Leading SAFe

Date:	Saturday Oct 13 to Sunday Oct 14
Time:	9:00 AM to 5:30 PM each day
Trainer:	Don Patti, Anil Kappa
Support:	Support@Grow-Lean.com +1.609.975.9294
Location:	Crowne Plaza Edison 2055 E Lincoln Highway Edison, NJ 08817 732.287.3500
Click to Register Now

SAFe® is a framework for agile at scale. It wraps principles from Scrum, Kanban, XP and provides additional ceremonies, roles and artifacts. SAFe® has a release-planning event, known as Program Increment (PI) Planning, that is often done quarterly. PI planning brings together teams of teams (think 50 to 200 people) in one physical location to plan the work for a release.

This two-day course will prepare you to apply PI Planning and the SAFe® framework in general, to synchronize alignment, collaboration, allowing you to align people and value streams to establish a program-level cadence for releases. After the class you will free access to the certification exam. Upon passing the exam you will become a SAFe® Agilist (SA Cert from Scaled Agile Inc.).

Use the tabs above, or a link below, to find out more.

Click to register now
Click to find out about discounts
Click for refund policies

Click for location details
Click for trainer biography
Click for class agenda

Register

Reserve Your Seat Early

Save your seat now while they are still available. We accept major credit cards and PayPal. Please contact us if you require assistance.

Click here to register for the session

Discounts

Alumni, Early Bird, Group, and Unemployment Discounts

There are discounts for alumni, those registering early, groups of three or more and the unemployed. For the unemployment discount, a current state unemployment statement is required. With the exception of alumni + early bird, most discounts cannot be combined and there are a limited number per session.

Click here to register for the session
Click to find out about discounts

Refund Policies

Understand What Happens if You Can't Attend

We try to avoid cancellations, and do not cancel late due to low enrollments. If we do, we give you a discount. We expect you to be similarly respectful; so there are fees associated with cancellations to cover a portion of costs we incur, including credit card processing and catering fees.

Click here for details on refund and transfer policies
Click here to register for the session

Agile Trainer: Don Patti

Donald Patti is an experienced agile trainer, coach and consultant, known for his strong business and software development acumen. He has significant experience with lean so he understands the core of agility. Don also has been an educator for a many years, as an adjunct professor and agile trainer. Don has hands on experience with leading SAFe and other agile implementations and he delivers a professional, real world, workshop.

Agile Trainer: Anil Kappa

Agile Mentor and Trainer
SAFe Program Consultant (SPC4.5) | CSPO | CSM

Anil is a seasoned executive leader with experience helping scale billion-dollar organization and startups. He is an entrepreneur at heart and built successful IT services companies which have been featured in INC 500 and NJ Fast companies list. Learning has been a core value and he brings that to practice every-day with his customers, helping them transform with Agile, Lean and DevOps principles while navigating complex business challenges with a data-driven mindset. He is passionate about delivering customer value and competitive advantage by leveraging experimentation and lean startups to uncover disruption and revenue streams.

His expertise is in partnering with C-Level Executives, translating strategy to execution, leading change while sustaining a robust pace of growth with commitment to continuous improvements. Anil is results driven with a proven track record of aligning all stakeholders towards common vision and mission.

Anil is focused on coaching and training Scaled Agile Framework. He advises and coaches organization in building and sustaining lean-agile culture, manage a portfolio in a lean-agile manner, optimize value streams and enable enterprise agility.

Click for trainer biography
Click here to register for the session

Refund Policies

Grow-Lean commits to canceling classes as a last resort and we expect a similar commitment from attendees

There may be situations where you as an attendee, or Grow-Lean as a host, has to cancel. We realize that you made a commitment when you registered so we try to avoid cancellations. If we cancel less than sixteen (16) days prior to the scheduled event start date, due to low enrollment, and you wish to come to another of our events, we provide you a $150 discount.

Please review the information below to familiarize yourself with the policies.

A refund, minus a 5% credit card processing fee, will apply for all refunds irrespective of when a request is made.

An additional $75 charge will apply for a cancellation or class change that Grow-Lean receives seven (7) to fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled event.

No refunds will be issued for a cancellation or class change that Grow-Lean receives less than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled event start date. However, we will credit the amount paid toward a future event (reducing the cost for the future event) in the next six months. Attending a future event will incur a $150 transfer fee.

To cancel, email us at Support@Grow-Lean.com. After sending the email, call 609. 975.9294 during normal business hours (9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST).

Grow-Lean reserves the right to cancel an event. Class cancellation notice will be provided via email and/or phone call, and a full refund will be issued promptly.

