Workforce Development

Join founders, investors and tech talent at this curated **startup networking event in Toronto.** Meet ambitious builders, exchange ideas and discover new opportunities in a dynamic community environment. **RSVP: [Use this link](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-networking-toronto-founders-investors-talent-mixer-tickets-1987710363204?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **Please note that RSVP is managed via Eventbrite to control attendee lists — don’t ignore it to avoid issues with on-site payment.** **💡 Why This Event Is Different** Most networking events end with exchanged LinkedIn profiles. This one focuses on real conversations and real opportunities. We bring together founders, investors, engineers, operators and talent in a curated environment designed to create meaningful connections. Through interactive networking rounds, open conversations and pitch opportunities, participants can share challenges, exchange insights and build relationships that last beyond the event. **🤝 What to Expect** * **Interactive Networking** Structured networking rounds where participants briefly introduce themselves, share current challenges and explore collaboration opportunities. * **Talent Corner** Recruiters and hiring managers can briefly share open positions, while engineers and operators can introduce their skills and interests. * **Startup Conversations** Open discussions about fundraising, product development, growth and startup challenges. **👥 Who Should Attend** • Startup founders • Investors and angels • Engineers and builders • Operators and product managers • Recruiters and HR professionals • Sales and business development professionals • Job seekers interested in startups • Newcomers to the Toronto tech ecosystem

We are a group of men that meet weekly. Regular attendees do not always RSVP but we usually have 12 men present. Expect a frank and confidential space where you can speak personally, engage in interesting conversations or get support for your personal goals. **We start our meeting at 7:15 sharp. You can rsvp via meetup or email Saul (sauljoy@gmail.com) for this week’s address.** Guests are welcome but it's pretty casual so make sure you are expected in case we move outdoors to the park. Our group is part of Mentor Discover Inspire (MDI) The MDI Mission: To cause greatness by mentoring men to live with excellence and, as mature masculine leaders, create successful families, careers and communities. From MDI website: https://goo.gl/3DQ6aY From Toronto Star: [https://goo.gl/oDH3uX](https://goo.gl/oDH3uX)

Tickets must be purchased in advance! [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/life-lessons-from-a-cardiac-operating-room-by-dr-bobby-yanagawa-tickets-1989051291958?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/life-lessons-from-a-cardiac-operating-room-by-dr-bobby-yanagawa-tickets-1989051291958?aff=oddtdtcreator) Life Lessons from a Cardiac Operating Room — Dr. Bobby Yanagawa Step inside the high-pressure world of cardiac surgery for an unforgettable evening of stories, insight, and conversation with renowned cardiac surgeon **Dr. Bobby Yanagawa**. Hosted by Stellar Socials Lectures, this unique social lecture experience blends intellectual conversation with a stylish nightlife atmosphere — bringing ambitious and curious people together to learn, connect, and engage. From life-and-death decisions inside the operating room to lessons on pressure, leadership, discipline, and the human experience, Dr. Bobby Yanagawa will share captivating stories and perspectives rarely heard outside hospital walls. Whether you’re in healthcare, business, entrepreneurship, or simply love meaningful conversations, this is an evening designed to inspire thought, spark curiosity, and create real connection. ## 🎤 What To Expect • A captivating live lecture by Dr. Bobby Yanagawa • Real stories from the cardiac operating room • Life lessons on leadership, focus, resilience & decision-making • Networking with ambitious, like-minded professionals • A stylish social atmosphere with drinks & conversation ## 🧠 About Stellar Socials Lectures Stellar Socials Lectures brings together professors, experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders for engaging talks hosted inside upscale bars, lounges, and social venues. Our mission is simple: create experiences where learning feels social, inspiring, and genuinely enjoyable. Because education shouldn’t stop after graduation. ## 👥 Who Should Attend? • Young professionals • Entrepreneurs & creatives • Healthcare professionals & students • Curious minds & lifelong learners • Anyone looking to meet inspiring people and experience something different ## ✨ Why Attend? ✔ Expand your perspective ✔ Meet new people in a relaxed social setting ✔ Hear fascinating real-world experiences ✔ Enjoy an elevated alternative to traditional networking events 🎟️ Limited tickets available. Early registration is strongly recommended. ## About Dr. Bobby Yanagawa Dr. Bobby Yanagawa is the Division Head, Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital and Program Director, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Toronto. He holds the SURE General Contractors Inc. Professorship in Infective Endocarditis. Dr. Yanagawa completed residency training at the University of Toronto and INOVA Fairfax Hospital (Fairfax, VA) and an advanced valvular fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York, NY). His research training includes a PhD at the University of British Columbia and post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Wales College of Medicine (Cardiff, UK) and National Cardiovascular Center (Osaka, Japan). His clinical and academic focus is surgical revascularization and surgery for infective endocarditis. He is the Director of the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce. His research interests include clinical outcome studies of ischemic and valvular heart disease. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, 40 reviews and 15 book chapters. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Guest Editor - Current Opinions of Cardiology and Feature Editor, Annals of Thoracic Surgery. ### **Agenda** 6:00 p.m. - Arrival. Doors open as soon as 5 p.m. Come in, grab a drink, some food, and settle in. If you’d like to sit closer with your friends, we advise coming in early. 7:05 p.m.- Introduction, lecture begins, followed by Q&A 8:15 p.m. -One-on-one with the lecturer, socializing. You can order another round of drinks. 8:30 p.m. -Wrap up

