IIBA User Group – January 24th, 2011 @ 6:30pm

In accordance with Anteo Group’s commitment to providing the Atlanta Technology Community with insight into the best user groups in the area, we will be attending the Atlanta Area IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysts) user group tonight, January 24^th at 6:30 pm

Located at the UPS Headquarters in Atlanta, tonight’s speaker will be Dean Stevens who is the Lean Business Process Engineer at Synaptus.  Dean is a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner and will be speaking about Capacity Modeling for Enterprise Analysis.

We have met with the Executive Leadership for IIBA at their last meeting and we believe this user group will be helpful to any Business Analyst interested in learning more about their trade.

Come join us tonight and we look forward to seeing you there!

Staying Current in 2012 – SPIN

As promised, the team at Anteo Group is committed to providing the Atlanta technical community with reviews of the best user groups in town. We are asked this question at least one a week – ‘how can I learn about new technologies and stay relevant if I am not working with it on my current project?’ In an industry that is constantly evolving and forever progressing, it can be overwhelming to stay current.

Atlanta is a growing technology town, sprouting new user groups, conferences and associations faster than you can add an Outlook reminder.  As with staying up-to-date with technology, determining which user groups or conferences are worth your time can be daunting.

Our team averages 3-4 user groups/meet-ups/conferences/presentations a week and has been to enough user groups and meet-ups to share an opinion on the best-of-the-best. We also take the time to get feedback from developers, managers, etc. in the community as to what has worked for them; real examples and stories of what has proven to be an effective spend of their valuable time.

Today, we are taking a closer look at the Atlanta Software and Systems Process Improvement Network, SPIN.

SPIN

Atlanta SPIN organization was chartered in 1994 and has been a force for software process improvement in the Atlanta area since. The organization has a growing membership list that currently numbers 1350+ members.

The group meets every third Wednesday of the month, except in November and December, when they meet on the second Wednesday. The meetings typically attract audiences of 40-50 and provide a forum for like-minded people interested in learning from others and sharing their own experiences.

This is also time allowed before and after the meeting for networking among the participants, including a review from the audience of any job openings that are available. The Board, through its work with sponsors, ensures that food and drinks are also available at no cost to the membership.

This past Wednesday, Atlanta SPIN gathered at 5 Seasons Brewing on Roswell Road for a presentation by Brewmaster Kevin McNerney.  We were treated to a 45 minute tour and presentation of their brewing facilities and a details description of the brewing process.  Kevin spoke about the evolution of the brewing process and how modern brewers have learned so much from the past seven thousand years of brewers.

Kevin went to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder and made a pact with one of his closest friends that they would one day open a brewery together.  A few years later, Sweetwater Brewing Company was born.  Kevin helped grow Sweetwater into one of the most recognizable micro-breweries in the Southeast and expanded the brand outside of the state.

After developing the Sweetwater brand, Kevin looked for a project where he could be more creative with his brews.  He transitioned to his current position as Brewmaster of 5 Seasons Brewery on Roswell Road and now has seven beautiful stainless steel tanks where he can brew whatever he feels like undertaking.  He says that he enjoys brewing Belgian Beers the most but mostly enjoys the freedom to brew what he chooses.

After hearing Kevin talk, I think of the quote, “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life”.   Kevin is a man who has a passion for brewing and it shows in the quality of his product.

To Learn More About SPIN visit http://atlantaspin.org/

First AJUG of 2012 – Tomorrow Night – Future of Java Discussion

It’s a New Year for the Atlanta Java User Group. To kick things off, this month’s meeting will be an open discussion on the Java community to get your predictions, lamentations, and hopes for the next year of Java technologies.

Last year, we saw the release of Java 7, the explosion of Android (and lawsuits), the evolution of Scala and Groovy, and many other events, big and small. What will 2012 bring to the Atlanta Java community? The AJUG board will be moderating the discussion, and all questions and comments will be welcome.

For those of you are that are new to the AJUG scene, AJUG meetings on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:00 – 9:00 PM in the Perimeter Center area. Our meetings emphasize high-quality technical content and we encourage interaction among attendees.

Come join us!

