Industry Events

Our Travels in the Software Industry

To live out our company value of having a desire to learn and improve, Trailhead Technology Partners attends, sponsors, hosts, and presents at many industry events. If you see us out in the wild, make sure you say hi.

Staying Current to Lead the Way Forward

The software world is fast-paced. To stay current and provide you with the best advice, we are involved in many software industry events around the country. And we don’t just attend – you’ll find Trailhead team members organizing, hosting, sponsoring, and presenting at many of our industry’s leading events.

Upcoming Events

Below you can information about upcoming events where you could possibly run into members of the Trailhead team. If you do happen to see us out and about, be sure to take a moment to say hi and tell us a little about yourself. We love to learn about fellow travelers in the software industry. 

Filter:

Event Format

NDC Sydney 2026

April 22, 2026

April 24, 2026
Sydney, Australia
Old API, New Tricks: Add MCP to Existing .NET REST Endpoints
Your existing .NET Web APIs have served you well—but what if they could do more with them in the era of AI? In this session, we’ll explore how to breathe new life into your existing ASP.NET Web API endpoints built with ASP.NET CORE by adding Model Creation Protocol (MCP) capabilities to them. We’ll look at how the MCP C# SDK makes it simple to annotate your existing controllers, instantly transforming your REST endpoints into AI-powered services that can empower LLMs and agents. We’ll also compare this approach to a no-code approaches using Azure API Management. Finally we’ll look at where both of these approaches fall short and are only a starting point for a good long-term MCP design. You can use then to jump start the process and then follow the path we outline together to evolve your APIs from technical plumbing to intelligent, task-focused tools that solve real problems using AI—all without starting from scratch.
Warm and Fuzzy Search: AI-Driven Search in .NET
Searching isn’t just about exact matches anymore—users expect search results that understand context and adapt to their input. Enter the world of AI-driven fuzzy search! In this session, we’ll explore how to implement powerful search capabilities in .NET using Microsoft.Extensions.AI, Ollama, ChatGPT, and vectorization techniques. You’ll learn: * How to integrate AI into your .NET applications with Microsoft.Extensions.AI. * How ChatGPT and Ollama enhance contextual understanding. * Why vectorization is key to semantic search and how to implement it. Through live demos and practical examples, you’ll leave equipped to build better, more user-friendly search experiences. Whether you’re a .NET developer or an AI enthusiast, this session will give you tools to level up your search game.

Update Conference Krakow 2026

May 27, 2026

May 28, 2026
Krakow, Poland
Mission-Critical Code: What NASA’s Power of Ten Can Teach Us
Ever wonder how NASA writes software that literally can’t afford to fail? Meanwhile, back on Earth, our code is held together with duct tape and //TODO comments. The stakes might be a little lower for most of us—nobody’s oxygen supply depends on our latest API deployment (hopefully)—but reliability, maintainability, and simplicity still matter. Enter NASA’s Power of Ten rules: a set of software engineering principles designed to minimize complexity and maximize reliability. In this talk, we’ll explore these ten commandments of mission-critical coding, from banning recursion (gasp!) to keeping functions tiny and predictable. Along the way, we’ll discuss how these rules apply beyond space exploration—to web apps, enterprise systems, and anywhere else software keeps the lights on. Whether you’re launching rockets or just trying to keep production from crashing at 2 AM, these lessons can help you write code that’s more robust, maintainable, and maybe even astronaut-approved. So strap in, and join us for a journey through the Power of Ten—no space suit required!
Warm and Fuzzy: Semantic Search in .NET
Searching isn’t just about exact matches anymore—users expect search results that understand context and adapt to their input. Enter the world of AI-driven fuzzy search! In this session, we’ll explore how to implement powerful search capabilities in .NET using Microsoft.Extensions.AI, Ollama, ChatGPT, and vectorization techniques. You’ll learn: * How to integrate AI into your .NET applications with Microsoft.Extensions.AI. * How ChatGPT and Ollama enhance contextual understanding. * Why vectorization is key to semantic search and how to implement it. Through live demos and practical examples, you’ll leave equipped to build better, more user-friendly search experiences. Whether you’re a .NET developer or an AI enthusiast, this session will give you tools to level up your search game.

