Retail Professionals
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Retail Professionals Events Today
Join in-person Retail Professionals events happening right now
Profs & Pints DC: How AI Alters Thinking
[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“How AI Alters Thinking,”** on dealing with artificial intelligence’s capacity to change and undermine our thought processes, with Eli Alshanetsky, assistant professor of philosophy at Temple University, principal investigator at its Cognitive Integrity Lab, and author of an upcoming book on AI and freedom of thought.
[Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-how-ai-alters-thinking](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-how-ai-alters-thinking) .]
Doctors who give bad advice can be sued for malpractice. Teachers belong to a profession with set standards. When artificial intelligence guides you, however, that guidance comes with a disclaimer: Use at your own risk.
Every day millions of people take that risk, and usually AI seems genuinely helpful. But even if AI gives us good answers, might its use over time do bad things to how we think?
Explore the relationship between AI and our own minds with Eli Alshanetsky, whose Cognitive Integrity Lab studies how artificial intelligence changes how we think, learn, and build trust. Author of *Articulating a Thought* and the upcoming book *Freedom of Thought in the Age of AI*, he’s on the cutting edge of efforts to answer AI-related questions such as: How can we tell when work is truly our own? How can technology support rather than replace authorship and reflection? What does trust mean when AI mediates our relationships with others and with our own thoughts?
To set up his discussion of potential consequences of AI, he’ll describe how social media’s impact on society serves as a preview.
Social media didn’t just give people what they wanted to click on, it actually changed what they regarded as click-worthy. It broke attention spans and fueled radicalization across millions of very different people. It left us with people who doom-scroll for hours, who can’t focus, who don’t know what to trust anymore.
If you’d shown people this version of themselves ten years ago, would they have chosen it?
Artificial intelligence is making a similar deal with us, but the stakes are higher. It isn’t chasing clicks. It’s optimized for giving you the most satisfying response to whatever is on your mind right now.
The risk over time isn’t just that you’ll get lazy. More profoundly, even when you think hard, your sense of what counts as good thinking—as well as what sounds like you—will shift to match what AI has been feeding you.
We’ll consider what kind of person this produces and whether this is someone we want to be or want children to become. Professor Alshanetsky will lay out a practical framework, which he calls “the interaction layer,” for using AI without letting it replace the thinking it’s supposed to support. He’ll also talk about what AI-related concerns should be the focus of parents and educators. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.)
Image: Illustration by David S. Soriano / Creative Commons.
Yappy Happy Hour @ Spark Social
**NEW EVENT!!!** Please be sure to RSVP on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988717400279?aff=oddtdtcreator)** so we have an accurate guest list.
Pink Poodle Club is Spark's weekly Yappy Hour — every Monday on the back patio from 5–7pm. $1 Scooby Snacks for hoomans and $1 pup cups for the doggos.
Come join us for a fun and **dog-friendly** gathering! It’s the perfect chance to meet new people, share stories, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with the **LGBTQ+ community**. Whether you're looking to make friends or just hang out, everyone’s welcome. Grab your favorite drink and let’s make some great memories together!
This event is free to attend. We hope to see you there. In addition to coffee selections, the venue offers a good food and drinks [menu](https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2).
We encourage you to register your attendance in advance. We hope to see you there.
When you arrive with your dog, order on your own from the [menu](https://spark-dc.com/pages/menu-2). Then meet and mingle with LGBTQ+ folk and their dogs on the back patio.
**Metro Directions:** Be eco-friendly. U Street Metro (Yellow/Green line) is only a few blocks away. Take the 13th Street Exit. The venue is adjacent to Crush Bar.
This event is a safe space for everyone under the rainbow.
Please feel free to invite all your friends to join you there!
This event is hosted by **[Go Gay DC](https://www.gogaydc.com)**, Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service.
It now reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com) . Go Gay DC's founder is **[TJ Flavell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjflavell/)**.
