TECH cocktail Boston Update
August 28, 2007
With the inaugural TECH cocktail Boston just a little over a week away I thought it would be a great time to give a quick update on the goings on especially since we’ve recently had a couple small additions to the fun come our way. Here it goes:
1. The publisher of one of my favorite books, Daemon, was kind enough to send me a handful of signed copies to hand out at TECH cocktail Boston. I am not sure how we’re going to do that just yet but if anyone has any fun and creative ways for us to distribute them I’m all ears. Just post your ideas in the comments or e-mail me at eric [at] techcocktail.com.
2. The guys from Vroop, an internet device design lab based in Attleboro, MA, have decided to put two of their Liveboards up for auction (the Liveboard is a wireless baseball scoreboard device). If that wasn’t cool enough all proceeds from the auction will go straight to the Jimmy Fund to help fund cancer research.
We’re not sure on ticket prices and such right now but make sure to come prepared (i.e. bring your cash - remember you can always check your bank balance via your mobile thanks to Geezeo so you’ll know if you have the budget).
Getting your hands on a Liveboard prior to the MLB playoffs beginning should be a top priority and what better way to do it than by donating to the Jimmy Fund. Go Red Sox!
So that’s the update as of now. Looking forward to seeing everyone a week from Thursday.
Job Alert: Inventables is Hiring
August 28, 2007
Man, the great jobs just keep on coming. My friends over at Inventables are currently looking for a handful of people to join their team in some key areas. For those that don’t know about Inventables here is the elevator pitch:
Inventables consults with Fortune 500 companies on new materials and technologies and how they can be used to improve their products or create new products. It’s a super fun environment for those that like to try out cutting edge stuff and then figure out how to apply it to real situations and products. (Zach, if I butchered this just let me know.)
Currently Inventables is looking for the following positions:
Senior Director of Client Engagements
Just click on the job titles for more info and e-mail jobs at Inventables.com if you’d like to apply.
Chicago Writer Wanted: Thrillist is Hiring
August 21, 2007
Thrillist - a daily e-mail newsletter for young guys who like to party - is looking for a writer to head up the new Chicago edition. I know there are a lot of folks out there who could knock this one out of the park which is why I am posting this job even though it isn’t a pure tech play. Check out the job description below for more info:
Thrillist.com — the leading mens lifestyle e-newsletter — is hiring a Chicago editor. This is a full time, benefited position and a chance to get into the fastest growing email list in the country.
This person will be responsible for:
- 6 pieces of content a week (250 words each)
- Cultivating a network of tipsters, freelancers and publicists so as to know well in advance when things are happening
- Representing the brand in Chicago
We want a candidate who:
- has at least 3 years of experience writing professionally
- is facile with short service write ups
- is funny
- has lived in Chicago for at least 5 years
- is eager to meet people and develop connections
- is very responsible and self motivated
Please contact adam@thrillist.com if you`re interested.
TECH cocktail Photos Bump With Animoto
August 21, 2007
I recently discovered a new application called Animoto that converts photos into a short length video. I pulled in some previous TECH cocktail photos and created this video which highlights some of the events, fast cars and bling that makes up a TECH cocktail. Ok, ok, I am just kidding about the fast cars and bling but Animoto did bring the TECH cocktail photos to life. Check out the video titled TECH cocktail Bumps & Blings (below).
Help Wanted: SitterCity is Hiring
August 17, 2007
SitterCity is looking for a VP of Technology and a Senior Web Developer and I would highly recommend looking into this if you’re looking for a change. Why you ask?
First of all, Dan Ratner and Genevieve Thiers (and the rest of the crew too) are amazing people. Not only are they smart and fun they are also incredibly nice and I could only imagine they would be outstanding co-workers. Second, SitterCity is growing quickly and you can still join the team nice and early and take a large role in the organization. Third, their offices are incredible. Trust me, I have been over there. The amount of natural light is simply awesome. Fourth, you could work near the Jason Rexilius since he works out of SitterCity’s space. C’mon, who doesn’t want that opportunity? And the list goes on….
On to some more info on SitterCity and the job descriptions. Again, please do check them out. These are a couple of great positions at a great company.
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SitterCity is America’s first and largest online service for connecting parents with babysitters, nannies, pet sitters, house sitters, elder care provides and other in-home care providers. We’ve been voted one of TIME’s 50 Coolest Websites, been featured on major media from ABC to the Wall Street Journal and won top awards including the Women’s Business Development Center Rising Star Award, the Small Business Administration National Championship Award, and a Stevie. Every day, we’re working to improve the future of in-home care and … it’s fun!
