Search results matching tags 'Administration' and 'professional development'

PASS Summit 2012, Slide Decks

KKline — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:02:00 GMT

Ok, I have to admit the painful truth. I'm reliably slow to the finish line. This year, I got my slides into PASS HQ by the skin of my teeth, the weekend before the event was to begin. Although I could say with a straight face "I uploaded my slides!". I have to be honest that I wasn't surprised when many of my attendees said that they weren't available for download by the time my session started. OTOH, I also have to say that I really do prefer for attendees to focus on the presentation while it's being presented and that they should grab the slides afterwards. But that's just my personal preference.

Having said all of that, I'm going to post my three session slide decks here so that you can grab them in case PASS has to take a while longer to get them posted. If you don't mind, the PASS program committee has introduced a new electronic feedback system. PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK!

(Click on the session title to download the zip file of the slide deck).

PASS TV - Gaining Executive Support

This brief session is all about convincing your boss to do something you want - telecommute, make a big purchase of hardware or software, bring in a consultant, and so forth. See the PASS TV schedule for other sessions.

Winning Influence in IT Teams

Abstract: Ever wanted to convince the boss to try something new, but didn't know where to start? Ever tried to lead your peers toward an innovative, fresh idea only to fail to achieve your goals? This session teaches you the eight techniques of influencing IT professionals and the means of communicating your ideas upward to management and out to teammates so that you can innovate and achieve change in your organization. You'll learn the fundamental difference between influence and authority and how you can achieve a high degree of influence without explicit authority. You'll also learn the eight techniques of influencing IT professionals, when to apply them, and how to best use them. And you'll discover the communication and procedural techniques that ensure your ideas get a hearing by bosses and peers, and how to best win support for them.

Evaluate Session

Managing SQL Server in a Virtual World

This session rocked the house! We had standing room only probably at 20 to 30 minutes before start time. Our attendance was over 500, but we probably could've filled the biggest 700+ person room. A special thanks to my friend David Klee (blog | twitter) for tag-teaming with my like mega-nerd luchadors.

Abstract: Why are so many organizations implementing VMware, and what does it mean for SQL Server DBAs? In this deep-dive session, you'll see that when configured and managed properly, SQL Server can run just as well in a virtual environment as a physical one. We'll review the benefits VMware provides, including hardware abstraction, easier failover, and simpler capacity planning. We'll also explore key tips to help administer a SQL Server instance running inside a virtual machine. You'll learn the differences in general administration, disaster recovery, and high availability on VMs; get a better understanding of activity and performance trends on VMs; and learn how to ensure effective capacity planning and optimal performance on VMs. If you’ve ever had a virtual deployment go bad, or if you’re struggling to manage the performance of virtualized SQL Servers, be sure to catch this session.

Evaluate Session

Come See Me. I'll Probably Be Just Down the Street Soon!

KKline — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:02:00 GMT

Even though I've recently changed jobs, I'll still be speaking at a lot of SQL events across the country and internationally. There are still a few trips that I've yet to finalize, in particular with the fine folks in Houston, run by my friend Nancy Hidy (blog | twitter), and my friends in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, run by my friend Mark Ginnebaugh (blog | twitter). Also, do to some missed deadlines, it looks like I won't be speaking at the Nordic SQL Rally this fall. My bad! On the other hand, you can see when checking my roster, that I hardly have time to catch my breath with this travel schedule.

I'll also be doing several on-line events with the PASS Professional Development Virtual Chapter, run by Mark Caldwell (blog | twitter), through out the year.

Here's what's on the docket up through the start of the holiday season:

New York City

SQL Saturday 158, August 4

The Colorado User Group Tour

Boulder PASS user group meeting, August 14

Colorado Springs PASS user group meeting, August 15 (Register here for Colorado Springs PASS user group meeting).

Denver PASS user group meeting, August 16

Comatose, August 17 (Not an actual city in CO).

Orlando

SQL Saturday Performance Tuning Pre-Con, September 28

SQL Saturday 151, September 29

Online

SSWUG 2012 Fall vConference, Oct 2-4, (Please register using code 'VCKEVIN'. I will personally hug you, virtually.)

