Product Management

Join ProductTank Wilmington for an engaging discussion on Product Management across different domains including, but not limited to AI, FinTech, and Healthcare. Whether you're a seasoned product manager or just starting out in the field, this gathering is a fantastic space to learn from the best in the industry and network with like-minded professionals. **NOTE: This is an open invitation to join ProductTank Wilmington and not an event.**

**Title**: Powering AI Through Data Modernization: Modernizing ETL with Databricks & Unity Catalog In this session, we will discuss how enterprises are modernizing their data platforms by migrating from legacy ETL tools (such as Informatica and traditional data warehouses) to Databricks Lakehouse architecture, and how Unity Catalog enables enterprise-grade governance, security, and discoverability across data and AI assets. We will start with food and drinks at 6pm and then move into the presentation at 6:30pm. The session will cover: * Why traditional ETL platforms are becoming a bottleneck for scale, cost, and AI adoption * How Databricks changes the data engineering and analytics operating mode * The role of Unity Catalog in centralized governance * How this foundation enables AI and Gene.AI use cases on trusted data * Q&A Our speaker for this event is **Hirenkumar Dholariya**. Hirenkumar Dholariya is a Senior Data Engineering Architect with 18+ years of experience modernizing enterprise data platforms for global Fortune 500 organizations, delivering up to 40% system performance improvement and 20–35% infrastructure cost reduction through large-scale migration from legacy ETL platforms to cloud-native Lakehouse architectures. He specializes in Databricks-based data engineering, Unity Catalog–driven governance, and building scalable, secure, and real-time analytics platforms. He has led multiple enterprise-wide transformations from tools such as Informatica and traditional data warehouses to Databricks, establishing governed data foundations using Unity Catalog and enabling advanced analytics and AI use cases on top of trusted data platforms. His leadership focuses on architecting durable data platforms, enabling teams to move faster with confidence, and translating data and AI investments into measurable business outcomes. *

Ready to build something amazing without writing a single line of code? Or want a front-row seat to watch it all come together? Join us for an AI-powered hackathon where you’ll create an app using **Lovable** – the no-code platform that turns plain English prompts into real products. This will be an interactive, high-energy event – not a sit-down lecture. Builders will be hands-on and products will be built! How it works: * We’ll form small AI building groups – no need to come with a team. * Bring a laptop to help your team build by adding features or testing your product. * Each group will collaborate to build an app and share it at the end. * The product brief will be revealed at the start – no prep required! * All Lovable credits are covered – no fees involved. Whether you’re curious about AI tools, eager to experiment, or just want to see how others build fast, this is your chance to experience the future of app creation. Since group spots are limited, please RSVP **only if you’re sure you can commit**. **Agenda:** * **5:00pm - 5:30pm – Arrival / Networking** * **5:30pm - 6:00pm – Hackathon brief** * **6:00pm - 7:00pm – Build time** * **7:00pm - 7:20PM – Networking / Shortlist** * **7:20pm - 7:50pm – Finalist demo, voting and prizes** * **7:50pm - 8:30pm – Wrap-up / Networking** This event will be held at Amazon’s HQ2 in National Landing, Arlington. Please bring a photo ID that matches your registration name to check in with security. There are metro stops (Pentagon City, Crystal City) and parking garages within convenient walking distance. There is also some street parking available in the vicinity.

**Agenda :** * 4.30 to 4.45 PM ET: Food and Networking * 4.45 to 5.30 PM ET: "Practical Applications of Model Context Protocol (MCP) (Feb 2026 Edition)" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our Feb 10th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided.** **Title:** Practical Applications of Model Context Protocol (MCP) (Feb 2026 Edition) **Description:** This session explores how the Model Context Protocol (MCP) can be used to connect AI models with real-world tools and data. Attendees will learn practical patterns for implementing MCP in production workflows and applications. Through examples and use cases, the session highlights how MCP enables more capable, context-aware AI systems. **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

**IMPORTANT:** This event is free, but please register here with your email so we can get a clear view of the attendance: https://uxdx.com/community/community-dc-2026-02-28/ TALKS **Lina Reynolds- Lead UX Strategist, Ford** **➡️The Strategic UX Advocate: Driving Influence through Clarity and Metrics** Are you tired of fighting for a "seat at the table" only to be asked to "just make it pretty"? Join Lina Reynolds, Lead UX Strategist, for a tactical deep dive into how UX professionals can transform from order-takers into strategic partners. Drawing from her 10+ years of experience and her recent panel at UXCON '25, Lina will share how she used Clarity and Metrics to lead high-impact projects at Ford Credit, including a dealer application that achieved a record-breaking 82 NPS. **➡️Faz Besharatian- Product Strategy & Design Leader, North X Normal** **From Stuck to Constraints Based Strategy** "We can’t do that here." Sound familiar? If you’ve worked in healthcare, finance, or any risk-sensitive environment, you’ve heard all the ways innovation gets stalled. Regulation, legal, compliance, lack of time, too many cooks... But what if constraints weren’t the enemy? Using constraints as a starting point for smarter strategy. It’s practical, fast, and made for product and design leaders. **Event Details:** **Agenda** 3:00 - 3:20: Registration and networking 3:20 - 3:30: Introduction 3:30- 4:00: The Strategic UX Advocate: Driving Influence through Clarity and Metrics- Lina Reynolds 4:00-4:30: From Stuck to Constraints Based Strategy- Faz Besharatian 4:30 - 5:00: Networking and close 📍**Location- Cleveland Park Library, DC** \*\*\* 🙌 We hope you can join us for an inspiring evening of learning and connection! 👉 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/uxdxconf](https://www.youtube.com/uxdxconf) ✉ Get alerts on the latest events: [https://uxdx.com/subscribe](https://uxdx.com/subscribe) ℹ Find out more about us: [https://uxdx.com](https://uxdx.com)

The next NoVABeerSec event - "Informal Gathering of Security Minds Over Beer'' will be Wednesday, February 25th, 5:30PM til 7ish at Crooked Run Fermentation (22455 Davis Drive, Sterling, VA ). **BONUS** there is a Senor Ramon Taqueria as part of the brewery; so it will be a “Taco Wednesday” for everyone ;) **Venue for February:** Crooked Run Fermentation (https://crookedrunfermentation.com/sterling-virginia-2/) - Crooked Run Fermentation is a Virginia-based producer of contemporary and traditional beers, coolship sours, natural wines, ciders, and seltzers. Started in 2013 in Leesburg, Virginia, Crooked Run has developed a following for creative and nuanced beverages across a variety of styles, from lagers to IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, sours, and beyond beer. In 2017, we opened our main production facility in Sterling, Virginia, and will open a third location in northeast DC in 2022. Opened in 2017, the Sterling location features a bustling taproom, outdoor biergarten, 10 BBL brewhouse, and best of all, TACOS! Senor Ramon Taqueria offers a full menu of tacos, quesadillas, empanadas, and more. Come relax with 12 beers on tap, weekend live music, and some great food! If you're biking, we're right off the W&OD Trail. **Additional Info:** We are an inclusive group, so if we missed anyone please let us know or if you want to bring your significant other/spouse please do. Have a great week and see you later this month! Cheers, Rinaldi Rampen & Mike McCabe of @NoVABeerSec