Tag Archives: Ignite

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 13) – The One About The Attendee Celebration and Live Broadcast

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So, Lucky number 13 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, with Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) covers everything you need to know about the Microsoft Ignite Attendee Celebration on Thursday, May 7, 2015 and the Live Broadcasts starting on Monday, May 4, 2015. Rick and Joey are joined by a special guest, Alex Bradley, who provides details on the celebration and broadcasts.

So, who is the entertainer, you ask. Well, it’s Chicago’s own, multi-platinum, Grammy nominated band, Fall Out Boy.

Let’s break this down first with the Attendee Celebration.

When and Where: 
Thursday, May 7, 2015
6:30 PM–10:30 PM
Lakeside Center, McCormick Place
Right after your last session on Thursday, take a short walk and start celebrating.

Food and Beverage:
With Chicago being a foodie city, there’s going to be a crazy selection of local cuisine to sample and enjoy. Microsoft Ignite is bringing 30 of the best local restaurants to serve complimentary samples. Check out the list of restaurants posted on Twitter.
Also, there’ll be no shortage of beverages, including one of the Midwest’s largest craft breweries, Goose Island, who will have a beer garden and will provide a variety of their latest craft beer. Beer reps, beer geeks, and even a few certified Cicerones.

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Entertainment:
Head outside to the East Fountain Terrace, for a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan, take in the laid back atmosphere, network with fellow attendees and friends, enjoy the food trucks, a beer truck, and a cool local band.

Hall D is where you’ll find music, activities, and entertainment. Experience a sampling of Chicago’s popular neighborhoods as you walk around discovering all the cool stuff to see and do. Concert begins at 9:00 PM at the Main Stage, which you’ll be able to view throughout the hall.
No professional cameras or audio equipment are permitted during the concert.
Your conference name badge is your ticket into the concert event.

Logistics:

  • Bag check – If you need to leave your bags before heading to the Attendee Celebration, there will be a bag check service available in Hall B. You may want bring a pen and paper or use OneNote on your mobile device on Thursday instead of carrying your bag.
  • Shuttle service – Bus service will be available from 6:15PM-10:45PM between McCormick Place and the conference hotels.

Now, we close out with the Live Broadcast piece.

Broadcast:
On Monday, May 4, Alex and Joey will broadcast starting at 8:30 AM Central Time, before the keynote (which starts at 9:00 AM). Stay tuned immediately following the keynote for a recap and highlights of the morning keynote followed by live session room content and Channel 9 Live.

Channel 9 Live will broadcast deep technical interviews between the live streamed sessions and during break times. Make sure you catch Jeffrey Snover, Mark Russinovich, Paula Januszkiewicz and Brad Anderson on the Channel 9 stage during the week!

To see the live streams during the event, go to ignite.microsoft.com.

Last But Not Least:
Look out for one more Countdown Show next week. In this final episode, Rick and Joey will feature a mini-version of Ignite 101.

Share your tips and tricks, ask questions, and start networking on the Microsoft Ignite Forums and social networks. Join the Yammer network and discuss with speakers and other attendees to maximize your Ignite experience!

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

See ya soon at Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

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Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 12) – The One About What to Pack and What’s New, Two Weeks Out!

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We are now less than 2 weeks away from the long awaited Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago and most of us are starting to prep, gather what we need, and pack for the trip. This week on Episode 12 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) talk about what to pack, how they prepare for the trip, and offer some good suggestions. They also talk about some new additions to the MyIgnite tool and demo some cool new features.

First up, we hear about a community member known as “Vecna”, who has provided a great forum post titled “Getting The Most Out of Ignite The First Time and Every Time“. Read his tips and suggestions as they are well laid out.
What to Pack:
#1: Shoes – Make sure you have comfortable shoes to wear during the conference as you’ll be spending a lot of time in them everyday. The conference involves a lot of feet power and you’ll be glad you have some good shoes. Also, make sure you have broken in your new shoes prior to the conference.
#2: Tech –  Start collecting all the cables and charges you’ll need to keep your devices up and running at the conference. I recommend that you pack a portable battery charger for your smartphones, especially helpful when you on-the-go and the power outlets are not easily accessible. 
#3: Clothes – The setting for the conference including the social events is casual. Pack comfortable clothes, don’t pack too much as you’ll receive loads of tshirts at the conference to last you for years to come. So, travel light.
Get More Out of Your Investment:
Plan ahead and involve your team at the office to get the most out of your company’s investment in Microsoft Ignite. Outline your questions ahead of time If you’re looking to solve a particular problem, or working on a project and looking for specific information to help with that. Joey suggests creating a trip report to share with colleagues back at the office.
 