Lincoln

SQL Saturday Performance Tuning Pre-Con, October 5

SQL Saturday 165, October 6

Cedar Rapids

East Iowa PASS user group meeting, Oct 8 TBD

Quad City PASS user group meeting, Oct 9 TBD

Nashville (Go Titans!)

SQL Saturday Leadership Skills for IT Pros Pre-Con, October 12

SQL Saturday 145, October 13

Seattle

SQL Connections, Las Vegas, Nov 1-4

PASS Summit 2012, Seattle, Nov 6-9

Let me know if you're nearby and if you're coming to any of these events. I'd enjoy seeing you personally and getting a chance to shake your hand!

Hope to see you soon,

-Kevin

-Follow me on Twitter!

-More content at http://KevinEKline.com

New on "Database Trends & Applications"

KKline — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:37:00 GMT

In last month's column, "2012 Might Really Be the End of the World as We Know It," I described a number of major developments in the IT industry that are likely to disrupt the life of database professionals everywhere. I categorize those four disruptors - virtualization, cloud computing, solid state drives (SSD), and advanced multi-core CPUs - into two broad groups. I'm going to continue an analysis of these disruptive technologies in inverse order. Today, let's discuss SSDs.

[READ MORE ON DATABASE TRENDS & APPLICATIONS ]

Free Webcast Series: Patterns and Practices in Database Administration

KKline — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:31:00 GMT

SSWUG.ORG’s virtual webcasts will prepare the “Accidental DBA” for patterns and practices they will experience in their role as a database administrator. I will provide easy-to-understand insights and realistic examples for professionals who have not had any formal DBA training. By the end of our four-part series, you should have the information needed to get up to speed on database planning, administration and performance tuning basics.

Session Descriptions

In the first session, you will see what is needed to fulfill the role of a (Database Administrator) DBA by learning more about what is typically expected of administrators and where the bulk of the work is done. Regardless if you are a draftee or volunteer to the position, the information applies to anybody wanting to better understand and fully own their title.

Over the course of the second session, you will find out why it is important to grasp some of the tips and tricks that DBAs have practiced for many years. I will emphasize about the need for documentation, testing, automation, sharing experiences and continuing your education.

During the third session, you will understand the reasons why the DBA is the sheriff in town! That's why it's important to know what you’re dealing with in your departments and inside your databases. I will explain how to inventory, determine what is not your responsibility, talk to your stakeholders, learn the business cycles and tackle important tasks.

The fourth and final session will emphasize the four essential skills needed to survive and excel in your database administration position - Communication, Troubleshooting, Benchmarking and Automation. I will explain how to leverage these abilities toward increased job security and professional successes.

· Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PDT

· Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PDT

· Wednesday, July 6, 2011, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PDT

· Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PDT

Hope to see you there. REGISTER HERE. Enjoy,

-Kev

Twitter at kekline

More content at http://KevinEKline.com

Cloud Evolving, SQL Server Responding

KKline — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:49:00 GMT

Brent Ozar (blog | twitter) and I did an interview with TechTarget’s Brendan Cournoyer at last summer's Tech-Ed, which as turned into a podcast titled “Cloud efforts advance, SQL Server evolves.” The podcast covers all the major trends at the conference (like BI), virtualization features in Quest’s products (like Spotlight), Brent’s new book and MCM certification, and more. Here’s a link to hear it, appearing on 6/11/10: http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/podcast/Cloud-efforts-advance-SQL-Server-evolves.

Enjoy!

-Kev

Twitter at kekline

More content at http://KevinEKline.com

Education and Career Resources from Microsoft and the Community

KKline — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:49:00 GMT

Sometimes I'm timely in getting the news out on useful resources. And, other times, I'm a bit slower on the draw. As I told my friends back at New Year's Day, "As an official member of the Procrastinators Club, welcome to 2008!" On the other hand, it's always good to remind folks of great resources that are still available and on the shelf. Why? Well, the Internet hits us with such a deluge of constantly new material, that we often forget about the old(ish) stuff that's still really useful.