Nebraska.Code() 2026

July 22, 2026

July 24, 2026
Lincoln, NE
Mission-Critical Code: What NASA’s Power of Ten Can Teach Us
Ever wonder how NASA writes software that literally can’t afford to fail? Meanwhile, back on Earth, our code is held together with duct tape and //TODO comments. The stakes might be a little lower for most of us—nobody’s oxygen supply depends on our latest API deployment (hopefully)—but reliability, maintainability, and simplicity still matter. Enter NASA’s Power of Ten rules: a set of software engineering principles designed to minimize complexity and maximize reliability. In this talk, we’ll explore these ten commandments of mission-critical coding, from banning recursion (gasp!) to keeping functions tiny and predictable. Along the way, we’ll discuss how these rules apply beyond space exploration—to web apps, enterprise systems, and anywhere else software keeps the lights on. Whether you’re launching rockets or just trying to keep production from crashing at 2 AM, these lessons can help you write code that’s more robust, maintainable, and maybe even astronaut-approved. So strap in, and join us for a journey through the Power of Ten—no space suit required!

Beer City Code 2026

August 14, 2026

August 15, 2026
Grand Rapids, MI

The Cloud & AI Summit 2026

September 30, 2026

October 2, 2026
Saint Louis, MO
Avoidifying Over-Complexification: Rooting Out Over-Engineering in Your Projects
Discover the art of unraveling complexity in your software projects and returning to the fundamental principle of KISS (“Keep It Simple, Software developer”). As complexity grows in any system, so do its potential points of failure, underscoring the importance of mastering the art of software architecture simplification. Journey with us as we delve into the most common mistakes that pave the path to software over-engineering. We’ll talk about the allure of gold plating, superfluous features, and premature optimization, among other popular complications. Your takeaway will be some practical strategies that will help you hold the line on over-engineering. In short, you will learn to strike the right balance between power and simplicity in your software projects.
Mission-Critical Code: What NASA’s Power of Ten Can Teach Us
Ever wonder how NASA writes software that literally can’t afford to fail? Meanwhile, back on Earth, our code is held together with duct tape and //TODO comments. The stakes might be a little lower for most of us—nobody’s oxygen supply depends on our latest API deployment (hopefully)—but reliability, maintainability, and simplicity still matter. Enter NASA’s Power of Ten rules: a set of software engineering principles designed to minimize complexity and maximize reliability. In this talk, we’ll explore these ten commandments of mission-critical coding, from banning recursion (gasp!) to keeping functions tiny and predictable. Along the way, we’ll discuss how these rules apply beyond space exploration—to web apps, enterprise systems, and anywhere else software keeps the lights on. Whether you’re launching rockets or just trying to keep production from crashing at 2 AM, these lessons can help you write code that’s more robust, maintainable, and maybe even astronaut-approved. So strap in, and join us for a journey through the Power of Ten—no space suit required!

Recent Past Events

Whenever Trailhead Technology is at an industry event, we come back with key insights and information to share with you. Check out some of our most recent expeditions: 

Microsoft MVP Summit 2026

March 24, 2026

March 26, 2026
Microsoft Headquarters, Redmond, WA

West Michigan Azure User Group

February 10, 2026
Grand Rapids, MI
Expert Panel: How do you Secure your Azure Resources?
We will chat in real time about topics such as Azure Front Door, Azure Application Gateway, virtual networks, private endpoints, and more. What works, what does not, and what we would do differently next time. If you are working in Azure today or just starting to think about security options, bring your questions and experiences. This session is meant to be interactive, welcoming, and driven by conversation rather than presentations.
London

