SQLSaturday #375 - Silicon Valley 2015
Event Date: 03/28/2015 00:00:00
Event Location:
- Microsoft Technology Center
- 1065 La Avenida
- Mountain View, California
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Sessions
This is a list of sessions from the event, based on the schedule in the XML files.
Title: RC, SI, and RCSI, Oh My! –We’re off to see the Wizard -to understand how it all works.
Abstract: I’m just going to say it straight out. I’m pessimistically optimistic that most really understand transaction concurrency in SQL Server. There is often significant confusion about transaction concurrency and contention options available to Developers -is it ‘pessimistic’, or ‘optimistic’, or in between? Everyone ‘sort of’ understands READ COMMITTED (RC). But do you sometimes feel ‘dirty’ as you attempt to ‘repeatedly’ read that phantasma? In order to reduce locking and blocking conflicts, some folks adopt SNAPSHOT ISOLATION (SI). And a few hardy stalwarts have ventured into the new world of READ COMMITTED SNAPSHOT ISOLATION (RCSI). In this session, we will explore the differences between the three, including a discussion about the positives and negatives of each option. We will discuss the effects of ‘Dirty’, ‘Repeatable’ and ‘Phantom’ reads, and why you may want to know which may be buried in your code. There will be code examples demonstrating the benefits and traps of each option.
Speaker(s):
- Arnie Rowland
Track and Room: 5- Database Administration - N/A
Title: Query Processing in In-Memory OLTP (Hekaton)
Abstract: In-Memory OLTP (code name: Hekaton) is the most important new feature in SQL Server 2014, and this session will teach you how query processing and optimization work with this new database engine. After explaining the basics, we will discuss how the query optimizer is used in In-Memory OLTP by both natively compiled stored procedures and by traditional stored procedures accessing memory-optimized tables through the query interop functionality. We will also take a look at how the new hash and range indexes are used, as well as how their performance implications are also covered along with the process of translating the plan created by the query optimizer into C code. Finally, some limitations with the current release will also be explained.
Speaker(s):
- Benjamin Nevarez
Track and Room: 4- Development - N/A
Title: Achieving Peak Performance from your Virtual SQL Servers
Abstract: Your SQL Servers are probably virtualized by now, but are they running at their absolute peak performance? How can you tell? When properly configured and maintained, a virtualized SQL Server will be at least as fast as the system that it came from, if not better. If not properly configured, silent performance killers can wreck your virtualization experience. This session will give you tips and tricks to maximize performance while giving you talking points so you can convince your infrastructure engineers to design the virtualization stack your way. This session goes deep into the architecture and methodology for squeezing the best possible performance from your virtualized SQL Server, and includes valuable tips on topics such as host-level over-commitment, storage performance, In-memory OLTP, and more!
Speaker(s):
- David Klee
Track and Room: 2- Cloud Big Data - N/A
Title: Getting your message across? A practical guide to using charts graphs!
Abstract: There are many books and articles on how to design a dashboard or create a pretty chart. But how do you know which graphical representation is the right one for your data? What kind of chart will answer the right business question? Should you use a line, bar, or pie chart? (Yes, even a pie chart. Stephen Few is not always correct in a business context.) When should you use multiple series on a chart versus using small multiples? What is the best way to show contribution to the whole? Why would you mix a line and bar chart?
This session will take a practical approach not theoretical one. How to give your users and management what they are looking for in a way that balances information content vs. visual impact. A visualization that not only answers the business questions but draws the eye to the most important aspects of the data.
Speaker(s):
- Dan Bulos
Track and Room: 3- Business Intelligence - N/A
Title: MEANINGLESS, BUT CONSISTENT: DATABASE TRUTH VS. CORRECTNESS
Abstract: You’re a SQL Server ace: your ability to squeeze everything from SQL and your performance tuning skills are unparalleled, but do you know what your tables really mean and, therefore, what queries make sense and whether the results are correct and their interpretations sensible?
This is a critical part of data fundamentals, the grasp of which is poor. It is a subject usually neither much covered in education, nor part of job requirements and industry dialogue, yet can defeat the entire purpose of your DBMS expertise.
This presentation fills this gap. It covers the following:
- Meaning, business rules and table interpretations;
- Types of business rule;
- Meaning and database truth;
- Business rules, integrity constraints and database consistency;
- DBMS and user reponsibilities.
Speaker(s):
- Fabian Pascal
Track and Room: 6- Bonus Track - N/A
Title: Practical Machine Learning with Azure ML and Revolution R
Abstract: Over years, machine learning has emerged as a key pillar of data science. Predictive analytics, data mining, even modern inferential statistics rely heavily on machine learning methods. However; the ever growing hype and in many cases overinflated expectations have led to a rather superficial understanding of the “Whats”, Whens, and Hows” of machine learning in mainstream businesses.
The goal of this talk is to deliver a pragmatic view of key ingredients common across any machine learning approach and demonstrate how core machine learning tasks can be facilitated and streamlined using the Microsoft’s latest ventures into the world of advanced analytics: Azure Machine Learning and Revolution R.
