<h1>Knoxville Microsoft 365 Community Day 2025</h1>
<h2>Local Community. Global Conversations.</h2>
🚀 Join us for #KnoxvilleM365, where Microsoft 365 and Power Platform professionals, business users, architects, developers, and IT leaders come together to learn, connect, and grow.&nbsp; 💡 Don’t miss out on the biggest Microsoft 365 &amp; Power Platform event in Knoxville!
<h3>📅 When &amp; Where?</h3>
🔹 Thursday, Feb 27 – Hands-on Workshops (Pre-registration required) 🔹 Friday, Feb 28 – Community Day (Conference-style sessions) 📍 Knoxville, TN
<h3>🎓 Two Days of Unmatched Learning</h3>
Whether you're a SharePoint administrator, Power Platform creator, business analyst, developer, Architect, or IT professional, this is the place to gain real-world insights, practical skills, and future-ready strategies from industry experts, including Microsoft MVPs, MCTs, and top community leaders.&nbsp; Check out the <a href="https://www.communitydays.org/event/2025-02-27/knoxville-microsoft-365-community-day#speakers">speaker profiles</a>!
<h3>🔍 What to Expect?</h3>
✅ Deep-dive workshops – Hands-on sessions to supercharge your skills ✅ Expert-led sessions – Covering SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Copilot, Power Platform, Fabric, Security, and more ✅ Networking opportunities – Meet Microsoft MVPs, speakers, and like-minded professionals ✅ Real-world solutions – Discover actionable insights you can apply immediately
➡️ View the full session lineup &amp; schedule:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.communitydays.org/event/2025-02-27/knoxville-microsoft-365-community-day#speakers">Full session lineup with times</a>
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Note: When registering for Workshops, you will be able to select 2-hour workshops that will occur Thursday 2/27. Make sure to not pick more than one workshop per starting time. Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://communitydays.org/event/2025-02-27/knoxville-microsoft-365-community-day#schedule" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0">Schedule</a>&nbsp;for more details.

EVENT IS IN EASTERN U.S. TIMEZONE. The schedule below maybe shown in your current computer's time zone. Please confirm.Feb 27th is for WorkshopsFeb 28th is for Sessions - make sure to navigate the schedule below to see the sessions.