Airport Transportation:
The fastest and cheaper method of travel from the airports to downtown Chicago is by using the train. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers a 7-day CTA Pass for $28 which you can pick up at the airport, and allow you to travel around the city all week. Check the CTA website for more information.
What’s new and noteworthy:
Theater Sessions – These sessions are proposed and presented by members of the community and your fellow IT colleagues. You’ll be able to check out these sessions in the Expo Hall Lounges during the lunch breaks.. Check MyIgnite for details.
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New Session Tag on MyIgnite – In the Schedule Builder, under Tags, you’ll find the New Sessions filter to help you find sessions that are newly added to the catalog.
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Attendee Directory on MyIgnite – Great to see my good friend Scott Ladewig used as an example by Rick and Joey for their demo on the Attendee Directory too. Use the tool to find colleagues, make new contacts, and even schedule meetings! You’ll need to make sure that you opt-in to share your profile so others can locate you and schedule meetings. Start networking folks!
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Share your tips and tricks, ask questions, and start networking on the Microsoft Ignite Forums and social networks. Join the Yammer network and join the discussion with speakers and other attendees to maximize your Ignite experience!
See you in two weeks at Microsoft Ignite, May 4–8 in Chicago at McCormick Place.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

See ya at Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015, Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Social Media High Five

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My good friend Nick Lagalante of Thycotic surprised me with this awesome recognition for my continued social media engagement with the IT community. Thanks Nick!

You can catch up with me at:

Recap – Tech Ed New Orleans: The who, what, why and The Krewe

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I was first noticed by the Microsoft TechEd team during my attendance at the TechEd conference in New Orleans in 2013, which was my first TechEd conference. Based on my social media influence, I was asked to participate in a short video with my take on the Microsoft TechEd conference. I’m honored to have been given the opportunity and hand picked among the thousands of attendees. Thank you Teched and Channel 9.

Check out the video.

Recap – Advice from Alumni sharing their TechEd Schedule: Harjit Dhaliwal

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Just catching up on some old info for documentation purposes.

On April 16, 2014, my friends at Microsoft TechEd shared my tentative conference schedule and the reasons for my selection.  Below is a direct copy of what is posted on the Channel 9 blog.

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In honor of TechEd being less than a month away, we here at the TechEd team decided to ask some friends and TechEd Alumni if they would be willing to share their schedules and selection methodologies with the rest of the world. We’ve got three posts lined up with some possible IDEAS that you can use to help pre-populate your schedule. If you haven’t yet started – get over to the Content Catalogue, sign in with your ID you used to register for TechEd and start scheduling!

First up is Harjit Dhaliwal, Systems Administrator at University of Vermont

Harjit

Harjit is an awesome photographer and has a preference for Client focused sessions. You can catch up with Harjit online at one of the following properties:

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TechEd 2014 Session Builder

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Monday, May 12, 2014

8:30-10:30AM

KEY01 TechEd Keynote

  • New Microsoft technologies, product updates, and breaking news is announced here. Good pep talks to motivate and to get a running start for a great week filled with technology learning and knowledge.

11:00-12:00PM

FDN03 Enabling Enterprise Mobility with Windows and Microsoft Office 365

  • Mobile devices are actively used and more prevalent in the Enterprise environment. More and more users want the ability to connect to Enterprise resources with their mobile devices in order to be productive, engaged, and connected. IT needs to embrace this new era of mobile devices and learn to make them work efficiently and securely to protect Enterprise data and resources.

1:15-2:30PM

OFC-B210 Microsoft SharePoint Overview

  • A good start to get some SharePoint knowledge.

DCIM-B318 Windows PowerShell Unplugged with Jeffrey Snover

  • PowerShell is the way of life these days, so any training, info, or guidance will be beneficial for my IT career.