We will look at machine learning experiment design, data exploration and preparation, feature engineering, feature and model selection, evaluation and interpretation of test results. We will also provide a very brief review of the most successful machine learning models.
Speaker(s):
- Jarek Kazmierczak
Track and Room: 1- The Big Stage - N/A
Title: Automating Your Database Deployments
Abstract: Deploying your database changes to production can be nerve-wracking. We’ll discuss methods that take the stress out of the process by ensuring that you practice your deployments using continuous integration before you ever get near production. Automating the deployment and testing processes through various pre-production environments can make the whole experience of production deployments more repeatable, more reliable and more robust.
In this session, we’ll explore the concepts of continuous integration and continuous delivery for databases – what to consider, the challenges, the benefits, the testing, and the crucial approval gates necessary for a reliable production deployment. We’ll discuss these and other release strategies as you think about how to evolve your deployment pipeline towards a more automated approach, starting with continuous integration and ending at your production systems.
Speaker(s):
- Grant Fritchey
Track and Room: 5- Database Administration - N/A
Title: Becoming a Top DBA–Learning Automation in SQL Server
Abstract: Being a DBA is tough job–there are on call situations to deal with, and managing a large amount of servers with less resources is a constant challenge in corporate environments. In this session you will learn techniques to reduce the amount of manual effort in your job, and keep you three steps ahead of your users. Learn techniques such as: • Fully Automating SQL Server Installations • Dynamically Adding Databases to an Availability Group • Syncing jobs and logins between Availability Group members • Patching SQL Servers automatically • Other techniques for process automation This session will benefit both new and Senior DBAs, as well as anyone who wants to automate themselves into a promotion.
Speaker(s):
- Joseph D’Antoni
Track and Room: 5- Database Administration - N/A
Title: Columnstore Indexes in SQL Server 2014: Flipping the DW /Faster Bit
Abstract: Columnstore indexes were introduced in SQL Server 2012 have been wholly re-architected optimized in SQL Server 2014. Columnstore indexes are optimized for data warehouse workloads are a hybrid technology leveraging the best of off-disk in-memory capabilities. Transparent to the app, columnstore has been shown to render queries at subsecond response times which heretofore took many minutes or longer. This presentation includes an overview of SQL Server 2012 a deep dive into SQL Server 2014 columnstore indexes, including a review of the architecture, as well as the challenges, workarounds, travails, big wins at customer sites inside MSIT. The presentation is rich in demos, including leveraging IaaS—Columnstore in The Cloud. Learn whether columnstore can change your users’ world why columnstore may be a compelling reason to upgrade. Learn how columnstore indexes flip the DW faster bit why columnstore manifests my motto, “Change the world or go home!”
Speaker(s):
- Jimmy May
Track and Room: 1- The Big Stage - N/A
Title: Enterprise-grade MDM On SQL Server - the Keys to Success
Abstract: This session discusses a proven organizational approach and important technical considerations that lead to the successful adoption of Master Data Management (MDM) on SQL Server. Organizational considerations include building buy-in, team capability expertise, and selling MDM to the rest of the organization while building a subject-area center of excellence. We also discuss approaches to improved time-to-value and to ensure that the technology and staff investment is matched to the expected outcome. Great technology choices will help ensure that your best laid plans succeed and the second half of this session goes over some important technology considerations. In this part of the session we discuss User Experience, Integration Patterns, Matching, Programmability, and Data Quality.
Speaker(s):
- John McAllister
Track and Room: 3- Business Intelligence - N/A
Title: Accelerate SQL Server Master Data Services with Profisee Maestro
Abstract:
SQL Server Master Data Services (MDS) is a robust platform for master data and hierarchy management that provides master data capabilities such as business rules, a managed schema, hierarchies, versioning, workflow, and Excel Integration. Profisee Maestro slashes your time to deployment on MDS by providing an alternate UI for data Stewards and Application owners. Maestro adds data modeling, a first-rate user experience, ER-Win Integration, Simplified Import/Export to simplify getting MDM in the hands of your users.
Maestro also adds data quality, matching, harmonization, address corrections, an API, web parts and CRM integration.
Come see how Profisee Maestro can take your MDS implementation from the department to the enterprise.
Speaker(s):
- John McAllister
Track and Room: 3- Business Intelligence - N/A
Title: Disaster Recovery for SQL Server Applications using Azure Site Recovery
Abstract: The demands for compliance reporting, failover testing, RPO’s and RTO’s in the seconds range, with high performance workloads are all challenges. Getting the SQL data to the remote site is usually the easiest piece of the puzzle. What about everything else that is necessary to have a working application. In 2014, Microsoft released Azure Site Recovery, a cloud based disaster recovery control plane enabling orchestrated failover of virtualized workloads leveraging the replication capability on many of the leading storage array products. This combination of virtualized SQL Server applications, cloud orchestration, and high performance storage replication delivers low RPO’s and RTO’s for consistent multi-server distributed SQL Server applications recovery. Topics covered will include solution architecture, recovery plans, failover testing, failback, audit reporting and compliance using Azure Site Recovery, Hyper-V, and storage array replication.
