“Good Developers Drinking Beer and Learning from Each Other”, aka #nerdlearn, is back, and this time we’re going mobile!

On August 25th at 6:30pm, TWG is hosting #nerdlearn 2.0, a 3-person panel discussing “The Future of Mobile Dev“.

Signup on GuestlistApp.

We all know that mobile is the future, but what is the future of mobile? That’s exactly the question our panelists will answer (or argue over), while you sit back, drink your beer, and ask them as many questions as you please…

Who will be there?

#nerdlearn panel = Our moderator Dessy will be joined by 3 senior mobile developers from our own Toronto community.

We’re happy to announce our 3 panelists:

#1, Jeremy Bower, Founder & President Bower Labs:

An experienced software developer with over 10 years in the business, Jeremy has worked at three Toronto-based startups that were acquired; one of them by Research In Motion. He jumped into mobile in 2008, and has since launched apps on five mobile platforms for large media brands and sports teams. His new venture, Bower Labs, is a boutique software development company specializing in apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.

#2, Pearl Chen, Research & Technology Manager CFC Media Lab:

I love Android, especially that little green guy! I sometimes do Android dev but I tend to have 10 different things going on at once so I don’t have the time to dedicate to one single technology. I’m a big proponent for mobile web (over mobile apps, except where the need is actually there) and the future of webkit + html5. I’ve been working with frontend web technologies for over 10 years.

#3, Jeff Zakrzewski, Chief Architect & Co-Founder Five Mobile (now Zynga Toronto):

With over 10 years experience in the mobile industry, Jeff Zakrzewski has an immense passion for all things wireless.  Jeff’s experience in the mobile world has been sharped by working for companies including Redknee, 724 Solutions, and Tira Wireless.  Three years ago, Jeff co-founded Five Mobile, a company focused on providing strategic consulting for the mobile space, mobile applications and mobile web development for a variety of smartphone platforms.  Jeff has helped grow the company from 5 to 55 people, servicing customers such as Disney, Sony, MapQuest, Score Media, and Canoe Inc.  Jeff is now Chief Architect, Zynga Toronto after the Five Mobile team was acquired by Zynga in July.

You = A local developer who likes beer, pizza, and nerdy conversation

You + #nerdlearn panel = Funny YouTube Video

After lots of discussion and plenty of audience participation at #nerdlearn 1.0, The Future of Rails, a panel focusing on mobile dev seemed like the next logical step.

Summary:

• Thursday August 25th 2011, 6:30pm @ TWG HQ: 639 Queen St. West #501 (panel begins at 7pm)
• TWG will provide the beer and pizza (just like at #nerdlearn 1.0)
• Our panelists will provide the insights & controversy
• Be ready for interesting conversation, plenty of Q&A opportunities, and lots of beer.

Hope to see you on the 25th! You can follow updates on twitter at: #nerdlearn

Signup on GuestlistApp.

On May 19th TWG is hosting, “Good Developers Drinking Beer and Learning from Each Other” code named #nerdlearn. Much akin to our Good People Drinking Wine events, #nerdlearn is for local developers looking to connect with some of TO’s best senior developers in a panel/Q&A format.

This inaugural #nerdlearn will focus on THE FUTURE OF RAILS (yes, in all caps), but going forward we’ll choose topics that influence the entire sphere of being an excellent developer.

RSVP here: http://guestli.st/55083

MEET THE PANELISTS:

Pete Forde, Unspace:

In 2004 Pete founded Unspace Interactive. Not long after, he transition from proprietary Microsoft development to becoming one of the first adopters of Ruby on Rails. He was the curator of the RubyFringe and FutureRuby conferences, and hosts the popular monthly “Rails Pub Nite” developer event — of which there has been over 50 to date.

An avid traveler and occasional touring rock drummer, Pete is passionate about music and film photography. He recently co-founded BuzzData, a data publishing and collaboration hub.

Pete also likes to explore places you’re not supposed to go:

—–

TWG’s own, Scott Tadman (brought to you by the number 4):

Since 1990, before most of us had even heard of the web, Scott’s been a database manager, network engineer, system administrator, software developer, creative director, writer, and electrician. So you can bet he’s involved at every stage of the projects TWG produces.

Scott is TWG’s Senior Architect; co-founder of PostageApp.com; and 4-time Science Fair Winner when he was a kid (unfortunately no photo available).

He is also the #4 Answerer on Stack Overflow for ruby-on-rails so be sure to ask him lots of questions at #nerdlearn – http://stackoverflow.com/tags/ruby-on-rails/topusers

You can also find Scott at: twitter.com/tadmanter & github.com/tadman

—–

Kevin Faustino, Nulayer:

Kevin is a passionate programmer and craftsmanship advocate who works at Nulayer as a Senior Software Developer. He has been professionally developing for 6 years, with the last 3 years focused on Ruby and Ruby on Rails.

