Connect with Josh @ Tech-Ed Orlando – I’ll be There!

My goal at Tech-Ed this year is to talk to as many people about the Developer/ITPro community and Microsoft’s engagement in that space.  I’ll be hosting a BOF session on the Microsoft’s role in the Community, a Focus group on MSDN Forums, and a focus group specifically on Devdiv Customer Connection activities such as the Product Feedback Center, Community Tech Previews, blogs, shared source, developer chats, and forums. 

In general I’ll be chatting up as many of you as possible with the general questions “How are we doing?”, “What should we do more/less of?”, and “What are we missing out on?”. 

If you’d like to guarantee you run into me at Tech-Ed I’m listing my schedule here.  You can also send mail directly to jledgard@microsoft.com. It will pump straight through to my cell phone so you can be sure I’ll see it. 

Otherwise you might find me helping out at various VS booths, the Microsoft.com Community Lounge , or somewhere in the background of the entourage I’m sure will be following Gretchen  around if past conferences are any indication.

Sunday, June 5, 2005
AM: Arrive tired after direct red-eye flight from Seattle.

MVP Engagement Event before Tech*Ed US
Special kick-off event!  Start with lunch hosted by Sean O’Driscoll and your MVP team.  Spend the afternoon discussing different topics and opportunities with Microsoft product groups, field personnel, and the MVP Program team.  And, finish the day networking at a relaxing reception. 
 
Date:    Sunday, June 5, 2005
Time:    11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch with MVPs and Microsoft team members
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Roundtable sessions with Microsoft Product Groups, Field personnel, and MVP team members
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – MVP Networking Reception
 
Location:          The Peabody Orlando - Plaza Ballroom G & H
                        9801 International Drive
                        Orlando, FL 32819
                        Telephone: (407) 345-4506

Monday June 6th 

Focus Group (Hosting): MSDN Forums
Date:   Monday, June 6th, 2005
Time:   2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Description: Help the Microsoft Communities team by giving feedback on the Microsoft MSDN Web Forums release. We are looking for 15-20 participants who are willing to engage in an active, open-ended discussion on the current strengths and weaknesses of the forum system as well as help set the future direction of the MSDN forums. 
Location:  Room N319

Focus Group (Fly on the wall): NFSC - Federated Community Services
Date:   Monday, June 6th, 2005
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Geek Dinner (info)
Date:   Monday, June 6th, 2005
Time:   8:30 PM - ???
Location: Bahama Breeze
 within walking distance from the OCCC
8849 INTERNATIONAL DR.
ORLANDO FL 32819
 (407) 248-2499

Tuesday, June 7th, 2005

Focus Group (Fly on the Wall): RSS
Date: Tuesday, June 7,
Time:   3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Birds of a Feather (Hosting):   The Developer Community and the Role Microsoft Should Play
Description: I work as a PM on the Developer Division Customer Connection team and we'd like to have an informal discussion with developers at Tech-Ed about the state of the developer community and the role Microsoft employees and the company are and should be playing in that community.
Date: Tuesday, June 7,
Time:   9:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Track Cabana 08
 
Wednesday June 8th

Focus Group (Hosting): Developer Customer Connection: Product Feedback, CTPs, Blogs, Chats, Forums, etc. Date: Wednesday June 8th
Time:   8:30AM – 11:30AM (Breakfast Provided)
Note: Feel free to stop in for all or part of this. I’ll post a more detailed schedule once I have it.
Description:  Help shape the future of transparency and customer connection for the Developer Division teams that deliver Visual Studio and the .Net Framework.  This is a more focused discussion following up from the BOF session I’m hosting Tuesday evening. 

We’ll be reviewing and capturing feedback on the MSDN Product Feedback Center, MSDN Forums, the Community Tech Preview Experience, and development team engagement in chats, blogs, user groups, etc.
Location:  Room N312

Party: Microsoft Influencer Appreciation Party
Date: Wednesday June 8th
Time: 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Location
Metropolis & Matrix
Pointe Orlando
9101 International Drive, 2nd Level
Orlando, FL 32819

Thursday, June 9th
Sleeping In followed by a free day!

Friday, June 19th
I’ll be leaving in the morning for a few days off to be spent in Tenn with Gretchen.