Information Technology in Business

The BNI Capital Business Alliance is a business and professional networking organization for all industry leaders. We are one of the top BNI groups in the region, focused on building business relationships and friendships that lead to growing each others business. We meet every Wednesday morning to build relationships, showcase our services, and meet new people! We welcome all visitors who are looking to expand their referral networks and grow their business. There is no fee for visiting our lite fare breakfast meeting and if your business category is open in our chapter you can learn more about how to become a member and join us every week! We are very active outside of our Wednesday morning meetings as well! We host member-only events regularly and are always out and about networking at other events. Due to COVID-19 circumstances our meetings are currently being held virtually through a Virtual Zoom Meeting from 7:30 - 9:00 am. A link to the meeting will be sent to you once you register as Attending on Meetup. We can't wait to meet you! Be prepared to tell us all about your business!

Small business Owners who do business through referrals and community. Come visit our chapter to see how help each other expand our business and maximize our time. Our group has over 30 members from different backgrounds! We meet every Wednesday morning, network, and share great ideas! We are looking for a few more like-minded business professionals to grow our group! Come visit our chapter and see if we are fit! Breakfast and drinks are provided at $30. Location: Seva Spaces Tysons 1604 Spring Hill Rd 2nd floor, Vienna, VA 22182

**\*\*Please note this event is in-person only.\*\* We have limited space, please do not RSVP if you are not planning on joining us in person in D.C. at SEI.** The villainous **Lord Taart Chart** has emerged from the shadows once again, and he’s targeting your data! In a brazen attack, he’s stolen your carefully curated data and locked it deep inside his fortified **Azure Vault**. **Your Mission:** You and your team must rise to the challenge, confronting Lord Taart Chart’s wicked ways by solving his **10 Power Query Puzzles**. These devious challenges will test your ability to wrangle, transform, and tame even the messiest of data. Join us at SEI for a reprise of our most popular session from Power BI Days DC 2025, a fiendishly tricky collaborative game developed by our very own John Kerski. In March, Lord Taart Chart will hit the road for his first ever appearance on the national stage at FabCon Atlanta.

meet at Tysons Corner Mall Upper Level Food Court

# Fairfax Business Meetup - Middle of the Month, Week, Day **Presents - Business, Community, & Education // with The Arc of Northern Virginia December 17th at Noon** Come attend our Monthly Meetup at Patriots Pub & Grill. Get to know business professionals in the area, and help others pursue their goals. This is a relaxed business networking luncheon, that will showcase a local business in the area with a Q & A afterwards, hosted by Vision Idea Design. ***RSVP at*** *bit.ly/FairfaxMeetup (link below map)* **Attendance is FREE, but...** A specialty catered menu has been crafted for this event by Patriots Pub & Grill. $5 - Beverages with refills. $25 RSVP (Includes food, space rental, etc.) Each event will have a brief open networking, followed by introductions allowing each professional a few minutes to discuss their business. A local business will be spotlighted and will share a brief presentation about the organization, followed by questions and answers. We aim to help each other grow our businesses and support our community by getting to know each other a little bit more. **This month we are showcasing *The Arc of Northern Virginia.* The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.** Patriots Pub & Grill has been a Fairfax City staple neighborhood restaurant initially welcoming regulars as Patriots Café. Newly relocated to 10560 Main Street at the Mosby Building, Patriots Pub & Grill specializes in American cuisine for the whole family in an easy-going casual setting. Vision Idea Design is an all inclusive Graphic Design Firm located in Fairfax City. From logo concept to product packaging and books, and from trade show banners to signage and marketing materials. We enjoy helping others achieve their goals and pursuing their vision to success. **Please bring a positive attitude, business cards, a networking partner, and your best elevator pitch.** We look forward to seeing you there! ***RSVP at*** | [https://bit.ly/FairfaxMeetup](https://bit.ly/FairfaxMeetup) | | ---------------------------- | | ***Agenda*** *12:00 Open Networking - 10 Mins* *12:10 Welcome Everyone* *12:13 Place Food Orders* *12:15 Introduce Yourself!* *12:20 Featured Presenter* *12:45 Q & A’s* *12:50 Next Month* *12:51 CFCC* *12:55 Other Events* *12:59 Make Connections* *1:00 Thank You!* ***February - 18 - Yvonne Herbst - Google Business*** ***March - 11 - Volunteer Fairfax*** ***April - 15 - HomeStretch*** ***May - 13 - Minetta Minor*** ***http://bit.ly/FairfaxMeetup*** *(link below map)* | Link | [https://bit.ly/FairfaxMeetup](https://bit.ly/FairfaxMeetup) | | ---- | ---------------------------- | | Venue | Patriots Pub & Grill | | Address | 10560 Main StreetFairfaxVA22030,US | | Starts | Wed FEB 18th 2025, 12:00pm EST | | Ends | Wed FEB 18th 2025, 1:00pm EST |