Speaker(s):
- Phil Hummel
Track and Room: 6- Bonus Track - N/A
Title: High performance storage designs for SQL Server virtualization
Abstract: It’s 2015 and you’re still running your SQL Server on physical servers. Why? You don’t have to. We’ll show you how to run highly available, performant, clustered SQL Server on Azure and Hyper-V. For Azure solutions we’ll cover SQL Server on IaaS including OS, VM and storage configuration. Would you like to live migrate a SQL Server cluster node in a VM without losing network, storage and client connectivity? You can using SQL Server, various storage options including virtual fibre channel, iSCSI, and shared VHDX, SMI-S, Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Manager with high performance guest clusters up to 64 nodes. We’ll review the solution architecture and complimentary high availability features of SQL Server, Windows Failover Clustering, Azure and Hyper-V.
Speaker(s):
- Patrick Jean
Track and Room: 2- Cloud Big Data - N/A
Title: Flash SQL Server— Re-Thinking Best Practices
Abstract: Flash storage is a game changer for virtually every app in which it is used. Whether used locally, for tiered storage, or all-flash arrays, flash is turning what we thought we knew about SQL Server best practices on its head. Contemporary IT environments should standardize their architecture including a tier of flash. Virtualized or non-virtualized, standardizing on in-server flash is vital for optimizing performance, scalability, efficiency (technical and cost), reliability, availability. Learn how flash flips the /faster bit the significant impact flash makes not just in terms of performance, but also best practices, the massive savings in licensing driven by consolidation on flash.
Speaker(s):
- J May
Track and Room: 6- Bonus Track - N/A
Title: Streamlining SQL Server Implementations Across Organization
Abstract: In this session Prakash will walk through the process he has implemented to alleviate many of the pain points for deploying, managing, and supporting multiple SQL Server deployments from development to production. There are several variables to consider when supporting SQL Servers in the real world, including Cloud/VMware/Physical systems, Different SQL server versions, OS/Memory/Disk related configurations. You will learn…- A process which help configure SQL servers with optimal performance considerations- Consistent SQL support Env’s help improve DBA productivity and reduce production issues- Configuration changes to be requested from windows admin/ network admin/ storage admin to be planned in advance- Flexibility to easily add new SQL configurations to support new applications
Speaker(s):
- Prakash Heda
Track and Room: 6- Bonus Track - N/A
Title: Lightning talks - SacSQLUG
Abstract: Have you ever wondered what four guys from Sacramento have to say about SQL Server? Come find out when Mitch Bottel, Dan Hess, Dilip Nayak and Joe Simmons talk about our favorite DBMS, sharing experiences and tips/tricks and well as telling you how to do your job quickly and more efficiently. We’ll discuss SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in depth, talk about FREE SQL Server tools that every DBA should know about and finish off with a hands on presentation on using certificates to sign stored procedures.
Presenters are board members for the Sacramento SQL Server user group:
Mitch Bottel - president; Dan Hess - vice president/treasurer; Dilip Nayak - event coordinator; Joe Simmons - public relations;
Speaker(s):
- Dan Hess
Track and Room: 6- Bonus Track - N/A
Title: Data Quality: Boosting Software Performance and Business Profit
Abstract: If “Data is the Lifeblood of Modern Business,” then most businesses are walking corpses with sludge in their veins, because 10% to 25% of all data records in the average enterprise are wrong. Until the dramatic problems of Data Quality Management are addressed, SQL can never fulfill its original promise to eliminate application “silos”, enable systems to communicate and provide useful, actionable information to the modern business. I believe that we are on the cusp of a revolution in Data Quality that is even greater in scope and impact than the revolution in manufacturing quality that began over 40 years ago. Businesses that make the transition will survive and thrive. Those that don’t will finally stop shambling about and lay down to die.What is this revolution in Data Quality? How can you be a part of it (and avoid the headman’s ax)?!? This presentation will change the way you think about your jobs as Database Administrators and Application Developers.
Speaker(s):
- David Moutray
Track and Room: 4- Development - N/A
Title: Microsoft Cloud Data Platform
Abstract: Did you know that the Microsoft Data Platform is more than just SQL Server? Microsoft’s new and exciting cloud offerings include the RDBMS we all know and love, but also big data, NoSQL, streaming analytics, and even some platforms you would might not expect….like Oracle, MySQL, Mongo, PostgreSQL, Hbase, Storm, Kafka, and more.
In this session we will cover the breadth of the Microsoft Cloud Data Platform, from IaaS to PaaS, big data to RDBMS; all on Azure.
Speaker(s):
- Pat Sheehan
Track and Room: 1- The Big Stage - N/A
Title: Care and Feeding of Your System Databases
Abstract: Master, model, msdb, tempdb. You see them on all of your servers, but what do you really know about them? If you ever wanted to learn about the SQL Server system databases, their purpose, and the maintenance and configuration required to keep your server running its best, then this session is for you! Learn best practices and techniques, including how to restore master and how to configure tempdb to reduce contention. You’ll leave with a better understanding of these shared resources and how they affect your database applications.
