What to expect
This is a beginner workshop on building a first simple AI automation in Make.com, listed as a free first pilot with limited space. Participants build a birthday helper that reads a spreadsheet row, retrieves a photo they selected, drafts a message, and creates an unsent Gmail draft for review. The listing states that the workflow uses your selected photo and does not search people by their faces.
Who should attend
The listing is aimed at AI-curious professionals, small-business owners, sales professionals, adult students, and career changers in Northern Virginia and DC. No coding experience is needed. A founder who wants to try no-code automation will find this hands-on, while one who already builds with Make.com is likely past this level.
Agenda and host
- Basic building blocks and how data moves between steps
- How to check results before anything is sent
- Five short examples of other workflows
- Q&A and networking
Attendees receive a starter sheet, instructions, and a reusable blueprint. The host is Gus Gonzalez of MyGuyGus, with co-host Haytham, under the Developing Professionals in Information Technology group. No minute-by-minute schedule is published.
What to bring
Bring a laptop and charger. Account and spreadsheet preparation steps will be emailed before the workshop. Fictional sample data is provided, or you can prepare a small spreadsheet of your own and photos you have permission to use.
Venue and access
Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2 to 4 PM, at the host's Reston office, 1920 Association Dr, Reston, VA 20191. The listing gives no parking or transit details.
How to register
RSVP on the Meetup event page, or without a Meetup account use the seat-request form, which returns a confirmation or waitlist update by email. Use one route only; each person registers separately.