Michael C. Neel

Michael C. Neel is a Digital Media Developer with Jewelry Television and independent consultant with ViNull Software. He is a board member and Vice President of the East Tennessee .Net Users Group (ETNUG) in his home town of Knoxville, TN. Michael has been published in asp.netPro magazine and continues to publish .NET focused articles on his blog (ViNull.com) and at Devlicio.us with other community developers. An ASPInsider, regular speaker at .Net conferences and user groups, Michael has traveled to most of the states surrounding Tennessee and organizes CodeStock (http://CodeStock.org).

Fascinated by watching Dad send escape codes to a printer, Michael began programming BASIC on the family’s Tandy 1000EX in his 5^th grade year. From BASIC Michael learned to C/C++ with the Win32 API and MFC while reading Petzold and Prosise. With the explosion of the Internet, Michael spent many years at a small web development firm working in Perl, PHP, and Python on LAMP systems. Recently, Michael was hired at Jewelry Television to assist an ASP 3.0 team move to Java, but ended up helping them move to .Net instead.

Michael.neel@gmail.com / http://ViNull.com / Professional Resume

Recent Speaking Engagements

Kentucky Day of .Net – WPF: From Zero to XAML
Windows Presentation Foundation is "the most significant technology to come out of Microsoft. Ever." according to Mark Miller. We've all seen the demos of Visual Studio 2008 with Blend to create breathtaking UIs, but what is under the hood? Is WPF useful to the average developer cranking out WinForms applications for internal corporate use? To answer this question we will take a close look at WPF code - without Design Mode or Blend. Warning: This is a no Technotainment Zone!
September 6^th, 2008 – Louisville, KY
Audience: 40

Kentucky Day of .Net – SOA: Building the Arch
Anyone who has tried to build a Service Oriented Architecture can tell you the dangers are many. Just defining the meaning of “SOA” can take weeks. This session will offer guidelines and tips all based on real world developer experience in building and maintaining a Service Oriented Architecture.
September 6^th, 2008 – Louisville, KY
Audience: 45

DevLink – SOA: Building the Arch
Anyone who has tried to build a Service Oriented Architecture can tell you the dangers are many. Just defining the meaning of “SOA” can take weeks. This session will offer guidelines and tips all based on real world developer experience in building and maintaining a Service Oriented Architecture.
August 23^rd, 2008 – Murfreesboro, TN
Audience: 20

CodeStock 2008 – 3.5SP1BETA1BBQ A look at Asp.Next
Presented with Nathan Blevins
This session will cover new features that are being introduced in the ASP.NET 3.5 SP1 timeframe These items include: ADO.NET Data Services, AJAX History, Silverlight 2.0, and ASP.NET Dynamic Data. We will look at the basics of each of these technologies.
August 9^th, 2008 – Knoxville, TN
Audience: 25

Acadiana .NET User Group – SOA: Building the Arch
Anyone who has tried to build a Service Oriented Architecture can tell you the dangers are many. Just defining the meaning of “SOA” can take weeks. This session will offer guidelines and tips all based on real world developer experience in building and maintaining a Service Oriented Architecture.
July 9^th, 2008 – Lafayette, LA
Audience: 30

Lower Alabama .Net Users Group – WPF: From Zero to XAML
Windows Presentation Foundation is "the most significant technology to come out of Microsoft. Ever." according to Mark Miller. We've all seen the demos of Visual Studio 2008 with Blend to create breathtaking UIs, but what is under the hood? Is WPF useful to the average developer cranking out WinForms applications for internal corporate use? To answer this question we will take a close look at WPF code - without Design Mode or Blend. Warning: This is a no Technotainment Zone!
July 8^th, 2008 – Mobile, AL
Audience: 30

Perficient Southern Region Microsoft Developer Community – Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
July 8^th, 2008 – New Orleans, LA
Audience: 25 (including teleconferenced participants)

Greater New Orleans .Net Users Group – Lucene: Search we can believe in
A hands-on introduction to the open source search API Lucene.
July 7^th, 2008 – New Orleans, LA
Audience: 10

East Tennessee .Net Users Group – Heros Happen Here Community Launch
Presented new features of Windows Server 2008 including Core, and also migration paths for SQL Server, SharePoint and IIS applications.
May 27^th, 2008 – Knoxville, TN
Audience: 25

Birmingham Software Developers Association and the Birmingham .Net User Group (Bug.Net) – DataSets: Code Less, Do More
DataSets are Evil. They will hog your CPU, steal your RAM, and rob your home. This is the story surrounding DataSets, but what is fact and what is myth? In this session we will look at DataSets and the tools that go with them to see how they can save you development time while not crashing the server. We’ll also dive into DataSets in 2008 with LINQ to DataSets and Unit Testing with DataSets.
May 14^th, 2008 – Birmingham, AL
Audience: 10

