TechFluent Academy

2026 Cohort: Intro to the Cloud & Azure, with Alex Foncannon
2026-02-16 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Intro to the Cloud & Azure
with Alex Foncannon
Supervisor at RSM US.
In this session, you will learn what Cloud Computing and Azure Services are and how they support the modern workplace. You will be able to explain the various methods of delivery of computing services over the internet. You will be able to understand and discern responsibility model for software by Cloud Provider type. You will understand the Cloud Models and all features they have to offer. You will be introduced to Azure Fundamentals and the features offered to support the modern workplace. And, you will be introduced to the types of jobs and careers available in this space in the event you are interested in pursuing this career journey. The instructor will make several resources available to you to help jumpstart your career.
This course was developed by Tad Thompson at Microsoft.

2026 Cohort: Intro to UX / UI, with Lenore Flower
2026-02-13 09:00 - 12:00
Intro to UX/UI
with Lenore Flower
Founder/Chief Data Plumber at Data Plumber
In this session, you will be introduced to the concepts of User Experience and User Interface, what they are and how they differ. By the end of the course, you will be able to describe what UX / UI design is and why it’s important for creating easy-to-use and visually appealing digital products. You will be able to explain the needs and preferences of users and how they influence the design of websites and apps. You will be able to define the basic steps involved in UX / UI design, including researching user needs, creating simple designs, and testing them with real users. You will be able to explain simple design principles like clarity, simplicity, and consistently, and how they help make digital products easier to use. And finally, you will be able to describe basic tools and techniques used in UX / UI design, such as sketching, wireframing, and using simple design software.

2026 Cohort: Real Life Use Cases
2026-02-11 09:00 - 12:00
In this session, we will review use cases for Customer Relationship Management Platforms in the Modern Workplace. By the end of this session, you will understand and have experienced why and how CRM works in a business today.
This course was developed by Felix Ndugwa, MSc. at Microsoft.

2026 Cohort: Career Coaching Workshop
2026-02-06 09:00 - 14:00
Career Coaching Workshop

2026 Cohort: Mock Interviews Workshop
2026-02-04 09:00 - 16:00
Mock Interviews Workshop

2026 Cohort: Resume, Cover Letter & LinkedIn Profile Workshop
2026-02-02 09:00 - 12:00
Resume, Cover Letter & LinkedIN Profile Workshop
• Understand keys to successful resumes and how to stand out as an applicant
• Understand various approaches and benefits/drawbacks of each
• Understand best practices and different approaches for common scenarios
• Understand fundamentals of LinkedIn
• Understand various aspects of SEO and getting one’s profile viewed
• Understand best practices and different approaches for common scenarios

2026 Cohort: Intro to Power BI, with Lenore Flower
2026-01-29 09:00 - 16:00
Introduction to Power BI
with Lenore Flower
Founder/Chief Data Plumber at Data Plumber

In this session, learners will explore the Power BI ecosystem, gaining insight into its core components, including Power Query Editor, Power BI Desktop, and Power BI Service. Learners will be introduced to the concept of how to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data, build a structured data model, and design interactive reports using Power BI. By the end of the session, Learners will understand the theory of how to publish and share reports, navigate various Power BI roles, and apply best practices for data management and licensing within their organizations. This is meant to be an overview and an introduction, no hands-on learning will be accomplished.

Power BI Project Preparation, with Wilson Man and Mike Ford
2026-01-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Power BI Project Preparation and Power BI Project Assignments
with Wilson Man and Mike Ford
Wilson is a Business Intelligence Analyst at Love’s Travel Stops.
Mike is the Vice President of Operations and Analytics at OrthoSynetics.
In this session, Wilson and Mike will walk you through preparations for your Power BI Project. Prior to adjourning, they will share the specific requirements for the Capstone Project you will be expected to complete.
Projects will be due February 16-20, 2026.
NOTE ABOUT Live Virtual Delivery of Class: This class will be delivered Live Virtual, which means the Instructor will not be present in the classroom. We strongly encourage all students to be present in the classroom as we will still have 2 Trainer Assistants present to assist with Lab Exercises and this material is quite intensive. However, if you feel you will learn best attending from a Virtual Location, you may make PRE-ARRANGEMENTS with the Program Manager 1 week in advance to attend Live Virtual. You are expected to be ENGAGED throughout the class – which means you will need to be commenting on the instruction, asking questions in the Chat and interacting throughout the entire day with responses and emojis to the instructor in the Chat. Failure to be engaged will require that you attend all future Live Virtual Classes in person. This is non-negotiable.