Go Gay DC is on social media:
Join the Facebook Group
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC)
Like the Facebook Page
[https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC)
Follow on Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC)
Follow on Threads
[https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc)
Follow on Bluesky
[https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/)
Follow on X
[https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC)
Watch on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC)
LinkedIn
[https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZG1DTnM0VnJybG83U3FWcnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR765Xxf5t8wFzbCac74QNX3p0Bs2oT0drXZoOmLV63J8cURMl3ta5b8iP3ztg_aem_nSdndpxd5-hXJ8myNF2_vQ)
Search keywords: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Straight Allies Two-Spirit
Morning Movement & Grace
[Book Your Classes by Clicking This Link! ](https://crowndancestudio.com/group-classes/)
Kick off your week from **11:00 AM to 12:00 PM wit**h focusing on the smooth, elegant foundations of Ballroom dance. This session is perfect for seniors and families looking to improve posture and balance through the Waltz, Foxtrot, and Tango in a low-pressure, welcoming environment.
Price: $25 Drop-in, Membership **DOES NOT** include this class!
Chess on Tap @ DC Board Room
No sign\-ups required \| All levels welcome \| 21\+
If you're looking for a casual game of chess in a fun atmosphere, this event is for you!
Members range from beginner to master level, and games are played both with and without time controls. There are dozens of players each week, with only a fraction of the participants registering on meetup.
This event is held at a bar, the Board Room, in Washington, DC, and is intended for 21+ players.
We meet upstairs, on the mezzanine. Upon arrival, fill out a name tag and indicate your relative skill, to facilitate match-ups.
Chess sets and boards are provided. We don't have club clocks, but most people use the Chess Clock app from Chess.com to play timed games.
Guest Cube at Your Hobby Place - Old Town Alexandria
This week's guest cube is Michael's Creepy Cube!
List here: [https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/de98a70c-665d-4d8f-b77c-39f83a827a77](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/de98a70c-665d-4d8f-b77c-39f83a827a77)
**NEW UPDATE:** Additional members of the cubing community have reached out to me and we all agree, the more cubing the better! I have removed the 12 person limit and we are adding an overflow cube for those also interested in non vintage type cubes! These guest cubes may consist of the following:
\- Alex's Enchantment Cube: [Enchanted to Meet You](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/enchantedCube)!
\- Matthew's Avatar cube: [Avatar: The Last Airbender Power(ful) Cube](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/avatarTLA)
Priority will still fall to firing the vintage cube but what this means is if we reach 12 members we can offer the option to fire both cubes at 6 and 6 or just the vintage cube at 2 pods each. If we reach over 12 we will divide up the players between the two cubes with earlier RSVPs getting priority on their choice.
If you have a cube that you are interested in having as a spill over cube please reach out to me and we can coordinate. Thank you!
Come join and casually draft cube! No cost to enter and no cards needed! The store provides promo booster packs and I usually throw in a pack of the most recent standard set to award to the people with the best records at the end of the night. [What is Cube?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDBTRG6keM)
What: Cube Draft
When: 6:00pm
Where: Your Hobby Place in Old Town Alexandria (Your Hobby Place, 700 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
We aim to start drafting shortly after 6:00pm as the store's register closes at 9:00pm. The store owner is kind enough to keep the space open for us to finish rounds. In previous events we've usually wrapped up around 9:45. All skill levels are welcome and all cards, lands, tokens needed are provided so you only need to bring yourself and potentially some dice and playmat if you prefer.
The list can be seen here: [https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/proxybacon](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/proxybacon)
Join Your Hobby Place's Discord and grab the Cube Role in the mtg-chat channel for the most up to date information on cube at their location: [https://discord.gg/9je3G8vzXh](https://discord.gg/9je3G8vzXh)
**Important Notice:**
I have seen an increased number of signups and no shows amongst brand new accounts. In an effort to make sure we have room for everyone if this is your first time joining and you have just created a meetup account please reach out to me via Meetup or discord.