Darth Doofus, Emporer Palpatine, and Darth Goofus

Quest vConference for SQL Server

One of the most popular teaching sessions I ever engaged in was the Quest vConferences for SQL Server in 2010, with my good friends Buck Woody (blog | twitter) and Brent Ozar (blog | twitter).

These are evergreen favorites for their strong technical content and, perhaps, an outpouring of Brent's faux chest hair in the latter part of the training events. Go to this URL for the code samples, download the slides, and to rate the presentation: http://questkb.com/live and or http://www.vconferenceonline.com/shows/spring10/quest/conference/ondemand.asp. You can also get the full events shipped for free anywhere in North America on a single DVD.

24 Hours of PASS Celebrates Women in Technology

Kalen Delaney, author and expert, and one of the initiators of WiT within PASS

It's always a big thrill for me when a successful initiative launched by PASS goes viral. One such example is the 24Hours of PASS. (See last year's webcasts at http://www.sqlpass.org/24hours/2010/). I now see other industry trade groups and technology user groups launching their own 24 Hours type webcast marathons. Kudos - PASS folks thought of it first! (I'd give proper credit, if I could only remember who thought of it. Rick Heiges (blog | twitter), I think).

This year, 24 Hours of PASS is gearing up for an exceptional lineup of SQL Server and BI experts in 24 one-hour technical webcasts. This free training event takes place over two 12-hour days March 15-16, with each day beginning at 12:00 GMT (UTC). Click here to get registered: http://www.sqlpass.org/24hours/Spring2011/. And in celebration of Women in Technology, PASS is hosting an all female line-up of speakers.

This is another area in which PASS has prompted many emulators. My memory of the details grow dim, since this was almost ten years ago, but I believe it was then PASS director Kalen Delaney (blog | twitter) and Microsoft liaison to the board Jacqueline Borges who put forward the idea of hosting a special Women in Technology luncheon. Since that time, WiT has gone on to be one of the best parts about the big PASS Summit and something widely emulated by other professional and trade associations.

Microsoft Thrive - Career Planning Insights

I was honored to be a featured speaker on the Microsoft Thrive website about this time last year. What's Thrive? It's a website put together by Microsoft that helps you plan out your career. It has certification and learning resources, career paths, and traditional learning patterns and practices. In other words, it tells you what you need to know to qualify for various kinds of it jobs and then gives you links to dive deeper. Check it out!

http://www.microsoft.com/click/thrive/

Enjoy!

-Kev

Twitter at kekline

More content at http://KevinEKline.com

My Last "Catch-Up" Post for 2010 Content

KKline — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:57:00 GMT

I did a lot of writing in 2010. Unfortunately, I didn't do a good job of keeping all of that writing equally distributed throughout all of the channels where I'm active.

So here are a few more posts from my blog, put on-line during the months of November and December 2010, that I didn't get posted here on SQLBlog.com:

1. It's Time to Upgrade!

So many of my customers and many of you, dear readers, are still on SQL Server 2005. Join Kevin Kline, SQL Server MVP and SQL Server Technology Strategist for Quest Software and Brent Ozar, SQL Server Domain Expert for Quest Software as they introduce the top ten features and capabilities in SQL Server 2008 that they find to be the most exciting and valuable.

2. Dealing with the Micromanaging Boss

This is probably my favorite professional development article of the year. Micromanagers make us feel untrusted and stymied by their constant need for tediously detailed and frequent updates, constant changes to minor details of our work, and overly developed attention to administrative details that really don’t matter in our daily job. But there’s hope! Get all of my career advice on dealing with micromanaging bosses here.

3. [Video] Troubleshooting Memory Pressure on SQL Server

This is a little bit of an older video. But it's still useful info if you're working with SQL Server 2005 or 2000. Check it out here.

4. [DBTA] What the Heck is Microsoft's Database Product Trajectory?