Power BI Project Preparation - Day 2, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Power BI Project Preparation – Day 2
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
In this session, Jessica will walk you through preparations for your Power BI Project.
Projects will be due February 16-20, 2026.
NOTE ABOUT Live Virtual Delivery of Class: This class will be delivered Live Virtual, which means the Instructor will not be present in the classroom. We strongly encourage all students to be present in the classroom as we will still have 2 Trainer Assistants present to assist with Lab Exercises and this material is quite intensive. However, if you feel you will learn best attending from a Virtual Location, you may make PRE-ARRANGEMENTS with the Program Manager 1 week in advance to attend Live Virtual. You are expected to be ENGAGED throughout the class – which means you will need to be commenting on the instruction, asking questions in the Chat and interacting throughout the entire day with responses and emojis to the instructor in the Chat. Failure to be engaged will require that you attend all future Live Virtual Classes in person. This is non-negotiable.

2026 Cohort: Intro to Power Platform, with Jason Rivera
2026-01-27 09:00 - 12:00
Intro to Power Platform
with Jason Rivera
Senior Manager, Collaboration Architect at Cognizant Microsoft Business Group
In this session, you will be introduced to the Power Platform and all elements involved in providing true digital transformation. At the end of this course, you will understand how the Power Platform solves the issues of Budget Constraint, Time and Resource Constraint, Business Expectations, Automating Paper Processes, and how to use low-code solutions to automate Complex Processes.

Paginated Reports - Day 2, with Lenore Flower MCT
2026-01-27 09:00 - 12:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Paginated Reports, Day 2
with Lenore Flower, MCT
CEO of Data Plumber
Power BI Report Builder doesn’t get anywhere near the love that Power BI Desktop does, but when you need a report that easily prints or converts to a multi-page PDF, it’s simply the right tool for the job. This session will help to clarify both when to use Power BI report builder to build paginated reports and how to create them in conjunction with Power BI reports and semantic models you may have already created.
Day 2 Agenda (3 hours)
1. Augmenting your first report

More advanced formatting
Working with other data region types
Working with grouping
Working with graphs

2. Creating a second report using a Power BI Semantic Model Data Source

Query filters & parameters deep dive
Title expressions
Common pitfalls
Embedding Paginated Reports into Existing Power BI Reports

NOTE ABOUT Live Virtual Delivery of Class: This class will be delivered Live Virtual, which means the Instructor will not be present in the classroom. We strongly encourage all students to be present in the classroom as we will still have 2 Trainer Assistants present to assist with Lab Exercises and this material is quite intensive. However, if you feel you will learn best attending from a Virtual Location, you may make PRE-ARRANGEMENTS with the Program Manager 1 week in advance to attend Live Virtual. You are expected to be ENGAGED throughout the class – which means you will need to be commenting on the instruction, asking questions in the Chat and interacting throughout the entire day with responses and emojis to the instructor in the Chat. Failure to be engaged will require that you attend all future Live Virtual Classes in person. This is non-negotiable.

Power BI Project Preparation, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Power BI Project Preparation
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
In this session, Jessica will walk you through preparations for your Power BI Project.
Projects will be due February 16-20, 2026.
NOTE ABOUT Live Virtual Delivery of Class: This class will be delivered Live Virtual, which means the Instructor will not be present in the classroom. We strongly encourage all students to be present in the classroom as we will still have 2 Trainer Assistants present to assist with Lab Exercises and this material is quite intensive. However, if you feel you will learn best attending from a Virtual Location, you may make PRE-ARRANGEMENTS with the Program Manager 1 week in advance to attend Live Virtual. You are expected to be ENGAGED throughout the class – which means you will need to be commenting on the instruction, asking questions in the Chat and interacting throughout the entire day with responses and emojis to the instructor in the Chat. Failure to be engaged will require that you attend all future Live Virtual Classes in person. This is non-negotiable.