When not working, he is organizing the Toronto Ruby Brigade and blogging at adventuresincoding.com.

You can also find Kevin at: twitter.com/kfaustino & github.com/kfaustino

We also suspect that Kevin likes Lost:

Meet Kevin, Scott and Pete on May 19th, 6:30pm at TWG HQ: http://guestli.st/55083

Other upcoming Dev events you might be interested in:

May 20th: Ruby Job Fair at Unspace, featuring Rubyists, Employers, and Spiked Tea – http://rubyjobfair.ca

June 2nd: Technologic at UnSpace, featuring Giles Bowkett – http://technologicto.com

I thought I’d add some important context for everyone who will be attending the TEDxToronto Salon at our studio this Friday Feb 11th.

“Something magic happens when you believe that your big goals are achievable and you make those goals public. You start thinking, plotting, and doing all the little steps that are going to take you there.” – Signal Vs. Noise

You guessed it! The theme for this salon is ‘The BIG Goal’, and we want YOU to share your goals and ideas.

Please don’t come to the TEDxToronto Salon expecting be a wallflower. Plan on participating.

It’s your opportunity to take the first step and state your BIG goal to an amazing group of people. Come prepared to briefly share your big goal, your ideas, your entrepreneurial dream, or what drove you towards your existing work. This gathering of like-minded, connected, and smart people will become a great resource and inspiration for all, and it’s membership into a group of people who will make big differences. Don’t miss this chance. Please participate.

The Plan. From 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm:

1. Wine and Food – In the spirit of TWG’s periodic ‘Good People Drinking Wine and Talking to Each Other‘ events, we’ll be opening the event with a quick introduction to some favorite Ontario wines. There will also be a table of delicious appetizers and finger food.  This is time to say hello to people around you, and quench your thirst after a long week.

2. The Speakers - The music will rise to a crescendo and and TEDx speakers Drew Dudley, and Neil Pasricha will stand to talk about their Big Goal, or a moment in their life that was a turning point to something greater.

3. Feedback – You’ll get to ask Drew and Neil your own questions, offer feedback, connect with others.

4. Your Goals – Drew will work his magic to encourage us all to stand up and state our own BIG goal or  BIG idea. Inspiration, perspiration, hillarification ensues.

Tickets:

Free, but space is limited…in fact it’s already full. If you’ve RSVP’d but can’t make it, please let us know so that those on the waiting list can get in.

We’re looking forward to meeting you and hearing all the entrepreneurial dreams Toronto has to offer. See you Friday.

- Your friends at TEDxToronto & The Working Group

Tweet this with: #TEDxToronto

Logistics: http://www.meetup.com/TEDxToronto/events/16381661/

This past December 10th we hosted a holiday edition of ‘Good People Drinking Wine and Talking To Each Other’. Friends, colleagues and even some family showed up to enjoy the delights of Amarone and Ripasso style wine, a great spread of food, and three spirited talks by three great people:

Scott Armstrong, Partner at Brainrider.com spoke about the sea-change that’s happening as marketing shifts from the tactile physical world to the online world, and how getting to know your customers is eerily like dating. As a parting gift, he offered to sit with anyone, over a coffee (beer), to analyze your customers and discover the questions that they need answered, so that you can get to at least second base.

Tom Schlesinger (writingfilms.com), screenwriter, film consultant, and all-round creative character, gave a stream of consciousness monologue, about how Aliens abduct him every single time he’s forced to be creative, and how fear can drive you positively if acknowledged and properly harnessed.  If you weren’t here, I’m sorry that you’ll never understand.

and

Paul Saltzman, (PromNightInMississppi.com) the award winning film and television director, traced his own growth from his days of activism in the deep south, to his current day collaboration with Morgan Freeman, in “Prom Night In Mississippi” a film about a small town where the youth stood up in 2008 to fight segregated Proms, and how a community was changed forever. Paul finished with a challenge to us – to end our silence when we witness words or behaviour that we think is wrong,  and that by speaking out, we voice the thoughts of the silent majority.

Tegan Merle and Lauren Barless, our good friends from PilotInteractive.com, were here with their fancy cameras and lighting, taking photos of everyone who dared to wear a piece from our selection of incredible Christmas sweaters, scavenged from the racks of Kensington market. A huge thank you to the multi-talented Tegan and Lauren for their work. Enjoy their photos!

http://photography.pilotinteractive.ca/twg_sweaterparty/index.html

We’ll be hosting another Salon come the end of January, so send us a note if you’d like to get a heads-up!
Email: wine@twg.ca

Happy Holidays and New Year!

Pete Forde talks about the importance of Open Data at TWG’s, “Good People drinking wine and talking to each other” on July 23rd. Check out the video below (The darkness clears up at 3:50).