I was once asked what I thought Microsoft's overall product trajectory for SQL Server was, in light of Oracle's rather obvious trajectory of acquiring multiple application vendors who will, in turn, deploy more and more of their applications to the Oracle database platform. You can read all about my thoughts in my monthly column at Database Trends & Application magazine - [READ MORE]

5. Eight Characteristics of Excellent Leaders [Plays Well With Others]

In this installment of my professional development column called Plays Well With Others, I talk about what distinguishes truly great leaders. There's a lively discussion on the topic and I encourage you to take part. Read it here.

6. The Shape of Database Licensing Costs to Come [DBTA]

One fall semester many years ago, I was a university freshman. Actually, I was anything but "fresh." I was dumb enough to think that 8 a.m. was a wonderful time to attend Economics 101. After staying up until the wee hours most every night, the "dismal science" took on more than one meaning as I set my clock just early enough to get to class on time. Along with 30 other very naïve classmates, I staggered into class and did my bleary-eyed best to focus on the lessons at hand. There were lots of Greek compound words and lots of graphs.

I learned, for example, that the word economics derives from the Greek "oikonomikos," which means, approximately, "death by slidedecks" and, specifically, "house" (oikos) and "management" (mikos). I barely survived the experience and never took an 8 a.m. class again. Imagine my surprise, then, when a lesson I'd learned (and promptly forgotten) all those years ago jumped back into my consciousness late last year. - [READ MORE]

7. So You're the Boss Now... [Plays Well with Others]

If you have any ambition at all, you have probably wanted (and possibly gotten) a promotion over your current colleagues. If you've been there before, you know that once friendly relationships can get, well, weird. Read my tips and tricks for how to make the most of this situation in this professional development article.

8. The NoSQL Movement - Hype or Hope?

NoSQL is no fad. And you need to be in the "know", not necessarily in the "No". Gno? Pneu? Too many phonetically similar pronunciations! Read my thoughts on the NoSQL movement on one of Database Trends & Applications magazine's most popular articles of the year. - [READ MORE]

9. Effectiveness and Efficiency at Work [Video]

In this golden oldie (yes, two years constitutes "old"), I present my thoughts on how to be both effective and efficient on the job and in life in general. And if you didn't know that these are different concepts, then you need this video most muchly.

10. What's Your Data Management and Retention Policy? [DBTA]

If managing your corporate data for the long term isn't currently on your mind, it should be, and in several different ways: cost, performance, business continuity, and compliance. [READ MORE]

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Originally Posted on YoutTube November 12, 2008.

Why "Tailoring" Your Resume Is Bad

Mike C — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 03:16:00 GMT

I was just writing a response to a comment on my "Sell Yourself!" presentation (http://sqlblog.com/blogs/michael_coles/archive/2010/12/05/sell-yourself-presentation.aspx#comments), and it started getting a little lengthy so I decided to turn it into a blog post. The "Sell Yourself!" post got a couple of very good comments on the blog, and quite a few more comments offline.

I think I'll start this one with a great exchange from the movie "The Princess Bride":

Vizzini: HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE.
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

So before we get started on why I think "tailoring" your resume is a complete waste of time, let's make sure we're all talking about the same thing when we say "tailoring". There are two types of "tailoring" your resume:

1. You create multiple versions of your resume targeting different areas of interest to you. Shannon Lowder mentioned that she keeps a "master resume" with all his experiences listed, and pulls content out of it for each position he's applying for. He indicates he's had good success with this method. I'm not sure if Shannon creates a completely new version of his resume for every job posting or just general versions for different types of positions. I would recommend the latter, especially if you are planning on sending your resume out to a *lot* of recruiters and/or companies. It would be difficult (thought not impossible) to manage 20, 30 or more copies of your resume with only slight variations between them.

Shannon uses a method that is actually very similar to one of my suggestions, which is to keep a Word document with descriptions of *all* your accomplishments (no matter how small). Update the document regularly (I update mine at least once every 3 months, or more often if anything interesting happens). When it's time to update your resume you can easily grab the relevant accomplishments from your master document and format them for your resume. Even if you're happy at your current job, with no plans to ever leave, your master document comes in very handy at annual review time when the boss asks you "what were your accomplishments this year?". It's a very small investment for a potentially significant return.