2026 Cohort: Intro to CE / CRM, with Timothy Noce
2026-01-26 09:00 - 12:00
Intro to CE / CRM
with Timothy Noce
Founder and CEO of CoreSpire Consulting.
In this session, we will introduce you to the core concept of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and its significance for modern business. We will explore the key benefits of CRM, including improved customer relationships, increased sales, and enhanced operational efficiency. And we will understand which jobs and roles within a business or organization use CRM systems and how. Digging deeper, we will explore how CRM platforms are utilized within an organization’s technical infrastructure to streamline business process, automate tasks, and foster collaboration across teams. And, we will discuss how you can leverage what you learn in this course to gain practical experience toward the first step in your career.
This course was designed by Felix Ndugwa, MSc. of Microsoft.

Paginated Reports, with Lenore Flower MCT
2026-01-26 09:00 - 12:00
Paginated Reports
with Lenore Flower, MCT
CEO of Data Plumber
Course description TBD.

NOTE ABOUT Live Virtual Delivery of Class: This class will be delivered Live Virtual, which means the Instructor will not be present in the classroom. We strongly encourage all students to be present in the classroom as we will still have 2 Trainer Assistants present to assist with Lab Exercises and this material is quite intensive. However, if you feel you will learn best attending from a Virtual Location, you may make PRE-ARRANGEMENTS with the Program Manager 1 week in advance to attend Live Virtual. You are expected to be ENGAGED throughout the class – which means you will need to be commenting on the instruction, asking questions in the Chat and interacting throughout the entire day with responses and emojis to the instructor in the Chat. Failure to be engaged will require that you attend all future Live Virtual Classes in person. This is non-negotiable.

Intro to Fabric, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Introduction to Fabric
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
In this session, adult learners will gain a foundational understanding of Microsoft Fabric and its role in modern business environments. Participants will explore core functionalities, including data integration, analytics, and collaboration features. Through interactive discussions, practical demonstrations, and guided exercises, learners will develop the skills needed to effectively apply Microsoft Fabric in real-world scenarios. By the end of the session, attendees will be prepared to tackle key topics covered in the MB-920 certification exam with confidence, enhancing their ability to leverage Microsoft Fabric within Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions. Ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen their expertise in business applications and data management.

2026 Cohort: Self-Study - Financial Literacy - Part 3
2026-01-23 09:00 - 13:30
Self-Study: Financial Literacy – Part 3

Economics for Everyone: Understanding a Recession (40m)
Real Estate Analytics (49m)
Real Estate: Negotiating with Sellers (1h)
Analyzing a Real Estate Deal (35m)
Real Estate Contracts (27m)
Real Estate: Estimating Repair Costs (49m)

2026 Cohort: Self-Study - Financial Literacy - Part 2
2026-01-22 09:00 - 16:00
Self-Study: Financial Literacy – Part 2

Personal Finance Tips Weekly (2h 50m)
Financial Literacy: 401k, 403b and Self-Directed IRAs (45m)
Build Sustainable Wealth & Get Out of Debt (1h 16m)
Evaluating College as an Investment (42m)

Creating Efficiencies, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-22 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Creating Efficiencies
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
The purpose of this training day is to show students how to use datasets and dataflows to eliminate re-work. It will also include creating a composite model (online data model and local data model). Learners will be able to articulate the benefits and limitations of working with datasets and dataflows created by others. This knowledge can provide significant benefits to employers as TechFluent learners can articulate and implement more efficient ways of working with data. They will be able to help streamlined ways of creating Power BI reports. Learners will also be able to choose between using Import, Direct Query, and Live Connection for ingesting data and/or data models.