NDC London 2026

January 26, 2026

January 30, 2026
London, England, UK
Warm and Fuzzy: Semantic Search in .NET
Searching isn’t just about exact matches anymore—users expect search results that understand context and adapt to their input. Enter the world of AI-driven fuzzy search! In this session, we’ll explore how to implement powerful search capabilities in .NET using Microsoft.Extensions.AI, Ollama, ChatGPT, and vectorization techniques. You’ll learn: * How to integrate AI into your .NET applications with Microsoft.Extensions.AI. * How ChatGPT and Ollama enhance contextual understanding. * Why vectorization is key to semantic search and how to implement it. Through live demos and practical examples, you’ll leave equipped to build better, more user-friendly search experiences. Whether you’re a .NET developer or an AI enthusiast, this session will give you tools to level up your search game.
Oops, I Leaked It Again: API Security Mistakes Fixed
APIs are the backbone of modern applications—but one small mistake can expose sensitive data, allow unauthorized access, or even take down your entire system. In this session, we’ll explore the most common API security blunders (yes, including some real-world horror stories) and how to fix them with practical, developer-friendly rules of thumb. From accidental data leaks to broken authentication, we’ll cover the pitfalls that put your APIs at risk and the best practices that will save you from disaster. Whether you’re building a new API or securing an existing one, this talk will help you go from “Oops” to “Locked Down”—with a few laughs along the way.

Hot Topics Developer Group (San Diego .NET)

January 20, 2026
Online
‘Why Did They Do That?’ and Other Mysteries Solved by ADRs
We’ve all said it. “Why did they do it like that?” Without Architectural Decision Records (ADRs), these mysteries are inevitable. But don’t fear, ADRs don’t mean boring documentation—these lightweight notes capturing the “why” behind your team’s decisions, saving you from future frustration and misunderstandings. In this session, we’ll explore: * Why teams forget their own decisions (spoiler: memory isn’t version control). * How to write ADRs that are concise, useful, and not boring. * Funny examples of what happens when ADRs are missing—and how they can save your sanity. Say goodbye to “What were they thinking?” and hello to “Oh, that’s why!”

CodeMash 2026

January 13, 2026

January 16, 2026
Sandusky, Ohio
Layers Are for Lasagna: Embracing Vertical Slice Architecture
Is your codebase fragile, where one small change risks breaking something unexpected? That fragility often comes from layered or “lasagna” architectures that scatter logic across controllers, services, repositories, and models. Touching one feature means touching several layers, and every change feels slow and risky. Vertical Slice Architecture takes a different approach. Instead of organizing by technical layer, it organizes by feature. Each slice contains everything it needs, from input to persistence, and stands largely on its own. This makes features easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to change without worrying about unintended ripple effects. It also gives you the freedom to pick the right implementation for each case, whether that means EF Core, Dapper, or raw SQL. In this talk, we will explore how to shift from rigid layered designs to feature-oriented slices, and how that shift creates codebases that grow more naturally and stay easier to maintain. Through practical .NET examples, you will see how vertical slicing encourages clarity, flexibility, and confidence when building or refactoring applications. Layers might be fine for lasagna, but your architecture deserves something better.
Mission-Critical Code: What NASA’s Power of Ten Can Teach Us
Ever wonder how NASA writes software that literally can’t afford to fail? Meanwhile, back on Earth, our code is held together with duct tape and //TODO comments. The stakes might be a little lower for most of us—nobody’s oxygen supply depends on our latest API deployment (hopefully)—but reliability, maintainability, and simplicity still matter. Enter NASA’s Power of Ten rules: a set of software engineering principles designed to minimize complexity and maximize reliability. In this talk, we’ll explore these ten commandments of mission-critical coding, from banning recursion (gasp!) to keeping functions tiny and predictable. Along the way, we’ll discuss how these rules apply beyond space exploration—to web apps, enterprise systems, and anywhere else software keeps the lights on. Whether you’re launching rockets or just trying to keep production from crashing at 2 AM, these lessons can help you write code that’s more robust, maintainable, and maybe even astronaut-approved. So strap in, and join us for a journey through the Power of Ten—no space suit required!