Holiday Inn Select Atlanta
Perimeter Dunwoody
4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30341

Pre-meeting dinner and drinks starting at 6:00

La Botana
2071 Savoy Dr.
Chamblee, GA 30341

Staying Current in 2012 – AQAA

As promised, the team at Anteo Group is committed to providing the Atlanta technical community with reviews of the best user groups in town. We are asked this question at least one a week – ‘how can I learn about new technologies and stay relevant if I am not working with it on my current project?’ In an industry that is constantly evolving and forever progressing, it can be overwhelming to stay current. Atlanta is a growing technology town, sprouting new user groups, conferences and associations faster than you can add an Outlook reminder.  As with staying up-to-date with technology, determining which user groups or conferences are worth your time can be daunting.

Our team averages 3-4 user groups/meet-ups/conferences/presentations a week and has been to enough user groups and meet-ups to share an opinion on the best-of-the-best. We also take the time to get feedback from developers, managers, etc. in the community as to what has worked for them; real examples and stories of what has proven to be an effective spend of their valuable time.

This week, we are taking a closer look at the Atlanta Quality Assurance Association (AQAA).

AQAA

The Atlanta Quality Assurance Association (AQAA) was founded in 1984 with the belief that no one company or individual can learn everything that is needed to assure a Quality Environment. AQAA is a not-for-profit organization which is organized to share state-of-the-art Quality Assurance methods, tools and techniques among its members. Our membership is comprised of professionals working primarily in the information systems industry. The AQAA is a Quality Assurance Institute (QAI) Federation Chapter.

What most impresses us about AQAA is their passion for networking. It is no surprise that their first meeting of the year highlighted one of the more powerful professional/social networking tools available, LinkedIn. We’ve been to many meet-ups and user groups around the Atlanta area and the AQAA truly facilitates effective professional networking. Occasionally, the whole concept of networking can conjure up images of awkward inquiries like, “Can you help me find a job?” or the fumbling of business cards. Not the case at AQAA. The AQAA Board Members are welcoming and really take the time to introduce themselves to you and other QA professionals at the meeting. At the beginning of the event, they have dinner available to attendees – and if gathering by food doesn’t facilitate great conversation, I’m not sure what does. In fact, shameless plug for Anteo Group, we are proudly sponsoring the Hospitality Chair for AQAA and will be providing all the dinners for the 2012 meetings.

Even if you aren’t a QA professional, AQAA meetings can be extremely helpful to learn about the latest and greatest testing tools and methodologies. If you are a QA professional, this is a great place to learn more about what is going on in the QA community, meet other testing professionals, and there is plenty of opportunity to network with colleagues.

About the Meetings:

Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at MDI’s office in Norcross, but AQAA is always on the move. Be sure to check out their website – http://www.aqaa.org/ – before heading to a meeting

Join the LinkedIn Group!

Follow AQAA on Twitter!

Goal for 2012 – Mastering LinkedIn

It is a new year! New personal goals, new professional goals, and resolutions abound.

Maybe you are thinking of changing jobs, getting a promotion, or becoming more involved in the professional community. No matter what your professional goals are for 2012, you are going to need LinkedIn. That is right, we said it, LinkedIn is the tool of up and comers, movers and shakers, high powered networkers, and those who will find amazing jobs in 2012. So, we are adding “improve our LinkedIn profiles” to our list of goals in 2012.

 What better way to learn the do’s and don’ts, tricks and tips for LinkedIn than with a presentation at next week’s AQAA meeting by Keith Warrick. Keith is a self-made LinkedIn guru after losing his job during the 2009 economic downturn. Keith has read all the LinkedIn books and blogs and compiles it into an informative and fun presentation for you. Keith used LinkedIn extensively in his own job search and began to share his knowledge and experience of the tool with others that were going through career transitions as well. Consequently, he began speaking on the power of LinkedIn and its ability to create opportunities and the chance to promote YOUR professional brand. Guess what – you can check out Keith’s LinkedIn profile here! http://www.linkedin.com/in/keithwarrick

 So, are you ready to take the plunge into professional networking with LinkedIn? Or finally complete your profile? Next Tuesday, January 10^th 2012 at 6:30pm is the place to be.