**Late Policy:**
RSVPing will hold your spot for up to 10 minutes after 6. If you expect you may be running late please reach out to me via the store's discord. My username is iluvbacon610.
Doubles Volleyball - Competitive
BB/A level @Bluemont Park
Doubles Volleyball - Competitive BB-A level @Bluemont Park
Let's get together to play some fun A level Doubles games at Bluemont.
Format: Doubles
COST: FREE
Court Type: Outdoor grass
Minimum Skill Requirements: A level (click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic) for details)
Attention:
1. This event is not always on a first come, first served basis. Those who can bring a net and ball, may get priority over others on the waitlist.
1. Since skill levels are self-reported, some attendees may not meet the expected level in reality, so we encourage you to choose a partner you can enjoy the game with, and since this is a competitive event, it is okay if you make a strong team and win all the games.
1. Since people arrive at different times, each group of
1. Players will set up and claim a net as they arrive, and may continue playing without rotating until all nets are set.
———
Smiley Social documents:
[Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg/mobilebasic)
[Liability Waiver](https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco/mobilebasic)
[Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic)
Retail Professionals Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
ServiceNow Professional
collaborative community for ServiceNow specialists and IT professionals to connect, share knowledge, and grow together. This group focuses on real-world use cases, best practices in ITSM, emerging technologies, and career development. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, join us to exchange ideas, improve communication skills, and build meaningful industry relationships.
Inside the Mind of a CMO: Ask-Me-Anything
If you’re trying to grow in marketing right now, guessing isn’t a great strategy.
This event gives you direct access to how marketing leaders actually think.
Join DC Marketing Tech Talks on May 19th in Tysons for a live **CMO Ask Me Anything** — a candid, open conversation with experienced marketing leaders who have built teams, driven revenue, and led at the highest levels.
This is your chance to ask:
* What skills actually matter right now?
* What gets someone promoted vs. passed over?
* What does it take to become a CMO today?
* How are marketing teams and roles changing?
* How do you connect brand to real business growth?
Just real answers from people who have done the work.
Whether you’re looking to move up, switch roles, or sharpen your edge, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of what to focus on next.
As always, this event is free and open to the public thanks to our sponsors, SalesIntel.
Food, drinks, networking, and a room full of marketers who care about getting better at what they do.
Come with questions. Leave with direction.
WEDNESDAY Professionals Networking HourS
Grow your professional network across industries, swap ideas, and unwind in a friendly, collaborative vibe, ideal for career-minded pros seeking connections.
All professionals in the DMV and MidAtlantic area are invited!
This event is to every and each professional in different industry, sector and specialization to grow, interact, and learn from each other. It is designed to provide a professional environment, to meet other professionals, to broaden one's career. It is also for those interested in careers and are studying or intend to enter the dynamic world of global professionalism.
***GRAB A BOOZE OR A BITE AND YOU WILL BE SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD:) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.***
We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested.
We have the discretion to decide entry.
HOW IT WORKS : We will give out name tags and you write your name and your industry/sector/specialization. However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that area. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS CARD.
Rules to abide :
1. Event is free and 21+ (bring ID).
2. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to connect with others as well.
3. We all are professionals in one or two fields and be willing to share your knowledge and experience to others and try to accommodate as much as possible.
4. If you don't belong the other person's required specialization, LEAVE THEM ALONE.
5. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion.
6. This is a face-to-face networking event. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting, by using the comment box or direct message.
7. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box.
8. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](mailto:info@merevents.com)).
9. When you get there, we will greet you and take you to your respective group.
10. ***Please be patient for the first 30 minutes, up until we form a group with your respective industry/sector.***
***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***
\- Come one\, come all; this is the most friendliest event you have ever attended\!
\- Feel free to invite your friends\. They don't necessarily have to be a member\.
\- Celebrate your birthdays or your moments in life with us\.
