Search results matching tags 'Speaking', 'Tips', and 'PASS'

Two New Slide Decks. Plus, the Week in Colorado.

KKline — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:03:00 GMT

I had the honor of traveling the great state of Colorado last week, speaking at the PASS chapters in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver. At all three events, we had a stellar attendance and, at least in Denver, broke all the records in recent memory both in terms of overall attendance and in first-timers. Denver, in fact, was standing room only and had nearly 30 first time attendees. Great news! I also want to give a special shout-out of thanks and appreciation to Chris Shaw (Twitter | Blog) whose hard work and tenacity ensured that all of Colorado got to see me speak. From left to right, Gabriel Villa (Twitter), me, Chris Shaw, and Rebecca Mitchell (Twitter). If it weren't for Chris, I wouldn't have been there. Thanks for putting in the time, amigo!

New Slide Decks!

During the 3-day jaunt, I presented two of my more popular sessions. These are updated slide decks, in case you want to download them here:

UG - End-to-End Troubleshooting

and

UG - Top 10 SQL Server Administration Mistakes

Be sure to check in the Slides area of the website, if you want to see the links for SpeakerRate, and in the case of several of my presentations, white papers, video recordings, etc. It's the People that Matter

A Blast from the SQLPASS Past!

I've always tried to maintain the relationships I built with the founding members of the PASS board of directors. After their time on the PASS board, almost all of them have moved on from SQL Server to other adventures. Pam Smith, the first president of the organization, is now a professor. Guy Brown, the second president, is now the director of IT at his same employer, rather than just SQL Server as when he was on the PASS board. A few, such as Kurt Windisch, a former VP of PASS, and my good friend Joe Webb (Twitter | Blog), are still active in the SQL Server space. One relationship that I've enjoyed over the years is with PASS' original Microsoft liaison and now a Denver-area software entrepreneur Steve Murchie (at right) running his own healthcare IT outfit. Steve has been a source of inspiration to me and also of great advice for all things startup-related. It was great to connect with Steve and catch up on his latest doings.

I also got to enjoy an evening out with the local attendees after the Denver user group meeting. It was great to hang out with folks there. I got to meet Kevin Cox (twitter), a member of Microsoft's incredibly talented SQLCAT group, and for whom I was a technical editor on a SQL Server v6.5 book back in the Neanderthal era. That shows just how old both Kevin and I actually are. Other cool folks that I got to meet included Steve Wake, Mike Fal, Marc Beacom, Jason Kassay, Jason Horner and my ol' buddy, Kelly the Greeley Geek.

On top of that, long-time SQL Server MVP and all-around awesome guy Steve Jones (Twitter | Blog) visited. I kept him out way too late that night which, to be honest, isn't usually my style. But the good conversation propelled us on past midnight.

The Good Folks at SQL Server Professional and Windows IT Professional Magazines

I've written for SQL Server Professional (formerly the artist known as "SQLMag") in some form or another starting from my first cover article for them way back in the mid 1990's. My Tool Time column has been going strong there since, oh, around 2006 iirc. For most of the time I've known the folks at SQLMag, they were located in Loveland, CO but they were able to move to some incredibly nice digs just up the road in Fort Collins. In all the many years, I've written for them, I'd never been to their offices - until now. It was great to visit and break bread with Megan (to my right), Blair (across), and Jaylee (across and to my right)!

I've always supported SQLMag and encourage you to subscribe. On top of the goodness already in the digital magazine, there are some neat developments coming down the pipeline with SQLMag which I think we'll all enjoy. Be sure to subscribe today! (You can click the badge on the left or simply go to http://www.sqlmag.com).

What's Next?

My current travel schedule is pinned up on this blog post HERE. However, I also know of a couple on-line appearances and probably a trip between the long gap between now and my next in-person appearance at the Orlando SQL Saturday at the end of September, where I'll also be teaching a pre-conference seminar (register HERE for the seminar).

SSWUG

The first on-line event to note is my a presentation by SSWUG of my Leadership Skills for IT Professionals video series, starting on August 24th. Sign up using the hyperlink (note that a video plays immediately upon loading the webpage, in case you want to be ready to pause or stop it). You can also buy a DVD set of the 14 hours of leadership training content.

24HOP - The 24 Hours of PASS Event

I'll also be speaking on the topic of influence in the next 24 Hours of PASS coming up on September 20th and 21st. Registration for the twenty-four hours of around the clock presentations is completely free and well worth your time. Check the schedule for the event and register! Even if you can only watch one or two sessions (or even zero sessions), be sure to register so that you'll automatically be notified when the sessions become available as streaming media.

Enjoy!

