls, and when alternatives are the better choice. Agenda: * **18:30 "Spec-Driven Development: It’s time to rethink the way we build"** **by Eimantas Tauklys** "Vibe Coding gives us speed, but without a clear target, speed becomes waste. Slow down at the start: define the spec, align the vision, and then let automation and code generation take you farther, faster, and in the right direction." * **19:10** **"Querying pain with EF"** **by Skirmantas Navickas** "EF is a tool that is easy to use and easy to love... yet I have my reasons to dislike it. Let's explore why is this tool so widely used, the most common mistakes and cases where some other ORM would be better (spoilers - I am a fanatic of dapper)" * **20:00 Bytes & Bites** The opportunity to become a student or a lecturer in disguise as you mingle, snack and connect with fellow tech enthusiasts is all yours. Don't worry about grades—here, laughter and nods are the ultimate measures of success! **Tech info about ToughTech:** * ToughTech journey will start at 18:30 - (guests will be welcome to enjoy snacks and network until 21:30) * The event will be conducted in LTU language * [REGISTRACIJA](https://forms.gle/gy5gkhosxH73b8vd6)

I love my job and one of the main things I do is help customers get going with any of the data technologies at Microsoft. Right now there are a lot of my customers asking about Microsoft Fabric. It's hard to weave across all the shiny new options across the Fabric landscape, let alone figure out where it fits into your organization. In this session we'll focus on answering one question - how can I get data into Fabric? We'll talk through the "it depends" options and see some of the options in live demos.

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

Join Neurospicy Columbus at the Stauff's for coffee and then a stroll through the Book Loft nearby! This will be a friendly chat for like minded individuals with Autism and/or ADHD (or somewhere on the Neurodiverse Spectra).

**People Analytics 101: Making Sense of Compensation Data** Compensation data is one of the most widely used and widely misunderstood forms of people analytics. The session will cover where compensation data comes from, including market pricing data, internal payroll data, and benchmarking sources, and how companies think about structuring and analyzing that information. We will explore how compensation data is leveraged to set salary ranges, manage internal equity, support hiring and retention, and align pay with business strategy. A portion of the session will address common data challenges and limitations, such as market noise, inconsistent job matching, and incomplete datasets, while keeping the primary focus on practical use rather than technical depth. The session will also look ahead at where the space is going, including the growing impact of pay transparency laws, expanding pay equity requirements, and emerging regulations in the US and Europe that require organizations to report on gender and pay gaps. The goal is to give attendees a clear mental model for how compensation analytics works today and why getting it right is becoming increasingly critical. (note: we are back at Rev1 this month!) **About Our Speaker** [Alex Moore](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexscottmoore/) is the founder of [Moore Cooperative](https://moorecooperative.com/), where he advises organizations on compensation strategy, pay equity, and people analytics. His work focuses on helping organizations like the Ohio Supreme Court design, analyze, and communicate compensation systems that are data-informed, defensible, and aligned with organizational goals. Alex lives in Granville, Ohio and has three little kiddos. More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

Topic details coming soon. AGENDA: 7:00pm - Opening announcements 7:10pm - Main Topic 7:50pm - Q&A

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!