Mark your calendar! You can do it in 2012. This is a resolution you can keep. We’ll be providing food and drinks, so no worries about missing dinner. 

Event Details: 
LinkedIn: Creating a Killer Profile That Gets Results.
This presentation is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate levels of LinkedIn. Advanced users may learn something as well because since the app changes constantly they may not have stumbled on the new stuff yet.

What you’ll learn:

• The importance of being of being 100% complete
• The LinkedIn Search Engine – what helps me get found?
• Headline – writing one that places you heads above the competition
• Summary – telling your story that hooks
• Importance of Recommendations
• New Profile Sections that help differentiate you from the competition
• Groups
• LinkedIn Apps

MEETING AGENDA:

  6:30 – 7:00  Networking & Refreshments
   7:00 – 7:15  Welcome and Job Announcements
   7:15 – 8:15  Presentation. The last 15 minutes is for Q&A.
   8:15 – 8:30  Networking

 LOCATION:
                MDI – 35 Technology Parkway South
                Suite 150
                Norcross, GA 30092.

DIRECTIONS:
From Interstate 285 take the GA-141 North exit toward Cumming/Dahlonega, Merge right onto Peachtree Industrial Blvd., NW. Turn left onto Technology Pkwy South, MDI will be on your left in the office complex. (about 5 miles from I285

Visitors will be charged a $10 fee for attending meetings. AQAA members, recruiters, sponsors and guests of the speaker are excluded from this charge.

For more information, check out the AQAA website. http://www.aqaa.org/

Big thanks to the fantastic Atlanta Quality Assurance Association for bringing this meeting to professionals in Atlanta!

Last AJUG of 2011 – Tomorrow Night!

It’s the last AJUG of 2011 – don’t miss it!

Our last meeting of the year will be tomorrow night from 7:00 – 9:00. As always, there will also be pre-meeting dinner and drinks from 5:30 – 6:30 at La Botana (sponsored by your favorite friends at Anteo Group).

This month’s presentation will take a closer look at ‘Building Modern Web Apps with HTML5 and DART.’  Modern web apps are rich, snappy, and work offline and mobile, too. In this talk, we’ll look at the frameworks and HTML5 features that make these possible and introduce DART, a new language for structured Web programming. In particular, we’ll take a look at the motivation for DART, language syntax and features, the DART Editor, using the JS compiler, and improvements to the DOM. We will also discuss DART in relation to JS and GWT.

Our speaker, David Chandler, works with the Google Developer Tools Team in Atlanta. An electrical engineer by training, Chandler got hooked on developing database Web application in the days of NCSA Mosaic and has since written Web applications in a variety of languages, including C, perl, ksh, ColdFusion, Java, JSF, GWT and now DART. Prior to joining Google, Chandler worked on internet banking applications with Intuit and launched a non-profit startup built with GWT and AppEngine. Chandler holds a patent on a method of organizing hierarchical data in relational database and blogs about Java Web development at turbomanage.wordpress.com.

For those of you are that are new to the AJUG scene, AJUG meetings on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:00 – 9:00 PM in the Perimeter Center area. Our meetings emphasize high-quality technical content and we encourage interaction among attendees.

Come join us!

Holiday Inn Select Atlanta
Perimeter Dunwoody
4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30341

Pre-meeting Dinner and Drinks:
La Botana
2071 Savoy Dr.
Chamblee, GA 30341

Staying Current in 2012 – DevNexus

We are asked this question at least one a week – ‘how can I learn about new technologies and stay relevant if I am not working with it on my current project?’ In an industry that is constantly evolving and forever progressing, it can be overwhelming to stay current. We have always given the same advice to our clients and will share the same sentiments today – take advantage of networking, conferences, any opportunity to broaden your technology horizons. Atlanta is a growing technology town, sprouting new user groups, conferences and associations faster than you can add an Outlook reminder.  As with staying up-to-date with technology, determining which user groups or conferences are worth your time can be daunting.

Fear not; your friends at Anteo Group are always here to help. We average 3-4 user groups/meet-ups/conferences/presentations a week and have been to enough user groups and meet-ups to share an opinion on the best of the best. Sure, you say to yourself, Anteo Group isn’t a development shop so they probably gauge the level of event success on the number of resumes we can collect. Trust me, we know how our participation can, at times, be perceived. That being said, our relationships here in Atlanta go beyond collecting resumes at user groups (in fact, they don’t even start there). We take the time to get feedback from developers, managers, etc. in the community as to what has worked for them; real examples and stories of what has proven to be an effective spend of their valuable time.