🌅 This event marks the beginning of something bigger for our local communities. The Great Mid-Atlantic Bitcoin Meetup is the first-ever gathering of builders, organizers, and freedom-minded thinkers from across the region, coming together to strengthen grassroots networks driving Bitcoin forward in the real world. 👉 [RSVP on LUMA](https://luma.com/tql6d40b) 🗺️ From NYC to North Carolina, from the Jersey Shore to the Shenandoah Valley, local groups are doing incredible work to spread Bitcoin adoption. Now, for the first time, we’re gathering everyone in the Nation’s Capital to swap insights, forge connections, and launch new partnerships. 💡 Expect an evening filled with big ideas, real stories, and special guest speakers from across the Mid-Atlantic. They will share what they’ve learned about community building, merchant adoption, education, and the broader freedom tech movement. 🍔 Come grab a drink & smashburger, meet fellow builders, and help kick off what could become the strongest regional Bitcoin network in the country. The event will be livestreamed across PubKey’s channels so that anyone can join the conversation. **Speakers** [Gerald Glickman](https://x.com/GeraldGlickman) \- Bitcoin Policy Institute / Anchorage Digital [Rick Thomas](https://x.com/RickThomasII) \- 80\-IQ Studios Nick - 757btc Community Jack Minnick - Sovreign Derek Ross ([Nostr Valley](https://nostrvalley.com/)) - Soapbox **Agenda** 6pm - Social/Networking Hour 7-830pm - Live Programming 8:30-10pm - More Networking 👉 [RSVP on LUMA](https://luma.com/tql6d40b) 🍻 Before you close your tab, ask to pay with Bitcoin & get 21% off your entire bill! 🧡 This is a Bitcoin-only event. Everyone is welcome to join, but please leave the altcoin talk at the door. ​**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/).

This meetup is designed to be an open forum amongst our community. We intend for it to be an opportunity for members to showcase what projects we've been working on this year related to Linux and AWS. If you are a current (or aspiring) professional looking for a practical way to build your experience with Linux and cloud computing, this event is for you! About us: Respect The Tech is an organization focused on information technology education and innovation. Our mission is to innovate technology education through virtual labs and gamified training. All of our team members are experienced professionals in the cybersecurity and cloud computing field. We are based out of the DMV and aim to serve the DMV with the same tools that enabled us to be successful with technology. *** Requirements: A functional laptop AWS account created and ready to use (free tier recommended)

A weekly networking meeting where we have a lot of fun and of course, meet other busy professionals!

**Join the Discussion on International IP Protection** **Jonathan Link** is an Attorney Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel for the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that adjudicates trade disputes, maintains the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and researches and analyzes trade issues. We will discuss: * Protect a U.S. trademark or patent abroad * Considerations when selling to overseas vendors * Approaches for securing and maintaining a foreign supplier relationship Jonathan will discuss this, and more, based on his assistance for the Commission when evaluating unfair trade determinations based on patent infringement and defending Commission decisions at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He began his career as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office while attending law school at night. He has extensive experience in all aspects of intellectual property, including preparing and obtaining patents, licensing, client counseling, and litigation involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. His clients have ranged from solo inventors and start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. In addition, he has written articles, participated in podcasts, and taught continuing legal education seminars on various aspects of patent law, including giving speeches in the U.S. and China. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. **The Discussion.** This series of hybrid events is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, experienced executive mentors cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, early-stage investors, and students exploring innovative product design. At each session, business founders serve as guest speakers share about their career, their firm's business model, as well as the successes and challenges in the product development process. Participants learn from the speakers’ experiences, discuss valuable insights, and connect with other entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and investors. **Logistics.** A light lunch is served, as entrepreneurs connect with one another, learn from peers, and contribute to the conversation: * Friday, February 20, 2026 * 11:30am EST - Coffee & Connection * 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST - Presentation & Discussion No pre-registration is required. Join us: Robins School of Business 102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123 University of Richmond, VA 23173 **Parking.** Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (EY Innovation Lab) on the ground floor. Please note that visitors have a two-hour parking window. Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number. **On Zoom Webinar:** https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608419334?pwd=am0F9r85xPfh7aBaxtdUDILYsvNAwJ.1

Business Oriented Toastmasters (BOTM) is an exceptionally strong Toastmasters club in Rockville, MD. Our club has earned President's Distinguished Club status for the last thirteen years in a row. We are dedicated to helping each of our members achieve their personal public speaking and leadership goals in a friendly, supportive environment. We pride ourselves on having organized, professional meetings with strong evaluations, while having fun at the same time. Guests are always welcome and no notice is necessary. Just show up and plan to have fun. See how BOTM can help you achieve your goals. We are a diverse club with both seasoned and new Toastmasters, and all ethnic and professional backgrounds. For more information, please visit our website at botm.toastmastersclubs.org or contact us at contact-2279@toastmastersclubs.org Meeting locations: 1st Wednesday of every month in person at Faith United Methodist Church, 6810 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 3rd Wednesday of every month via Zoom