***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***
**FOR FURTHER INFO, REFER THE EVENTBRITELINK. IT RULES.**
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World Product Day 2026 Celebration
🍻 [World Product Day](https://www.mindtheproduct.com/world-product-day/) is about more than product — it’s about the people who build them. Join **ProductTank DC** for a celebration bringing together product professionals to connect, reflect, and recharge around this year’s theme: **Resiliency**.
Product people are no strangers to change. We adapt, learn, and keep building—together. This evening is an opportunity to step back, celebrate that resilience, and recognize the shared challenges and wins that define our craft.
Expect thoughtful conversation, practical insights, and a chance to reconnect with the product community in person. Whether you’re an experienced product leader, a new PM, or simply curious about product management, this meetup is a space to learn, contribute, and celebrate the people doing the hard work of building what’s next.
**Special thanks to our host:** Clyde's of Chevy Chase!
*Please note: Attendees are responsible for their own food and drink purchases. Food and drinks will be available directly from the venue*
Tango & Champagne Soiree: Argentine Tango Lessons and Evening in Buenos Aires
**Advance ticket purchase required at:**
[https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=84364716-791F-4FD8-A80C-64127321DAE5](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=84364716-791F-4FD8-A80C-64127321DAE5)
Join us on your own or with friends to enjoy an evening of champagne and Argentine Tango dancing with lessons at the Gallery at the Ven at Embassy Row, in the heart of DuPont Circle. Experience the Tango, one of the most passionate dances that brings to life the romance of 1930s Buenos Aires as you make new friends. A dance partner or prior dance experience are not needed to attend.
Dance lesson tickets also includes a complimentary glass of champagne\* with additional drinks available for purchase at the bar.
You are welcome to attend on your own or with friends. We’ll have you dancing the Argentine Tango as it is danced in Buenos Aires, even if you have never danced before! The Argentine Tango is known around the world for its romance and bold flair and this is your rare opportunity to learn the Argentine tango from an expert instructor as you meet ICDC members in a friendly and relaxed setting.
**Advance ticket purchase required at:**
[https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=84364716-791F-4FD8-A80C-64127321DAE5](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=84364716-791F-4FD8-A80C-64127321DAE5)
During the lesson you may learn the proper Argentinean Tango embrace, as we may delve into the Caminata, Salida, Baldosa, and Resolution -- elements of the dance. After the lesson, enjoy an elegant tango performance high in color and elegance, commemorating the glamorous years of 1930s Argentina that will transport you to a magical tango soiree in Buenos Aires to practice your newly learned tango skills.
After the lesson, dance the evening away with a practice tango dance party at one of DuPont Circle's most fashionable venues, as you meet and socialize with other friendly ICDC members.
Space is limited and we expect this event to sell out well in advance, so please make your reservations early. Event details are subject to change. All online ticket sales are final and we are unable to offer refunds on any ticket purchases.
\* The champagne served will be a sparkling white wine or Cava.
**Advance ticket purchase required at:**
[https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=84364716-791F-4FD8-A80C-64127321DAE5](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=84364716-791F-4FD8-A80C-64127321DAE5)
**Attend on Your own or with Friends**
You are welcome to attend on your own and new members are especially welcome! The event presents a wonderful opportunity to meet, network and socialize with other internationally minded professionals in town. If you are new to our organization or Washington DC this is a great opportunity to meet other like minded professionals in a friendly and relaxed setting.
Less Noise, More Signal: SBOMs + Agentic Observability
We’re excited to bring the community together for an evening of learning and connection. This time, we'll have a community member from Chainguard sharing a use case and, as usual, an Elastic employee sharing their expertise as well.
Come support your fellow developers, learn something new, and meet others who are passionate about search, observability, and security.
**Date and Time:**
Tuesday, May 19th, from 5:30-7:30 pm EDT
**Location:**
Elastic Arlington Office - 4100 Fairfax Drive, Ste 500, Arlington, VA 22203
**Agenda:**
* 5:30 pm: Doors open; say hi, grab a seat, and eat some food.