I know of several people who have had success creating multiple versions of their resume, but there are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Make sure each version of your resume reflects a position you would *want* to be in. If I'm interested in SQL Server development, .NET or SSIS development positions, it doesn't make much sense to create a custom resume highlighting my 3 months of Linux experience.
Manage your resumes well and make sure you send the right resume to the right recruiter. Sending the wrong resume to the wrong recruiter, or bringing the wrong version of your resume to a job interview will only serve to confuse people.
Create your multiple versions of your resumes before you make first contact. That is to say, put your multiple resume versions together before you approach a recruiter. More on this later.

So if it's all good, and people have success with it, what's the downside to "tailoring" your resume? Well, that's where we get into #2.

2. The flip side of tailoring your resume is the last-minute rush job. This happens after a recruiter has contacted you (or vice versa) and she tells you something along the lines of "Java development is required for this job, can you tailor your resume to highlight your Java experience?"

This one calls for a little introspection. If you were really interested in a position requiring skills that aren't highlighted on your resume, why wasn't that skill highlighted on your resume (or one of your resume variants) to begin with? Considering you weren't interested enough to highlight that skill in the first place, do you think you're going to be happy in a job where it's a core requirement? If you decide you'd love that job and leaving it off the resume the first time was just an oversight, then you should thoroughly integrate it into your resume and go for that job. Here's the problem with "tailoring" your resume on-demand at a recruiter's request:

The recruiter probably wants it turned around quickly, usually within a day or two (at most). You don't usually have adequate time to ensure quality.
Whatever you slap on your resume at the last minute will most likely have that tacked-on feel; it might have the "doesn't belong there" quality to it. This can actually diminish the impact of your resume.
When you make last-minute changes to your resume you increase the odds that you'll introduce a typo or other error. As I mention in the presentation your resume is your primary marketing tool. You've most likely spent countless hours writing, formatting, spell-checking, reviewing, adjusting, tweaking, and perfecting your resume. You can easily destroy all that hard work in a matter of minutes.
In my experience (this is just my experience, mind you), last-minute changes to your resume are almost completely ineffective.

As Andy Warren points out "...the challenge is that if you don't tailor, the recruiter may perceive that you're not willing to help you both be successful." I agree with Andy that if you're not willing to make last-minute changes to your resume the recruiter won't be happy; but a good recruiter should ask the same questions you asked above: Why isn't that skill already highlighted? Any recruiter worth her salt will wonder this. A great recruiter will ask you that question and probe deeper to find out if this job really is a good fit for you. To turn Andy's point around: If you change your resume to get a job that requires skills you're not really interested in, neither you, the recruiter, nor the company who hired you has achieved success.

The important thing is to consider the concept of "tailoring". Classic tailoring (making, mending clothes) requires thorough planning before the first cut is made in the cloth; well before the first stitch is stitched. Randomly cutting and sewing pieces of extra cloth into a $1,000 tailored suit at the last minute is not a recipe for success. The same thing goes for your high-quality resume.

So, the bottom line for me is that creating multiple versions of your resume (well before you send it to recruiters) is not a bad thing. I'm all for quality "tailoring" like this -- just make sure you manage it well. Low-quality last-minute on-demand "tailored" changes to your resume don't seem to improve the odds of getting a quality job.

See You in St Louis, and then London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and York, UK

KKline — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:55:00 GMT

Good grief, there's a lot of travel in my future. <sigh ... deep breath> It'll be exhausting and it'll be hard to lose so much time with the family. But if I'm able to avoid travel mishaps, it'll be fun.

Meet Me In St. Louis

I'll be speaking in St. Louis, MO on Tuesday, September 14th for their mid-day meeting. The details, as I have them, are:

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1-4pm

Location: Microsoft St. Louis Office, Three City Place Drive, Suite 1100, St. Louis, MO 63141

http://www.microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/usaoffices/northcentral/stlouis.mspx

Parking is in the garage behind / next to the building. There is an entrance to the building from the 2nd floor in the garage.

