Ken Versaw
Software Engineering Manager - Nelnet Business Solutions
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
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I am an Asp.Net Insider and a Software Engineering Manager with over 22 years of software development experience. I am also active in the regional software development community, organizing a monthly software development meetup (Lincoln.Code) and 3 annual software development conferences (Nebraska.Code, Prairie.Code, and Indy.Code).
Area of Expertise
Topics
Leading the Machine: The Software Engineering Managers Playbook for AI-First Teams
The role of the Software Engineering Manager (SEM) is being fundamentally reshaped by AI-first development practices. This isn’t about replacing your team with AI—it’s about leading humans who wield AI as their most powerful tool. From redefining productivity metrics to navigating the emotional dynamics of a workforce questioning its own relevance, this session delivers a brutally practical playbook for the modern engineering leader.
Whether you’re an engineer plotting your path into management, a first-time manager finding your footing, or a director/CTO steering an entire organization through the AI transition, you’ll leave with frameworks, metrics, and real-world strategies you can apply on Monday morning.
Debugging Your Brain: Fixing the flaws in YOUR neutral network
Developing software is akin to magic. What starts as pure thought is transformed into a virtual tool to help users achieve value and results. The most important hardware of that transformation is your brain, which was developed long before computers. What happens when a tool that evolved to help us survive on the plains of Africa is repurposed to create websites and mobile apps? What flaws are present in our brains and how do those flaws cause inefficiencies in our work and personal lives? How can we use these insights to avoid potential pitfalls?
This talk is a light, self-reflective, interactive discussion about metacognition, logical fallacies, and the cognitive biases that we all harbor, and the problems they cause in our daily lives.
What to expect when you are expected to Game Master
You bought the books and read the rules. You've invited your friends and filled the chip bowls. You are about to transport the group into a magical world and fill their lives with adventure! Now what?
In this session we will cover everything you need to know to get your tabletop role-playing game up and running and set up for long term success, including:
- How to run a successful "Session 0"
- How to prep without over-prepping
- How to use AI to create a more vibrant and lifelike world
- Common pitfalls of first time GM's and how to avoid them
- Different flavors of role-playing games
The hobby of tabletop role-playing games is exploding, and every group needs a confident Game Master. This session is filled with practical advice that will set you up for success!
C# Past, Present, and Future
C# is now over 20 years old but continues to grow and change. In this presentation, we will:
* Start at the very beginning and explore the roots of the language
* Explore the versions and the important features that were released, and what they meant for the future of the language
* Review the most current release and the way the newest language features allow us to accomplish our goals
* Look to the future and what is next
Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of C#, .NET, where it came from, where it is going, and how to take advantage of the newest language features. This presentation is demo and code-heavy with lots of examples and fun!
Automated Testing in Angular
Automated testing is a key component of code quality and is the base that gives us the freedom and confidence to engage in developer-friendly practices like CI/CD. In this presentation we will discuss:
- What are the different types of automated tests?
- What technologies and frameworks are used in automated testing Angular applications?
- What techniques can we use to ensure that our Angular application is properly tested so we can have confidence in the quality of our code?
Lastly, we will look at an existing component and write tests for it using the points of discussion above. The goal of the session is for every attendee to leave with a greater understanding of automated testing in the Angular ecosystem and the confidence to write their own automated tests.
Git Configuration secrets THEY don't want you to know about
In 2021 the Git core developers were asked to reset their config settings to see what working on Git "Out of the Box" was really like. They were then challenged to come up with the top settings that they really wanted to change. What came from that exercise was a list of 9 settings that the core development team mostly unanimously agreed should be the defaults.
Attendees will leave this session with the following take ways:
* How to configure Git so it is more ergonomic and pleasant to work with
* How Git settings may change depending on our workflow
* A deeper understanding of the internals of Git
20 or so C# Tips to make you a better developer
Ready to level up your C# game? In this fast-paced, practical session, we'll explore 20 (or so!) tips and techniques to help you become a more effective C# developer. From language fundamentals to modern features like LINQ, pattern matching, and dependency injection, these insights will help you write cleaner, more maintainable, and more performant code. Whether you're an experienced developer or just looking to brush up on your C# skills, you'll walk away with actionable takeaways you can apply immediately in your own projects. Join us to unlock new perspectives and boost your C# toolkit!
Learning Python as a C# developer
Interested in expanding your toolkit beyond C#? Python is one of the most popular and versatile programming languages today, and learning it can open up exciting new possibilities. In this session, we'll explore how to apply your C# knowledge to quickly learn Python's syntax, structures, and core concepts. We'll cover similarities and differences, highlight common pitfalls, and share tips to make your transition smooth. Whether you're working on data science, automation, or just broadening your skills, this talk will give you a practical jumpstart in Python from a C# perspective.
Stir Trek 2026 Sessionize Event Upcoming
CodeMash 2026 Sessionize Event
The Commit Your Code Conference 2025! Sessionize Event
Michigan Technology Conference 2025 Sessionize Event
Community Over Code NA 2024 Sessionize Event
dev up 2024 Sessionize Event
Denver Dev Day | May 2024 Sessionize Event
Orlando Code Camp 2024 Sessionize Event
Atlanta Developers' Conference 2023 Sessionize Event
Code PaLOUsa 2022 Sessionize Event
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