3:00-4:15PM

WIN-B316 Managing Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 Using Mobile Device Management

  • Michael Niehaus mentions, “Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 include a new mobile device management (MDM) capability that provides functionality for deploying apps, managing settings, configuring VPN and wireless, deploying certs and more.” – I would like to learn how this works.

PCIT-B312 What’s New in Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Infrastructure

  • As the CM Administrator at my organization, I’m interested to know what is new or if there are any hidden tricks to make my IT life more efficient.

4:45-6:00PM

PCIT-B410 Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: MVP Experts Panel

  • This is a great opportunity to learn, discuss, and collaborate with the world’s leading ConfigMgr experts.

DCIM-B329 Building Highly Effective Dashboards in Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Operations Manager

  • Mildly curious on how Dashboards could be effective in SCOM 2012.

6:30PM

Tech Expo Welcome Reception

  • Great time to meet vendors and ask questions, and hang out with some fellow geeks.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

8:30-9:45AM

DCIM-B328 TWC: CSI: Windows – Techniques for Finding the Cause of the Unexpected System Takeovers

  • Interesting session for troubleshooting.

WIN-B320 Internet Explorer App Compat

  • Internet Explorer application compatibility is a daily challenge for IT Professionals to assist end users who need to run older applications in the organization.

10:15-11:30AM

DBI-B214 Introduction to SQL Server Management for the Non-DBA

  • For someone like me who is not too familiar with SQL Server and how to manage it, this would be a good session to get the lowdown.

PCIT-IL306 Implementing Endpoint Protection in Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager

  • Interested to learn about SCEP reporting and malware detection.

WIN-B323 Deploying Windows 8.1 in the Enterprise

  • As a Systems Administrator who manages computer imaging, I’m interested to know how to leverage ConfigMgr 2012 for this task.

1:30-2:45PM

PCIT-IL307 Managing Microsoft Software Updates in Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager

  • Software Updates deployment is my responsibility at my organization. There are several ways of deploying Software Updates with ConfigMgr 2012, however, I’m interested to learn some best practices.

WIN-B328 Group Policy: Notes from the Field – Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

  • We use Group Policies extensively at my organization and I sometimes have to troubleshoot why some Group Policies have issues or don’t work as intended. This session would help me learn some tips and tricks as well as some troubleshooting techniques.

3:15-4:30PM

WIN-B330 Everything You Need to Know for a Successful Microsoft Office 2013 App-V Deployment

  • Application delivery and deployment to the end users has become a little more challenging. Leveraging App-V for large applications such as Microsoft Office 2013 could be highly effective.

DCIM-B341 TWC: Live Demonstration: Hacker Tools You Should Know and Worry about in 2014

  • A fun session to learn how the “bad guys” do bad stuff and to help protect systems from this knowledge.

5:00-6:15PM

PCIT-IL305 Basic Software Distribution with Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager

  • Software Updates deployment is my responsibility at my organization. There are several ways of deploying Software Updates with ConfigMgr 2012, however, I’m interested to learn some best practices.

PCIT-B320 Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Community Jewels

  • ConfigMgr 2012 is a complex management tool which if used well, it can be very effective in managing systems. There are many third party tools and scripts used to enhance the ConfigMgr 2012 experience, and therefore I’m interested to know what they are and how to use them.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

8:30-9:45AM

WIN-IL200-R Creating a Windows 8.1 Reference Image

  • To learn Windows 8.1 Image management.

PCIT-B323 Application Management with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager and Windows Intune

  • To further learn how to manage applications with ConfigMgr.

10:15-11:30AM

WIN-B351 Hacker Tools for Ethical Hackers to Protect Windows Clients

  • A fun session to learn how the “bad guys” do bad stuff and to help protect systems from this knowledge.

WIN-B413 Windows Performance Deep Dive Troubleshooting

  • Interested to learn how to troubleshoot Windows performance issues to enhance end user experience.

PCIT-B322 Deploying and Managing Work Folders

  • More and more users are bringing their own devices to the workplace and want to use Enterprise resources. This session may provide info on managing network home folder sync for BYOD users.