As part of our New Year’s Resolution (hey, it’s never too early to start planning), we are going to commit to passing along our top events and user groups of 2012 (in Atlanta, of course ). With our powers combined, you will undoubtedly stay current. Let’s start from the top.

#1 DevNexus – March 21 – 22

 

 

 

For those of you that know us well or have heard the name, you know we have a long-standing, loving relationship with Java; it’s been our passion since we opened our first office 10 years ago. We were proudly the first sponsor of the Atlanta Java User Group and continue our support to this day.

If you are unfamiliar with the group, definitely take the time to familiarize yourself by visiting their website or by asking your friendly Java developer if they’ve ever been to an event; more specifically, ask them if they have ever been to DevNexus.

DevNexus is Atlanta’s most exciting conference for professional software developers; it gives you the opportunity to discover how the industry’s best minds use the latest technologies to build solutions to business problems. It also provides an opportunity to network with other Atlanta software developers and study real life case studies in application design and development.

This year, there will be 5 separate tracks that allow you to pick topics that are near and dear to your development heart. Given the impressive list of speakers, there will undoubtedly be topics of interest for everyone.

While tickets are not free, the ticket you purchase is of incredible value. Not only does it provide access to exceptional speakers and presentations, but you are also provided with book raffles, food, a cocktail hour for networking and mingling with speakers, and more.

To Register, please visit here.

Kelley Hafer is a Senior Business Development Manager with Anteo Group. If you have any feedback on the blog or have a user group, meetup or conference that you would like to share, please reach out to her at khafer@anteogroup.com. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.

Anteo Group’s Holiday Extravaganza (with crockpots)

Tis the season…. And Anteo Group has been busy spreading the holiday cheer around our own office this past week. Last Friday, we really got in the holiday spirit and had a crock pot cook off and funny gift exchange at lunch.  Our office was full of simmering Crock Pot aromas such as spinach dip, coq au vin, meatballs, chili, buffalo chicken dip, and salad (our obligatory healthy green). You didn’t know we had both recruiting AND culinary talents, did you?

Here is Sr. Recruiter/Chef Alexander and Sr. Recruiter/Chef Drake with dueling crock pots by their desks.   

 The Anteo Group kitchen was busy with last minute preparations prior to lunch!

According to CNN, signs that the economy is gradually improving is the the increase of holiday giving and overall merriment at the work place. Check out this statistic – 40% percent  of companies will be giving employees a holiday bonus this year, up from 33 percent who said the same in 2010. And 58% percent are planning a holiday party for employees this year, up 6 percent from 2010. (CNN Article on Holiday Cheer)

Wondering what our funniest white elephant gift was? See below.

And yes, it dances and sings holiday tunes…. We Wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. May your office party be full of good food, crockpots, and dancing tree hats. Catch Anteo Group spreading some more holiday cheer at this week’s SPIN Holiday Party (http://atlantaspin.org/) and at next week’s AJUG meeting (www.ajug.org).

Atlanta HTML5 User Group – Thursday, December 8th @ 6:30

Hard to believe we’ve reached the end of the 2011. While most of us fervently battle mall crowds to finish our shopping, the Atlanta HTML5 User Group has given us all a little pre-holiday gift – two speakers at this month’s meeting. For those of you that are new to the group or missed last month, our friends at Engauge have offered up their superb office space for out get together, complete with free pizza and drinks from Anteo Group. In other words, you don’t want to miss it.

The first talk will be a short ‘lightening’ presentation about how AJAX fails on iOS (Mobile Safari based) devices. Wesley Hales, a Senior Developer at JBoss, will go over a new approach to AJAX without using innerHTML().