Speaker(s):
- Vicky Harp
Track and Room: 5- Database Administration - N/A
Title: Big Data Data Science, How to Get Past the Hype and Into a Team
Abstract: Big Data and Data Science are two of the most hyped areas in high tech today. But what do Big Data and Data Science really mean, and how can you move into these hot career paths? In the discussion we will: Discuss the different roles in Big Data and Data Science teams; talk about the qualifications around each of the roles. Andrew will also provide starting points and pointers on how to get started in these fields.
Speaker(s):
- Andrew Eichenbaum
Track and Room: 2- Cloud Big Data - N/A
Title: Storage For the DBA
Abstract: One of the biggest issues in database performance centers around storage. It’s also one of the hardest places to troubleshoot performance issues because storage engineers and database administrators often do not speak the same language. In this session, we’ll be looking at storage from both the database and storage perspectives. We’ll be digging into LUNs, HBAs, the fabric, as well as RAID Groups. In addition to theory, we’ll be looking at an actual EMC SAN so that we can translate what we see in the Storage Array with what we see on the actual server.
Speaker(s):
- Denny Cherry
Track and Room: 1- The Big Stage - N/A
Title: Stored Procedures vs. Ad-Hoc SQL: Performance Showdown!
Abstract: Still not sure of which is faster? Let us put this matter to rest once and for all. We will measure every single aspect of the execution of a stored procedure vs. its Ad-Hoc query counterpart, and only one will prevail! We will look at raw performance, memory consumption, plan cache usage, and network bandwidth utilization. We will also discuss options for environments on which the code cannot be modified.
Speaker(s):
- Argenis Fernandez
Track and Room: 5- Database Administration - N/A
Title: Dell SQL Server Performance Management Tools
Abstract: Dell SQL Server Systems Consultant Trent Mera will provide a quick overview of two performance management tools:
Spotlight on SQL Server alerts you to problems in your data environment and provides intuitive and rapid diagnostics of the root causes.
Performance Analysis for SQL Server exposes the best tuning opportunities in your database applications by providing a detailed historical view of the workload in your environment, right down to the statement level.
Speaker(s):
- Trent Mera
Track and Room: 5- Database Administration - N/A
Title: Advanced SSIS Techniques
Abstract: SSIS is a tool that simplifies ETL and other workflow development, automates DB maintenance, and can be used to automate data lifecycle. It has a lot of faculties that allow to extend its functionality, from built-in expressions mechanisms to scripts to custom components building. However, it takes patience to explore these capabilities - and we want to help developers to cut time necessary to learn the intricacies of the SSIS development.
Speaker(s):
- Virginia Mushkatbat
Track and Room: 3- Business Intelligence - N/A
Title: Introduction to Azure DocumentDB
Abstract: DocumentDB is a really easy place to store all kinds of data…as long as its JSON. It’s a NoSQL document database that Azure has released as a platform-as-a-service (PAAS) offering. Come learn all about what you can do with it.
Speaker(s):
- Ike Ellis
Track and Room: 2- Cloud Big Data - N/A
Title: Optimize Your SQL Server 2014 Workloads with Cisco UCS
Abstract: Learn about Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) and why it is an optimal platform for Microsoft SQL Server. During this session we’ll discuss key differentiators that place Cisco well ahead of the competition. Learn about UCS’ management model, Service Profiles, Virtual Interface Adapters, and how they help to simplify and standardize SQL Server deployments. We will also discuss how these differentiators drastically reduce deployment and recovery times, and how UCS provides the best of class hardware platform that can help to achieve the highest levels of consolidation and performance for both virtual and bare metal SQL Server implementations.
Speaker(s):
- Vince Hill
Track and Room: 1- The Big Stage - N/A
Title: True tales of “small-shop” web analytics data with SQL and SSAS
Abstract: It doesn’t take a big company to make big data! Web analytics data can come from many sources and be very unruly, and the web world is full of people who want insights at their fingertips. However, a 40 person company doesn’t have the resources for a large team of technical analysts. This is a case study on maximum insights with a relatively small number of technical people – maybe only one! We’ll walk through taking multiple sources of data (some with millions of rows daily) and converting them into a usable source of insights for the non-technical user.
Speaker(s):
- Audrey Carstensen
Track and Room: 2- Cloud Big Data - N/A
Title: Common SQL Server Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Abstract: Making mistakes is human nature, avoiding them comes from experience and shared wisdom from others. In this session, Tim Radney will share experiences he has encountered supporting multiple fortune level companies. Tim will share real world experiences of environments he has worked on and the impact he has seen from administrators not knowing how to properly configure and administer SQL Server. In this session you will learn many accepted best practices for installing, configuring and supporting SQL Server to help your environment run as smooth as possible. When you leave this session you will have a checklist of items to take back to your shop to make sure your environment is configured properly.
Speaker(s):
- Tim Radney
Track and Room: 4- Development - N/A
Title: Clusters Your Way Discussion Panel — A real-world take on flexibly protecting SQL Server and beyond
Abstract: In this unique lunch session Microsoft SQL Server MVPs Denny Cherry and Joey D’Antoni will discuss their own personal experiences for creating and implementing a cost effective high availability and disaster recovery solutions. They’ll be covering the protection of Tier-1 applications in the cloud, getting the most out of SQL Server Standard Edition, and of course be there to answer your own clustering questions.