1:30-2:45PM

WIN-B342 Windows To Go: Deployment, Support for BYOD, and What IT Pros Need to Know

  • Information packed session for learning about Windows To Go and how to support BYOD users.

3:15-4:30PM

WIN-B345 Windows 8.1: Black Belt Troubleshooting

  • Great Windows 8.1 troubleshooting session.

DCIM-B418 Windows PowerShell Best Practices and Patterns: Time to Get Serious

  • PowerShell is the way of life for IT Professionals and it’s never enough to learn more of this important tool.

5:00-6:15PM

WIN-B338 Top OS Deployment Issues with Answers from Experts

  • Good session to learn the pain points of OS deployments and how to work around them.

PCIT-B340 Deploying and Managing Windows 8 and 8.1 with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 and System Center Configuration Manager

  • This session covers an important part of my daily Systems Administrator role at my organization.

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

8:30-9:45AM

DCIM-B366 TWC: Hacker’s Perspective on Your Windows Infrastructure: Mandatory Check List

  • Any info to help secure my Windows environment is a plus.

WIN-B356 Modern Applications for IT Pros

  • Interested to learn more about applications with Windows 8.1 and sideloading.

10:15-11:30AM

WIN-B362 Project Virtual Reality Check: Microsoft App-V 5 Performance, Tuning, and Optimization (App-V PTO)

  • This session may give me a good start in implementing App-V in my organization which we are looking to do very soon.

DCIM-B368 TWC: Malware Hunting with Mark Russinovich and the Sysinternals Tools

  • Attending a Mark Russinovich session is a must. He does a great session on how to use the Sysinternals tools which he helped develop.

1:00-2:15PM

WIN-B354 Case of the Unexplained: Troubleshooting with Mark Russinovich

  • Attending a Mark Russinovich session is a must. Great to see how Mark troubleshoot computer issues.

WIN-B355 The Circle of Life for an App-V 5.0 Package: From Sequence to Termination

  • Learning how App-V applications come together will be helpful in understand how they work and where to troubleshoot if there are any issues with their performance.

2:45-4:00PM

WIN-B410 Advanced Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Customizations: Dueling MDT Enhancements

  • Advanced Windows 8.1 deployment for the Enterprise.

WIN-B359 2014 Edition: How Many Coffees Can You Drink While Your PC Starts?

  • Good session to learn how to troubleshoot Windows startup issues.

WIN-B360 Sizing App-V 5: Planning and Designing a Highly Available, Scalable, and Resilient Management and Delivery System

  • May be a handy session to help implement App-V in my organization.

7:30PM

Closing Party

  • Can’t miss it. A good way to celebrate with friends and to end a good knowledge filled week. Thank you TechEd.

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 11) – The One About What’s New, Shuttles, Networking, Meals, and More

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Talk about an informational filled episode this week. Grab a comfortable seat and get ready to listen to this week’s Episode 11 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, with Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) who have lots to say and share. This is a long show but worth the time, with coverage on remote badge pickup, Ignite 101 session, shuttle bus schedules, meal menus, Ignite stickers, Women In Technology, and more.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

Here are the highlights and info from the show:

Remote Badge Pickup:
This has been covered in Episode 8 of the Countdown Show, so check it out for more details. Remote badge pickup will conveniently be available starting on Saturday, May 2nd at Chicago O’Hare Airport at terminals 1 & 3, as well as various conference hotels in the city. Check in early and avoid the lines. Plus use your badge to gain great discounts at participating businesses and attractions in Chicago.

Ignite 101: Sunday, May 3 at 9:00AM and 1:00PM:
Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or new to the Microsoft conference scene, Ignite 101 is a great session to attend to get the lay of the land, conference info, convention center details, and other very helpful tips and info. Join Rick and Joey on Sunday, May 3rd at 9:00AM or 1:00PM for a fun “college orientation” style session. Don’t forget to add this session via MyIgnite.

Hotel Shuttle Service:
Shuttle bus service has been a hot topic among attendees on the forums and various social media channels. The shuttle schedules have been updated on the Microsoft Ignite Agenda, and listed below.

Sunday, May 3
7:00 AM–10:30 AM. Shuttles from hotels to McCormick Place South Hall.
2:30 PM–5:30 PM Shuttles from McCormick Place South Hall to hotels.