Do you want to improve your Public Speaking skills, your Impromptu Speaking skills, learn how to present Feedback with Evaluations, and build your Leadership skills? If the answer is YES to any, attend SUN LIFE SPEAKERS CORNER online for an informative and fun filled session each Tuesday at Noon EST/EDT (except following a Holiday Monday). Guests/Visitors are welcome to participate in the Table Topics (impromptu) session. Join and become a Member to have access to all roles and Pathways, the education system. Please email info.sunlifespeakerscorner@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Tired of being the one in the hot seat? We’re flipping the script. On May 26th, Startup Grind Toronto is heading to the Smart & Biggar offices for a Reverse Pitch Night. We’ve invited a panel of active investors to step up to the mic and pitch you. Who should be in the room? Venture-scale Founders: Especially those in the "build and scale" phase looking for the right capital partners. Founders Navigating a Raise: If you’re preparing a term sheet or refining your pitch, come see how the other side thinks. Deep Tech & Product Innovators: Founders building IP-heavy products who need to bridge the gap between innovation and legal defensibility. The Tech Ecosystem: Investors and builders looking to connect during the height of Toronto Tech Week. What you’ll take away: Watch top-tier VCs reveal their 2026 thesis—what industries and stages they are actually betting on right now. Gain insights into the legal foundations of a successful scale-up, from corporate structure to navigating venture deals. Learn how to treat your intellectual property as a strategic asset that drives your valuation. Direct access to the partners at LaBarge Weinstein and Smart & Biggar alongside Toronto’s leading founders and investors. Agenda 5:00 PM: Drinks, Pizza & Networking 5:45 PM: Reverse Pitches & Q&A 6:30 PM: More Networking About Our Partners Smart & Biggar: Canada’s leading intellectual property firm, dedicated to helping innovative companies protect and maximize the value of their IP assets on a global scale. LaBarge Weinstein: A premier boutique law firm specializing in the startup lifecycle, from venture capital financing to high-profile M&A and IPOs. Stop guessing what investors want. Come hear them pitch it to you. Agenda --- Hosted By Ankur Sethi, Director Ankur Sethi is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with over 17 years of experience building and scaling consumer businesses across technology, finance, and healthcare. He has led ventures from inception to over $350 million in annual revenue and $2 billion in valuation, combining operational excellence with a deep understanding of evolving consumer behavior. Daria Tilikanova, Co-Director Daria Tilikanova is a business and startup coach who helps founders and service-based entrepreneurs build scalable businesses with clear strategy, strong positioning, and predictable revenue systems. Originally from Russia, she founded and sold two education companies before moving to Canada, where she shifted into full-time mentoring for early-stage and growing founders. Daria has worked with 200+ entrepreneurs across tech, education, wellness, and agency-based businesses, guiding them from first clients to stable growth and team building. Alongside her private practice, she is a Venture Fellow at Winner Capital, supporting startup evaluation and founder readiness for investment. Her coaching combines business structure, mindset work, and execution clarity - helping entrepreneurs grow without burnout or chaos. Lydia Emanuel, I run a consultancy that focuses on Talent Strategy and Operations for fast-moving companies. Instead of just hiring people, I build the systems that help businesses scale without the chaos. I also lead Events and Sponsorships for Startup Grind Toronto, connecting the best brands to our local tech community. Diana Subbotkina, I help grow the Toronto startup ecosystem through Startup Grind Toronto, connecting founders, investors, and operators through curated events, partnerships, and community initiatives. My work focuses on bringing the right people into the room and creating opportunities for meaningful connections and growth. Shabs Badsha, Sukanta Goswami, Inquisitive entrepreneur connecting and collaborating with earlystage ventures by investing time and energy in bringing new ideas and concepts to the market. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Partners Smart and Biggar (https://www.smartbiggar.ca/) Winner Capital (https://winner.capital) Winner Capital is an early stage to growth stage syndicate fund investing across North America LaBerge Weinstein (https://www.lwlaw.com/) --- Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-toronto-presents-reverse-pitch-night-smart-amp-biggar/.