Speaker(s):
- SIOS Technology
Track and Room: 4- Development - N/A
Title: The Ins and Outs of SQL Indexes
Abstract: This course will focus on the fundamentals of strategic SQL Server index design and creation. Terms that will be covered and clarified: clustered index, non-clustered index, uniqueness, covering index, fill-factor, scan, seek, key lookup, and fragmentation. This is a beginning level course for those who have always found indexes confusing and somewhat elusive. Lots of valuable information will be provided in a short amount of time.
Speaker(s):
- Mindy Curnutt
Track and Room: 4- Development - N/A
Title: What’s your Imperative doing in my Declarative?
Abstract: Good Code, Bad Code. It can be the difference between a server running smoothly and an unresponsive piece of junk. This session digs into what makes some SQL code perform faster and scale better. Session is almost all interactive demo.
Speaker(s):
- Geoff Hiten
Track and Room: 4- Development - N/A
Title: Automating Power BI Creations
Abstract: Come learn how to build and automate data sets and data models in Excel using the Power BI toolset. We’ll pull data from a variety of on-premise and cloud data sources to familiarize yourself with the latest capabilities of Power Query and Power Pivot. Then we’ll review the software required to automate your Power BI analysis whether you are trying to refresh your Excel workbooks on a file server, in SharePoint Online, or SharePoint on-premise.
Speaker(s):
- Angel Abundez
Track and Room: 3- Business Intelligence - N/A
Title: Setting up your BI Infrastructure
Abstract: We know BI in bits and pieces. But imagine if you had to setup the BI infrastructure from scratch. What do we need to consider, which players do we consider, what are the components, the HA/DR scenario for the same, what technology to use? These are the questions we will attempt to answer along the way. What are the best practices involved in creating a BI infrastructure. We can discuss whether to outsource this project or rise above our DBA job and do it ourselves.
Speaker(s):
- Paresh Motiwala
Track and Room: 3- Business Intelligence - N/A
Title: Introduction to Time Series Forecasting
Abstract: Imagine taking historical sales data and using data science to accurately predict future sales values. This is precisely the objective of time series forecasting – to predict future values based on previously observed values.
This session will introduce time series forecasting, and describe how different Microsoft BI products enable forecasting for various audiences, including the business analysts, IT developer, and even the Information Worker.
Topics will include Analysis Services forecasting by using the Microsoft Time Series algorithm with the Excel add-ins (Table Analysis Tools and the Client Tools), SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) and script.
Speaker(s):
- Peter Myers
Track and Room: 1- The Big Stage - N/A
Speakers
This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.
Ike Ellis
Twitter: - @ike_ellis
LinkedIn: Ike Ellis
Contact: http://blog.ikeellis.com
Ike Ellis is a Senior Data Architect and partner for Crafting Bytes. He has designed and implemented data solutions for many well-known organizations. He has been a Microsoft Data Platform MVP since 2011. He co-authored the book “Developing Azure Solutions,” now in its second edition. He is a popular speaker at SQLBits, PASS Summit, and SQL in the City. He speaks at user groups, code camps, and SQLSaturdays. He has written courses on SQL Server for developers, Power BI, SSRS, SSIS, and SSAS for Wintellect. He has an upcoming course on CosmosDB. He founded the San Diego Tech Immersion Group, a technical book club based in San Diego and is the co-chair of the San Diego Software Architecture Group.
Angel Abundez
Twitter: - AngelStreamline
LinkedIn: Angel Abundez
Contact: http://angelstreamline.com
Angel leads the Solutions Architecture team at DesignMind, helping design and build world class data-related systems. His expertise includes Microsoft SQL Server BI tools, Power BI, Azure-based database services, and Tableau. His team develops Proofs of Concept, Pilots, and highly scalable production systems. Angel co-leads the Bay Area Microsoft Business Intelligence User Group and the San Francisco Power BI User Group. He speaks at Data Analytics events throughout the U.S. and writes for SQL Server Central. He is a graduate of Cal Poly SLO with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.
Virginia Mushkatbat
Contact: http://mask-me.net
Virginia Mushkatblat is currently a founder of Hush-Hush, a data masking company. She wrote her first computer program at the age of 14 and has been in technology ever since, progressively rising through the ranks and trying on different hats including database architecture, development, security and operations. She has worked for Startups and Fortune 100 companies in finance, entertainment, e-commerce, internet advertisement, manufacturing, and communications industries and dealt with both heavily transactional and BI applications.She holds B.S. and Masters Degrees in Engineering and in Computer Science, originated a couple of patents, and currently teaches databases and multimedia to graduating seniors in CSUN, her Alma Mater.
Peter Myers
LinkedIn: Peter Myers
Peter Myers is a consultant, trainer and presenter, and has worked with Microsoft database and development products since 1997. Today he specializes in all Microsoft Business Intelligence products and also authors training course content for Microsoft products and services.