Monday, May 4
6:30 AM–10:30 AM Shuttles from hotels to McCormick Place South Hall.
6:00 PM–8:30 PM Shuttles from McCormick Place South Hall to hotels.

Tuesday, May 5
7:00 AM–10:30 AM Shuttles from hotels to McCormick Place South Hall.
3:45 PM–6:45 PM Shuttles from McCormick Place South Hall to hotels.

Wednesday, May 6
7:00 AM–10:30 AM Shuttles from hotels to McCormick Place South Hall.
3:45 PM–6:45 PM Shuttles from McCormick Place South Hall to hotels.

Thursday, May 7
7:00 AM–10:30 AM Shuttles from hotels to McCormick Place South Hall.
Evening shuttle service will be provided. Specific times to come soon.
Did you catch the teaser in the video? 🙂

Friday, May 8
7:30 AM–2:00 PM Continuous shuttles between hotels and McCormick Place South Hall.
Baggage check service will be available at McCormick Place on Friday.

If you require transportation between your hotel and the convention center at other times outside of the shuttle service schedules, it is best that you use the train, as it is fast and convenient. The CTA website has all the information for your transportation needs in Chicago.

The next couple of items relates to networking opportunities during the conference. Networking is one of the most important aspects of attending a conference, as well as attending sessions to learn from industry experts on current and future technologies. During Ignite, one can take advantage of several networking opportunities to create contacts and build a professional support system. Microsoft Ignite has included two new networking events to assist attendees with these endeavours, which are Ignite After Hours and Mealtime Mashups with details below.

Ignite After Hours:
Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 PM–11:00 PM.
Some select conference hotels will host After Hours gatherings offering some exclusively created drinks and food especially for Ignite. These venues also offer a comfortable, casual, and beautiful environment to help meet people, mingle, enjoy great conversations, and indulge in the special food and drinks. More details will be available in your OneNote Guide for locations.

Mealtime Mashups:
Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM.
Lunch time is a perfect time to meet new people, start conversations, create some valuable contacts, and even catch up with old friends. On the following days listed below, tables will be assigned according to region, industry, and product. So, grab your lunch and a seat at one of the assigned tables in the Meal Hall and join the discussions with fellow attendees.
• Tuesday: Region
• Wednesday: Industry
• Thursday: Product

Attendee Meal Menus – Bon Appetite!
Meals served at conferences often generate buzz among attendees, sometimes positive and sometimes on the negative side. For the first time in the history of Microsoft conferences, meal menus are being disclosed and shared with everyone in advance. Attendees will have some great choices from hot and cold buffets to Grab & Go lunches. I love the Grab & Go lunch concept as it will help increase more networking opportunities and the convenience of eating anywhere and have conversations.
Check out the menu for the week:

Sunday, May 3
Continental Breakfast Buffet, featuring:
• Assorted Freshly Baked Breakfast Breads, Muffins, Scones and Croissants with Sweet Butter and Preserves
• Seasonal Whole Fruit
• Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Hot Lunch Buffet, featuring:
• Assortment of La Brea Breads with Sea Salt Butter
• Classic Bibb Salad with Bibb Lettuce Mix, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Tomato, Avocado, Green Goddess Dressing
• Caramelized Cauliflower Medallions with Roasted Red Peppers and Onions, Red Lentils, Baby Spinach, Sherry Vinegar, Olive Oil
• Pan Seared Salmon Cakes with Dijon Mustard Aioli and Watercress
• Roasted Chicken Breast with Lemon-Caper Beurre Blanc
• Warm Orzo Pasta with Spring Pea and Mushroom
• Chocolate Cupcakes and Lemon-Raspberry Bars
• Sodas, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Monday, May 4
Hot Breakfast Buffet, featuring:
• Blueberry Muffins, Glazed Cinnamon Roll and Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Whipped Butter and Fruit Preserves
• Bananas, Apples and Oranges
• Assorted Individual Greek and Regular Yogurts
• Scrambled Eggs
• Apple Wood Smoked Bacon
• Roasted Breakfast Potatoes
• Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Grab & Go Lunch, featuring:
• Pesto Pasta Salad with Diced Red Pepper
• Petite Wisconsin Cheddar and Roasted Tomato Pies
Choice of:
• Lemon-Thyme Rubbed Chicken Breast Sandwich with Salsa Verde Aioli and Watercress on Grilled Focaccia
• Rosemary Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Horseradish Mayo and Red Onion Confit on a Tuscan Roll
• Roasted Vegetable Wrap with Feta Cheese and Lemon-Oregano Aioli
And:
• Sour Cream Pound Cake with Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam and Burnt Honey Crème Anglaise
• Sodas, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

