What’s in this Edition

💻 Hackathons - HackMemphis and GiveCamp Memphis
📆 Upcoming Events - Month of November

• 🗣️ AI-Powered Success: ChatGPT Strategies to Prep for Small Business Saturday - November 4

• 🗣️ "Multidisciplinary Research: From Biomarker Discovery to Sensor Development for Noninvasive Health Monitoring and Other Applications" with Mangilal Agarwal - November 4

• 🧑🏾‍💻 Machine Learning/Data Sciences/R - November 5

• 🗣️ Memphis Tech Luncheon - November 6

• 🗣️ DevMemphis - November 6

• 🗣️ SIM: Memphis IT Strategy Series - November 6

• 🗣️ Memphis Python User Group - November 11

• 🗣️ Memphis Data Professionals - November 12

• 🗣️ Tech on Tap with Lia - November 13

• 🗣️ Empowering Innovation Together: Epicenter and TSBDC in Action - November 13

• 🗣️ Tech901: Capture the Flag - November 16

• 🗣️ Memphis Tech Luncheon - November 20

• 🗣️ Design and Code - November 20

• 🗣️ 23rd Annual MAGIC Geospatial Conference - November 21-22

• 🗣️ CAPM (Project Management) Readiness Bootcamp!!! - November 20-22

• 🗣️ FIT Tech Training: Introduction to Large Language Models Workshop - November 21 & 22

• 🗣️ CodeCrew: Machine Learning with Python - November 21

• 🧑🏾‍💻 UX/UI Bytes host by Coriano Harris - November 22

• 🧑🏾‍💻 Code Connector: Virtual Lunch - November 25

☕ Best Coffee and Code Shops
📖 Tech Pipeline - Tech 901 & CodeCrew Code School

🧑🏾‍💻 Virtual 🗣️ In Person

Location — FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT), Lobby @ University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111

GiveCamp Memphis is a weekend-long gathering of professional web developers, graphic designers, social media strategists, digital marketers, and data scientists donating their time to nonprofit organizations.

The event is entirely volunteer-driven. It’s a great opportunity for people to work together, develop new friendships, and do something important for the community. We’re looking for volunteers, both technical and non-technical, to help us do it.

Small Business Saturday is just around the corner! Are you ready to stand out from the crowd and make the most of this key shopping day? Join us for an interactive workshop where you'll learn how to harness the power of ChatGPT to create compelling marketing content and develop a successful strategy for Small Business Saturday.

Location — CodeCrew HQ @ 460 S. Highland Street Memphis, TN 38111 
Note — $25 sign-up fee.

"Multidisciplinary Research: From Biomarker Discovery to Sensor Development for Noninvasive Health Monitoring and Other Applications" with Mangilal Agarwal

November 4, 2024
3pm- 4:30pm CDT

Canine can detect a wide-range of medical conditions by smelling volatile organic compounds. Dr. Agarwal's lab aims to identify the specific chemicals that dogs detect and, in parallel, develop hand-held sensing systems that can achieve the same high sensitivity and specificity..

Location — FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT), Methodist Presentation Theatre @ University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111

Machine Learning/Data Sciences/R 

November 5, 2024
7pm - 8pm CDT

There has been a lot of hype surrounding AI, particularly in machine learning (ML), ChatGPT, and even quantum computing. I’m interested in hearing about your personal experiences with job searching in AI, ML, and ChatGPT.

Location — Virtual Event
Organizer — Walter Heger

This is a fantastic opportunity for local tech professionals to connect over a delicious meal in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Location —Swanky's Taco Shop @ 4770 Poplar Ave # 102 · Memphis, TN
Organizer — Robert Crocker

Dennis Kennetz is giving a thrilling talk title “A Gentle Introduction to GPU Programming with PyTorch”.

Description: GPUs are powering all the hype around AI we’ve been seeing these past few years. What makes them the technology for the job? At this talk, I’ll touch on the difference between GPUs and CPUs, why GPUs are the workhorses behind AI, and introduce PyTorch - a Python framework for super easy access to getting code running on a GPU. Maybe we’ll even train a model while we’re at it.

Bio: Dennis is a Senior Machine Learning Engineer currently working for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure on the AI Incubations team. He has worked in High Performance Computing since 2016, spanning Computational Chemistry, Genomics, and now Large Language Models.

Location — University of Memphis Research Park (UMRF) @ 460 S Highland St, Memphis, TN 38111
Organizer — George Spake & Bryce Sharp
Notes: Event & Food sponsored by Vaco Memphis. Parking is available in the parking lot behind the building.

Memphis (Virtual) Python User Group

November 11, 2024
6pm - 8pm CDT

FastApi is a fun and exciting HTTP service API framework (written in Python, of course) with lots of really cool features. Let's walk through a real app built using full-stack-fastapi-template and talk about the fastAPI framework, alembic, pydantic, sqlModel, openApi, typescript, tailwind, and other stuff. George Spake is the speaker.

Location — Microsoft Corporation @ 6750 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38138
Organizer — Douglas Starnes & Brad Montgomery

Memphis Data Professionals 

November 12, 2024
5:30pm - 7:30pm CDT

Rob Palmer will present on Power Query titled “Turbocharge Your Data Skills with Power Query”.

Location — FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT), Room 225 @ University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111
Organizer: James Miller, Daniel Evens, and Rob DeMotsis
Note — Innovation Parking Garage is now $3/hr. Street parking is free. Food and networking start at 5:30 pm, presentation starts at 6 pm.