* 6:00 pm: The SBOM Pile in Your S3 Bucket: Turning Bills of Materials Into a Risk Dashboard; and Watching It Shrink with Chainguard, by Mike Barreta, Senior Manager, Engineering at Chainguard
* 6:30 pm: Q&A
* 6:40 pm: **Agentic Observability: Next-Gen Alerting and Auto-Detected Significant Events**, by Jason Rhodes,
Senior Manager, Software Engineering at Elastic
* 7:10 pm: Q&A
* 7:20-7:30 pm: Networking & refreshments
**Talk Abstracts:**
**"The SBOM Pile in Your S3 Bucket: Turning Bills of Materials Into a Risk Dashboard; and Watching It Shrink with Chainguard**"
Most organizations now generate SBOMs because someone — EO 14028, a FedRAMP auditor, an ISSM — told them to. They land in an S3 bucket, get versioned, and are almost universally never queried. This talk is about what happens when you finally do. I'll stand up a self-contained Elastic stack, pour in SBOMs (SPDX), SLSA provenance, Sigstore signatures, Grype vulnerability scans, the CISA KEV catalog, and OpenVEX adjudication for 30 container images, and show the queries that only become possible once SBOMs stop being compliance artifacts and start being telemetry: which packages I actually run right now, which CVEs are real exposures versus VEX-suppressed noise, what swapping a stock image for its Chainguard equivalent would buy me, and how much of my CVE list is just stuff I inherited from the base layer.
Then the cleanup. The same dashboards on Chainguard images show what disappears when the SBOM is small, the signatures verify, and the advisory feed is active: \~9,000 fewer CVEs and \~2.5 GB saved across 20 image pairs, KEV exposure dropping from 7 hits to 0, compliance pass rate going from 0% to 76.5% against NIST 800-218 / FedRAMP Moderate / SSDF.
**Bio:**
Mike Barretta leads Chainguard’s public sector solutions engineering team, focused on helping ensure the federal government receives its fair share of the future. Barretta has worked across civilian, defense and intel programs in a variety of roles—software developer, data scientist, solution architect—for a variety of organizations—system integrators, consulting companies, software vendors—with the common purpose of creating and championing technologies and techniques for simplifying the extraction and utilization of information from lots of data. Having witnessed the ever-increasing threats to those systems, Barretta is now focused on methods and mitigations to secure them
**Agentic Observability: Next-Gen Alerting and Auto-Detected Significant Events**
We're rebuilding Elastic's alerting engine to make alerts more flexible\, more powerful\, and more valuable as data\. Next\-gen alerting rules will run anything ES\|QL supports and capture whatever fields matter to you\, so alerts carry the context you need for real downstream analysis\. And if you'd rather not manage these rules yourself\, AI agents can help\, drafting them from natural language\, recommending tuning and configuration changes\, and reducing noise through deduplication\.
On top of this, we're also building a new Significant Events system which automatically builds a continuously updated knowledge base of your incoming data's own metadata. Using this deep understanding, our agentic tools will detect significant events from log patterns, anomalies, and predicted behavior — without you having to create a single rule.
**Bio:**
Jason Rhodes is a software engineering lead at Elastic, where he works on alerting and observability features. Based in the DC area, he has over 15 years of experience in software development and has been an active contributor to the local tech community — creating and organizing Baltimore NodeSchool and charmCityJS. When he's not writing and reviewing code, he's probably watching too many movies.
**Parking:**
* The building’s parking garage is operated by Colonial Parking and is located off N. Randolph Street
* Book a spot on[ SpotHero](https://spothero.com/search?kind=address&latitude=38.8818514&longitude=-77.1095268&search_string=4100+Fairfax+Dr+%23500%2C+Arlington%2C+VA+22203%2C+USA)
* A Metro Station is located across the street
(Arlington) Sunday 2nd Shift: Customer Service Help (2pm-4pm)
Sign up to help with customer service at our Arlington shop! **If this is your first time doing customer service at our shop**, **please direct message Elizabeth here via MeetUp** so she can ensure someone can be there to orient you.