Indy Code Camp – What’s New in ASP.NET 3.5
.Net 3.5 is here, and we have a shiny new Visual Studio 2008 bicycle - so what gifts did Santa bring leave for ASP.NET developers? We'll find out by taking a look at things like the ListView control, play with JavaScript debugging, and see what the ASP.Net Merge Tool does. We also might sneak a peek in the old man's magic sack and see what gifts are on their way!
April 26^th, 2008 – Indianapolis, IN
Audience: 40

Indy Code Camp – Zen and the Art of Website Maintenance
ASP.NET provides a wealth of time-saving data components, functional UI widgets, and methods for consistent template layouts. While understanding each of the pieces is key to being a great ASP.NET developer, true mastery comes from knowing how to use them together. This session will cover using Master Pages, Themes, Skins, CSS, Web User Controls, Site Maps, Navigation Controls, Role and Profile Providers, and Dynamic URLs together for effective website architecture.
April 26^th, 2008 - Indianapolis, IN
Audience: 30

Ohio Day of .Net – Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
April 19^th, 2008 - Wilmington, OH
Audience: 30

Huntsville New Technology Users Group (HUNTUG) – Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
April 14th, 2008 – Huntsville, AL
Audience: 20

Central Maryland Code Camp - Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
April 12^th, 2008 – Columbia, MD
Audience: 40

Central Maryland Code Camp – WPF: From Zero to XAML
Windows Presentation Foundation is "the most significant technology to come out of Microsoft. Ever." according to Mark Miller. We've all seen the demos of Visual Studio 2008 with Blend to create breathtaking UIs, but what is under the hood? Is WPF useful to the average developer cranking out WinForms applications for internal corporate use? To answer this question we will take a close look at WPF code - without Design Mode or Blend. Warning: This is a no Technotainment Zone!
April 12^th, 2008 – Columbia, MD
Audience: 40

Atlanta Code Camp – SOA: Building the Arch
Anyone who has tried to build a Service Oriented Architecture can tell you the dangers are many. Just defining the meaning of “SOA” can take weeks. This session will offer guidelines and tips all based on real world developer experience in building and maintaining a Service Oriented Architecture.
March 29^th, 2008 – Atlanta, GA
Audience: 50

Atlanta Code Camp – Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
March 29^th, 2008 – Atlanta, GA
Audience: 50

Little Rock Tech Expo – What’s New in ASP.NET 3.5
.Net 3.5 is here, and we have a shiny new Visual Studio 2008 bicycle - so what gifts did Santa bring leave for ASP.NET developers? We'll find out by taking a look at things like the ListView control, play with JavaScript debugging, and see what the ASP.Net Merge Tool does. We also might sneak a peek in the old man's magic sack and see what gifts are on their way!
March 27^th, 2008 – Little Rock, AR
Audience: 30

Little Rock Tech Expo – WPF: From Zero to XAML
Windows Presentation Foundation is "the most significant technology to come out of Microsoft. Ever." according to Mark Miller. We've all seen the demos of Visual Studio 2008 with Blend to create breathtaking UIs, but what is under the hood? Is WPF useful to the average developer cranking out WinForms applications for internal corporate use? To answer this question we will take a close look at WPF code - without Design Mode or Blend. Warning: This is a no Technotainment Zone!
March 27^th, 2008 – Little Rock, AR
Audience: 30

Little Rock Tech Expo – Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
March 27^th, 2008 – Little Rock, AR
Audience: 30

Alabama Code Camp – DataSets: Code Less, Do More
DataSets are Evil. They will hog your CPU, steal your RAM, and rob your home. This is the story surrounding DataSets, but what is fact and what is myth? In this session we will look at DataSets and the tools that go with them to see how they can save you development time while not crashing the server.
February 23^rd, 2008 – Huntsville, AL
Audience: 40

Alabama Code Camp – SOA: Building the Arch
Anyone who has tried to build a Service Oriented Architecture can tell you the dangers are many. Just defining the meaning of “SOA” can take weeks. This session will offer guidelines and tips all based on real world developer experience in building and maintaining a Service Oriented Architecture.
February 23^rd, 2008 – Huntsville, AL
Audience: 40

Alabama Code Camp – Welcome to the Church of Agile
Agile is hot - there is no denying it. Odds are your IT department has gone agile or seriously considering it. New terminology, tools, and rules; it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the core idea of Agile is very simple. This session will take you though the “why” that’s often over looked, and help you learn to “think Agile”.
February 23^rd, 2008 – Huntsville, AL
Audience: 20