HOT TIP: DO NOT TOSS YOUR NAPKIN and SERVING-WARE!
You could be one of the few lucky winners to locate a golden ticket and score some great prizes. Keep a close eye on that golden ticket!

Tuesday, May 5
Continental Breakfast Buffet with Hot Elements, featuring:
• Mexican Chocolate-Banana Muffins, Cinnamon Streusel Scone, Roasted Pear Bread, Plain and Asiago Bagels with Whipped Butter, Peanut Butter, Fruit Preserves and Light and Regular Cream Cheese
• Apples, Bananas and Oranges
• Individual Greek and Regular Yogurts
• Breakfast Burrito with Scrambled Eggs, Chorizo Sausage, Peppers, Spinach and Jack Cheese Cheese, or Scrambled Eggs, Peppers, Spinach and Jack Cheese
• Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Hot Lunch Buffet, featuring:
• Tortilla Chips with Salsa
• Sweet Corn “Elote” Salad with Cucumber, Scallion and Chile-Lime Dressing
• Jicama, Orange and Watercress Salad with Cotija Cheese and Tequila Lime Vinaigrette
• Chicken and Tomatillo Enchiladas with Melted Chihuahua Cheese and Salsa Verde
• Grilled Mahi Mahi with Mango Serrano Salsa
• Roasted Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Chipotle Tamale
• Cinnamon and Sugar Churros with Dulce De Leche Drizzle and Mexican Chocolate Brownies
• Sodas, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Wednesday, May 6
Hot Breakfast Buffet, featuring:
• Banana Bread, Blueberry Scone, Chocolate Chip Muffin with Whipped Butter and Fruit Preserves
• Apples, Bananas and Oranges
• Individual Greek and Regular Yogurts
• Scrambled Eggs
• Apple Wood Smoked Bacon
• Breakfast Potato Casserole with Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese, Chives and Crème Fraiche
• Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Cold Lunch Buffet, featuring:
• Honey Corn Bread with Whipped Butter
• Sweet and Spicy BBQ Cole Slaw
• Creamy Loaded Baked Potato Salad with Bacon, Cheddar, Scallions, and Sour Cream Dressing
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken (served at room temperature)
• Herb Rubbed Flank Steak (served at room temperature) with Corn and Tomato Relish
• Roasted Tomato, Asparagus and White Cheddar Strudel
• Blueberry Pie Cheesecake and Watermelon Cubes with Agave Syrup
• Sodas, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Thursday, May 7
Continental Breakfast Buffet, featuring:
• Assorted Freshly Baked Breakfast Breads, Muffins, Scones and Maple Bacon Donuts with Sweet Butter and Preserves
• Seasonal Whole Fruit
• Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Hot Lunch Buffet, featuring:
• Brioche Rolls with Whipped Butter
• California Chopped Salad with Baby Kale, Red Quinoa, Blueberry, Sunflower Seeds, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Dried Cranberries, Mango, Carrot and Honey Orange Dressing
• Antipasto Salad with Salami, Roasted Artichoke Hearts, Provolone, Garbanzo Beans and Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Cali Style Braised Beef Bourguignon with Napa Pinot Noir Reduction, Pearl Onions and Parsley-Carrot Gremolata
• Roasted Garlic Glazed Chicken Breast with Parsley-Lemon “Jus”
• Grilled Corn Polenta Cakes with Wild Mushrooms, Fava Beans and Tomato and Crumbled Chevre
• Red Velvet Cupcakes and Apple Strudel Squares
• Sodas, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

