PNSQC

🎓 PNSQC 2026 Free Workshop Day — Level Up Your Skills! 🎓

As part of the kickoff to the PNSQC 2026 Call for Papers, we’re excited to host a full day of free, in-person workshops designed to sharpen practical skills, spark new insights, and bring the QA community together for hands-on learning.

Join us in Portland for a day of interactive sessions led by seasoned practitioners and thought leaders. Choose from two tracks, with workshops available in the morning and afternoon.

🌅 Morning Workshops (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM)

🔍 Watching the Detectives: A Hands-On Workshop in AI Model Monitoring — Michael Larsen
A practical dive into monitoring, evaluating, and validating AI/ML systems through real-world exercises.

🔄 QA Re-Bootcamp — Heather Wilcox & Bhushan Gupta
Refresh foundational testing skills and explore modern quality practices in an engaging, activity-based format.

🌇 Afternoon Workshops (1:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

🤖 AI Orchestration: Dual Stewardship — John Cvetko
Explore how humans and AI can collaboratively manage quality, risk, and decision-making in modern systems.

📌 TBA Session Coming Soon
We’re adding one more workshop — stay tuned!

📅 Date: January 23, 2026
🕣 Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM PST
📍 Location: University Place Hotel & Conference Center, 310 SW Lincoln St, Portland, OR 97201
🔗 Registration: [https://mms.pnsqc.org/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=PNSQ&evid=59880123]

This is a full day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration — free for the PNSQC community. Whether you're deepening your craft or exploring new directions in QA, we’d love to see you there! 🚀

🔥 Join Us for PNSQC Quality Jam 2026 — And Our Kick-Off For The PNSQC 2026 Call for Papers! 🔥

Start the new year with an evening of fast-paced ideas, community connection, and mid-winter inspiration at the PNSQC Quality Jam 2026! This event marks the launch of our 2026 Call for Papers and brings together practitioners, leaders, and innovators for a series of 10-minute lightning talks designed to spark fresh thinking in software quality.

We’ll open with networking, complimentary food, and refreshments at 5:00 PM, followed by a rapid-fire program of talks beginning at 6:00 PM — featuring:

🎤 Premi Vinayagam (Jama Software)
Testing the Future: From Testing Code to Testing Intelligence
As AI systems evolve, QA is shifting from verifying code to evaluating intelligence itself. Premi explores how testers are moving beyond static assertions to dynamic, trust-centered evaluations — using AI to test AI, addressing fairness and accountability, and redefining the role of QA in responsible innovation.

🎤 Caroline Wong
The OWASP Top 10 Isn’t a Vulnerability List—It’s a Mirror: What 2025 Tells Us About Supply Chain Security
Caroline reframes the OWASP Top 10 as a reflection of today’s security landscape. With new focus areas like software supply chain failures and exceptional-condition handling, she breaks down what these shifts mean in an era shaped by DevSecOps and AI-driven complexity.

You still have time to propose a talk of your own to present, and we hope you will!!!

Whether you're preparing a submission, thinking about presenting for the first time, or simply eager to reconnect with the PNSQC community, the Quality Jam is the perfect space to share ideas, gather inspiration, and energize your 2026.

📅 Date: January 22, 2026
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST
🏙️ Format: Hybrid
📍 Location: University Place Hotel & Conference Center, Portland, OR
🔗 Registration: [https://ow.ly/t09O50XHyzJ]
📍 Google Maps: [https://www.google.com/maps?q=310+SW+Lincoln+St,Portland,OR+97201+us]

The event will be held live in Portland and streamed online.
📣 Want to host a watch party in the Seattle area? PNSQC will order your pizza!

We can’t wait to see you there — and to kick off another year of innovation in software quality. 🚀

✅ Already registered for ?
🤔 Still debating?

Either way, take a look at the incredible workshop lineup we’ve prepared for you on Monday, October 13, 2025. There’s something for everyone!

AM Sessions:
🔹 Change Agent Basics – April K. Mills
🔹 How Can I Automate Stuff? – Alan Ark
🔹 An Introduction to BDD – Leslie Brooks
🔹 Agile Team Chartering – Diana Larsen
🔹 Embracing the Fuzzy: Testing in the Age of Generative AI (Full Day!) – Ben Simo
🔹 The 10× ROI Challenge – Allan Rennebo Jepsen

PM Sessions:
🔹 Essentials of Software Quality Engineering – Bhushan Gupta
🔹 Test Automation for Absolute Beginners with Cypress – Kristin Jackvony
🔹 Bug Bash: Rapid Testing Right Now – Jon Bach
🔹 Getting Dirty with Data, Bots, Agents & Code – Kevin Pyles
🔹 Public Speaking for Enginerds – Philip Lew
🔹 Quality as a Living System – Gwen Iarussi

Don’t miss your chance to learn from the best and maybe find your new favorite workshop!
🎟️ Register before Monday night: https://ow.ly/P2sT50X7wkY

Navigating the Career Labyrinth with Jeff Sing

In this episode of PNSQChronicles, host Michael Larsen welcomes invited speaker Jeff Sing to preview his upcoming talk at the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference (PNSQC).

Jeff’s talk, “Navigating the Career Labyrinth: From Intern to Director,” is a candid look at how careers in technology evolve—often through unexpected turns, lucky breaks, and lessons learned the hard way.

Drawing from his own 20-year journey from QA intern to engineering director, Jeff shares what he’s learned about leadership, growth, and finding your place in tech.

Jeff and Michael discuss:
- The unpredictable path from QA intern to director
- How conferences and community helped shape Jeff’s career
- The truth about moving into management—and why it’s not the only path forward
- Finding meaning and success, whether you’re an individual contributor or a people leader

Jeff emphasizes that the key to thriving in tech is self-awareness—knowing what drives you, what roles fit your strengths, and how to grow on your own terms.

His talk offers encouragement and practical insight for anyone navigating their next career step in software quality and IT.

Whether you’re an intern just starting out, or a seasoned professional charting your next move, this conversation offers insights, inspiration, and a reminder that every step—right or wrong—can lead to growth.

Watch the full conversation with Jeff Sing HERE [https://ow.ly/gX8u50X7Slv]