About CJUG
The Chicago Java User’s Group is here to help the Java Professional. We want to make Chicago the ‘best’ place to be a Java developer, by offering a support network that allows each individual Java developer to grow! Its only purpose it to serve its community by focusing in three areas:
Learning about the Java Craft
Java is a very expansive language, with new innovations coming out the door every other day, and more refined techniques being contributed by the community non-stop. Here at CJUG, we want to help our members to learn how to be better at what they already practice, thus, becoming better at their craft; also, there are always people willing to teach and help those that are just starting to walk through the same professional path. The CJUG is committed to help those willing to teach be matched with those wanting to listen. As such mentor activities and initiatives are scheduled for inclusion. To do so, we are continually expanding our support activities including:
- Monthly Java technology presentations
- Code-A-Thons, and/or Hacker nights
- Mentor/Apprenticeship initiatives
- Reaching out to College and Universities to include new developing Java Professionals
Making a Difference in the Java Community
Since we represent the Chicago Java professionals in the world-stage, we want to make sure that our voice is heard. Our opinions and contributions to the Java language matters, and as such the CJUG coordinates activities to shape, change and grow the Java Ecosystem. The CJUG also offers a platform for open source and/or local projects to present their works, and ask for advice. These goals are translated into:
- Sponsoring Adopt-a-JSR program
- Offering a Stage to present and promote new Open Source Projects/Contributions, including constructive feedback
- Providing support for Java Open Source initiatives
- Social Networking Events
Growing as a Java Professional
The CJUG will help its members find networking and career advancing opportunities. Chicago has the need for willing and able Java professionals and the CJUG is committed to help match those needs with willing participants. The CJUG will also help newcomers to the programming craft (recent graduates) jump-start their professional careers. The CJUG will also work with the employer pool to help them find their right candidates and to contribute to our other goals. To do so, the CJUG hosts:
- Professional Networking Events
- Career-Oriented Distribution List
- Sessions on Java Career Choices
- Coordination with Sponsors for Job opportunities
- Informal Job Fairs
It’s all YOU!
The CJUG is here for you, and the activities are around you. Be a participating member by joining our Meetup, or even better, be an active member and help the organization that is helping other developers be the best at their Java craft!
Email (general inquiries): board-at-cjug.org
Officers, Board, and Volunteers
Officers & Board
President - Mary Grygelski
Mary is a passionate developer advocate and software engineer who has been riding the tech wave since the early 90’s, starting with Unix/C, then Java and Open source, and now the cloud, web and mobile. She is a very active member of the software community.
Chairman of the Board - Bob Paulin
Bob Paulin is an independent consultant and speaker that has been developing open source software for the past 10 years. Bob has presented at large international conferences such as ApacheCon, JavaOne and Devnexus. He frequently shares his knowledge and opinions on the Java Pub House and Java Off Heap podcasts. Bob is actively involved in the Chicago Java User Group (CJUG) and CJUG4Kids presenter/organizer. Bob is a passionate member of the ASF and donates his time to Apache Felix and Apache Tika as a committer and PMC respectively. When not coding, Bob enjoys coaching football, robotics, and spending time with his wife and 4 kids.
Secretary of the Board - Matt Sicker
Board member - Josh Juneau
Board Member - Michael Minella
Community Leader - Svetlana Levitan
Svetlana Levitan has been a Software Engineer implementing statistical and machine learning algorithms in Java and C++ since 2000. She is also working on open standards for machine learning model deployment PMML and ONNX. In 2018 Svetlana became a Developer Advocate with IBM Center for Open-source Data and AI Technologies, a meetup organizer and conference presenter. She loves learning new technologies and applying Machine Learning approaches to solving practical problems.
Board Member - Todd Ginsberg
Todd Ginsberg is a Principal Software Developer at Netspend, a payments company in Austin, TX where he is responsible for prototypes, experiments, and proofs of concept. Todd has been writing in Java since 1995, and Kotlin since 2016. When not programming, he enjoys reading, walking/hiking, doughnuts, and Formula 1.