Friday, May 8
Continental Breakfast Buffet, featuring:
• Assorted Freshly Baked Breakfast Breads, Muffins, Scones and Croissants with Sweet Butter and Preserves
• Seasonal Whole Fruit
• Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Hot Tea

“Bag Your Own” Lunch, featuring a choice of:
• Tuscan Roast Beef Sandwich with Caramelized Onion and Sweet Pepper Jam, Provolone Cheese, Romaine, Plum Tomato on Herbed Focaccia                                     • Oven Roasted Turkey with Swiss Cheese, English Cucumber, Minted Green Goddess Mayo on Whole Grain Ciabatta
• Eggplant, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Red Pepper, Romaine, Pesto, Black Pepper & Balsamic Vinegar Summer Roll (vegan and gluten-free)

Choice of:
• Sonoma Quinoa Salad with Edamame, Cranberries, Mango, Almonds, Coconut and Baby Spinach
• Seasonal Fruit Salad with Agave Nectar
• Rotini Pasta Salad with Julienne Vegetables and Herb Vinaigrette
• Assorted Potato Chips, Pretzels and Sun Chips
• Gourmet Chocolate Chunk and Sea Salt Cookie, Chunky Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
• Canned Beverages

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If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Keep in mind that Microsoft Ignite taking place May 4-8, 2015, in Chicago is SOLD OUT!

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 10) – The One About The Yammer Network on MyIgnite

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This week on Episode 10 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) flies solo without Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN), however he is joined by a special guest, Olaf Hubel (@OlafHubel), senior product marketing manager with the Office 365 team, and who is responsible for the content on Microsoft Ignite.

Joey provides some news bites on Ignite which you can catch up in the video and he answers a question asked on the Microsoft Ignite forum.
Question: Where will I find the remote badge pickup stations at O’Hare International Airport?
Answer: Remote badge pickup at O’Hare is located in the baggage claim area for terminals 1 and 3. You can’t miss it!
Remote badge pickup at O’Hare is available: Saturday 10:00 AM–8:00 PM / Sunday 8:00 AM–7:00 PM.

In this episode, Joey and Olaf demonstrate on how to use the Yammer network on MyIgnite, how you can join discussions, ask questions, network, and interact with speakers and other attendees and do much more via MyIgnite and the Yammer network. I am excited to see my good friend, Naomi Moneypenny (@nmoneypenny) used as an example in the demo, highlighting how a speaker such as her is using the Yammer network to communicate and engage with her attendees in advance which will help guide and allow her to plan the content of her session accordingly. FYI – Naomi is a MVP, a great speaker, a fellow Microsoft Ignite Roundtable member, and a wonderful person.
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Coming soon to MyIgnite!
The Second Screen Experience – This is such a great feature which will allow you to follow a session live on your laptop, ask questions via the Yammer network, and even participate while you’re in a different session room or on the Expo floor, and yes even from your hotel room! Watch the video to hear how the Second Screen is going to change your event experience. Also coming soon:
  • Speaker Search and Details
  • Attendee Search and Details
  • Meeting Scheduling
  • Personal Appointments
  • OneNote Conference Guide

You are encouraged to build your schedules and even double and triple book sessions within the same time slots. The advance schedule builds by attendees will provide valuable information to Ignite planners on which sessions are popular, how to schedule them into appropriate rooms, and offer repeat sessions if needed. Since, the room assignments are not currently included in the catalog, I would recommend that you hold off on exporting your schedule to your calendar until rooms have been assigned to the sessions which will happen as we get closer to the conference. This will save you the hassle of exporting and importing into your calendar multiple times.

Finally, make sure you update your profile for the Attendee Directory, which you can do through MyIgnite, with pertinent information such as your bio, interests, social tags, photo, and contact information, so you can start networking and connect with others with similar interests, even before you arrive in Chicago for the conference. You will also have a choice to share your schedule with others, as well as opt-in to be listed in the Attendee Directory if you choose to do so.

Watch the video to see Joey and Olaf demonstrate how to use the Yammer network on MyIgnite.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Keep in mind that Microsoft Ignite taking place May 4-8, 2015, in Chicago is currently SOLD OUT!

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Microsoft Ignite 2015 – SOLD OUT!!