scroll down for full bios
<h3>Local Speakers</h3>
Our local speakers are the backbone of this event, and we’re proud to welcome them back! Each one shared their expertise with us last year, making a lasting impact—and we’re thrilled to have them return. We’re especially excited to welcome Kevin O’Bryan, joining the lineup for the first time this year.
These professionals represent the best of our Knoxville tech community, and we’re so grateful for their continued leadership and support.
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davistrent/">Davis Trent</a> – Principal Consultant @MACH11 Cloud architect with deep experience in M365, Azure, AWS &amp; SharePoint. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/mach11co" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://linkedin.com/in/davistrent" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://mach11.co/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-harrell-069933129/">James Harrell</a> – Sr. Cyber Threat Analyst @Walgreens Security expert, BSides Knoxville organizer, &amp; mentor. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://x.com/Nosteia" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-harrell-069933129/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.10-sec.org/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-fields-b128645/">John Fields</a> – BI Lead Analyst @Cellular Sales 20 years in BI, leading Sales &amp; Marketing analytics at Cellular Sales.
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-byars-mieloch-230a0a159/">Shannon Byars-Mieloch</a> – Owner @IMPACT Professional Training Power BI expert &amp; educator with passion for in-person tech training. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-byars-230a0a159/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.impactprofessionaltraining.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-o%E2%80%99bryan-b136b7193/">Kevin O’Bryan</a> – Systems Engineer @South College Azure &amp; Intune certified engineer focused on Power Automate &amp; modern workplace. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-o%E2%80%99bryan-b136b7193/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a>
<hr>
<h3>Microsoft Employees</h3>
This event is about Microsoft products, but it’s driven by community. These experts don't have to come—but they chose to be here, sharing their knowledge because they believe in this community. 
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinawheeler/">Christina Wheeler</a> – Senior Technical Specialist, Business Applications @Microsoft M365 &amp; Power Platform expert with 20+ years in FSI &amp; development. Published author. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="http://www.twitter.com/cwheeler76" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinawheeler/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.microsoft.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-barker-14018392/">Rob Barker</a> – Cloud Solution Architect @Microsoft Security enthusiast driving zero-trust architecture with M365 security stack. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://microsoft.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepucelik/">Steve Pucelik</a> – Content Services Global Black Belt @Microsoft Expert in SharePoint Syntex, AI, &amp; content automation. Helping orgs turn content into knowledge. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/spucelik" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepucelik/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="http://www.microsoft.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/denglishbi/">Dan English</a> – Principal Program Manager, Fabric CAT @Microsoft Data platform veteran with 20+ years in BI, data warehousing, &amp; reporting. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/denglishbi" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/denglishbi/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://microsoft.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscottsewell/">Scott Sewell</a> – Principal Program Manager, Fabric &amp; Power BI @Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power BI, and Fabric expert connecting data to decisions. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/scottsewell" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscottsewell/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-fabric" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<hr>
<h3>Awarded Speakers and Experts</h3>
We are incredibly fortunate to welcome these Microsoft MVPs, MCTs, and recognized industry leaders to Knoxville that are sharing their time and expertise because they believe so strongly in supporting the community and helping others grow their professional and technical skills. 
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedderhalli/">Mohamed Derhalli</a> – Solutions Architect @Cyclotron | Microsoft MVP, MCT SharePoint, Teams, &amp; Power Platform specialist with 16+ years of experience. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://x.com/MohamedDerhalli" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedderhalli/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/professionalsharepoint/">Jamel ABED</a> – M365 Solutions Architect | Microsoft MVP Cloud development expert &amp; SPFx guru, empowering businesses across Europe. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/SP_Jamel" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/professionalsharepoint/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.spnext.fr/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-shearer-flowguy/">Scott Shearer</a> – Power Platform Evangelist | Microsoft MVP, MCT Veteran Power Automate &amp; M365 expert, speaker &amp; community contributor. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/ScottJShearer" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-shearer-b0744721/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://o365scott.blog/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Blog</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharepointknight/">Ryan Schouten</a> – CEO @Mahay Consulting | Microsoft MVP, MCT SharePoint &amp; M365 solutions expert passionate about community &amp; education. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/ShrPntKnight" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/byrdttoli/">Nick Brattoli</a> – Partner, Principal Consultant @Three Six Five | Microsoft MVP, MCT SharePoint &amp; Copilot Extensibility specialist driving enterprise solutions. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/byrdttoli" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://linkedin.com/in/byrdttoli" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://365consulting.io/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-mullinsmacc/">Shannon Mullins</a> – CEO @ABC Consulting Group | Microsoft MVP Business Apps expert blending accounting &amp; ERP with tech-driven solutions. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/1ShannonMullin1" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-mullinsmacc/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://abccgroup.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyna-ferris-dataonwheels/">Kristyna Ferris</a> – Solution Architect @P3 Adaptive | Microsoft MVP, Redgate Ambassador Power BI pro &amp; data community leader; co-founded Data on Rails. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/data_dragoness" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyna-hughes-dataonwheels/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://dataonwheels.wordpress.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Blog</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stalinponnusamy/">Stalin Ponnusamy, MVP</a> – Practice Lead @Protiviti | Microsoft MVP CRM, Power Platform, &amp; Azure architect driving enterprise transformations. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/StalinPonnusamy" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stalinponnusamy/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://learntoilluminate.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Blog</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shortcutshari/">Shari L. Oswald, MVP, MCT, MSOM</a> – Productivity &amp; O365 Adoption Expert | Microsoft MVP, MCT SharePoint &amp; Power Platform champion, passionate about user adoption. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/shortcutshari" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shortcutshari/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="http://www.shortcutshari.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-upadhyaya/">Satish Upadhyaya</a> – Workplace Transformation Consultant @SOFTEL | Microsoft MVP, MCT Unified communications expert specializing in Teams &amp; telecom solutions. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/RealTime_M365" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-upadhyaya/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://networkingtalks.wordpress.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Blog</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanielcroitoru/">Haniel Croitoru, MVP</a> – Enterprise Architect @Protiviti | Microsoft MVP Power Platform &amp; M365 transformation leader; author of “Agile Office 365.” 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/HCroitoru" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanielcroitoru/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-e-lakes-ii/">Charles Lakes II</a> – Solution Architect @The II Lakes Group | Microsoft MVP, MCT Low-code advocate &amp; business modernization expert. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/The2Lakes" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-e-lakes-ii" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://charleslakes.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominick-raimato/">Dominick Raimato</a> – Power Platform Solutions Architect | MCT Data-driven problem solver creating solutions to improve lives. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/domtweetstech" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominick-raimato/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://datawithdom.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Blog</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-toland/">Richard Toland</a> – Principal Architect, Developer &amp; Owner @Perpetual Reality Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Azure, and Power BI expert with deep enterprise development and systems architecture experience. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrtoland/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="http://www.perpetualreality.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynfaaland/">Kate Faaland</a> – SVP of Data and AI @AvePoint Leading AI and data innovation for AVPT, helping customers solve complex business and technical challenges. 🔗
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-boe-ms-2b459b250/">Ross Boe, MS</a> VP of Product Development @TruNorth Dynamics 30-year software development veteran specializing in Dynamics CRM and Power Platform. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-boe-ms-2b459b250/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://trunorthdynamics.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath718/">Michael Heath</a> – Digital Automation Expert | Innovator | Speaker | Author @<a target="_self" href="http://getautomating.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">getautomating.com</a> Low-code, automation, and AI solutions expert driving digital transformation. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath718/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://getautomating.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/makwanasamir/">Samir Makwana</a> – Founder &amp; Principal Architect @Cloudtrify Microsoft Cloud Solutions expert specializing in security, automation, and enterprise architecture. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/samakw84" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/makwanasamir/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://cloudtrify.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaeller/">Theresa Lubelski</a> – IT Manager @First Horizon Bank SharePoint, Power Platform, and Microsoft Fabric expert with 25+ years in IT and corporate training. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.twitter.com/techresa" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaeller" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.techresa.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vtoves/">Vanessa Toves</a> – Microsoft 365 Solutions Architect @Druva Solutions Architect with a passion for M365 and helping organizations work smarter. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/vtoves/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://druva.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/galenkeene/">Galen Keene</a> – Chief Business Transformation Leader @Lion Tech LLC M365, Power Platform, and digital transformation expert helping global enterprises. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/sdkeene" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/galenkeene" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://lion-tech.net/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-upadhyaya/">Satish Upadhyaya</a> – Microsoft Workplace Transformation Consultant @SOFTEL Communications | Microsoft MVP &amp; MCT Microsoft Teams and Unified Communications expert helping businesses improve collaboration globally. 🔗 <a target="_self" href="https://twitter.com/RealTime_M365" data-test-app-aware-link="">Twitter</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-upadhyaya/" data-test-app-aware-link="">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_self" href="https://networkingtalks.wordpress.com/" data-test-app-aware-link="">Blog</a>

<h2>Interested in sponsoring?&nbsp; </h2>
Download the sponsor package using the link above.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are ready now, click on the Apply to Sponsor button above!
If you have questions, or are interested in a custom sponsorship, please fill out&nbsp;this short&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.office.com/r/MkTLtrM8xa" target="_blank">interest form</a>.&nbsp;
Thank you!

Knoxville Microsoft 365 Community Day 

Room 149

Does your organization have a need to keep or delete data within a certain time period? With retention policies and labels in Microsoft Purview, you can do just that! 

In this session, join Nick Brattoli as he demonstrates how to plan, test, and deploy retention policies and labels to your data within all the applications in Microsoft 365. 

You will learn things such as:

Configuring retention policies both broadly and specifically across all applicable Microsoft 365 apps

Creating and publishing retention labels that can be manually applied by users

Setting up automatic labeling based on different criteria

Testing and deploying your configuration to production safely

Opportunities for advanced features and configurations

Auditing your content

Data retention is often a topic that isn't explored enough by organizations, but the technology to implement it is readily available. If any of this sounds useful to your organization, or your skillset, don't miss this one!



Getting Started with Data Retention in Microsoft Purview Compliance Center

X (Twitter)

LinkedIn

Lawsuits and other legal claims require that organizations retain relevant electronic data across all 
platforms, including Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Microsoft 
Teams, Microsoft 365 Groups, and Viva Engage communities. Manually searching for data would 
be time consuming and expensive. Fortunately, Microsoft eDiscovery can locate and hold the data
until it is no longer required.
Quite often, though, an organization has documents that are related to legal cases but did not 
originate in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, thus being excluded from the eDiscovery search. In 
this session, we will explore how an organization can use SharePoint and Power Automate to 
create a centralized document repository to securely store files that are not part of the
eDiscovery legal hold. We will also examine how Microsoft Graph, coupled with Power 
Automate, can create an autonomous extension of eDiscovery Premium in SharePoint Online

Extending eDiscovery with SharePoint, Power Platform, and Microsoft Graph

Blog

Navigating Microsoft Unified Support can be… challenging. In this session I'll be sharing my experiences and lessons learned from working with Microsoft Purview, Defender, and Sentinel over the past few years. This talk is intended for anyone who has struggled with understanding:
	• How support is structured
	• What resources are available to you
	• The best way to open a case
	• How to drive a case to a resolution
	• Acceptance 

The Five Stages of Microsoft Support: A Satirical Guide

Your company has made significant investments in Microsoft 365—through licenses, solutions, and dedicated staff. With growing threats to the Microsoft ecosystem, it's crucial that you understand your role in responding to cyber attacks. Every Microsoft 365 professional needs to be aware of the NIST 2.0 framework and the expectations of your role to ensure a swift, effective defense. 
In this session, you will deepen your knowledge in these critical areas, empowering you to protect your organization and contribute to a more effective, coordinated response to cyber attacks.

Be Ready: Protecting Microsoft 365 Data from Cyber Attacks

In this session, we will explore the innovative capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, a cutting-edge tool designed to revolutionize the employee experience.

We will delve into how Copilot, powered by advanced AI technology, can assist users in a myriad of tasks, from drafting emails and documents to coding assistance and beyond. Learn how Copilot can seamlessly integrate into your daily workflow, boosting productivity and fostering a more efficient, collaborative work environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the digital workspace, this session will provide valuable insights into leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot to its fullest potential.

Join me as we navigate the future of work with Microsoft Copilot.

Microsoft Copilot: The New Employee Experience Tool

This session aims to provide an insightful exploration into a real-life transformative journey towards the successful pilot of Microsoft 365 Copilot. We will delve into the challenges faced, strategies employed, and the innovative solutions developed during this transition. 

The discussion will highlight how multiple tools and tactics were used to prepare employees and data for M365 Copilot, in order to leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot's advanced capabilities to enhance operational efficiency, improve data management, and foster a more collaborative work environment. 

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the process, from initial planning stages to the final execution, and the significant benefits realized, and, of course, so do's and don'ts. This session will serve as a valuable guide for organizations looking to embark on a similar path, offering key takeaways and best practices to ensure a smooth and effective pilot of M365 Copilot.