Sittercity is a great place to work. We’re located in the River North area of Chicago, next to the El, amid some of the best shops and restaurants in the world and just blocks from Michigan Ave. Our offices and entrepreneurial culture are engaging and the opportunities to grow with the company are limitless. Our team is quirky and fun, but also the best at what they do. Right now we’re building out our technology team, so we need senior engineers and a VP of Technology.
Vice President of Technology
Attention all technical geniuses and Web gurus! Sittercity is looking for a Vice President of Technology to oversee and drive development of our site and management of our internal development team. This position is responsible for all aspects of the software development process including designing new features and site architecture components, scheduling and project management of the development team, coordinating with the QA team, and working with all other stakeholders to assure that the product and development efforts match the business initiatives of the company. Strong management and business skills are required as well as deep technical skills. This position is also part of the core management team of the company. This position reports to the COO.
Responsibilities:
* Deep knowledge of LAMP development (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).
* Architect-level knowledge of web development including MVC design patterns, ACID, caching for high-performance, tiered application development, and object-oriented software development.
* Experience with industry-standard software development processes including source control, functional and technical design processes, code review, testing/QA, deployment, bug-management and debugging.
* Strong interpersonal skills (and a sense of humor).
* Strong time management and project management skills.
* Strong personnel management skills. The company currently has two full-time developers and will be hiring more.
* Overseeing integration with third-party applications and software-as-a-service.
* Ability to coordinate and manage projects with partners, vendors, and corporate customers.
* Coordinate with marketing and customer service to incorporate customer feedback into the site.
* Coordinate with all company stakeholders through the design and implementation process of new features.
* Participate in the overall management of the company.
Skills and requirements:
* 5+ years in software development (including at least a year on LAMP).
* Business experience including management-level experience in a small or startup company.
* Strong entrepreneurial spirit, high-energy and creative problem-solving ability.
* Self-starter, work with minimal oversight.
* Bachelors degree (computer science or technical field preferred; business or financial background also ok).
* Demonstrated success with high volume web sites (500,000+ users, multi-server, tiered architecture, etc.).
* High level of creativity.
* Superior organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
* Collaborative working style.
* Understanding of online financial transactions.
* Understanding of online security issues.
* High level of versatility.
* Able to work in the US. Sittercity does not sponsor visas.
To apply, please send your resume and salary requirements to jobs@sittercity.com.
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Senior Web Developer - LAMP
Attention all fast-paced, fun-loving, and startup-experienced tech gurus: Sittercity is looking for a senior PHP Developer. Don’t be a cog in the wheel at a major corporation - gain experience with the complete software development process. Our elite team is small (but growing quickly), our platform is LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), and the job details are as follows:
Responsibilities:
* Develop and maintain the cutting-edge software underlying Sittercity’s website.
* Participate in design meetings and code reviews.
* Manage database upgrades and changes.
* Write and maintain technical documentation.
Skills and requirements:
* 3+ years of experience developing large-scale web applications including at least 1 year on the LAMP platform.
* BA or equivalent in computer science, engineering, or a related discipline.
* Familiarity with object-oriented programming theory and practice.
* Familiarity with RDBMS issues including designing schema, performance tuning, and ACID transactions.
* Familiarity with e-commerce and enterprise-level application design issues.
* Experience with the entire software development lifecycle (specification, development, QA, deployment, change control, etc.).
* US citizenship or work visa. Sittercity does not sponsor visa applications at this time.
To apply, please send your resume and salary requirements to jobs@sittercity.com.
ChicagoCon 2007: White Hats Come Together in Defense of the Digital Frontier
August 17, 2007
For all the hackers out there - This just in:
September 17 – 23, 2007
ChicagoCon combines a professional security conference, certification training and a hacker con into a single, unique event. Not just another bootcamp, ChicagoCon adds value to your training dollars by providing top instructors, recognized certifications, keynotes, evening presentations, hacking demos, gift bags & more.
11 courses including CISSP, CEH, CHFI, Expert Pen Testing, Web App Hacking, Cisco (CCNA, SNPA), SOX/COBIT, Security+, Linux+, PMP… From the novice, to the ultimate techie, to the CISO chair… everyone interested in a career in security will find something at ChicagoCon, your one-stop shop for security training and certification. Keynotes: John C. Dvorak, Steve Hunt, Lance Spitzner, Symantec, DoD. Presented by ethicalhacker.net.
Event Press Release ::: Podcast About the Event
TECH cocktail Boston: Sold Out in a Day
August 15, 2007
Wow! This is absolutely the best response we have had for a first time event. Another reason why I love Boston - Bostonians are always up for a tech party (myself included).