**[GrafanaCON Local](https://grafana.com/events/grafanacon-local/) Toronto - featuring the latest in AI Observability** Join us for a local edition of GrafanaCON — a recap of the keynote highlights combined with fresh voices from the Toronto community, all with an AI twist. We'll dig into actually useful uses of AI in observability, and how to add observability for AI workloads. Free to attend. Pizza and drinks provided. **Talks** 🎤 **Grafana 13: The road to AI-native observability** — Marylia Gutierrez, Principal Software Engineer @ Grafana Labs This talk will walk through Grafana 13 and the most impactful improvements across the platform. Learn how Grafana is continuing to invest in AI to become the first fully AI-native observability platform, and the default choice for agents. 🎤 **Scaling Grafana Assistant: Context, confidence, and AI observability** — Edward Qian, Staff Software Engineer @ Grafana Labs AI agents are only as powerful as the context they receive. In this session, we'll share lessons from building Grafana Assistant and offer practical tips for bringing the right context to get the most out of AI agents. 🎤 **AI tools to optimize your development workflow** — Cristiano Ventura, Senior Software Engineer @ Grafana Labs The way we write software has changed. AI systems read code, plan, execute shell commands, run tests, open PRs, and ship work end-to-end. This talk will showcase useful AI tools and concepts to improve your development workflow. **Agenda** 5:30 PM — Doors open, food + networking 6:00 PM — Talks begin \~8:00 PM — Networking continues 8:30 PM — Wrap *Note that by registering for this event you consent to related event & product communications from Grafana Labs and agree to our [code of conduct](https://grafana.com/events/events-code-of-conduct/).*

**DevOps Toronto is officially back, and we’re kicking off 2026 with an in-person meetup!** After a pause, we’re excited to bring the community together again for an evening of learning, connection, and great conversations 🤝 This is a great chance to reconnect and meet fellow DevOps, cloud, and platform engineering professionals in Toronto. **What to expect:** 🎤 **2 technical sessions** 1. Crawl, Walk, Scale: Building Maturity into your internal development platform by Jeferson pereira 2. Bring Your Own AI: Running LLM Models in Your Lab by Alexander Kharkevich 🤝 **Dedicated networking time** with the community 💡 Real-world insights, hands-on learnings, and meaningful discussions **📅 Event Details:** 📅 **Date:** 28th May 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 5:00 to 7:30 PM EST 📍 **Venue: 7th Floor, AWS Office,** **18 York St, Toronto, ON M5J 0B2, Canada** **🎤 Interested in speaking?** We’re actively looking for speakers to take the stage and share their experiences with the community. 👉 **Submit your talk here:** [https://sessionize.com/devops-toronto-2026/](https://sessionize.com/devops-toronto-2026/) ✨ Let’s bring the DevOps Toronto community back stronger than ever. 🔒 **Note:** This is a **community-driven event**. We respect your privacy and **will never share attendee information for any monetary or promotional purposes**.

