Ignite: verb \ig-ˈnīt\

: to set something on fire

: to begin burning

: to give life or energy to someone or something

Last July, we put the word out that Microsoft will host a unified enterprise technology conference in May. We told you it will bring together the best of previously individual events – the Management Summit, the Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, Project, and TechEd conferences – and then take it to the next level, based on what our customers and partners have asked for. Now, we have more to share.

Microsoft Ignite is May 4-8 in Chicago at McCormick Place. Satya Nadella will keynote and will be joined by technical and business leaders including Brad Anderson, Joe Belfiore, Dave Campbell, Peggy Johnson, Chris Jones, Julie Larson Green, Gurdeep Singh Pall and many others.

Ignite rounds out our schedule of key events for professional communities in the first half of 2015. We start with Convergence 2015 in Atlanta, March 16-19, the place where business leaders gather to explore solutions. //Build in San Francisco, April 29-May 1, is where developers will hear the latest about our platform strategy, technologies and opportunities. Then we turn to Ignite, followed by the Worldwide Partner Conference in Orlando, July 12-16, for our enormous partner community.

Ignite is the new entry, so here’s more about it.

If you are on the hook to help your company make the right tech moves in the new world of mobile and cloud, Ignite is the show for you. For the first time ever, we’re putting under one roof the education, vision and guidance for the full spectrum of our enterprise solutions. Our best and brightest minds, along with thousands of your peers, will be there to help you chart the course for your team, your company and your career.

We’re rewiring what a Microsoft enterprise tech conference is and does, from how you will plan your week ahead of time, to how you’ll use social media to get the most out of the event, to how you’ll enjoy the city of Chicago. Whether you’re a senior tech strategist or a hard core, hands-on admin, you’re going to be…well, stoked.

Ignite is where you’ll come up with your next great idea, based on what you learn about the upcoming wave of products and services. We’re going to cover it all, across cloud infrastructure and management, big data and analytics, productivity, unified communications, operating systems, mobile devices and more. You’ll get the practical guidance and the insight you need to build a game plan for that big project. You’ll learn from people who have reached the pinnacle of success, overcome the impossible and learned the hard lessons. You’ll dive deep with our experts, share stories with other professionals, and have some laughs, too.

In addition to hundreds of sessions, technical training, hands-on labs and opportunities for certification, we’re making it a priority to give attendees direct access to hundreds of Microsoft engineers and executives. Our top gearheads and thought leaders will be there in force, ready to step down from the podium and get into the weeds with you.

Take a look at what Ignite has to offer. Registration is open now. Don’t wait too long to start making the case to your management why you can’t miss it.

You can go here at 11:30 a.m. PST to watch a live stream of the press conference where Mayor Rahm Emanuel will welcome Ignite to Chicago. Oh, and by the way, May 4th is Star Wars Day. While you’re in Chicago, you can check out progress on construction of the Lucas Museum. May the 4th be with you. 🙂

Tags: Build, developers, Frank Shaw, Ignite