• Logistics - Let your team know the location, parking situation, when they should arrive, and what they can expect during the event. This includes when they can expect breaks, how lunch will be handled, how set up and cleanup will be handled, the direct responsibilities of each person, etc.
• What to wear - Give specific instructions on what to wear and encourage comfortable shoes. I usually tell my team to wear business casual attire or their company swag, but the attire vibe completely depends on the event and the culture of the company. 
• What to bring - Give your team a list of things to bring that will help them engage and stay comfortable. I encourage my engineers to bring their name tags, business cards, a small set of plans to show off, water, snacks, sun protection (if outdoors), and their energy and positivity. 

Compiled by Martha Wright, Harris Kocher Smith

What is Generative AI and how does it work?
An engaging introduction to generative AI. This talk is delivered in easy-to-understand terms and will give you a good general overview of what the technology is, how it works, and what the future holds. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6R7Ym6Vy_I

Large Language Models and Where to Use Them: Part 1
Are you having trouble understanding how to use LLMs (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) in your daily tasks? Take a step back and learn some general use cases for generative AI.
https://txt.cohere.com/llm-use-cases/

How to write great AI prompts
Now that you have some use cases, learn how to compose effective prompts when using LLMs.
https://www.notion.so/blog/how-to-write-ai-prompts

Google NotebookLM
An AI notebook for everyone. Use this free resource to create a personalized AI that’s grounded in information you upload to your notebook. Ask questions, get a summary, and generate ideas.
https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-google-ai/

IBM Skillsbuild
Ready to take a deeper dive? IBM offers free, skills-based learning and has an excellent e-learning class on AI Fundamentals. You can also opt to take the entire course and earn a credential within the platform. 
https://skillsbuild.org/

Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path
Google offers its own overview of generative AI concepts. The first video is another great introduction to generative AI.
https://www.cloudskillsboost.google/paths/118

By Taylor Coe, Sasaki

My family has developed a strange ritual to make it through the doldrums of January: we watch the entire eight hours of Peter Jackson’s Get Back Beatles documentary, broken up into 20- to 40-minute chunks.

It’s a nice way to spend the cold first days of the year. It’s a balm, of course, to hang with the Fab Four, but it’s also an inspiration—watching these very talented people putting in the work. There is very little resting-on-laurels evident in the eight hours we see. The documentary reminds us that hard work—not talent—is the key. Talent is good, too, but—as witnessed by the growing division between a productive Paul McCartney who loves coming to work every day and a struggling John Lennon who seems to dread it—talent isn’t everything.

I have to credit this observation to Carol Dweck and her phenomenal book Mindset, which offered me a psychological framework to newly see this and many other situations in life.

Based on decades of psychological research, Mindset outlines the striking conclusion that “talent” is not nearly as important as we think. Instead, mindset is the critical differentiator. Dweck outlines two different mindsets we see at work:

A closed mindset is one that thinks we have to play with only the hand we are dealt. “I’m just no good at understanding algebra.” “I wasn’t born with hands that can play piano.” People with a closed mindset are resigned to the “way things are.” Change seems difficult, impossible, or unlikely. Things look predetermined. “I’m good at this, but I’m bad at that.” Talent is all.

The growth mindset sees things differently. “If I really work at it, I can get better at algebra.” “If I don’t make an honest effort, I’ll never know if I can play like Billy Joel.” People with a growth mindset are open to change through the power of hard work. “I’m pretty good at this…but can I get better? I’m not so good at that…but what if I tried harder?” Talent exists, sure, but talent without hard work doesn’t get you very far. And if you have no “natural talent”? Well, we can still put in some hard work and see where it takes us.

Dweck argues that our mindset may be the most important thing in our lives. And it’s not as though people are binary representations: I can have an open mindset about one thing—my guitar playing—and a closed mindset about another—my math skills.

It’s reductive, of course, to claim that it all comes down to your mindset—but if you want to improve some part of your life, then it’s a great place to start. Also: don’t take my word for it—Dweck’s book is a compact, thoughtful, and potentially life-changing read. Pick it up!

By Emily Lawrence, Stambaugh Ness

Over in the busy RiNo neighborhood of Denver, Safta has proven to be one of the best places to try Mediterranean and Israeli cuisine. It's so good and so popular, that they started accepting reservations 60 days out. My boyfriend and I immediately thought of this for our Valentine’s dinner, but apparently everyone else. And because Valentine’s Day is a made up holiday, we decided that we weren’t going to let our cravings for Safta's divine eats go unsatisfied. We jumped at the chance for a Thursday night spot because, let's be honest, weekends are a no-go unless you in advance.

Safta, located in the cozy corner in the Source Hotel, is all about the modern celebration of Israeli cuisine. It's a place where the act of dining transcends the mere consumption of food—it becomes an act of connection and experience. The setup is all about sharing with the table —the left side of the menu features starters (hello, hummus and Salatim), while the big-hitter main courses line the other side. The menu is thoughtfully and creatively invented from a world renowned, passionate chef, who has restaurants all over, is getting ready to have a residency in Las Vegas, and was recently covered by Good Morning America!

On our Thursday night date night, we kicked things off with the hummus and Salatim section. The muhammara and whipped feta are my go-to’s. The whipped feta is an explosion of immediate flavor with the fig vinegar, aleppo, mint, and the mahummara is sweet and smoky with a kick at the end from the hazelnuts, cilantro, and chili oil. The hummus? Safta is quite well-known for their silky smooth, perfectly spiced hummus. I highly recommend the traditional tahini or the heartier lamb ragu. Everything is served with their oven-warm pita, which you can literally watch the chefs make, bake, and come directly out of the oven and set on your table.

720-408-2444  |  3330 Brighton Blvd #201, Denver, CO 80216

By Angie Gomez, BCER
Get ready for the most anticipated event of the year in the design and construction industry! The Marketing Excellence Awards (MEAs) is set to take place on May 16, 2024 at the Downtown Aquarium! This prestigious event is a celebration of outstanding achievements in marketing and communications by professional service firms within the AEC industry, serving as a platform to recognize and commend the dedication, creativity, and effectiveness displayed by marketing and business development teams.

As the date approaches, Colorado industry leaders, marketing professionals, business developers, and creatives alike eagerly anticipate the chance to honor, connect, and be inspired by the innovative campaigns and strategies that have left a lasting impact within the industry over the past year. Attendees gain valuable insights into current industry trends and approaches exhibited by award-winning marketing and business development teams, contributing to the growth and revenue generation of industry firms while staying ahead of the competition. Awarded firms not only receive the recognition and accolades of their peers within the industry but are able to set their firms apart on a regional stage, emphasizing each’s unique qualities through marketing and communication methods that capture the attention, hearts and minds of their clients and the industry as a whole.

The Marketing Excellence Awards promises to be an evening filled with celebration, networking, and the recognition of exceptional achievements in marketing and business development within this dynamic and vital industry. With an emphasis on connection and industry appreciation, attendees are able to socialize with their fellow professionals from across Colorado throughout the evening. This presents a valuable opportunity to build connections, exchange ideas, and form new bonds that can help drive business and build lasting relationships. Though the awards ceremony only occurs over one evening, the insights, memories and industry validation resonate for years to come. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to participate in a meaningful event of industry achievement!