Alabama Code Camp – What’s New in ASP.NET 3.5
.Net 3.5 is here, and we have a shiny new Visual Studio 2008 bicycle - so what gifts did Santa bring leave for ASP.NET developers? We'll find out by taking a look at things like the ListView control, play with JavaScript debugging, and see what the ASP.Net Merge Tool does. We also might sneak a peek in the old man's magic sack and see what gifts are on their way!
February 23^rd, 2008 – Huntsville, AL
Audience: 40

Memphis Day of .Net – Zen and the Art of Website Maintenance
ASP.NET provides a wealth of time-saving data components, functional UI widgets, and methods for consistent template layouts. While understanding each of the pieces is key to being a great ASP.NET developer, true mastery comes from knowing how to use them together. This session will cover using Master Pages, Themes, Skins, CSS, Web User Controls, Site Maps, Navigation Controls, Role and Profile Providers, and Dynamic URLs together for effective website architecture.
November 10^th, 2007 – Memphis, TN
Audience: 50

DevLINK Technical Conference – Zen and the Art of Website Maintenance
ASP.NET provides a wealth of time-saving data components, functional UI widgets, and methods for consistent template layouts. While understanding each of the pieces is key to being a great ASP.NET developer, true mastery comes from knowing how to use them together. This session will cover using Master Pages, Themes, Skins, CSS, Web User Controls, Site Maps, Navigation Controls, Role and Profile Providers, and Dynamic URLs together for effective website architecture.
October 13^th, 2007 – Nashville, TN
Audience: 50

East Tennessee .Net Users Group – WTF is WPF?
Windows Presentation Foundation is "the most significant technology to come out of Microsoft. Ever." according to Mark Miller. We've all seen the demos of Visual Studio 2008 with Blend to create breathtaking UIs, but what is under the hood? Is WPF useful to the average developer cranking out WinForms applications for internal corporate use? To answer this question we will take a close look at WPF code - without VS2008 or Blend, and keeping the XAML to a minimum!
September 25^th, 2007
Audience: 30

East Tennessee .Net Users Group – Code Less, Do More
Visual Studio 2005 includes many powerful tools that can speed up development time - this night we'll look at two that are often overlooked: the Dataset Designer and ReportViewer control. The Dataset Designer provides a clean and simple way to construct a database access layer, while the ReportViewer control gives you many of the capabilities of MS SQL Reporting Services inside your application. We'll move from covering the basics to tips for advanced scenarios that come from real world experience.
March 27^th, 2007
Audience: 30

Recent Articles (Print)

Google Can You Hear Me?
March 2007 - asp.netPRO Magazine

Recent Articles (Blog)

Using LINQ to generate HTML
May 21^st, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/08/03/using-linq-to-generate-html.aspx

The ASP.NET MVC Definition
July 26^th, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/07/26/the-aspnet-mvc-definition.aspx

The MVC Minefield
July 25^th, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/07/25/the-mvc-minefield.aspx

You'll have my SQL when you pry my keyboard from my cold dead hands
June 27^th, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/06/27/youll-have-my-sql-when-you-pry-my-keybo.aspx

Developer's Non-Development Book List
May 21^st, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/05/21/developers-nondevelopment-book-list.aspx

SilverLight Interop with Flash/Flex (flashlight?)
April 21^st, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/04/21/silverlight-interop-with-flashflex-flas.aspx

Session, ForEach, and a ShallowCopy walk into a bar
April 14^th, 2008 - ViNull.Com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/04/14/session-foreach-and-a-shallowcopy-walk-.aspx

WPF: Using Viewbox and Canvas to create a virtual resolution workspace
March 21^st, 2008 – Vinull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/03/21/wpf-using-viewbox-and-canvas-to-create-.aspx

.Net routine file IO best practice
January 25^th, 2008 – ViNull.com/Devlicio.us
http://vinull.com/Post/2008/01/25/net-routine-file-io-best-practice.aspx

SilverLight: Using Web Services with SilverLight 1.0
October 28^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/10/28/silverlight-using-web-services-with-sil.aspx

SilverLight: A simple flickr photo viewer
October 27^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/10/27/silverlight-a-simple-flickr-photo-viewe.aspx

ASP.NET: Working with the Event Log
October 16^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/10/16/aspnet-working-with-the-event-log.aspx

WPF: Threading basics in WPF
August 9^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/08/09/wpf-threading-basics-in-wpf.aspx

WPF: Dive into WPF
August 3^rd, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/08/03/wpf-dive-into-wpf.aspx

ASP.NET: Have a meaningful relationship with your DataSet
April 20^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/04/20/aspnet-have-a-meaningful-relationship-w.aspx

ASP.NET: Sorting a GridView with custom objects
April 17^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/04/17/aspnet-sorting-a-gridview-with-custom-o.aspx

ASP.NET: GridView and ObjectDataSource with custom objects
April 16^th, 2007 – ViNull.com
http://vinull.com/Post/2007/04/16/aspnet-gridview-and-objectdatasource-wi.aspx