We try to avoid cancellations. In the unlikely event we cancel due to low registration, and if we cancel less than sixteen (16) days prior to the scheduled event start date, we will refund your money or provide you a $150 discount towards a transfer into another one of our upcoming events.

Crowne Plaza Edison

2055 E Lincoln Highway
Edison, NJ 08817
732.287.3500

Directions

Getting to the venue

Getting to the Crowne Plaza via Train

For those taking public transportation, the Edison Train Station is just 1.5 miles from the Crowne Plaza. There is often a hotel shuttle is available for pickup, and drop off. If not, taxis are always waiting and Uber/Lyft are also options.

The Edison stop is on the Northeast Corridor line, and you can get there from Trenton, New York or Newark (airport or Penn Station). Go to the New Jersey Transit site for more information: http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainTo

Driving Directions to the Crowne Plaza

The Crowne Plaza in Edison has a large parking lot with free parking for training attendees.

Traveling on Interstate 287 North

Take exit #2B for Route 27 south (New Brunswick).
The Crowne Plaza hotel is located 1 mile on right.

Traveling on Interstate 287 South

Take exit #3 (New Durham/Metuchen).
Make a right off exit (Durham Road).
Travel approximately 0.2 mile to first light.
Make a left onto Talmadge Road.
Travel approximately 1 mile.
Hotel on Right.

Traveling on Route 1 North from the Princeton area

Take Route 1 north to Route 18 north.
Exit for Route 27 north (Highland Park).
Travel approximately 5 miles.
Make a left onto Municipal Boulevard.
Make first right into hotel complex.

Traveling on Route 1 South from Woodbridge Area

Take Route 1 south to Interstate 287 north (Morristown/Mahwah).
Take exit #2B for Route 27 south (New Brunswick).
The Crowne Plaza hotel is Located 1 mile on right.

Traveling on New Jersey State Turnpike

Take exit #10 (Edison) to Interstate 287 north.
Take exit #2B to Route 27 south (New Brunswick).
The Crowne Plaza hotel is located 1 mile on right.

Map Link

Link to Map/Directions

The link below will open in a pop-up window. If you have pop-ups blocked, which is a default on most browsers, you can cut and paste this link in another window.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Crowne+Plaza+Edison/@40.524956,-74.390402,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xce30a663a1ed1483!8m2!3d40.524879!4d-74.390487?hl=en

Don Patti, Agile Trainer

Donald Patti is an experienced agile trainer, coach and consultant. He is known for his strong business and software development acumen. Don has implemented agile across a variety of industries, teams and organizations. He has deep experience with lean (on which agile is based) so he understand the intrinsic meaning of agile methods. Don also has a long career in education, based on being an adjunct professor, as well as an agile trainer, allowing him to convey information in an understandable manner. Don has successfully founded and grown two entrepreneurial businesses during his career and consulted to well-respected organizations.

Don is spending much of his time coaching a large Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) initiative, while also providing targeted coaching to several clients. Don brings his vast, real world, experience with him, to the class room, where he delivers practical, reality based, agile training.

Companies that Don has consulted to include HP, Daimler Benz, JPMorgan Chase, CheckFree and the US Federal Government. Don was the Director of Applications at the Association of American Medical Colleges for three years. Don's strengths lay in his ability to tailor Agile and Lean techniques to the unique needs of each client and situation, along with his ability to explain this tailoring.

Certifications and Education:

In addition to Don's significant real world experienced, Don also has a strong educational background and he has many certifications, across a range of areas.

Scrum Alliance: Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Scaled Agile Academy: SAFe Program Consultant (SPC4), SAFe Agilist (SA)
RH Smith School of Business: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Information Systems and Entrepreneurship
Balanced Scorecard Institute: Balanced Scorecard Professional (BSP)
Moresteam University: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSBB)
American Society for Quality: Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)
EXIN: ITIL v3/IT Service Management
Project Management Institute: Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
Microsoft: Microsoft Certified Professional –Architecture and Requirements Gathering (MCP)
IBM: Certified Solutions Expert/WebSphere
IBM: Certified Solutions Advisor