Are you ready to expand your network, spark new opportunities, and connect with ambitious professionals in your community? Join us on Friday, May 29th from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM at The Suya Spot for our monthly Level Up Networking Event — an evening designed to help you build meaningful relationships, exchange ideas, and discover new opportunities for personal and professional growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, startup founder, professional, freelancer, student, or simply looking to connect with like-minded individuals, this event is for you! Why Attend? ✅ Meet local entrepreneurs, professionals, and business leaders ✅ Expand your circle and create valuable connections ✅ Discover collaboration, referral, and growth opportunities ✅ Share ideas, insights, and experiences in a supportive environment ✅ Gain inspiration and fresh perspectives to help you level up personally and professionally Unlike traditional networking events, Level Up Networking Night focuses on authentic conversations and genuine relationship-building in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. No pressure, no awkward sales pitches—just real people making real connections. Come solo or bring a friend, colleague, or business partner. You never know who you'll meet, what you'll learn, or where a single conversation may lead. 📅 DATE: Friday, May 29th, 2026 🕡 TIME: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM 📍 LOCATION: The Suya Spot, 1269 Weston Road, Toronto 🎟️ REGISTRATION: FREE (Advance registration recommended) 🍽️ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR HOST VENUE: Enjoy delicious food and drinks while networking and help support this amazing local restaurant! 🤝 Connect • Collaborate • Grow Bring your business cards, your positive energy, and an open mind. You never know who you'll meet or what opportunities may come from a single conversation! Space is limited—reserve your spot today on Eventbrite! 🚀✨ [https://LUNCCG05292026.eventbrite.ca](https://lunccg05292026.eventbrite.ca/)