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Microsoft Ignite 2015 is SOLD OUT!
Join online May 4-8, 2015 starting at 9 AM CDT at http://ignite.microsoft.com.
The Keynote and several selected sessions will be streamed LIVE from Chicago.
Stay tuned!

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show (Ep. 9) – The One About Schedule Builder on MyIgnite

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The anticipation and wait is over. This week on Episode 9 of the Microsoft Ignite Countdown Show, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) and Joey Snow (@JoeySnow) bring us the 2nd most requested show, all about the Schedule Builder. You’ve been asking when you can start building your schedules, well now you can. The Schedule Builder is now LIVE on MyIgnite!

The Schedule Builder is greatly improved from previous years and has some wonderful capabilities, especially with the filtering options that is going to drastically ease the experience of building one’s schedule. Along with the Schedule Builder, a conference multi-tool known as MyIgnite is rolling out, with more features as we get closer to the conference dates of May 4-8. This tool, which is basically a digital hub will help enhance everyone’s experience with Ignite.

What’s MyIgnite you ask?
In it’s current phase of development, the MyIgnite tool will include the Schedule Builder, provide access to sponsor and exhibitor information, and the ability to join the Yammer network. The tool is evolving and the future functionality will include the Attendee Directory, a meeting scheduler, and more. In order to experience the full functionality and take advantages of what the tool offers, you will need to associate your Windows Live ID with your Microsoft Ignite registration. To do so, go to http://ignite.microsoft.com and click on “I’ve already registered”, and follow the steps to associate your Live ID with your registration. This is the first step you need to take before starting with the Schedule Builder.

Microsoft Ignite encourages you to build your schedules and even double and triple book sessions within the same time slots, which will help you when you have a conflict or a change of mind with the sessions you want to attend at the last minute. The advance schedule builds by attendees will provide valuable information to Ignite planners on which sessions are popular, how to schedule them into appropriate rooms, and offer repeat sessions if needed. Since, the room assignments are not currently included in the catalog, I would recommend that you hold off on exporting your schedule to your calendar until rooms have been assigned to the sessions which will happen as we get closer to the conference. This will save you the hassle of exporting and importing into your calendar multiple times. Keep in mind that seating for the Hands-On-Labs (HOL) are on first-come-first-served basis and therefore, they are not guaranteed.

Finally, make sure you update your profile for the Attendee Directory, which you can do through MyIgnite, with pertinent information such as your bio, interests, social tags, photo, and contact information, so you can start networking and connect with others with similar interests, even before you arrive in Chicago for the conference. You will also have a choice to share your schedule with others, as well as opt-in to be listed in the Attendee Directory if you choose to do so.

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Without further delay, watch the video to see Rick and Joey demonstrate how to use the Schedule Builder and how you can update your profile.

Check out this episode on Channel 9 or you can watch it directly below:

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to ask on the Microsoft Ignite Forums, via Twitter, as well as in the Comments section under the video. The Microsoft Ignite team monitors all questions and will respond as they have the answers or information.

Keep watching for more tips on making the most of your experience at Ignite, and more ways to enjoy Chicago! Register now for Microsoft Ignite, May 4-8, 2015, Chicago.

For conversations and interactions, join the following channels:

Stay tuned for the next episode of the Countdown Show, coming up next Tuesday at 8:00AM PST / 11:00AM EST.

Show Your Badge – Microsoft Ignite Discounts in Chicago

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The good folks at @ChooseChicago have put together a list of participating businesses that offer discounts to Microsoft Ignite attendees. Take advantage of the awesome attractions, delicious dining options, and premier shopping in Chicago! Show your Microsoft Ignite badge at participating venues and win these amazing deals.

Denise Begley of Microsoft Ignite has created a great list off the @MS_Ignite Twitter Handle incase you want to learn more about the places offering these discounts:
Show Your Badge Twitter List.

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Discount list from ChooseChicago located HERE!

I highly recommend that you follow Choose Chicago, which is the official guide for Chicago offering a vast amount of information relating to this awesome city.  The friendly folks at Choose Chicago are quick to answer and offer valuable advice on your visit to Chicago. Follow and check them out.

For conversations and interactions regarding Microsoft Ignite, join the following channels: