RECAP: Nerds Like Me Initiation Meetup [Nerds Like Me]
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RECAP: Nerds Like Me Initiation Meetup

Jonathan Shertok
June 02, 2025

Hello Fellow Nerds,

The inaugural meetup meetup took place at Broken Tee Brewing in Highwood, IL last Thursday. We had roughly 30 attendees, from the AI-curious to the full-on hyper nerds (I may or may not represent that end of the spectrum).

Two presentations anchored the evening: • Kevin Chaplin, co-founder of Headquarters for AI, gave a walkthrough of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, CustomGPTs, Canvas, and n8n, illustrating how these tools can be used to construct end-to-end workflows. • Vlad Brener presented a machine learning workflow designed to optimize March Madness bracket performance. His approach prioritized simplicity while delivering competitive predictive accuracy.

Plenty of time was set aside for open discussion, and most of us ended up staying until bar close.

Three quick actions for you all:

1) For those who made it, please fill out the Recap Form so we can do some reinforcement learning and execute even better next time. 2) 👍 Like the LinkedIn post to spread awareness and grow 3) Send the Background form to any nerdy friends - this is how I create and maintain the email list.

Appreciate everyone who made the time. Looking forward to what builds from here.

(Photo) A group of adult men are gathered indoors, likely in a restaurant or event space, posing for a photograph. Many of them are wearing name tags, and a large screen displaying 'No signal input' is visible on the brick wall in the background. Text: No signal input EXIT A group of adult men | Indoor, appears to be a casual gathering space like a restaurant or bar with exposed brick walls and industrial-style lighting. | Multiple people (approximately 30), most are smiling and looking towards the camera, many wearing name tags, a large blue screen, and industrial-style interior design elements. | #8B664B | #007bff | #4F4F4F | #A9A9A9 | Group portrait, candid, wide shot. | Colors: #8B664B, #007bff, #4F4F4F, #A9A9A9 Note: The image captures a real-world scene with multiple people and objects in a specific setting, which is characteristic of a photograph.

(Photo) A group of men are gathered indoors in what appears to be a casual meeting or presentation setting. One man is seated at a high table with a laptop, facing a large screen displaying a spreadsheet, while other attendees stand or sit, observing the screen or the presenter. A group of people attending a presentation or meeting | Indoor, in a venue with exposed brick walls and an industrial aesthetic, possibly a co-working space or event room. | A large wall-mounted monitor displaying unreadable spreadsheet data, a man presenting from a laptop, several men observing, and exposed ceiling pipes and industrial lighting. | #8B6D5A | #E0E0E0 | #333333 | #90C0D0 | Candid, event photography | Colors: #8B6D5A, #E0E0E0, #333333, #90C0D0 Note: The image is a direct capture of a real-world scene featuring people and an indoor environment, fitting the definition of a photograph.

(Photo) A group of men are gathered indoors in what appears to be a casual venue, possibly a bar or a community space. One man is standing in the center, speaking to the seated and standing attendees, under industrial-style pendant lights. A group of men attending a gathering or presentation | Indoor, casual venue (possibly a bar or event space) with large windows showing an outdoor street scene at dusk/night. | Multiple people (mostly men), one person speaking, dartboards on the wall, high tables and stools, industrial pendant lighting, exposed ductwork. | #E0E0E0 | #705541 | #3A3A3A | #A0B0C0 | #FFFFE0 | Candid, indoor event photography. | Colors: #E0E0E0, #705541, #3A3A3A, #A0B0C0, #FFFFE0 Note: This image is a direct capture of a real-world scene involving people and an indoor environment. It depicts a moment in time rather than being a graphic design, logo, or illustration.

With Regards,

JONATHAN Y. SHERTOK, CPA The Nerd

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