The second presentation will be bit longer and will cover Responsive Web Design. This talk with be geared towards straight HTML5, CSS, JS with Modernizr and JQuery. Responsive design is a new web design technique that makes it easy to target your website for mobile devices of various screen sizes as well as the desktop. Our speak, Toby Ho, is a passionate web developer in the Atlanta area. You can read his blog at tobyho.com.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. As a quick breakdown of the schedule for Thursday:

6:30 – 7:00 Dinner, Drinks, Mingling
7:00 – 8:30ish Presentations

If you’re unfamiliar with HTML5, it’s pretty much the new hotness and the Atlanta HTML5 User Group is determined to help the Atlanta development community be part of the fun. The monthly meetings showcase industry leading experts  who talk about, present, and demonstrate the latest concepts, features, APIS in this cool new world.

Location

1230 Peachtree Street
Suite 2200
Atlanta, GA 30309

From 400 South/I-85 Southbound

Take exit 84 for 17th St toward 14th St/10th St. Follow signs to 14th St. Make left onto 14th St NW. Turn left at Peachtree St NE. NOTE: Promenade II Building is on the left side right across from the Four Seasons (bronze-colored building). We’re on the 22nd floor.

From I-75 Southbound

Take exit 250 for 16th St toward 14th St/10th St. Follow signs to 14th St.  Make left onto 14th St NW. Turn left at Peachtree St NE. Promenade II Building is on the left side right across from the Four Seasons (bronze-colored building). We’re on the 22nd floor.

From Airport/I-85 Northbound

Take exit 250 toward Tenth St/Fourteenth St/Georgia Tech. Merge onto Williams St NW. Make right onto 14th St NW.  Turn left at Peachtree St NE. Promenade II Building is on the left side right across from the Four Seasons (bronze-colored building). We’re on the 22nd floor.

MARTA

We’re off the Arts Station Stop. Walk up 15th Street. Promenade II Building is on the right side across from the Arts Center Building. We’re on the 22nd floor.

EVENT PARKING Parking lots are plentiful

• Lot between Mariott and Four Seasons on 14th Street (entrance on right).
• Attached garage next to building (entrance is off 15th Street).
• Lot on Spring St. between 14th and 13th St (entrance on left of 13th St).
• Lot on West Peachtree St NW between 16th and 15th St (entrance on left).

Hold Off on that Job Search Until After the Holidays? Not So Fast, My Friend

Do you find yourself in a position where your project is wrapping up or an unexpected layoff has caught you off guard?  I know what you’re thinking: this is the worst possible time of the year to be looking for a new job, nobody is looking to hire during the last month of the year, everyone’s on vacation – drinking hot chocolate and wrapping gifts!

As Lee Corso, a wise man and close personal friend once said, “Not so fast my friend!”

Yes, the holidays tend to be a little slower and most managers take more time off than the rest of the year….  I get it, there’s nothing I love more than a good excuse to avoid updating the ole’ resume!

Don’t find yourself behind the 8 Ball by waiting until the beginning of the year to start your job search.  Start dates or offers may not come until the beginning of the year, but wouldn’t you rather have a job/contract solidified and set in stone by the time the New Year rolls around? Champagne toast!

If you choose to wait, you may find yourself in a position where, after 1^st and 2^nd interviews, you might not be starting a new opportunity until the beginning of February. Now, some of you may be thinking to yourself, “Cool, 1-2 months vacation.  I feel like I’m back in school!”

However, when reality sets in, it may become an issue when, like in grade school, you don’t get paid for that 1-2 months.  Don’t pigeonhole yourself by waiting until the first of the year and chance missing out on cool opportunities right now.

If you haven’t heard, let me be the first to tell you that companies are hiring, and they are hiring a lot, especially in IT.  Unemployment is hovering around 2% in the IT industry which is about as close to zero unemployment as you’ll find, especially in this economy.  According to IT World, Atlanta is the fastest growing city for IT jobs – beating out Silicon Valley and New York! (IT World Article)  

What does that mean you might ask?  Well other than the obvious, “Only you can prevent forest fires”, there appears to be ample opportunity for you, if you find yourself looking for new opportunities right about now, to not just find “work” but find a wonderful career opportunity.

If you don’t believe me, please feel free to check out our website at www.anteogroup.com and click on “Search Job Postings” to check out the bevy of positions we currently have available. Come on, I dare ya!

Oh, and Happy Holidays from everyone here at Anteo Group!