He has a broad business background supported by a bachelor’s degree in applied economics and accounting, and he extends this with extensive experience backed by current MCSE certifications. He has been a Data Platform MVP since 2007.
Dan Bulos
Twitter: - @DanBulos
Dan Bulos is president and founder of Symmetry Corporation, a leading BI consulting firm and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. He has over 25 years of experience consulting with Fortune 500 companies on using analytical systems and has provided strategic consulting on new product features and directions to leading software vendors. A featured speaker at BI and data warehouse conferences in the US and Europe, Dan is a recognized authority on multidimensional database technology.
David Moutray
Database Administrator with five years experience in database design, business intelligence, application development, performance tuning and day-to-day administration with SQL Server. Experience covers administration of both transactional and data-warehouse databases, application development and database design for business applications. Certifications include MCITP Database Administrator and Developer. Passionate about database security and promoting data integrity through rock-solid database design and good development practices.
Patrick Jean
Patrick Jean is a Cloud Architect at the Microsoft Technology Center in Silicon Valley. He has held diverse roles in enterprise technology and consulting, building and deploying software, cloud, virtualization and infrastructure solutions on various platforms including Microsoft Azure, Hyper-V, Oracle, VMware, and Amazon AWS.
John McAllister
Twitter: - @jmcallis64
LinkedIn: John McAllister
Contact: http://www.profisee.com
John McAllister co-founded Stratature, an Independent MDM software vendor, in 2001. Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Stratature in 2007 John served as Group Program Manager for MDS and oversaw the incorporation of MDM into SQL Server. John now serves as the Regional Sales Director for Profisee, Inc. which provides enterprise-class MDM Solutions built on top of Microsoft’s MDS offering. John has worked with 100’s of organizations around the world in all phases of MDM projects.
Andrew Eichenbaum
Contact: http://www.designmind.com
Andrew is a former physicist who realized that data mining and the understanding of systems is his real passion. That lead him from his PhD in Physics to the realm of web analytics where he has worked on problems in: search, personalization, NLP, reporting, product design/road-map, and basic RD. With over 10 years of industry experience, he has managed multiple projects and teams across a wide range of topics ranging from advanced analytics to BI and marketing.
Vince Hill
Vince is a Data Center Architect serving in the UCS Architecture Solutions Team. Joining Cisco in 2009 to lead the UCS go-to-market, he supports infrastructure design solutions including Converged Infrastructure Stacks, Cloud, Big Data, Partner Solutions, System Management, and Modular Density Server architectures. Previously, a Lead x86/Virtualization Architect at Sun Microsystems the first SE for startup Terraspring, a Utility Computing Software company funded in part by HP and EMC.
SIOS Technology
Twitter: - @SIOSTech
LinkedIn: SIOS Technology
Contact: http://us.sios.com/blog/
SIOS Technology Corp. makes software products that protect data and applications from downtime, while eliminating complexity, and reducing labor costs. SIOS products make clusters in both SAN and #SANLess environments easy to use and easy to own. By removing the configuration limitations of traditional clusters, SIOS products give enterprise data managers the freedom to run applications in the environment that best meets their needs – physical, virtual, cloud or any combination thereof.
Mindy Curnutt
Twitter: - @sqlgirl
LinkedIn: Mindy Curnutt
Contact: http://www.mindycurnutt.com
Mindy Curnutt is a 5X Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Business Owner and Entrepreneur. Her specialties include SQL Server hardware, configuration, migrations, scalability, performance tuning. She has been actively involved in the SQL Server Community for over two decades and has become a well known speaker within the SQL and Transportation Management communities. She is a two-time PASS Volunteer of the Month, has presented at 6 SQLPASS Summits, Live360, DevConnections, MVPMix and too many SQLSaturdays to count. She is currently the President of the North Texas SQL Server User Group out of Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.
Denny Cherry
Twitter: - mrdenny
LinkedIn: Denny Cherry
Contact: https://www.dcac.com
Denny Cherry is the owner and principal consultant for Denny Cherry Associates Consulting and has over a decade of experience working with platforms such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, Microsoft SQL Server, Hyper-V, vSphere, and Enterprise Storage solutions. Denny’s areas of technical expertise include system architecture, performance tuning, security, replication, and troubleshooting. Denny currently holds several Microsoft Certifications related to SQL Server 2000 through 2019, including being a Microsoft Certified Master, Microsoft MVP and VMware vExpert Award.
Argenis Fernandez
Twitter: - DBArgenis
LinkedIn: Argenis Fernandez
Contact: http://blog.purestorage.com/author/argenisfernandez/
Argenis is a Principal Architect at Pure Storage. He works with customers around the world to make sure they don’t have to worry much about their infrastructure for Data. He is a former Data Platform MVP, former VMware vExpert, Microsoft Certified Master, and more recently worked in the Microsoft Azure Data/SQL Server engineering team as a Principal PM in the Tiger team.