**Moving from Conversation to Implementation** Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping workplaces, products, services, and decision-making systems across sectors. As organizations accelerate AI adoption, many teams are being asked to make high-impact decisions without clear governance structures, shared implementation standards, or practical guidance for assessing risk, accountability, accessibility, and long-term impact. Across workforce, technical, and community contexts, organizations are grappling with how to ensure AI is implemented in ways that are inclusive, responsible, and grounded in real-world realities. HR professionals, AI practitioners, nonprofit leaders, governance stakeholders, and community advocates each hold critical perspectives on how AI systems can either reinforce existing inequities or help build more equitable futures. This in-person QT Inclusive AI Roundtable brings together professionals across sectors for a facilitated cross-sector working session focused on one core question: **What do organizations actually need in order to implement inclusive AI responsibly in practice?** This session is designed as a collaborative implementation lab where leaders and professionals can explore the real-world challenges of implementing AI responsibly, share practical insights across sectors, and help shape the tools, frameworks, and approaches organizations need to move from theory into action. Through guided dialogue, peer exchange, implementation exercises, and collaborative activities, participants will explore: * where AI is already influencing organizational decisions and systems * the governance, operational, and accountability tensions organizations are navigating * how different sectors experience and define AI risks differently * where misalignments and gaps currently exist * what practical tools, frameworks, and supports are needed to move from theory into implementation Grounded in queer-informed approaches to systems, safety, accessibility, and community-centred accountability, this session centers lived experience as a critical source of implementation insight. Participants will examine how AI systems can unintentionally reproduce invisibility, exclusion, surveillance, or harm when deployed without meaningful community grounding or governance structures. This session is part of QueerTech’s broader initiative to move from conversation into practical implementation. Insights gathered through this roundtable will directly contribute to the development of community-informed toolkits, frameworks, case studies, and practical resources designed to support organizations implementing inclusive AI across sectors. The session will include both implementation perspective-based discussions and cross-sector exchange, creating space for participants to deepen within their own organizational realities while learning from different approaches, constraints, and experiences across the ecosystem. Participants are encouraged to bring: * real organizational scenarios * current implementation challenges * governance questions * operational tensions * decision points they are actively navigating **Following this roundtable, there is a QT Connect for the broader community at the same location in the evening.** **Participants will Leave With:** ✨ A clearer understanding of the governance, operational, and accountability challenges organizations are currently facing in AI implementation ✨ Cross-sector perspectives on how AI risks, tensions, and opportunities are experienced differently across workforce, technical, governance, and community contexts ✨ Greater insight into the practical tools, frameworks, and supports organizations need to move from intention into responsible implementation ✨ New ways of thinking about inclusion, safety, visibility, and accountability through queer-informed and lived-experience perspectives ✨ Practical ideas, questions, and next steps to bring back into their organization, team, or community ✨ Connections with peers across sectors navigating similar implementation realities and decision-making challenges ✨ The opportunity to contribute to the development of future QT Inclusive AI resources, frameworks, and toolkits This roundtable is supported by WAGE (Women and Gender Equality) Canada and by RBC’s approach to helping strengthen the capacity of Canada’s nonprofit sector. **Who Should Attend** This session welcomes professionals working across: * HR, workforce, and organizational leadership * AI, product, design, and technical systems * Nonprofit, public, and community-serving organizations * Governance, policy, accessibility, legal, and strategy roles * Research, advocacy, and ecosystem-building spaces No advanced technical expertise is required. **Event Details** 📅 May 28, 2026 🕑 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET 📍 Toronto \| In Person 🗣 Language: English **About QT Inclusive AI** QT Inclusive AI is a national initiative designed to support professionals across Canada in understanding, assessing, and applying inclusive AI practices within real organizational contexts. Through curriculum, assessment tools, facilitated dialogue, and community-informed resource development, participants examine how AI systems are being used in practice and where risks, tensions, and opportunities are emerging. The goal of QT Inclusive AI is to help translate responsible AI principles into practical implementation across technical and non-technical environments. Read more on the QueerTech website:[ https://queertech.org/en/qt-inclusive-ai](https://queertech.org/en/qt-inclusive-ai) If you have questions about the program, contact: Amos B. Program Manager, Community Learning and Development amos@queertech.org Sign up today!

**Please Register in this link:** https://queertech.info/QTConnect2026_Toronto_Q2 ***Don’t miss your chance to connect, grow, and celebrate with the 2SLGBTQIA+ tech community!*** Join us for the QTConnect Meetup in Toronto — a vibrant, in-person event designed to foster connection, career development, and community-building among 2SLGBTQIA+ tech professionals and allies. Each quarter, we bring QTConnect to spotlight local voices and create inclusive spaces for queer folks in tech. Toronto’s dynamic tech scene and diverse queer community make it the perfect place to come together, share experiences, and spark meaningful conversations. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out, this meetup is your chance to expand your network and build lasting relationships. Expect engaging discussions, new connections, and a fun, welcoming atmosphere where everyone belongs. **Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026** **Time:** 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM **Location:** [EY](https://www.ey.com/en_ca) - [100 Adelaide St W 40th floor, Toronto, ON](https://maps.app.goo.gl/aRRUS51uDJt1rDWn7) We don't want ticket costs to be a barrier to joining us in this discussion. We have scholarship and volunteer tickets available. To sign up for a scholarship ticket or to volunteer,[ fill out this form](https://wkf.ms/3V4Zh3X). **Event Schedule & Agenda** 5:00 pm Registration & Networking 5:45 pm QT & Partner Welcome and Announcements 6:00 pm QT Inclusive AI 6:45 pm Ask & Offer 7:00 pm Open Networking 7:45 pm Event Closes **Community Asks & Offers** * Need support from the community (mentorship, looking for a job, connections)? * Have resources to provide to the community (mentorship, office hours, connections)? * We always provide time for the community to *Ask for the things they need or Offer the resources they have available* during our Community Asks & Offers! **Thank you to our HOST!**  **About [EY Canada](https://www.ey.com/en_ca) (Toronto)** [EY](https://www.ey.com/en_ca) is a global professional services organization committed to building a better working world for people, clients, and communities. In Toronto and across Canada, EY actively supports diversity, equity, and inclusion as core business priorities, recognizing that inclusive teams drive better outcomes and innovation. [EY](https://www.ey.com/en_ca) is a long-standing advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace and beyond. Through initiatives such as **[EY Pride](https://www.ey.com/en_ca/proud-to-belong)**, employee-led networks, inclusive benefits, leadership education, and community partnerships, EY creates environments where LGBTQIA+ professionals can bring their full selves to work. They also collaborate with community organizations and clients to advance equity and inclusion in the regions where they operate. [EY](https://www.ey.com/en_ca) is currently **[hiring across multiple teams in Toronto](https://www.ey.com/en_ca/careers)** and welcomes LGBTQIA+ talent to explore opportunities to grow, innovate, and make an impact in a workplace that values diversity and belonging. *** See [QueerTech Event Terms & Conditions](https://queertech.org/en/event-terms-and-conditions) for more information.

**Música en Vivo con Henry Vivel — Latin Nights at Mexitaco Oshawa** * Join us every Saturday for a vibrant night of live Latin music with Henry Vivel * Enjoy great vibes, socializing, and networking in a welcoming atmosphere * Perfect for music lovers and anyone looking to meet new people * Live performance in an intimate setting * Mexican food is amazing! * Location: Mexitaco Victoria Park * When: Every Friday * Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Everyone in the area is welcome — come for the music, stay for the connections!

Join Toronto’s leading founders, builders, investors, and creatives for a refined post-conference experience during Tech Week. Whether you’re a professional in a STEM field, an entrepreneur, or simply a music lover eager to connect with like-minded people, this is your night. Enjoy a blend of networking and nightlife as we dance and mingle at one of Downtown Toronto’s newest standout venues, Story Toronto. Come for the great vibes, stay for the even better connections. ​**What to expect:** * ​House music * ​Immersive lighting + elevated venue vibe * ​Bar + late-night atmosphere * ​Real conversations that turn into real opportunities ​Because the best deals aren’t made in conference rooms. ​For any questions or concerns, message Radian on: ​LUMA ​IG: radiancethis ​Email: [radian.khn@gmail.com](mailto:radian.khn@gmail.com) ​Co-hosted with [contact@torontotechweek.com](mailto:contact@torontotechweek.com)

**🎟 This is a paid event. Tickets must be purchased on Luma. Get yours:** [luma.com/techto-summer-social-may-27-2026](https://luma.com/techto-summer-social-may-27-2026) TechTO is BACK with its annual Summer Social at Bobby Bermuda's Sunset Bar. 🌊 **The setup** 600 people. Tacos. Drinks. Sunshine on Toronto's waterfront. One of the most coveted outdoor venues in the city. Need we say more? 🤝 **The crowd** Founders, operators, investors, and builders from across Canada's tech scene - all in one place, all in a good mood. This is the event where real connections get made. 🌮 **What's included** Every ticket comes with food and one drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Just show up and make it happen. 📍 Bobby Bermuda's Sunset Bar (formerly The Slip), 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto 📅 Wednesday, May 27, 2026 · 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

