Mark Michaelis
Chief Technical Architect, Founder, Author of Essential C# series, Microsoft Regional Director and MVP
Spokane Valley, Washington, United States
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Chief Technical Architect, Founder, Author of Essential C# series, Microsoft Regional Director and MVP
Mark Michaelis (itl.tc/Mark) founded IntelliTect, a high-end software development company based in Spokane, Washington. When not leading his company, he teaches at Eastern Washington University, presents conference sessions on technology and leadership, or delivers updates for the next edition of his book.
A world-class C# expert who honed his engineering skills by serving on several Microsoft software design review teams, including C#, Azure, and Azure DevOps, Mark is the author of Essential C# (itl.tc/EssentialCSharp). As a direct result of his work with C# and Azure DevOps, Mark has been a distinguished Microsoft MVP for over 25 years and a Microsoft Regional Director since 2007. A firm believer in autonomy, mastery and purpose, Mark’s management and leadership style enables him to successfully handle a day with only 24 hours in it.
Mark and his wife, Elisabeth, have invested a significant amount of the profit generated by IntelliTect into fighting debilitating poverty around the world. They have done this by thoughtfully partnering with charity organizations to increase access to basic food and water infrastructure, improve educational opportunities, and fight injustices like human trafficking and the systematic oppression of women.
When not bonding with his computer, Mark enjoys Frisbee, soccer, biking, and showing his kids real life in other countries. Mark lives in Spokane, Washington. He is looking forward to finding his next adventure following his return from traversing the length of Africa.
Area of Expertise
Topics
The Exponential Technology Revolution
In 2025, we are starting on the 5th industrial revolution - Industry 5.0 - and its shift towards a more human-centric approach to industrialization. Unlike Industry 4.0, which focused on automation, cloud computing, AI, ML, IoT, Big Data, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and blockchain to optimize efficiency, Industry 5.0 emphasizes singularity and the collaboration between humans and advanced technologies to extend beyond productivity, aiming to enhance worker well-being, sustainability, and societal value. This session explores the opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations we face today in striving to be fully human. Don't miss this session to catch the vision and obligations that accompany the world of tomorrow.
Building a Legacy with a Lifetime of Giving
As someone in the tech. industry, I expect that almost everyone attending this talk is in the richest 1% of the global population and, as such, you have the opportunity to literally save lives and change the world. In this counter-culture talk, we discuss the concept of a lifetime of giving and what it means to build a legacy of positive change in the world. We consider difficult topics like how much to give, where to give, how to be a wise steward of what you have, and how to give without hurting. It is surprising how hard it is to give strategically in a way that truly makes a difference. Join us for this open discussion about what you can do practically to truly change the world.
An Epic Adventure that will Change Your Life
We've all dreamed of taking an amazing adventure and seeing the world. Then we think of all the reasons we can't. In 2023, my son and I drove the length of Africa, from south to north. Despite every reason not to, and some crazy challenges along the way, it was one of the best decisions I ever made, and it changed who we are for the rest of our lives. Join me for incredible stories from the road, and for a chance to change your worldview, re-examine your priorities, and dream beyond your objections.
The Future of Software Development: The Path Forward in a Changing Industry
What happened to software engineering? Job openings for software engineers have dropped by roughly 25%, and many developers are wondering where they fit. In this session, we examine the forces behind the decline, from AI-assisted development to shifting hiring economics, and separate the real threats from the hype. Then we turn to what you can do about it: where to focus your learning, which skills are gaining value, and where new opportunities are emerging. Whether you want to strengthen your position or you're looking for your next role, you'll leave with a practical plan for building career resilience and standing out to employers.
Mapping AI Maturity: From Developer Capabilities to Enterprise Transformation
How mature is your use of AI, and your organization's? This session presents a practical framework for assessing AI maturity at both levels. We begin with the individual developer, evaluating how effectively you apply AI-assisted coding, reasoning tools, automation, testing, and domain expertise in daily work. We then expand to the organization using a four-level model: laggards, professionals, strategic innovators, and digital transformers. You'll leave with clear rubrics, diagnostic questions, and concrete next steps for raising AI maturity, both your own and your organization's.
Mastering the Agentic Coding Workflow
Agentic coding has moved developers from typing every line to expressing intent, directing agents, and verifying results. But getting from an impressive prototype to code you'd ship takes a disciplined workflow. In this demo-driven session, you'll learn the practical techniques that make AI a dependable teammate: writing prompts that capture intent, managing context across long sessions, steering an agent's reasoning, debugging collaboratively, and validating what it generates with reviews, tests, and guardrails. You'll see where vibe coding works, where it breaks down, and how to close the gap. You'll leave with a repeatable workflow for shipping AI-assisted code at production quality.
AI Axioms: Principles for Thriving in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
AI tools change every few months, but the principles for using them well endure. This session introduces a set of practical “AI Axioms”: durable truths for an era where intelligence is abundant but wisdom remains scarce. One example: never accept work from AI that AI could do itself. Rather than covering specific tools or tactics, we explore the mental models behind good decision-making, delegation, leadership, and personal leverage. You'll leave with a framework you can keep applying long after today's tools have been replaced.
DevSum 2024 Sessionize Event
Mark Michaelis
Chief Technical Architect, Founder, Author of Essential C# series, Microsoft Regional Director and MVP
Spokane Valley, Washington, United States
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