Arnie Rowland
Twitter: - @ArnieRowland
LinkedIn: Arnie Rowland
Contact: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/arnie_rowland/
Arnie long ago realized that most issues between Developer and DBA comes from incomplete communication and a misunderstanding of each other’s objectives. He is a frequent Trainer and Mentor for Developers and DBAs, bringing both sets of skills to better communicate with teams to create a working solution. For over a decade, Arnie has been a SQL Server MVP, Certified Trainer, technical editor for several publishers, including MOC, and has served as University and Community College adjunct faculty. Clients include Fortune 500 and Multi-Nationals, Federal and State agencies, Foreign governments, and local enterprises –both public and private.
Paresh Motiwala
Twitter: - pareshmotiwala
LinkedIn: Paresh Motiwala
Paresh Motiwala a Azure/Big Data enthusiast, Manager of Database Platform teams has led several large SQL implementations, migrations and upgrades. He has managed multi terabyte OLTP databases. He has also been a Sr. SQL DBA and a Solutions Architect in Fortune 100 companies. He helps/organizes and speaks at many SQLSaturdays, Azure Bootcamp, Azure Datafests and User Groups(Boston BI UG, NESQL, PASS PD VG and PASS DBA VG).
He is certified in Big Data Analytics, FinTech, PMP, Public Speaking, Business Communications. He is a avid singer, cook, open networker, and stand-up comedian. He teaches public speaking, debating, interviewing and group discussion skills and mentors children around the globe via www.circlesofgrowth.com
Pat Sheehan
Pat is a Data Platform Architect at the Microsoft Technology Center in Mountain View, CA. He is passionate about enabling customer business via solutions designed upon Microsoft data technologies. Pat has over 20 years of IT industry experience as an engineer, architect, and consultant. He has worked with Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and open source technologies, holding a number of industry designations.
John McAllister
Twitter: - @jmcallis64
LinkedIn: John McAllister
Contact: http://www.profisee.com
John McAllister co-founded Stratature, an Independent MDM software vendor, in 2001. Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Stratature in 2007 John served as Group Program Manager for MDS and oversaw the incorporation of MDM into SQL Server. John now serves as the Regional Sales Director for Profisee, Inc. which provides enterprise-class MDM Solutions built on top of Microsoft’s MDS offering. John has worked with 100’s of organizations around the world in all phases of MDM projects.
Vicky Harp
Twitter: - vickyharp
Contact: http://vickyharp.com
Vicky Harp is the Group PM Manager for the SQL Server Tools Team, which is responsible for the full set of experiences from drivers and scripting libraries, to GUI tools, to the Azure Portal. She has been building tools for SQL Server for 15 years.
Benjamin Nevarez
Contact: http://www.benjaminnevarez.com/
Benjamin Nevarez is a SQL Server MVP and independent consultant based in Los Angeles, California who specializes in SQL Server query tuning and optimization. He is the author of “SQL Server 2014 Query Tuning Optimization”, “Inside the SQL Server Query Optimizer” and has contributed to other SQL Server books including “SQL Server 2012 Internals”. Benjamin has also been a speaker at many SQL Server conferences, including the PASS Summit, SQL Server Connections and SQLBits.
Trent Mera
Trent Mera has been a database performance Systems Consultant with Quest Software for 11 years. He specializes in showing customers how to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in their SQL Server systems. His experience prior to Quest includes 7 years as a Database Developer and Administrator in the Real Estate, Finance and Defense Industries.
Jarek Kazmierczak
Contact: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/mtc/default.aspx
Jarek is a Principal Enterprise Strategist at the Canadian Microsoft Technology Center, focusing on Big Data and Advanced Analytics.
Jarek started his career in the Golden Age of expert systems, lived through the boom and bust years of Artificial Intelligence, and has partaken with the increasing excitement in the emergence and practical adoption of machine learning.
Fabian Pascal
Twitter: - @dbdebunker
LinkedIn: Fabian Pascal
Contact: http://www.dbdebunk.com
Independent educator, author and consultant specializing in data fundamentals and relational database management. Published three books and hundreds of articles in the trade press. Founder, editor and publisher of DATABASE DEBUNKINGS blog and PRACTICAL DATABASE FOUNDATIONS series of seminars and papers.
J May
Twitter: - @aspiringgeek
LinkedIn: J May
Contact: http://blogs.msdn.com/jimmymay
Jimmy May is a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM). He’s formerly a Principal Architect at Microsoft as well as Senior Program Manager for the SQL Server Customer Advisory Team (SQL CAT) where he managed the Customer Lab which hosts the biggest, fastest, most interesting SQL Server apps from all over the world. More recently he was a SQL Server Technologist for what was Fusion-io’s Data Propulsion Lab (DPL). He is a founder of the IndyPASS IWUG user groups.
Dan Hess
Twitter: - @SQLDCH
LinkedIn: Dan Hess
Contact: http://www.expressnetsolutions.com/sqldch
Dan has been in IT for the last 18 years, graduating from California State University, Chico with a computer science degree. He#39;s been focused on SQL Server since 2007 when he was given the quot;accidental DBAquot; title. After learning to swim in the deep end and moving jobs to Sacramento, he saw the need to help others who were in a similar position and helped to form the Sacramento SQL Server user group. Database administration is his primary focus.