So, here’s what we’re going to do for those that didn’t jump on the RSVP list. We opened up a wait list which can be found at the same URL (techcocktailboston1.eventbrite.com). Since Tequila Rain is part of Jillian’s we figure there will be plenty to do while we sort out now shows and work some of the wait list into the event. Heck, maybe we can end up taking up all of Jillian’s too. Why not? Go big or go home right?
This is how we’ve handled the Chicago and DC overflow in the past and it has worked great since there are typically a handful of no shows and a good portion of the wait list usually gets in.
If you haven’t RSVPed yet please hop onto the wait list and RSVP there as soon as you can. Also, now that we know what demand is like we’ll make sure to line up a bigger venue for the next one.
Thanks again Boston for making this event memorable before it even begins. See you all in a few weeks!
Side note: Make sure to subscribe to the feed or e-mail list (powered by the feed) to get all TECH cocktail Boston related updates.
Official Announcement: TECH cocktail Boston
August 13, 2007
I am personally very excited to finally be able to officially announce TECH cocktail Boston. Ever since Frank and I founded TECH cocktail in Chicago back in May 2006 I have always hoped it would eventually lead to one back in my home state and specifically my favorite city on Earth and now it is only a few weeks away.
Here are the details:
Venue: Tequila Rain on Landsdowne (right behind the left center field wall of Fenway)
Time: 6:30pm -9pm
Date: Thursday, September 6th
Cost: $0 plus free drinks - yup, it’s free!
RSVP here: http://techcocktailboston1.eventbrite.com/
Yes, you read right. The event is free and will include free drinks and other great stuff which is all made possible by our outstanding sponsors that include (in no particular order):
Compete.com - Geezeo - ZoomInfo - Northbridge Venture Partners
I would also like to send a big thanks over to the guys on the ground in Boston who are getting things done for TC Boston. Again, in no particular order, they are:
Peter Glyman - Geezeo
Shawn Ward - Geezeo
Jay Meattle - Compete.com
Brian Balfour - ZoomInfo
These guys have really done it all including raising the money, choosing the venue, negotiating the deal with the venue, etc. Without them TECH cocktail Boston would not be possible.
So, there you have it. We’re bringing TECH cocktail to Beantown and I am have no doubt it will be wicked awesome! See you in Boston on the 6th.
Side note: You must RSVP and be 21+ to attend. Space is limited to RSVP as soon as you can.
Facebook in Chicago
August 13, 2007
This just in from Keith Schacht:
This weekend a member of the Facebook Platform Team will be in Chicago to introduce the Platform and answer questions. Please join us to share ideas, troll for partners on your latest project, check out app demonstrations, seek developer support direct from Facebook Developers, or just socialize with people like you.
Members of the Facebook Platform Team will give an introduction to Platform, discuss best practices around product design & viral marketing techniques, and hold a technical Q&A. Plus other talks on monetizing FB apps, lessons learned, and more. Free snacks, lunch, and drinks/beer will be provided.
Details at http://www.facebookchicago.com
RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/event
Meet a Loogler: Google Chicago is Holding an Event Next Week
August 9, 2007
What’s a Loogler you ask? Well, a local Googler of course. How could you not know that? Anyhow, to continue on the “work with a TECH cocktail co-founder” thread than Frank started the other day I am officially passing on word that Google Chicago is looking for some great people to join the team.
As part of the search we are holding a networking event at the W Lakeshore on Tuesday the 14th of August which will prove to be a lot of fun I am sure.
You’ll finally be able to meet some Googlers based here in Chicago which should dispel the myths that a) we’re scary evil people with horns and b) Googlers don’t actually exist in Chicago. You will also be able to confirm the myth that we do in fact continually mash words together with “oogle” to form many new “Googleriffic” words like Loogler (disclaimer: Loogler is something I made up and not a company sanctioned “oogle” word).
Here is the official invite:
Google Online Sales and Operations (OSO) and Google Media Sales (GMS) are excited to host a special networking event for advertising, sales, operations, and general management professionals on Tuesday, August 14th at the W Lakeshore Hotel in Chicago, IL.
Join us for an evening of food, drinks and networking with a brief presentation by Grady Burnett, Head of Online Sales and Operations of the new Google office in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Jim Lecinski, Managing Director for Google’s Central sales region. After the presentation we will host a Q&A session followed by more time to meet and mingle with Googlers from the local OSO and GMS teams.
Please click here to learn more and register for the event. Space is limited so register as soon as you can! Who knows, perhaps you could soon be a Noogler (New + Googler. Do I really need to keep explaining this?).
Oh, one more thing. This event is geared toward people with 2 - 10 years experience in advertising or management related fields.
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Preferred Accounting Services Provider: Frost, Ruttenberg & Rothblatt, P.C. 
Preferred Legal Services Provider:
Hinshaw & Culbertson
Preferred Charity:
Teaming for Technology
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