Talk For Change (Club 1059567) is a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member can develop communication and leadership skills, which, in turn, foster self-confidence and personal growth. We meet the first and third Wednesday of every month at 6:45 pm with online and in-person meetings. If you want to attend in person, we meet at Madhatters Restaurant, 1319 Connecticut Avenue, 1 block south of Dupont Circle, in Washington, DC. Contact us for more information (and to get the Zoom link for online attendance): contactusform-1059567@toastmastersclubs.org. http://talkforchange.toastmastersclubs.org/agenda-739269.html

## The Business Excellence Spotlight: DC Business Owner Networking & Live Strategy Session ### **About this Group/Event** Are you a Washington DC business owner looking to sharpen your edge without spending an entire weekend in a seminar? Join us for a fast-paced, high-impact **Power Hour**. We’re bringing together local entrepreneurs at 1250 Connecticut Ave NW to talk shop, swap strategies, and learn from one of the best in the business. ### **The Highlight: A Live Feature with Jimmy Alauria** We will be joined via a live, interactive broadcast by **Jimmy Alauria**, owner of 3A Automotive & Diesel. Jimmy has mastered the art of building a thriving company in a hyper-competitive market through discipline and leadership. While Jimmy joins us from the road, you’ll be in the room with your local peers to connect, share ideas, and grow your DC network. ### **What We’ll Cover:** * **The "One Essential Factor":** The single most important element Jimmy uses to reach full potential. * **Systems That Scale:** Real-world strategies for building teams that drive results. * **Live Q&A:** This isn’t a passive webinar. You’ll be able to engage directly with Jimmy. * **High-Level Networking:** Come for the insights, stay for the connections (and the refreshments!). ### **Event Schedule** * **3:00 PM – 3:30 PM:** Doors Open. Kick off the afternoon with snacks, refreshments, and open networking with fellow DC business owners. * **3:30 PM – 4:30 PM:** **The Main Event.** Live interactive broadcast with Jimmy Alauria, featuring strategy deep-dives and a live Q&A session. * **4:30 PM – 5:00 PM+:** Optional Post-Event Networking. Stick around to discuss the session's takeaways, finish the snacks, and solidify those new professional connections. **Why Join Us?** Jimmy doesn't do "fluff." He shares the exact strategies he uses daily. If you’re serious about taking your business to the next level alongside other DC leaders, we’ll see you there.

Details Location: Crimson Whiskey Bar (Downstairs Bar, Not Rooftop) The purpose of Thinkers and Drinkers is to facilitate casual but meaningful and interesting conversations with other people in a face-to-face setting. The topics cover a wide variety of issues and are different for every meeting. While conversations may get heated at times, we ask that all members be respectful of each other and refrain from personal insults. Topic: Trust in Institutions Across much of the world, trust in major institutions, including government, media, corporations, courts, universities, and science, appears to be shifting. Surveys often show declining confidence in public institutions, while at the same time people continue to rely on them for stability, information, and coordination. Recent years have included disputed elections, misinformation concerns, public health crises, economic disruptions, and rapid technological change. These events have raised difficult questions about credibility, legitimacy, and accountability. Some argue that skepticism toward institutions is healthy in a democracy, encouraging transparency and reform. Others worry that widespread distrust can weaken social cohesion and make collective problem solving nearly impossible. Major surveys and studies on institutional trust include: • Pew Research Center, Public Trust in Government: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/30/public-trust-in-government-1958-2024/ • Edelman Trust Barometer (annual global survey): https://www.edelman.com/trust/trust-barometer • Gallup, Confidence in Institutions: https://news.gallup.com/poll/1597/confidence-institutions.aspx • World Values Survey, Trust indicators across countries: https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org Historically, periods of low institutional trust have sometimes preceded major reforms or political realignments, while in other cases they have contributed to instability or authoritarian backlash. Understanding when distrust is justified, and when it becomes dangerous, remains an open question. Questions to Consider • What factors most strongly shape trust in institutions, performance, transparency, shared identity, or something else? • Is declining trust primarily a problem, or can it be a healthy corrective? • Are some institutions, such as courts, science, or local government, more deserving of baseline trust than others? • How should societies respond when large portions of the public lose faith in elections, media, or public health guidance? • Can trust be rebuilt once it is lost, and if so, how? • Does technology, especially social media and AI, strengthen or weaken institutional legitimacy?