Microsoft Zero to Hero

November 15, 2025
Online
Old to Gold: How to Modernize Your Legacy ASP.NET Apps Gradually
Legacy applications built with ASP.NET can take a long time to migrate. Doing this work all at once isn’t very agile, so in this session we’ll explore using YARP (Yet Another Reverse Proxy), .NET Upgrade Assistant, and the “Strangler Fig” pattern to incrementally migrate your legacy ASP.NET applications to modern technologies like ASP.NET Core. While it might have a funny name, YARP is a very serious tool when it comes to helping you upgrade your legacy ASP.NET projects to ASP.NET Core. The best part is, it helps you do the upgrade gradually and with minimal impact to your users. When done with the help of the .NET Upgrade Assistant, you can also kick off the process without breaking a sweat. You’ll walk away more knowledgeable about these tools that help you with your migrations, and learn some of the shims that are available the make certain cross-cutting concerns easier to integrate between your legacy and modern applications. If you might have a legacy migration in your future, you’re going to want to join us for this!

.NET Conf 2025

November 11, 2025

November 13, 2025
Online
Old API, New Tricks: Add MCP to Existing .NET REST Endpoints
Your existing .NET Web APIs have served you well—but what if they could do more with them in the era of AI? In this session, we’ll explore how to breathe new life into your existing ASP.NET Web API endpoints built with ASP.NET CORE by adding Model Creation Protocol (MCP) capabilities to them. We’ll look at how the MCP C# SDK makes it simple to annotate your existing controllers, instantly transforming your REST endpoints into AI-powered services that can empower LLMs and agents. We’ll also compare this approach to a no-code approaches using Azure API Management. Finally we’ll look at where both of these approaches fall short and are only a starting point for a good long-term MCP design. You can use then to jump start the process and then follow the path we outline together to evolve your APIs from technical plumbing to intelligent, task-focused tools that solve real problems using AI—all without starting from scratch.

TechBash 2025

November 4, 2025

November 7, 2025
Poconos, PA
Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Search: Semantic Search in .NET
Searching isn’t just about exact matches anymore—users expect search results that understand context and adapt to their input. Enter the world of AI-driven fuzzy search! In this session, we’ll explore how to implement powerful search capabilities in .NET using Microsoft.Extensions.AI, Ollama, ChatGPT, and vectorization techniques. You’ll learn: * How to integrate AI into your .NET applications with Microsoft.Extensions.AI. * How ChatGPT and Ollama enhance contextual understanding. * Why vectorization is key to semantic search and how to implement it. Through live demos and practical examples, you’ll leave equipped to build better, more user-friendly search experiences. Whether you’re a .NET developer or an AI enthusiast, this session will give you tools to level up your search game.
Oops, I Leaked It Again: API Security Mistakes Fixed
APIs are the backbone of modern applications—but one small mistake can expose sensitive data, allow unauthorized access, or even take down your entire system. In this session, we’ll explore the most common API security blunders (yes, including some real-world horror stories) and how to fix them with practical, developer-friendly rules of thumb. From accidental data leaks to broken authentication, we’ll cover the pitfalls that put your APIs at risk and the best practices that will save you from disaster. Whether you’re building a new API or securing an existing one, this talk will help you go from “Oops” to “Locked Down”—with a few laughs along the way.