**What you'll do:**
* greet customers
* manage customer traffic
* help customers find basic bike parts in our store
* direct customers to the mechanics if they need a bike repair
* help customers find a bike that fits them
* set customers up to test ride bikes
* work the register to conduct customer payments
**Qualities of a good volunteer for this role:**
* customer service oriented
* willing to work outside most of the shift
* able to work on their feet most of the shift
* comfortable working in a faced-paced environment
* open to a steep learning curve with a rewarding experience the more times you volunteer
* excited to learn about Velocity Bicycle Cooperative and become part of our volunteer team that keeps our wheels turning!
**What to Bring/Attire**
* A water bottle & snack
* Wear comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate for the day's weather
* Sunscreen and a baseball hat if it is sunny
**Age Requirements:** If you are under 18, you must bring a parent/guardian with you to the orientation to sign the waiver.
Retail Professionals Events Near You
Connect with your local Retail Professionals community
Ask an Expert @ CML: Minority Business Assistance Center
No appointment needed - just support from a real, live person.
Access services offered through the Ohio Department of Development
The Department of Development Minority Business Development Division supports the growth and sustainability of small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio.
Supporting these businesses means providing them with resources that include technical and professional assistance, access to capital, surety bonding, and connection to business opportunities through the assistance of the Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC).
The Division leverages these resources to support the achievement of the state's 15% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) set-aside requirement.
The Division works with entrepreneurs and emerging business enterprises to help them achieve scale and market success. The overarching goal is to help small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses contribute to job creation and economic growth in Ohio.
The Centers provide the following services:
* Accounting assistance
* Business management counseling
* Completing federal, state, and local certification applications
* Contract procurement assistance
* Estimating/bidding assistance
* Identifying local resources
* Loan packaging assistance
* Marketing plan development
* Referrals to financial assistance program
*
Drop-In-Person Coaching (In-Person)
Have a small business? Ever wish you could just ask some questions around how to grow your business, get more customers or just know what the freak you are doing with sales?
Now is your chance!! Every month we are hosting the "Ask an Expert" at the Columbus Metro Library, Main campus. I will be there to answer your Sales related questions.
Drop-in for sales coaching designed to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals sharpen their sales approach. Whether you have questions on how to refine your pitch, are looking to close deals more quickly, or are working on building better client relationships, Smashing Your Sales Goals Coaches are here to help.
Drop-in to get expert insights, actionable strategies and real-time solutions to grow your business and generate higher profits.
Drop-In Sales Coaching is FREE + OPEN to the public. No appointment needed. First come, first served.
EPIC Learning created. Accelerate Columbus supported.
Building a Voice Over Business
Join Voice Over Pros Of Ohio for an exciting morning of networking, and exploring opportunities in the world of voice acting. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is perfect for expanding your network, learning how to start a VO business, and for honing your skills. Connect with fellow voice actors and VO experts, that will help you succeed in your voice over business.
This event will feature discussions on professional development, entrepreneurship in the voice over industry, with tips for navigating the world of voice acting. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from others, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and take your voice over career to the next level. Join us Saturday, May 30, from 10am - 12pm and learn how to start or grow your voice over business. Let your voice be heard! The $10 fee covers refreshments and door prizes.
Building Momentum: From Ambiguity to Execution
**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.**
Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations.
In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch.
You’ll walk away with insights on how to:
* Build and sustain momentum across teams
* Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction
* Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments
Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward.
Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals.
\-\-\-
Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host.
Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.
TBD
**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
Building Scalable Customer Identity Resolution Pipelines on AWS Using AI
Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs.
This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context.
We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing.
**SPEAKER BIO**
Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856
**CALL FOR SPEAKERS**
Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/)
**THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/)
**DIRECTIONS**
8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH
go to 4th floor.
**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