Sample Recommendations

"Great training. Very easy to follow." Joe Badalamenti
"Very good overview, details and explanation." Hemlata Rawal
"He [Don Patti] was very enthusiastic and answered all of our questions. He was helpful for understanding the nuances between the levels.", Anonymous
"He [Don Patti[ made the class interesting and tried to inspire us. I very much appreciated the PI session enactment.", Anonymous
"Don Patti was able to explain concepts clearly, answer questions in a way that was easy to understand.",Anonymous
"The course was a great learning experience. Not only did Don offer points of focus for important topics, but the immersion exercises helped me to really understand how to apply SAFe in real-world context.", Anonymous
"Great knowledge from both work and coaching experience", Anonymous
"Good execution of course. proper time allocation of areas that mattered; found time to answer questions and cater to the needs of the attendees", Anonymous
"Engaging Instructor!", Anonymous
"I especially enjoyed the class and the PI exercise, which was helpful". John Summers
"The training was delivered in a very meaningful way with good examples. 5 stars to Don and Grow-Lean." Gireesh Babu
"Expertise of trainer was very high and appreciated." Anonymous
"Don made the class engaging. I learned a lot and felt prepared for the exam." Tristan
"The practical examples, videos, trainer and his life experience [are what I liked best]". Brahbakhar
"Don is very knowledgeable and patient answering all types of questions. I highly recommend him and his classes." Ram Sekar
"Trainer [Don Patti] provided a great opportunity to learn how other workplaces are adopting and implementing SAFe 4.5", Seema Jha
"The PI Planning group activity was great!", Anonymous
"We were able to draw upon the trainer’s [Don Patti] real-world experience," Marlene Tripplin

Anil Kappa, Agile Trainer

Agile Mentor and Trainer
SAFe Program Consultant (SPC4.5) | CSPO | CSM

Certifications and Education:

Scaled Agile Academy: SAFe Program Consultant (SPC4.5)
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) - Scrum Alliance
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
Master’s in Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Master’s Program, EO-MIT, SLOAN, 2010–2013
Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Science, ANNA UNIVERSITY (SVCE), 1990–1993
Design Thinking for Business Innovation, University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy - MIT Sloan Executive Education
Tackling the Challenges of Big Data – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Customer Analytics - The Wharton School
Predictive Analytics Applied - Prediction Impact
Corporate Finance, Executive Education, The Wharton School

Leading SAFe (SAFe Agilist)

Take Leading SAFe from an authorized Scaled Agile Partner

Take this two-day course (based on SAFe® 4.6) to become a SAFe® 4 Agilist (SA), advance your career, and position yourself to lead an agile enterprise by leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®). Grow-Lean is a Scaled Agile Partner and our trainers are approved to deliver this session.

Avoid a bad experience, attend a Grow-Lean Leading SAFe Session so you...

Won't get canceled on at the last minute (choose your trainer wisely) except for extreme circumstances.
Get a Scaled Agile Inc. approved trainer, with strong experience.
Get training based on the latest SAFe 4.6 Framework.
Apply principles derived from Lean, systems thinking, agile development, product development flow, and DevOps, in the classroom.
Practice the skills for supporting and executing PI Planning events, and coordinating multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs)
Have fun while learning.
Gain free access to the certification exam.
Gain the skills necessary to pass the certification exam. The exam is hard, so get the right training once, not the wrong training twice.
Get high quality food and beverage, including light breakfast, lunch, snacks, all day beverages, and vegetarian options.
Get a clean, convenient venue, with free parking.

Learning Goals

What you will learn

Interpret the basic constructs of SAFe and the steps of the Implementation Road-map
Apply the values and principles of a Lean-Agile Mindset
Apply SAFe’s Lean and Agile principles in concert with SAFe roles and practices
Create high-performing teams by establishing mission and purpose
Use transformational leadership to drive change, develop people, and encourage innovation

Support PI Planning and the events associated with successful Program execution
Drive continuous value delivery through the Continuous Delivery Pipeline
Establish alignment and execution with Strategic Themes and Lean Portfolio Management
Coordinate multiple Agile Release Trains and suppliers with a Solution Train
Maximize value delivered holistically across a large portfolio

Topics

SAFe Concepts so You Can Lead a Scaled Initiative

Introducing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Embracing a Lean-Agile Mindset
Understanding SAFe Principles
Creating high-performing teams and programs
Experiencing Program Increment (PI) Planning
Exploring, Executing, and Releasing Value
Leading the Lean-Agile Enterprise
Empowering a Lean Portfolio
Building Large Solutions

What You Get

From workbooks to a great training experience

Attendee workbook and preparation to take the exam
Free access to exam (first try), assuming you attend both full days
One-year membership to the SAFe Community Platform
Course certificate of completion
SAFe Agilist certification upon passing of exam
Great learning in a friendly environment conducive to learning

Who Should Attend

This class is meant for anyone who is participating in an agile at scale implementation, involving 50+ people across multiple teams

Executives, Leaders, Managers, Directors
CIOs, SVPs, VPs, AVPs
Development, QA, Infrastructure Management
Enterprise, System, Solution Architects
Product and Product Line Management
Program and Project Managers
Portfolio Managers, PMO, Process Leads

SAFe Certification Kit

What you will receive when you pass the certification exam

SAFe Agilist certificate
A SAFe 4 Agilist digital badge to promote your accomplishment online
A one-year certified membership as a SAFe Agilist
One year access to the SA Community of Practice
A SAFe Agilist certification usage guide with SA certification marks
Access to a variety of learning resources to support certified professionals during their SAFe journey
Annual Renewal: Certifications expire one year from the date the certification is earned. Renewal fee is $100

Exam Information

Basic facts about the exam

No additional charge to take the exam.
Must attend the course prior to taking the exam.
Exam is taken off site, from any Internet connected location, but is closed book.
You will likely require additional study to prior to taking exam.