Momentum 2025

October 16, 2025
Cincinnati, OH
Avoidifying Over-Complexification: Rooting Out Over-Engineering in Your Projects
Discover the art of unraveling complexity in your software projects and returning to the fundamental principle of KISS (“Keep It Simple, Software developer”). As complexity grows in any system, so do its potential points of failure, underscoring the importance of mastering the art of software architecture simplification. Journey with us as we delve into the most common mistakes that pave the path to software over-engineering. We’ll talk about the allure of gold plating, superfluous features, and premature optimization, among other popular complications. Your takeaway will be some practical strategies that will help you hold the line on over-engineering. In short, you will learn to strike the right balance between power and simplicity in your software projects.

DevIntersection 2025

October 7, 2025

October 9, 2025
Kansas City, MO
Cache Me If You Can: Supercharging .NET APIs with Caching
Are your .NET Web APIs crawling at a snail’s pace? Is your database groaning under the load of too many requests? If you’re nodding along, it might be time to turbocharge your APIs with a caching layer to transform your application’s performance. In this session, we’ll look at APIs built with .NET and what can make them slow. I’ll show you what makes an endpoint a good candidate for caching, and show you how adding it can help alleviate performance problems. We’ll look at Redis and why it’s such a good option for your in-memory cache, and explore the new ASP.NET caching capabilities introduced in .NET 9 which provide enhanced performance and flexibility for your caching strategies. Finally, we’ll discuss some of the common pitfalls of caching implementations and explore the best tooling and libraries to help ease your caching implementation in .NET. If you want to learn how to supercharge your .NET APIs with effective caching strategies, then make sure to attend this session!
When Bad Libraries Happen to Good Code
When building applications, choosing the right 3rd party libraries can mean the difference between smooth sailing and a nightmare. With so many options available, how do you make smart choices that keep your codebase maintainable and your team productive? In this session, we’ll explore four simple rules for choosing libraries: keeping things small, isolated, uncomplicated, and replaceable. You’ll learn how to evaluate libraries for quality, support, and longevity, avoid vendor lock-in, and design your applications to minimize risk if a dependency fails you. Through real-world examples (both the good and the not-so-good), we’ll cover practical tips for maintaining flexibility, performance, and sanity while working with 3rd party tools.

Tech Week Grand Rapids 2025

September 17, 2025
Grand Rapids, MI
Can AI Do This?: Business Strategy Panel
Ever wondered if that repetitive task at work could be automated with AI? You bring the challenge — and a panel of cross-disciplinary experts will pressure-test it live. In this interactive session, you’ll: get real-time feedback, learn what’s viable (and what’s not), leave with a next-step checklist, and connect with experts who can help you move fast.

KCDC 2025

August 14, 2025

August 15, 2025
Kansas City, MO
Cache Me If You Can: Supercharging .NET APIs with Caching
Are your .NET Web APIs crawling at a snail’s pace? Is your database groaning under the load of too many requests? If you’re nodding along, it might be time to turbocharge your APIs with a caching layer to transform your application’s performance. In this session, we’ll look at APIs built with .NET and what can make them slow. I’ll show you what makes an endpoint a good candidate for caching, and show you how adding it can help alleviate performance problems. We’ll look at Redis and why it’s such a good option for your in-memory cache, and explore the new ASP.NET caching capabilities introduced in .NET 9 which provide enhanced performance and flexibility for your caching strategies. Finally, we’ll discuss some of the common pitfalls of caching implementations and explore the best tooling and libraries to help ease your caching implementation in .NET. If you want to learn how to supercharge your .NET APIs with effective caching strategies, then make sure to attend this session!
‘Why Did They Do It Like That?’ and Other Mysteries of Teams Without ADRs
We’ve all said it. “Why did they do it like that?” Without Architectural Decision Records (ADRs), these mysteries are inevitable. But don’t fear, ADRs don’t mean boring documentation—these lightweight notes capturing the “why” behind your team’s decisions, saving you from future frustration and misunderstandings. In this session, we’ll explore: * Why teams forget their own decisions (spoiler: memory isn’t version control). * How to write ADRs that are concise, useful, and not boring. * Funny examples of what happens when ADRs are missing—and how they can save your sanity. Say goodbye to “What were they thinking?” and hello to “Oh, that’s why!”

Applying Lessons Learned 

Trailhead team members don’t just attend software industry events, we organize them, lead them, and teach at them. We are respected voices in our field who other professionals look to and learn from. We take this same expertise and apply them to your software projects through the services we provide to you.

Trailhead continues to be an excellent partner to augment and complement our own internal Product Development team. They help us stay abreast of and current with the latest technologies. They are great to collaborate and work with, and they consistently deliver high quality solutions on time and within budget.

– RICK SPANGLER, CTO at Avail Technologies

Our Gear Is Packed and We're Excited to Explore With You

Ready to come with us? 

Together, we can map your company’s software journey and start down the right trails. If you’re set to take the first step, simply fill out our contact form. We’ll be in touch quickly – and you’ll have a partner who is ready to help your company take the next step on its software journey. 

We can’t wait to hear from you! 

Main Contact

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Together, we can map your company’s tech journey and start down the trails. If you’re set to take the first step, simply fill out the form below. We’ll be in touch – and you’ll have a partner who cares about you and your company. 

We can’t wait to hear from you! 

Montage Portal

Montage Furniture Services provides furniture protection plans and claims processing services to a wide selection of furniture retailers and consumers.

Project Background

Montage was looking to build a new web portal for both Retailers and Consumers, which would integrate with Dynamics CRM and other legacy systems. The portal needed to be multi tenant and support branding and configuration for different Retailers. Trailhead architected the new Montage Platform, including the Portal and all of it’s back end integrations, did the UI/UX and then delivered the new system, along with enhancements to DevOps and processes.

Logistics

We’ve logged countless miles exploring the tech world. In doing so, we gained the experience that enables us to deliver your unique software and systems architecture needs. Our team of seasoned tech vets can provide you with:

Custom App and Software Development

We collaborate with you throughout the entire process because your customized tech should fit your needs, not just those of other clients.

Cloud and Mobile Applications

The modern world demands versatile technology, and this is exactly what your mobile and cloud-based apps will give you.

User Experience and Interface (UX/UI) Design

We want your end users to have optimal experiences with tech that is highly intuitive and responsive.

DevOps

This combination of Agile software development and IT operations provides you with high-quality software at reduced cost, time, and risk.

Trailhead stepped into a challenging project – building our new web architecture and redeveloping our portals at the same time the business was migrating from a legacy system to our new CRM solution. They were able to not only significantly improve our web development architecture but our development and deployment processes as well as the functionality and performance of our portals. The feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. Trailhead has proven themselves to be a valuable partner.

– BOB DOERKSEN, Vice President of Technology Services
at Montage Furniture Services

Technologies Used

When you hit the trails, it is essential to bring appropriate gear. The same holds true for your digital technology needs. That’s why Trailhead builds custom solutions on trusted platforms like .NET, Angular, React, and Xamarin.

Expertise

We partner with businesses who need intuitive custom software, responsive mobile applications, and advanced cloud technologies. And our extensive experience in the tech field allows us to help you map out the right path for all your digital technology needs.

  • Project Management
  • Architecture
  • Web App Development
  • Cloud Development
  • DevOps
  • Process Improvements
  • Legacy System Integration
  • UI Design
  • Manual QA
  • Back end/API/Database development

We partner with businesses who need intuitive custom software, responsive mobile applications, and advanced cloud technologies. And our extensive experience in the tech field allows us to help you map out the right path for all your digital technology needs.

Our Gear Is Packed and We're Excited to Explore with You

Ready to come with us? 

Together, we can map your company’s tech journey and start down the trails. If you’re set to take the first step, simply fill out the contact form. We’ll be in touch – and you’ll have a partner who cares about you and your company. 

We can’t wait to hear from you! 

Thank you for reaching out.

You’ll be getting an email from our team shortly. If you need immediate assistance, please call (616) 371-1037.