This is a group for professionals in technology, or anyone interested in getting into technology, to get together for good company and conversation. Sometimes we talk tech, sometimes we talk movies/comics/restaurants/TV shows. Please come unwind after work with us. It is a lot of easygoing fun!

Location — Brookhaven Pub & Grill @ 695 W Brookhaven Cir, Memphis, TN 38117
Organizer — Lia Fannin
Notes: First round on drinks are on us, as well as the plethora of appetizers we order!

Join us for an insightful workshop on the powerful partnership between Epicenter and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC), two organizations committed to fostering innovative entrepreneurship in Memphis. Discover how TSBDC's free business consulting and training services—covering business planning, government contracting, access to capital, and marketing strategy—complement Epicenter's mission to empower startups.

Location — Epicenter, 150 Peabody Place Memphis, TN, 38103
Note — Epicenter is located at 150 Peabody Place right at the intersection of Peabody and BB King, across from Hooters and the Hampton Inn. Street parking is available.

Harvard Business Review Discussion Panel - Embracing Gen AI at Work

November 14, 2024
5:30pm - 8pm CDT

Location — FOGELMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS – ROOM 133 @ 3675 CENTRAL AVE., MEMPHIS, TN. 38152
Note — Innovation Parking Garage is now $3/hr. Street parking is free. Networking start at 5:30 pm, presentation starts at 6 pm.

Join us for a day of cybersecurity fun! Teams of up to 4 will work together to earn points to solve various cybersecurity challenges covering topics such as cryptography, web exploitation, reconnaissance, and more! This is a jeopardy-style competition, meaning all teams will receive the same questions, and harder questions are worth more points. At the end of the competition, the top scoring team will receive a prize package containing popular cybersecurity tools!

Location — Tech 901 at the Crosstown Concourse @ 1350 Concourse Ave #375, Memphis, TN 38104

Join JD Graffam, founder and CEO of our local UX Agency Simple Focus. In this talk JD will be pulling back the curtain on a recent automotive project, revealing the real-world dynamics between design and development. Through practical examples, JD will demonstrate how to navigate the entire project lifecycle - from initial stakeholder alignment and user persona development to rapid iteration and value delivery. Drawing from his extensive experience, he'll share both successes and setbacks that shaped the final outcome.

Location — Microsoft Corporation @ 6750 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38138
Organizer — Robert Crocker
Note — Meetup is on the 8th floor. Food is sponsored by Epicenter.

This is a fantastic opportunity for local tech professionals to connect over a delicious meal in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Location —Swanky's Taco Shop @ 4770 Poplar Ave # 102 · Memphis, TN
Organizer — Robert Crocker

The MAGIC Conference is your opportunity to engage with like-minded GIS professionals in the Mid-South and capitalize on the vast knowledge-sharing potential that this event has offered for more than two decades. As always, the conference will feature a captivating lineup of speakers, insightful panel discussions, and networking opportunities that will undoubtedly expand your horizons and inspire new ideas.

Location —Reign Event Venue @ 3243 Players Club Circle Memphis, TN, 38125

Are you looking to start your project management journey? If YES…then…Get certified! Imagine…YOU…certified! Certified means you will have the recognition that confirms you possess the basic knowledge in the principles and terminology and that you fully meet the standards of project management generally recognized good practices.

Location — Pinnacle Financial Partners- Whitehaven Location, Lobby @ 4403 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116
Note — General Admission: $1075

Introduction to Large Language Models Workshop 

November 21-22, 2024
8:30am -5pm CDT

The Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs) workshop is a two-day intensive LLM training program designed to provide attendees with a solid introduction to LLMs concepts and hands-on training on using LLMs through prompting and other strategies.

Details: Two-day Workshop for Professionals (light breakfast, coffee and lunch will be offered)

Location — FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT), Room 225 @ University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38111
Note — General Admission: $1600

The Goal of this course is to provide an introduction to Machine learning, and practice model training basics. This interactive workshop will introduce you to key concepts, provide practical coding exercises, and equip you with the skills to explore the exciting field of machine learning.

Location — CodeCrew HQ @ 460 S. Highland Street Memphis, TN 38111
Note — $50 sign-up fee.

Spend the hour chatting about research and design concepts along with new and exciting topics in the world of UI/UX.

Location — Virtual Event
Organizer — Coriano Harris

If you're interested in meeting with other developers and chatting about tech, life, etc. during your lunch break, you're more than welcome to join us at our virtual table.

Location — Virtual Event
Organizer — JC Smiley

Top 3 of 11 Beloved Coffee Shops

Belltower Coffee
525 S Highland St, Memphis, TN 38111
Notes: Great coffee spot with good sandwiches off oh Highland Strip close to UofM. Free drip coffee on Saturdays. Decent parking options most days throughout the week. Can get busy during university exam seasons.

Crosstown Concourse - French Truck Coffee
1350 Concourse Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Notes: Multipurpose building with coffee shop (French Truck), food spots, and even a high school. Sometimes will have live music in main lobby. Lots of seating across various floors. Free parking garage on Floors 2+

Congregation Coffee
3060 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Germantown, TN 38138
Notes: Great coffee. Indoor and outdoor seating. Large parking lot.

Local Tech Bootcamps & Classes

CodeCrew Code School
Code School is a hands-on bootcamp designed to train individuals to be entry-level software developers within a six-month course.

Tech901
As a non-profit, Tech901 provide quality education and certifications for a fraction of the cost. All classes cost between $100 dollars and $250. That's it.