2026 Cohort: Self-Study - Financial Literacy - Part 1
2026-01-21 09:00 - 16:00
Self-Study: Financial Literacy – Part 1

Managing Your Personal Finances (1 hr)
Financial Basics Everyone Should Know (1hr 50m)
Financial Adulting (1h)
Finance Foundations: Income Taxes (2h)

Working in the Power BI Service, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-21 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Working in the Power BI Service
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
The purpose of this training day is to give participants a strong understanding of the Power BI Service. Learners will be able to articulate what work is best done in the Service and what work is best done in the Power BI Desktop. They will be trained in best practices in sharing reports (e.g. controlling “security sprawl”) within the organization. They will understand the constraints imposed by licensing. They will be briefed on Power BI Premium, when and why Premium is necessary.
Topics will include, but are not limited to:

Workspaces
Apps (using and creating)
Setting a refresh schedule
Editing reports and dashboards
Creating a dashboard
Creating a workspace and assigning roles

Building a Report, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-20 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Building a Report
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
The purpose of this training day is to give participants a full knowledge of the features and functionality used when creating a report. Students will be asked to create a report (as homework) that includes all the functionality that we have covered in the class. Learners will understand the nuances of report performance. They will be familiar with the differences between slicers, the filter panel, and drill throughs. They will have hands-on experience building buttons and bookmarks and linking the two together. Additionally, they will be familiarized with external tools that enable building Power BI themes.

Drill through
Interactions
Slicers vs. Filter pane
Bookmarks
Buttons
Themes

2026 Cohort: Intro to Change Management with Staci Cotter
2026-01-19 09:00 - 16:00
Intro to Change Management
with Staci Cotter
Senior Project Manager at WinfoSoft
In this session, we will introduce the concept of Organizational Change Management and how it fits into the framework of successful Delivery Management. You will learn to properly define adoption and change management in the context of technology implementations. You will learn to describe the objectives of change management within a project or program. You will review change methodologies and discuss examples and how they apply to your project or program. And finally, we will discuss why it is important to apply an empathetic lens to interactions with a variety of people involved in your project or program.

DAX (Day 2), with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
DAX (2-Day Session)
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
The purpose of these training days is to give participants a working knowledge of DAX to create calculated columns, measures, tables, security roles. Participants will also understand and use filter and row context. Learners will be versed in the syntax and principles of the DAX language. They will have hands-on experience writing and de-bugging DAX expressions. They will be exposed to the mechanics of the VertiPaq engine. They will also be introduced to external tools that can help with DAX de-bugging and performance measurement such as DAX Studio and Tabular Editor.
Students will be able to use a variety of DAX functions fluently, including, but not limited to:

SUMMARIZE, SUMMARIZECOLUMNS, ADDCOLUMNS
FILTER, VALUES
CALCULATE, CALCULATETABLE
SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT and the iterative versions of these functions

Advanced Microsoft Excel, with Wilson Man
2026-01-16 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Advanced Microsoft Excel
with Wilson Man
Wilson is a Business Intelligence Professional at Love’s Travel Stops.
NOTE ABOUT Live Virtual Delivery of Class: This class will be delivered Live Virtual, which means the Instructor will not be present in the classroom. We strongly encourage all students to be present in the classroom as we will still have 2 Trainer Assistants present to assist with Lab Exercises and this material is quite intensive. However, if you feel you will learn best attending from a Virtual Location, you may make PRE-ARRANGEMENTS with the Program Manager 1 week in advance to attend Live Virtual. You are expected to be ENGAGED throughout the class – which means you will need to be commenting on the instruction, asking questions in the Chat and interacting throughout the entire day with responses and emojis to the instructor in the Chat. Failure to be engaged will require that you attend all future Live Virtual Classes in person. This is non-negotiable.

DAX, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-15 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States

Data Modeling (Day 2), with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
Data Modeling (2-Day Session)
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
The purpose of these training days is to give participants a strong understanding of data modeling. This is one of the central skills in Power BI, and participants should be able to discuss and create strong data models. Students should be able to articulate the advantages and disadvantages of a particular data model’s structure. Learners will be able to build performant data models from the start of their employment. Data modeling is a skill set that is not easy to master; TechFluent learners will not need the beginner or intermediate training in data modeling principles and concepts. Additionally, they will be able to share best practices and explain the reasons why a practice is ideal for other employees.