-Kev

-Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook

It's the Atlanta Attendance Contest!

KKline — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:02:00 GMT

I'm speaking tonight on Top 10 Mistakes DBAs Make at the Atlanta SQL Server User Group meeting in Alpharetta, GA. You can find all of the details here.

The Best Dang Design Book for SQL Server Professionals - EVER!

I thought I'd liven things up a bit with a little contest. The rules are simple:

A. If you don't follow me on Twitter, then follow me by clicking here.

B. If you already follow me on Twitter, then tweet the details for tonight's event.

C. Every new follower or current follower who retweeted the details and then attends the event tonight will get a free ebook for Professional SQL Server 2008 Design and Implementation by my buddy and fellow Nashvillian Louis Davidson (blog | twitter).

As the fine print usually says, "Must be present to win". But just to liven things up a little bit extra, I'll pull several names from the hat of all the folks who were NOT present but followed or retweeted the event details between now and 6:30 PM EST tonight.

Thanks and good luck!

-Kev

New Webcast - SQL Server Internals & Architecture

KKline — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:23:00 GMT

Join me tomorrow for the PASS DBA Virtual Chapter meeting SQL Server Internals & Architecture. It's the most fun you'll ever have learning about the inner workings of a relational database - I promise!

Click here to register.

You don't have to register to attend. But if you register today, you'll be entered into the drawing to win one two copies of my bestselling reference SQL in a Nutshell, covering the ANSI standard plus Oracle 11, SQL Server 2008, MySQL 5.2, and PostgreSQL 8.3.

This is NOT the Chameleon in the Bud-Wise-ER commercials. At least I think it's not.

I've put the slide deck up in my Slides area of the website. However, because it contains a lot of big images, I had to publish it as a PDF file to meet my size limits. That means that all of the animations in the slide deck are shot - and this presentation relies heavily on animation.

Where You Can Find Me At the PASS Summit

KKline — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:53:00 GMT

In previous years, I hardly had time to sit down and catch a breather at a PASS Summit. Between my duties as an officer of PASS, exhibit hall time with Quest Software (my employer), speaking in my own sessions, and meeting with PASS volunteers and community organizers, I was busy from the crack of dawn until midnight all week long.

Fortunately, those grueling marathons are fading into the past. I still have a busy slate ahead of me for next week. But it looks like I'll even have time to attend some sessions. Yeah! Here's what I've currently got planned:

Monday, Nov 2

Depart for Seattle, 5:10 am. O.M.G. - that means I have to get up before I go to bed.

Noon, arrive in Seattle

Lunch with the PASS board of directors

Networking Seminar, by Don Gabor, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm

PASS Quiz Bowl & Welcome Reception, playing in a team with the mighty BrentO, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm

SQLServerCentral Party, from 8:00 - 10:00 pm

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Tuesday, Nov 3

Keynote, 7:45 - 10:00 am

Birds of a Feather Luncheon, 11:45 - 1:00 pm, hosting the table "Moving from Technologist to Manager"

Exhibit Hall at the Quest Software booth, 11:00 - 4:00 pm

Session "The Ultimate Free SQL Server Toolkit", 3:00 - 4:15 pm, Room 615-617

Book Signing at the Quest Software booth, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, giving away signed copies of Database Benchmarking

Microsoft MVP Insider Event, until 10:00 pm

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Wednesday, Nov 4

Quest Breakfast seminar and live webcast, Simplify Management with DMVs, 7:00 - 8:30 am, along with other SQL Server luminaries BrentO, Buck Woody, Louis Davidson, and Tim Ford.

MVP Deep Dives Book Signing, 11:30 - 12:00 pm, Come out get a book signed by all the authors!

PASS Board Q&A, 4:30 - 6:15 pm, Room 6E

I'll also be popping out for meetings with various Microsoft PMs, a dinner with my Quest colleagues, and plenty of time in the exhibit hall at the Quest Software booth.

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Thursday, Nov 5

Session "Team Management Crash Course", 10:45 - 12:00 pm, Room 612

Chapter Luncheon, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Expo Hall 4b. Come and join me, especially if you're anywhere near the local PASS chapter in Music City - Nashville, TN.

Friday, Nov 6

Early departure back to Nashville. In years past, I always had to stay until Saturday morning because of all of the important PASS work going on. The important PASS work still goes on, but it's in the able hands of a new generation of leaders. As for me, I get to head home to be with my family one day early. Yippee!

I hope to see you there. Don't forget the really awesome and cool SQL Twitter Bingo, if you're in to Twitter. The rules are HERE and the bingo cards are HERE.

Cheers,

-Kevin

Twitter @kekline