Additional details and instructions on how to log in

Speaker: Kevin Kline, Quest Software Topic: SQL Server Internals and Architecture

Speaker: Kevin Kline, Quest Software Topic: SQL Statement Tuning with Query Optimizer Strategies

I'll be giving away free t-shirts, posters, an eBook or three, and backrubs (super-models, only).

SQL Bits, On the Cheap

I’ve tweeted previously about the SQL Bits conference in York on September 30th – October 2nd, but this is my first blog post about it. Now is the time to settle your plans to attend. And while you're settling those plans, take advantage of Quest Software's 20% discount on the Thursday and Friday sessions requiring payment. Just be sure to use the code QST20 when you register. The Saturday is free for everyone. Note - I said FREE. So if you're struggling to convince your boss of the value of the time off and cost required to attend these events, then at least plan to attend Saturday. But as you can see here, the prices are quite low compared to most other conferences of similar quality. I firmly believe the standard for speakers and content at SQLBits is second to none in the UK. I'll be a wallflower in comparison to other friends of mine also speaking at the event, such as Brent Ozar, a MCM SQL Server and former colleague now working with SQLSkills, Buck Woody, the well-known "Real World DBA" and senior technical specialist from Microsoft, as well as many other SQL Server MVPs, authors, and speakers, such as the event organizer, Simon Sabin, and Quest Software SQL Server expert and editor-in-chief of SQLServerPedia, Iain Kick. Some sessions I'm looking forward to include:

Monitoring and Tuning Parallel Query Execution - Part II – R Meyyappan
Where the bl**dy h*** are you? (Spatial Data Visualisation) - Rob Farley (all the way from Adelaide, Australia)
Introduction to Performance Analysis and Tuning – Simon Sabin
Oracle for SQL Server DBAs – Gavin Payne
Lies, Damned Lies And Statistics. Making The Most Out of SQL Server Statistics - Maciej Pilecki
Extreme scaling with SQL Azure – Martin Schmidt
Automating SSIS - Andre Kamman

Attendance will definitely enhance your skills and ability to do your job. The added bonus is that York is a lovely place to visit with a beautiful and storied cathedral, so I highly recommend the event for all SQL Server professionals. Prior to SQLBits, I'll be presenting in London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. I hope you can attend an event closer to you if you cannot make it to York!

And Just to Make Sure I'm Thoroughly Frozen...

While I usually have a policy against visiting places cold enough to die between the front door and the mailbox, I'll be stopping in at SQL Saturday 58 in Minnesota for a SQL Saturday taking place on Friday (not a typo), October 29th, the day after my birthday. I'll be 21 years old and, since I'm now of legal drinking age, you should by me a drink. The event organizer, as well as my friend and fellow MVP, Jason Strate, just has to be different by holding the event on a Friday, eh? Track the event on twitter using the hash tag #sqlsat58. Read all the details here and register asap!

Once finished in Minnesota, I'll barely get a breather in before heading right back out for the big PASS 2010 Summit in Seattle from Nov 8 -11. Hope to see you at one of these events soon!

Best regards,

-Kevin

Twitter @kekline

More content at http://KevinEKline.com

SQL Saturday is Coming to Nashville! Won't You?

KKline — Tue, 18 May 2010 02:42:00 GMT

How 'Bout a Little Context?

Let me be direct with you. I love SQL Saturday. If it were a woman, I'd marry it. (Avoiding all extraneous thoughts of what my real wife would say, etc etc).

Check out this fun Flickr Feed from the recent SQL Saturday in Chicago or these picks by Jorge Segara (blog | twitter) to see the sort of fun that's in store. But who can argue with a day of free SQL Server training and a chance to network with great presenters and a wide swath of your peers?

Keynotes are more fun when the put-downs fly!