Exam name: SAFe^® 4 Agilist Exam
Exam format: Multiple choice
Exam delivery: Web-based (single-browser), closed book, no outside assistance, timed
Exam access: You access the exam in the SAFe Community Platform upon completion of the Leading SAFe® course
Exam duration: Once the exam begins, you have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to complete the exam

Number of questions: 45
Passing score: 34 out of 45 (76% passing score)
Language: English
Exam cost: Your first attempt is included as part of your course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion. Each retake attempt costs $50.
Retake policy: Second attempt on exam (first retake) can be done immediately after first attempt. Third attempt requires a 10-day wait. Fourth attempt requires a 30-day wait.

Contact Us

Reach out to us, we are responsive and will respond to requests in a business day

Contact us via phone at +1.609.975.9294 between 9:00 AM ET to 5:30 PM ET US.
For discount requests on public sessions, please use the "REQUEST" button on the class list, and enter appropriate information, before contacting us, so we have your information.
For questions about coaching, consulting or private training, you can contact us via phone at +1.609.975.9294 or via email (links below).
For support, contact us at +1.609.975.9294 or via email (links below).

support@grow-lean.com

Training@grow-lean.com

Consutling@grow-lean.com

Info@grow-lean.com

Discounts

Early Bird, Group, and Unemployment Discounts

There are number of discounts set aside for each session for Grow-Lean Training alumni, those registering early, groups of three or more, for the unemployed, and in a limited number of cases, for those paying on their own.

Act now as there are specific number of discounted seats per each session.

We will respond to your request in 24 hours.

Reduced price for alumni, early registrations, groups, and individuals in need.

There are a number of rules governing discount codes, please review them.

The Alumni Discount can be combined with the Early Bird Discount. Other discounts are not combinable, only one can be used at a time.
If you want to register for two sessions, register for the first and request the Alumni Discount for the second.
Each class has a limited number of discounts.
You must provide supporting information for Hardship and Self Pay Discount requests.
Grow-Lean reserves the right to audit, and/or deny a discount request.
Honesty is expected when requesting a discount so that they can be provided to those most in need.
The supply of discounts is limited as we often need to lock in the room setup approximately six or more weeks prior to the training.
If you receive a discount code it will remain valid until the time limit or total count threshold is reached, whichever is first.
Request discount codes early and use them quickly.

➤ Early Bird - Save money by registering in advance.

The Early Bird is no longer available for this session. You can find another session by clicking here, or, if you are paying on your own (i.e. not sponsored by your employer), you may want to consider a Self Pay Discount for this, or another session.

➤ Alumni - If you have attended Grow-Lean Training in the past, request an Alumni Discount.

We appreciate our alumni and often provide discount for prior attendees of Grow-Lean Training. If you are not an alumni but are signing up for two sessions, sign up for the first and request the discount for the second. Please note that you must attend both sessions for the Alumni Discount to be applied.

Click here to request an Alumni Discount

➤ Group Discount - Save money by coming with a group of three or more.

A group discount is available for three or more people registering together for the session. Please make your request now. Grow-Lean will evaluate the request based on the number of attendees you are sending.

Click here to request a group discount.

➤ Self-Pay - Your company won't reimburse you, then request the Self Pay Discount.

A limited number of Self Pay Discounts, worth up to $200 off of the regular price are available on a first-come, first-serve, basis to individuals who are not reimbursed by their employer. Currently, there is a Self Pay Discount available for this session. Please request this discount only if your employer will not reimburse you.

Click here to request a Self Pay Discount (if your employer will not reimburse you).

➤ Hardship - If you are currently collecting unemployment benefits, request the hardship discount.

A limited number of Hardship Discounts are available if you are collecting unemployment from your state of residence and can provide a copy of your most recent unemployment benefit claim. We will review, and potentially approve a Hardship Discount if any are still available (request as early as possible). If you are not currently collecting state unemployment benefits please consider the Self Pay or Early Bird Discounts for sessions where they are available.

Click here to request a hardship discount (if you are collecting state unemployment compensation) .