PLEASE NOTE!!! This event will be In-Person for our very 1st Improving collab! If you know the [Columbus Unity group](https://www.meetup.com/columbus-unity-user-group/) location, we'll be at the same place. This is our 1st event and are doing a soft launch with limited attendance. 1st come 1st serve. If you want to be there and we fill up, please email me at [info@thecogg.com](mailto:info@thecogg.com) and I'll be in touch. All street parking is free on Sundays but you can also pay to park in any of the local garages. See image of [parking map here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mr9_LFIggbs-0_Zd3AJTGNqEhgMf2TzQ/view?usp=sharing). \-\-\- On the last Sunday of the month, we're having our usual end-of-the-month social gathering with our GameDev Meetup meeting. There will be announcements and presentations followed by some social networking Let's continue the conversations with good vibes and friends. All are welcomed from all ages and backgrounds to this public event. If we can, we'll be streaming or uploading the video later via our COGG YouTube channel here: [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams) (Also please do subscribe if you have not done so!) No game development experience required! If you are interested in doing a 20 minute game development related presentation, please fill out our form online here: [https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1](https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1) Or e-mail us at info@thecogg.com with the following: Your Name, Company/Affiliation, Name of Your Game/Topic, Description, Tech Needs, and Your Contact. Be sure to check out our Discord for real time news updates: [https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ](https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ)

**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** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** TBD

Summer Session, Thursdays, June 4 - July 23, 2026, from 6 to 8:30pm ET **NAMI Family-to-Family** is a free, eight-week program for family members, caregivers, and partners of individuals living with mental illness. NAMI Family-to-Family provides information about anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Other topics covered include communication, problem solving, treatment, and recovery.

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTES:** 1. The dates for this series are simply placeholders at the moment. We are working on our 2026 schedule, and adjustments are forthcoming. 2. Each class in this series has an attendance fee. 3. Each class from BOTH a sign-up and fee perspective is a separate entity. **Introduction:** Our Page Building with Bricks web development class provides detailed instruction for using Bricks Builder, a visual site builder for WordPress, to create and manage websites. Widely considered by many of the world's leading web developers to be the most complete page builder on the market today, Bricks Builder offers a wide range of features and comprehensive tools. Our Bricks Builder web development class provides detailed instructions on utilizing the toolset. The series of courses covers the core features of Bricks Builder, enabling users to design and develop responsive, visually appealing websites. Moreover, the courses are oriented to reinforce a focus on professional, scalable web development. Throughout the series, we focus our page-building instruction on the semantic and structural integrity of the pages in a responsive world. By the end of the 10-class series, participants will have a fundamental understanding of proper web page and website development. **The breakdown of the 10-class series is as follows:** * Class 01 - Survey of Page Builders / What Bricksbuilder Does For You * Class 02 - Boxes, Boxes, Boxes / Sections / Containers * Class 03 - Static Units / Relative Units / Responsive Development And Math Functions * Class 04 - CSS Variables And DRY Development / Classes And Global Styling * Class 05 - CSS Grid And CSS Flexbox * Class 06 - Responsive Development / Breakpoints And Media Queries * Class 07 - Effective Use Of Color / Effective Use Of Images * Class 08 - Beginning To Think Dynamically / Using Templates And Components * Class 09 - Dynamic Styling / Data Attributes And Attribute Selectors * Class 10 - Pseudo Elements / Programmatically Styling With Pseudo Classes Throughout the class sessions listed above, we cover the following key areas of web development with Bricks Builder: * **Introduction to Bricks Builder Interface:** * Familiarization with the builder's layout, including the toolbar, panel, and canvas, and understanding how to navigate and interact with its various components. * **Visual Site Building:** * Techniques for creating layouts using Bricks' drag-and-drop interface, incorporating sections, rows, columns, and elements to build page structures. * **Styling and Design:** * Utilizing Bricks' styling options to customize elements, apply global CSS classes for consistent design, and leverage features like Flexbox and CSS Grid for responsive layouts. * **Dynamic Content and Custom Fields:** * Integrating dynamic content from custom post types and custom field plugins (like ACF, Meta Box) to build data-driven websites. * **Template Building:** * Creating and managing reusable templates for headers, footers, post type layouts, and other site-wide elements. * **Performance Optimization:** * Understanding how Bricks Builder contributes to fast-loading websites and implementing performance best practices. * **Advanced Features:** * Depending on the class level, it might delve into advanced topics such as conditional logic, interactions, and custom code integration to enable more complex functionality. The series aims to equip participants with the skills to efficiently build, customize, and maintain WordPress websites using Bricks Builder, catering to both beginners and experienced web developers.

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!