I've tried to support SQL Saturday as much as I can since Andy Warren (blog | twitter) launched the program a couple years back and have spoken at several. You might say to yourself, "Self, Kevin works for a vendor. Don't they want him to speak at as many SQL Saturdays as is humanly possible?" Well, Mr. Self, you'd be mistaken. You see there's a keyword in the name that might reveal why my employer doesn't provide unlimited enthusiasm for me to speak ... it's the SATURDAY part of the whole thing. Yes, of course, my employer wants me there. But they also recognize that Saturdays are my own and that, if I spend a day or two there on the weekend (including the travel time), then that's a sacrifice of my own choice. I would still need to be at work and on task bright and early on Monday morning. Not that they'd make me, it's just that my job is the sort that work is never simply skipped, it is only ever deferred. So if I took a comp day, which they'd gladly provide, I'd still have to finish the work somehow, someway. All of this goes to say that I really, really love SQL Saturday, the community vibe that it creates, the volunteers who drive it, the folks who attend. So I'm happy to give up a few days throughout the year to support it.

Come to Nashville in August!

Guitar, Cowboy Boots, Cowboy Hat, and Tight Denim NOT Required

My good friends Joe Webb (blog | twitter) and Louis Davidson (blog | twitter) have been angling to host a SQL Saturday here in Nashville for quite a while. As co-leaders of the local PASS chapter in middle Tennessee, it made a lot of sense to host an event like this. I wasn't at all resistant to the idea, I just didn't want to do the work myself. However, they did a great job of getting the ball rolling and even took on the majority of work themselves. Together with other volunteers in our local chapter - Shelton Dickson, Roberto Lopez, and Christina Leo - we've all set to work to host SQL Saturday #51.

The event will be hosted on Saturday, August 21st at the shiny new facility of Nashville State Community College located at 120 White Bridge Rd. Nashville, TN 37209:

If you'd like to attend, check out all the details here. Joe Webb and Christina Leo get all the credit for logistics.

If you'd like to speak, read the details in our call for speakers here. Louis Davidson is running the program selection process.

If you'd like to sponsor, sign up on-line here. This one is my responsibility.

It's free to register, there is a $10 fee if you want us to provide lunch. And remember, seats always fill up fast!

If you're going to attend and you have a twitter account, be sure to tweet using #sqlsat51!

Search results matching tags 'Administration' and 'professional development'

PASS Summit 2012, Slide Decks

PASS TV - Gaining Executive Support

Winning Influence in IT Teams

Managing SQL Server in a Virtual World

Come See Me. I'll Probably Be Just Down the Street Soon!

New York City

The Colorado User Group Tour

Orlando

Online

Lincoln

Cedar Rapids

Nashville (Go Titans!)

Seattle

New on "Database Trends & Applications"

Free Webcast Series: Patterns and Practices in Database Administration

Session Descriptions

Cloud Evolving, SQL Server Responding

Education and Career Resources from Microsoft and the Community

Darth Doofus, Emporer Palpatine, and Darth Goofus Quest vConference for SQL Server

24 Hours of PASS Celebrates Women in Technology

Microsoft Thrive - Career Planning Insights

My Last "Catch-Up" Post for 2010 Content

1. It's Time to Upgrade!

2. Dealing with the Micromanaging Boss

3. [Video] Troubleshooting Memory Pressure on SQL Server

4. [DBTA] What the Heck is Microsoft's Database Product Trajectory?

5. Eight Characteristics of Excellent Leaders [Plays Well With Others]

6. The Shape of Database Licensing Costs to Come [DBTA]

7. So You're the Boss Now... [Plays Well with Others]

8. The NoSQL Movement - Hype or Hope?

9. Effectiveness and Efficiency at Work [Video]

10. What's Your Data Management and Retention Policy? [DBTA]

Why "Tailoring" Your Resume Is Bad

See You in St Louis, and then London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and York, UK

Meet Me In St. Louis

SQL Bits, On the Cheap

And Just to Make Sure I'm Thoroughly Frozen...

SQL Saturday is Coming to Nashville! Won't You?

How 'Bout a Little Context?

Come to Nashville in August!

Guitar, Cowboy Boots, Cowboy Hat, and Tight Denim NOT Required

I hope to see you there in August!

Darth Doofus, Emporer Palpatine, and Darth Goofus

Quest vConference for SQL Server