Name: GRWebDev Powered by LaFleur presents The Cost of Free: A Panel Discussion
Start: 2025-01-27T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-01-27T20:00:00-05:00
Location: Start Garden

As we build digital products, it’s easy to take for granted the many “free” technology resources available. But “free” may come at a cost.
About this Event

GRWebDev Powered by LaFleur presents

The Cost of Free: A Panel Discussion

Start Garden (40 Pearl St NW #200, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503)

Monday, January 27th 2025, 6pm - 8pm

LOCATION

Start Garden is on the second floor of the historic Trust Building, located at 40 Pearl Street NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

PARKING

Paid parking is available at the parking ramp on the corner of Pearl and Ionia. Street parking pricing and hours vary depending on location; details can be found on the City of Grand Rapids website.

DESCRIPTION

As technologists (or even just as humans), we're surrounded by all sorts of "free" tools, software, and libraries. But what does "free" mean, exactly? What price are we, in fact, paying to use these resources... not to mention the price to be paid by our clients?

This month at GRWebDev, we’ll take a closer look at the resources we use to build digital products and the implications of using those resources from a financial, legal, and security perspective. Join us in person at Start Garden in downtown Grand Rapids; we’ll kick things off at 6pm on Monday, January 27th.

OUR PANEL

is a DEI and Information Security advocate with over ten years of experience in technology and small business consulting, working in everything from web development and infrastructure to consulting and leadership. She loves finding technology solutions for everyday problems and explaining complex technical processes to non-technical people to ensure clarity and to inform better decisions.

is a software developer by training, currently helping coach the next generation of consultants as the Accelerator Manager at Atomic Object on Wealthy Street. Outside of his almost 10-year career at Atomic Object, Joe’s experience in technology has included web development, custom software extensions, and digital audio production.

is a security engineer and entrepreneur with extensive experience in identity and access management, vulnerability management, email security, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and big data analytics. As the founder of AJ Cyber Defense, he specializes in delivering innovative solutions that protect organizations’ most critical assets while prioritizing data privacy, compliance, and secure access management.

holds a Ph.D in Antitrust Law from India. With a strong passion for privacy and cybersecurity, she currently serves as a Privacy & Governance, Risk, and Compliance consultant with GRCIE (“Gracie”), a nonprofit corporation which specializes in training and educating people from diverse, disadvantaged, or underrepresented backgrounds in Cybersecurity, GRC, and Privacy.

SPONSORS

This month’s meetup is sponsored by . West Michigan Tech Talent connects local employers, educators, community organizations and workforce experts who are invested in creating a strong tech workforce. By sharing best practices, leveraging resources and collaborating on innovative solutions, WMTT is actively addressing the tech talent gap and makes upskilling affordable and accessible. Learn more at westmichigantechtalent.com.

This month’s meetup is also sponsored by . Based in Grand Rapids, Payload is a fully Next.js-native headless CMS and backend that powers thousands of enterprise websites, internal applications, and more around the globe. Built with TypeScript and a code-first approach, Payload gives you a complete backend and admin panel to create anything. Learn more and get started at payloadcms.com.

GRWebDev's venue sponsor is . Empowering West Michigan's startup ecosystem through financial, intellectual & social capital, Start Garden provides a neighborhood for startups to grow. No matter where you are on your journey - whether you’re an entrepreneur, a startup or simply a dreamer with a great idea - the Start Garden ecosystem provides a strong community of support to help you get your idea off the ground or move your business to the next level. Learn more at startgarden.com.

GRWebDev's title sponsor is . LaFleur is your forward-thinking digital marketing partner, creating innovative, data-driven marketing strategies and assets for law firms, healthcare organizations, and growing businesses. Learn more about their services on the web at lafleur.marketing.

SCHEDULE