Join us for our [February Business Book Club](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-business-book-club-meeting-sat-228-tickets-1981657092709?aff=oddtdtcreator) as we dive into “**$100M Offers” by Alex Hormozi** — a powerful guide on creating irresistible offers that drive growth and revenue. This virtual discussion is open to members and guests and is perfect for: ✔️ Entrepreneurs and small business owners ✔️ Professionals looking to strengthen their value propositions ✔️ Anyone interested in practical, revenue-focused business insights Expect engaging conversation, real-world takeaways, and the chance to connect with like-minded professionals. *\*\*\* This event is sponsored by the Network Over 30 Community! \*\*\**

We are now Meeting at ResQ BBQ in Leesburg \*\*help us track guest attendance, please register here please: https://www.bniconnectglobal.com/web/open/visitorRegistration?chapterId=16801 \*\* *** Thanks for visiting our meetup group for information for BNI Potomac Business Alliance where I am honored to hold the Title Insurance seat. During this meeting you will meet other local business professionals from a wide variety of industries who commit to providing excellent service to people within our shared networks. We will pass over 1.5 million dollars of business in 2022-2023. and we want you to consider applying to be a part of our referral network. So come out, enjoy an excellent breakfast, learn a little more about me and Title Insurance, and consider being a part of a fantastic group of business professionals. Be prepared to tell everyone about your business in about 30 seconds or less. We want to know what you do but have to keep it short so we can complete the meeting's agenda, we want to honor your time! • 30 second elevator speech? What do I say?! Your Name Your Company's Name What your company does (in basic form) One key difference maker (deliver on-time, on budget. or We close complicated cases. or We can sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Etc...) Who you would like to meet in the room or in the area (so we can refer you business :-) ) Keep it short and sweet, there will be plenty of time after and before the meeting to get to know other people in the group and even opportunities to schedule "one to one/1:2:1" meetings. We love to grab our coffee and go out to a spot in the lobby afterwards in one on ones to discuss how we can work together, get to know each other, get business done! So plan a little extra time to meet if need be.

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.

A weekly networking meeting where we have a lot of fun and of course, meet other busy professionals!

Some expert speaker (or panel) will be telling us about some subject, or maybe we'll hold a roundtable discussion, or whatever. Please bring your questions, ideas, etc., and a friend or three who might be interested in our Meetup. Approximate Schedule: 7:00 pm: people arrive, network, mingle, and eat pizza 7:30 pm: presentation, discussion, or whatever, begins 8:30 pm: presentation/whatever is over; we network, mingle, and clean up 9:00 pm: we lose the room There has been progress on finding a space sponsor and a dinner sponsor, but nothing is yet set in stone. Meanwhile, I will hold the meetings at the Fairfax City Regional Library, bring pizza and soft drinks, and put out a donation jar. (When you RSVP, you can tell me what you want. There's no guarantee you'll get it, and "nothing" is a perfectly good answer.) PLEASE RSVP YES IF COMING, AND CHANGE IT TO "NO" IF YOU THEN WON'T COME AFTER ALL. DO NOT MAKE US WASTE TIME WAITING FOR YOU. DO NOT DEPRIVE OTHERS OF A SPACE BY BOGARTING ONE. DO NOT MAKE ME THINK UP AN APPROPRIATE PENALTY FOR NO-SHOWS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE PICTURE. DO NOT TAUNT HAPPY FUN MEETUP ORGANIZER. This will be a joint meeting with the Independent Consultants of NoVa, DC, and MD (https://www.meetup.com/Independent-Consultants-of-NOVA-DC-MD).

We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – February 25 Business Presentation** **Featuring Seeman Saeed, Founder of LeakzAlert** **Wednesday\, February 25 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** We’re excited to welcome **Seeman Saeed**, founder of **LeakzAlert**, to the 1 Million Cups Loudoun stage to share an innovative solution focused on prevention, protection, and smarter property management. **About the Business** LeakzAlert provides **water leak detection and monitoring services** designed to identify issues early and help prevent costly damage. By delivering proactive alerts and monitoring, LeakzAlert supports property owners and managers in protecting their assets, reducing risk, and avoiding unexpected disruptions. **Who Seeman Is Looking to Hear From** Seeman is eager to connect with professionals across: * Property management * Property maintenance companies * Home insurance providers * Hotels and hospitals * Homeowners * Anyone responsible for facility or property oversight **Current Focus** As LeakzAlert gains traction, Seeman is seeking feedback on: * Sales scalability * Sustainable growth strategies * Expanding market reach * Building strong industry partnerships **Why Attend?** * Learn about a service that directly impacts workplace success * Provide valuable feedback to a growing business * Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and community leaders * Be part of a collaborative, solutions-focused conversation **What is 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 **February 25 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about communication, workforce development, and business growth. We look forward to seeing you there!