The Star Schema (and other less ideal data models)
Relationships (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many)
Active and inactive relationships
Identify and diagnose problems in a data model (repeating values, incorrect results, ambiguous results)
How to identify facts and dimensions
When to create a calculated column vs. creating it in the PQE
How to measure performance in a report

Data Modeling, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-13 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States

2026 Cohort: User Story Development & Solution Design, with Sienna Howlett-Wagner and Staci Cotter
2026-01-12 09:00 - 16:00
Sienna Howlett-Wagner and Staci Cotter
Sienna is an F&SCM Industry Delivery Consultant & TechFluent Board Treasurer
Staci is a Senior Project Manager at WinfoSoft
User Story Development & Solution Design
In this session, you will learn to properly develop User Stories distilling them from Requirements and gathering the details needed from your client through proper Backlog Grooming techniques. Additionally, we will review ways to manage a backlog properly whether you have basic tools (Excel) or nirvana (GYDE365), or something in between, to assist. After the User Stories are defined, they can be broken down further into Tasks for proper Solution Design, which is the next step in the Development Process and the next logical learning objective for this course. By the end of this course, you will know how to properly document your project’s Scope and Design in a manner that is traceable, trackable and consumable for building, testing and deployment.

Developing User Stories – Learn to distill User Stories from Requirements and gather essential details through effective Backlog Grooming techniques.
Backlog Management – Understand strategies for managing a backlog using various tools, from basic (Excel) to advanced (GYDE365), and everything in between.
Breaking Down User Stories into Tasks – Gain the ability to refine User Stories into Tasks to support proper Solution Design.
Solution Design Process – Understand how Task definition leads into the next step of the Development Process, ensuring a logical workflow.
Project Scope & Design Documentation – Learn to document project Scope and Design in a way that ensures traceability, trackability, and usability for building, testing, and deployment.

The Power of Query Editor: Beyond the Standard, with Jessica Jolly
2026-01-12 09:00 - 16:00 | Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55409, United States
The Power of Query Editor: Beyond the Standard
with Jessica Jolly
Data Quilter specializing in Microsoft Fabric
The purpose of this training day is to give students an understanding of the Power Query Editor, beyond the standard transformations (removing columns etc.) A special emphasis will be placed on:

The M-language
Future proofing a query
Re-using steps in other queries.
Complex transformations

This training day should enable participants to decide whether the PQE (and M) is an area they want to specialize in. It also should give students strong interview preparation. It will include exercises to be performed in their own time. Because the Power Query Editor is a tool that many knowledge workers are not familiar with, learners will bring knowledge of the tool that they can share with co-workers. Because the Power Query Editor is useful with Excel and Power BI, it is a tool that can add value to the workplace in multiple ways.

2026 Cohort: Intro to Business Analysis, with Sienna Howlett-Wagner and Staci Cotter
2026-01-09 09:00 - 16:00
Sienna Howlett-Wagner and Staci Cotter
Sienna is an F&SCM Industry Delivery Consultant & TechFluent Board Treasurer
Staci is a Senior Project Manager at WinfoSoft
Introduction to Business Analysis
In this session, we will review the discipline of business analysis. We will discuss the career for Business Analysts and introduce you the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), its standards and Certifications. You will learn the various types of Requirements that Business Analysts are required to understand and work with. And, finally, you will become familiar with the typical Business Analysis process expected to be followed by all BAs in the technology space – Scrum. Finally, we will complete an exercise in this course to help solidify everything we’ve learned.
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to:

Understand the role a Business Analyst fulfills on the Project Team and responsibilities for Project Alignment
Articulate the career pathways within the Microsoft Industry that align with BA associated skills
Identify and properly align appropriate process mapping to the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) approach defined for the project
Properly curate a Communication Plan to distill Requirements into User Stories through the selected project SDLC using the appropriate ceremonies
Identify and leverage the appropriate toolset to support Communication, Risk Management, Issue Tracking and Traceability of the Project

Exercise / Lab: Barista Process Flow