Grant Fritchey
Twitter: - @gfritchey
LinkedIn: Grant Fritchey
Contact: http://scarydba.com
Grant Fritchey is a Data Platform MVP with over 20 years’ experience in IT, including time spent in support and development. He has worked with SQL Server since 6.0 back in 1995. He has also developed in VB, VB.NET, C#, and Java. Grant has written books for Apress and Simple-Talk. Grant presents at conferences and user groups, large and small, all over the world. He joined Redgate Software as a product evangelist in January 2011.
Phil Hummel
Contact: https://community.emc.com/community/connect/everything_microsoft
Phil joined Microsoft in 2001 joining a new team based in Silicon Valley with a mission to help start-ups see the value of the .NET and SQL Server application development platform. He was in the fourth class of SQL professionals to complete the Microsoft Certified Masters certification. After spending 2010 working as a Business Intelligence consultant focused on SQL Analysis Services and SharePoint, Phil was offered a job on a small team of Microsoft Presales Specialists at EMC focusing on SQL
Jimmy May
Contact: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/jimmy_may
Jimmy May is a Principal Architect in Microsoft IT. He’s formerly a Senior Program Manager for the SQL Server Customer Advisory Team (SQL CAT) where he managed the Customer Lab which hosts the biggest, fastest, most interesting SQL Server apps from all over the world. He is a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM). Visit his SQL Server performance personal productivity blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/jimmymay. Jimmy tweets at www.twitter.com/aspiringgeek.
Joseph D’Antoni
Twitter: - jdanton
LinkedIn: Joseph D’Antoni
Contact: http://joeydantoni.com
Joseph D’Antoni is a Senior Consultant and Microsoft Data Platform MVP with over 20 years of experience working in both Fortune 500 and smaller firms. He is a Principal Consultant for Denny Cherry Associates and lives in Malvern, PA. He is a frequent speaker at major tech events like Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit, and Enterprise Data World. He blogs about all topics technology at joeydantoni.com. He believes that no single platform is the answer to all technology problems. Joseph holds a BS in Computer Information Systems from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from North Carolina State University, and is the co-author of the Microsoft book “Introducing SQL Server 2016”.
Tim Radney
Twitter: - @tradney
LinkedIn: Tim Radney
Contact: http://www.timradney.com
Tim is a Data Platform MVP and has a whole collection of Microsoft and other industry certifications. His experience includes HA/DR, virtualization, SSIS, SSRS, and performance tuning, among everything else SQL Server-related. Tim is very active and passionate in the SQL Community. He runs the Columbus GA SQL Users Group, has been a PASS Regional Mentor for a number of years, was named a PASS Outstanding Volunteer in 2012, and is a frequent speaker at user groups, SQLSaturdays and PASS Summits. Tim is one of the top ranked in karma on ask.sqlservercentral.com, answers questions as @tradney on Twitter, and blogs at http://timradney.com and SQLskills blog at http://www.SQLskills.com/blogs/tim.
David Klee
Twitter: - kleegeek
LinkedIn: David Klee
Contact: http://davidklee.net
David Klee is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and VMware vExpert with a lifelong passion for technology. David spends his days focusing on the convergence of data and infrastructure as the Founder of Heraflux Technologies. His areas of expertise include cloud, virtualization, performance, and business continuity. David speaks at a number of national and regional technology related events, including PASS Summit, VMware VMworld, SQLBits, SQLSaturday events, and many SQL Server User Groups.
Audrey Carstensen
Contact: http://gather.qvc.com
Audrey Carstensen is the Manager of Analytics for QVC’s toGather platform. In her position with Oodle and QVC she has worked with the entire Microsoft BI stack from SQL Server to SSIS to SSAS to SSRS (to Excel). She has taught biologists how to write SQL, product managers how to use Excel, and monkeys how to touch colored dots.
Prakash Heda
Twitter: - @prakashheda
LinkedIn: Prakash Heda
Contact: http://www.sqlfeatures.com/
Prakash Heda works as Manager (Data-IT) at SSC Advent. His expertise encompasses the work of automation, performance tuning/troubleshooting, high availability, san configuration and windows administration. Heda has 13+ years of experience managing enterprise-wide data needs in both high volume transactional and data warehouse environments. Heda holds certifications for MCDBA and MCITP. His background includes administration development using VB/ASP/SSIS with SQL server 2000 to 2017. He is an active member of PASS, SQLSaturday, and as well a frequent presenter at user groups, SQLSaturdays, and other community events. He is also an avid tweeter, blogger and runner.
Geoff Hiten
Twitter: - SQLCraftsman
LinkedIn: Geoff Hiten
Geoff Hiten is a Technical Solutions Professional at Microsoft. Geoff began working with SQL Server in 1992 with version 4.2 and has used every version since. He specializes in highly available SQL systems, performance tuning, and systems migration. Geoff is heavily involved in the Microsoft SQL Server Community and was initially awarded MVP status in 2004. Geoff was appointed in 2011 to fill an interim Director position at the National PASS organization.
Sponsors
The following is a list of sponsors that helped fund the event: