SQLSaturday #498 - Chattanooga 2016

Event Date: 06/25/2016 00:00:00

Event Location:

UT Chattanooga EMC Building
784 Vine Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee

This event has completed. All data shown below is from the historical XML public data available.

Sessions
Speakers
Sponsors

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Sessions

This is a list of sessions from the event, based on the schedule in the XML files.

Title: Context Calculation: Back to the Basics with DAX

Abstract: The learning curve for DAX isn’t a straight line - it starts off gradual and quickly gets steep. With a syntax similar to Excel, DAX seems easy enough for an Excel power user but things quickly get confusing without a good foundation in the basics of DAX. Those basics - context and calculation - are the topic for this session.

This session is for the intermediate DAX user who has produced some quality data models and DAX calculations but who is still having difficulties with functions around filtering, time intelligence, and complex calculations. We’ll go through a number of practical examples that show that DAX at a fundamental level is a combination of creating filter and row CONTEXTS and then using those contexts to produce CALCULATIONS. Understanding this concept is a must to produce more complex code in DAX and it’s also a very useful framework for someone just getting started.

Speaker(s):

Austin Senseman

Track and Room: Advanced Analysis Techniques - 302

Title: Perceptual Intelligence with Cortana Analytics

Abstract: Cortana Analytics is a fully managed big data and advanced analytics suite that enables you to transform your data into intelligent action. Come learn more around how you can take action by going beyond looking in the rear-view mirror to predicting what’s next. Enhance your business applications with machine intelligence to evolve from simple descriptive analytics to prescriptive recommendations. See some of the new ways to infer intent with vision, face, speech, text and sentiment analysis to customize responses and drive appropriate actions in a secure, compliant and scalable way leveraging SQL Server, Azure and Power BI. Expect to leave the discussion understanding new trends in analytics and how you can apply value to your organization.

Speaker(s):

Dan Evans

Track and Room: Advanced Analysis Techniques - 201

Title: Data Migration Using BIML

Abstract: Many companies scale out their databases horizontally, partitioning data by customer (or some other identifier) into separate databases or instances. Sometimes, it becomes important to move that data from one database to another. SQL Server Integration Services is a fantastic tool for ETL, but creating and maintaining dozens or hundreds of data flows by hand is exhaustingly tedious. Instead of doing it the hard way, use the BI Markup Language (BIML) to automate package development. This talk will show how we can use metadata tables and BIML to auto-create SSIS packages to migrate data from one database to another, handling foreign key constraints along the way.

Speaker(s):

Kevin Feasel

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 218

Title: Execution Plans for Mere Mortals

Abstract: As a beginner database professional, execution plans are intimidating. In this session, I will take you through the basics of reading graphical execution plans and drill into key operators, warnings and properties.

You will understand how, why and when the execution plan will be created and saved to plan cache.

Reading the execution plan will be much less intimidating as we walk through the flow and process of a graphical execution plan.

After looking at the key operators, you will be able to analyze the operators of your execution plans, view the operator properties, and identify common performance tuning opportunities.

Finally, you will be able to capture the execution plan, save it for analysis and comparison after modifications have occurred.

Speaker(s):

Mike Lawell

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 203

Title: Pragmatic Power BI: Transforming Data

Abstract: Once we’ve extracted data from a source, we typically need to clean, or otherwise change, that data in preparation for loading it into Power BI. In this session, BI Architect, SQL Server MVP and Analysis Services Maestro Bill Pearson will explore the options Power BI offers to unpivot, filter, sort, aggregate, and perform other needed operations to make these preparations. We’ll employ a dataset containing issues that commonly present real-world challenges, and work through the steps we can take in Power BI to transform the data to a state that works within Power BI. Moreover, we’ll define calculations, and get a glimpse of the M language that underlies transformational processes we construct.

Speaker(s):

William E Pearson III

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 302

Title: Azure SQL Database for the Production DBA

Abstract: Have you been wondering what Azure SQL Database is and what it means for you as a production DBA? Azure SQL Database has become an Enterprise-worthy database platform that provides relational database-as-a-service. In this session you’ll get a grounding in the fundamentals of Azure SQL Database from a DBA perspective. First we’ll cover how to create an Azure SQL Database using the Azure Portal and an approach for sizing a new Azure SQL Database. Then we’ll cover some of the similarities and differences between on premises SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. Finally we will cover how monitoring and performance tuning Azure SQL Database differs from on premises SQL Server. If you’ve been considering Azure SQL Database for your organization, this session is for you!

Speaker(s):

Tim Radney

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - RM 201

Title: Road to Better SQL Code - Advance Techniques Part 1

Abstract: Practical approach to writing code that runs faster and slimmer. Presentation will focus on multiple mistakes commonly made when writing T-SQL and how to correct it. Part 1 will include identification of issues by diagnosing query performance through use of execution plans and IO statistics. Focus will be on indexes, implicit conversions, improper data filtering and other issues that can cause significant performance issues but can be corrected without spending large amount of time.javascript:WebForm_DoPostBackWithOptions(new WebForm_PostBackOptions(“dnn$ctr52960$Orator_CallForSpeakers_MySubmission$Button_SaveAndSubmit”, ‘, true, “MainForm”, ‘, false, true))

Speaker(s):

Vladimir Oselsky

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 201

Title: PowerShell 201: Debugging, Security, Code Signing, and Remoting

Abstract: So you have a handle on basic PowerShell, and are ready to take the next step into deeper PowerShell. In this session we’ll look at four topics critical to taking your PowerShell skills to the next level.

We’ll start with some techniques for debugging the scripts you are developing. Next security will be examined, where you’ll see how to properly set security for your environment. Closely associated with security is the topic of code signing, a technique that allows you to further enhance the security in your environment.

The session will wrap up with a discussion of Remoting, a technique allowing you to execute PowerShell scripts and commands against other machines on your infrastructure.

Speaker(s):

Robert Cain

Track and Room: Other - 301

Title: A SQL Developer’s Guide to MDX Basics

Abstract: You already know how to write SQL queries against a data warehouse but your new job responsibilities require you to write MDX queries against Analysis Services (SSAS). MDX is the query language of SSAS in multidimensional mode. While SQL and MDX share some common keywords, they have very different syntax and concepts. In fact, the common keywords can be confusing if you are used to thinking in SQL.

In this session you will explore how data is organized in SSAS in a data structure called a cube. Next, we will write MDX queries while comparing them with SQL queries that return similar results. You will see how certain queries are much easier to write in MDX, especially when it comes to querying data that contains hierarchies such as a date rollup. Finally, you will learn how to capture MDX queries generated by Excel and SQL Server Management Studio, to use as practical examples of how to write MDX queries.

Speaker(s):

Shabnam Watson

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 301

Title: Advanced Error Tracking for Quick Diagnosis

Abstract: In this session, we will walk through how to build a detailed error notification service for SQL Server that will trap errors, and email you a well formatted and detailed error report on what went wrong. In many organizations, you typically have SQL agent jobs running, and when failures occur, you get a generic email with a jumbled up message about the error, but it doesn’t really help you understand where and at what point did your stored procedure fail. In this class, we will introduce and go through how to pinpoint errors in real time, and how to identify troubling areas or bottlenecks in stored procedures. In the end, you will have a notification and error handling system that sends you a well formatted email alert with an html table output to show you the events that led up to the error, and what exactly the error was. This toolset has saved many developers and DBA’s tons of time researching failures in jobs, and we hope it helps you too!

Speaker(s):

Matt Martin

Track and Room: Information Delivery - 218

Title: Upgrade your Database Development Skills with SQL Server Data Tools

Abstract: Join me to upgrade your database development skills utilizing SQL Server Data Tools Database Projects. The development methodologies for designing databases has lagged behind that of application development for some time. With SQL Server Data Tools, you will have another tool in your tool belt for better integrating design, development and deployment tasks that utilize the same Integrated Development Environment as you do when developing application code. Using the new “Declarative” model to database development you will be able to make changes without ALTER scripts. In this session we will discuss all of the facets of SSDT and how to create new solutions and migrate existing solutions to your new Database projects.

Speaker(s):

Nathanial Gainer

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 218

Title: Why “R” you not leveraging the power of “R” in Power BI?!?

Abstract: R is a very powerful statistical programming language that has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years. In early 2015 Microsoft acquired Revolution Analytics, a major provider of software and services for R. Microsoft has since incorporated R in Azure ML, SQL Server 2016, and Power BI.

In this session I will focus on the benefits of using R in Power BI. I will show how to leverage R for data munging (ETL) and I will also show how to leverage R to create custom visualizations. I will focus on the “Wickham stack” which is a group of very popular R packages developed by Hadley Wickham. The “Wickham stack” includes the ggplot2, dplyr, and tidyr packages. I will discuss logical use cases for using R within Power BI as well as some of the pitfalls that you may encounter.

Speaker(s):

Ryan Wade

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 230

Title: Create lightning fast Dashboard with Power BI and its Components

Abstract: Every data has meaning, but we had limitation to use data through big long running process Extraction, Transformation and Representation, but now Power BI solves your problem to kick start having Data extraction in Power Query, Data Modelling and Transformation in Power Pivot and reach data representation using power view and power map on demand any nearby device on your fingertips

Speaker(s):

Vishal Pawar

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 302

Title: 16 Enhancements for SQL Server 2016

Abstract: Microsoft announced SQL Server 2016 on April 1, 2015 and it is no joke! In this session we’ll examine 16 of the new enhancements that are coming in the latest version of SQL Server that is currently available in a technology preview. there are so many enhancements that I can’t cover them all in one session! So we will examine some in high level reviews and more in-depth previews such as row level security, query store, and always encrypted.

Speaker(s):

Robert Verell

Track and Room: Other - 230

Title: Building Unconventional SQL Server Tools in PowerShell

Abstract: Ever had records from a SQL Server database table come up missing? Maybe someone or some process deleted them, but who really knows what happened to them? Wouldn’t it be awesome to create a free tool with PowerShell that automates the task of sifting through the transaction log backups and even the active transaction log to determine when deletes occurred for a specific database and what user deleted those records along with the Log Sequence Number that the database needs to be restored to so the missing records can be recovered? During this session, PowerShell MVP Mike F Robbins will walk you through his custom SQL PowerShell module which includes functions for querying SQL Server with PowerShell from a client machine without requiring the installation of the SQL PowerShell module or snap-in, querying transaction logs for insert, update, and delete operations, and automated point in time recovery of a database by only having to specify the point in time to perform the recovery to.

Speaker(s):

Mike Robbins

Track and Room: Other - 201

Title: Service Broker: Coach your processes asynchronously

Abstract: This session is an introduction to Service Broker basics. Service Broker is your way to process your data asynchronously in a single instance setting as well as use as a near real time ETL. At the end of this session, you will have the knowledge to use Service Broker for batch processing, ETL or even an alternative to replication.

Speaker(s):

William Wolf

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 301

Title: Keys to Successful SharePoint Administration for the DBA

Abstract: Inherited SharePoint or being tasked to implement it? In this session we will start with the fundamentals of SharePoint and work our way to understanding what it looks like to be a successful SharePoint administrator. We will cover common SharePoint misconceptions use live demos to show frequently performed tasks - all to set you up for success day one. Lastly we will cover the training options and other resources available to make your job easier and more automated.

Speaker(s):

Daniel Glenn

Track and Room: Other - 301

Title: Zero to Hero with PowerShell and SQL Server

Abstract: PowerShell is everywhere, and that includes SQL Server. In this session we’ll look at using PowerShell with both the SQL Server provider and the SMO (SQL Management Objects) library. Learn how to handle common DBA tasks, such as backups, reviewing error logs, and checking the status of SQL Jobs.

You’ll also see how to perform developer tasks such as creating tables, inserting records, and querying data. Perhaps most importantly, you will learn how to read and understand the SMO object model, and translate it into PowerShell commands. Come see how to make your SQL Server Pop with PowerShell.

Speaker(s):

Robert Cain

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 201

Title: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Guide to Configuration Options and Trace Flags

Abstract: Microsoft markets SQL Server as a “self-tuning” RDBMS, yet you’ve heard there are a variety of knobs and switches available to impact performance. Are you curious to know what they are, what they do, and when to use them? In this session you will learn about server and database configuration options and trace flags that can impact performance, alter default behaviors and help your troubleshooting efforts.

Speaker(s):

Justin Randall

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 203

Title: Table Partitioning Intro and make that a sliding window too!

Abstract: I walk-through the entire process of discovering a situation that would benefit from a partitioned table, designing the partition key and scheme, and implementation. Then also creating a sliding window partition, both adding new partitions and rolling out older ones, all on an AdventureWorks table, so that all the scripts can be used by participants later for practicing.

Speaker(s):

Jeff Reinhard

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 203

Title: Connecting Power BI to On-Prem Data with SSAS

Abstract: Microsoft Power BI is going great places. Its great visualizations, easy-to-use tools, and robust sharing capabilities are improving with new releases almost every time you turn around. But, what if uploading or storing your company’s data in the cloud is a potential deal-breaker? Fortunately, the Microsoft Power BI Gateway - Enterprise make it possible to live query data in an on-premises SSAS instance for display in Power BI. In this session, we will go through what this gateway does, how it works, and how it is installed to show that BI in the cloud doesn’t require data in the cloud.

Speaker(s):

Kerry Tyler

Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - 230

Title: Smart Rats Leave First

Abstract: Rats leave a sinking ship. Smart rats leave first. Changing jobs is always going to be stressful, but it can be a great opportunity for career growth. Recognizing when it is time to make a change can be the difference between taking a step up on the career ladder or having to find a “lifeboat” job. We will discuss how to recognize when it is time to move on, how to manage your job search and your current job, and finally how to exit a job professionally.

Speaker(s):

Geoff Hiten

Track and Room: Professional Development - 301

Title: SQL Server Always On - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Abstract: SQL Server Always on architecture was deployed with the SQL Server 2012 Engine.

This session will review terms for high availability and review our implementation of a 10TB data warehouse. This is an intermediate session, that will not show all of the details of setup, but will review what worked (the good), some unique features (the bad) and cover a couple of outages (the ugly) along the road to a successful deployment of the Always On architecture.

Speaker(s):

Eric Peterson

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 218

Title: What’s New for BI in SQL Server 2016

Abstract: SQL Server 2016 delivers many new data analytics and information management features and enhancements. Join this session to discover what’s new for BI in Database Engine, SSRS, SSIS, SSAS, and MDS. I’ll also explain the SQL Server 2016+ near-future roadmap that will help you implement new solutions and cut cost.

Speaker(s):

Teo Lachev

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 230

Title: Top 10 Wait Types Everyone Should Know

Abstract: There are over 800 wait types in SQL Server 2014, but there are only 10 (in my experience) that are seen very often. If you can learn these 10 wait types, what causes them and their solutions, you will be ahead of the performance analysis game. The list of 10 wait types to be discussed came from over 100 consulting engagements with customers, so come find out what they are and improve your performance troubleshooting skills.

Speaker(s):

Janis Griffin

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 302

Title: Self-Service ETL with Microsoft Power Query

Abstract: In this session, I will introduce you to Microsoft’s new self-service ETL tool “Power Query” for Excel. I will show you, how to source data from various data sources, how you can massage the data and consume the data for your use in the data pipeline. I will introduce you to “M” language that is used in Power Query. I will show you how you can discover and mash data from public data sources within Power Query. If you would like to do ETL quickly without writing SSIS packages, Power Query is the way go. Come and attend this session to learn “Power Query”.

Speaker(s):

Damu Venkatesan

Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - 203

Title: Azure Data Factory: My Data Wandered Lonely as a CLOUD.

Abstract: Azure Data Factory is a json based data integration tool. It is not SSIS in the cloud, but like SSIS, its main purpose is moving data. This is an absolute beginner session on Azure Data Factory. I will share the recent improvements to the Azure Portal UI for ADF. This presentation is ideal for SQL Server professionals who want to understand cloud thinking.

Speaker(s):

Julie Smith

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - 203

Title: Why Should I Care About … Partitioned Views?

Abstract: Partitioned tables are awesome and partitioned views are dead, right? Well, sure partitioned views are not sexy but there are still plenty of applications where they are critical. And not necessarily just for standard edition. If your data is time stamped, do you see different queries run against older data than new data? Do you with you could segment your data across multiple columns? Do you have data you need to partition horizontally? It’s possible partitioned views may be for you. Come hear why this is still an important topic long after cargo pants and trucker hats went away.

Speaker(s):

Rick Lowe

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 218

Title: Road to Better SQL Code - Advance Techniques Part 2

Abstract: Part 2 of presentation will focus further on query optimization through reduction of data retrieved by practical use of CTEs, table variables and temp tables. Goal of this presentation is to empower developers to resolve code performance through identification and correction of issues by leveraging power of execution plans and IO statistics.

Speaker(s):

Vladimir Oselsky

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 201

Title: SQL Server 2016 - New DBMS Features and examples

Abstract: Microsoft has released an advanced version of SQL Server 2016.

My job as lead architect is to implement these new features, and see how they actually work. The session will cover the following subject areas and include examples of usage:

Server Setup Changes
Temporal Data Tables
Masking Data Columns
Row Level Security
Always Encrypted
Stretch Database
Always On Enhancements
In Memory Enhancements
JSON Support
Polybase into SQL Server
more

Speaker(s):

Eric Peterson

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 201

Title: SQL Server XML 101

Abstract: XML processing become more and more a part of our daily life. Today anyone, DBA or Developer, interferes one way or another with XML-based processes. In the SQL Server XML 101 session I’ll go over XML data type from “ground zero” to advanced tricks and tips. Using real life examples I’ll show most efficient ways to work with an XML of any complexity and size. I’ll cover the problems that you can anticipate to deal with with XML. How to: load the files using T-SQL code, dynamically retrieve and element or attribute, use different XML data types’ methods and functions.

Speaker(s):

Alex Grinberg

Track and Room: Professional Development - 301

Title: Achieve More in Less Time by Using SQLPS

Abstract: Let’s face it, using SQLPS prior to SQL Server 2016 was like installing training wheels on a Ducati. Then, some community feedback was incorporated before SQL 2016 shipped and presto, SQLPS is actually useful all of a sudden.

There is a faster way to manage and even SQL Servers using PowerShell. I will show you what the new features in SQLPS and why you will probably find it useful, even if you aren’t a “DBA”.

Speaker(s):

Aaron Nelson

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 302

Title: SQL Server Internals

Abstract: How does SQL do what it does? Take a look under the hood at how the SQL database engine works with the storage engine. What causes those waits and where do we look to resolve them!

Speaker(s):

Naomi Williams

Track and Room: Professional Development - 203

Title: Data Analysis With SQL Window Functions

Abstract: SQL Window Functions provide a great way to aggregate and analyze data very efficiently. In this session we’ll go over what functions are available and look at many examples of how to use them. When you leave you’ll be familiar with the concept and will be able to recognize situations where they can be extremely useful.

Speaker(s):

Adam McDonald

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 302

Title: Microsoft Business Intelligence 2016 – More Love for Your Data

Abstract: Heartbroken over Microsoft’s neglect of SSRS over the years? Well the 2016 release might start healing that broken heart. This upcoming release boast a handful of great new items; from connecting SSRS PowerBI to mobile report publishing. Join me while I walk you through the best of 2016 for Business Intelligence and help you fall in love with Microsoft BI again.

Speaker(s):

Tamera Clark

Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - 230

Title: New Instance, Now what?

Abstract: Congratulations, you’re now our DBA! A new SQL instance is like a blank canvas, you stare at it and wonder where to start. As an accidental dba, this session will help you learn how to survive in your new role.

In this session, you will be supplied with the beginning brush strokes to make your server a master piece. To do so, we will review best practices for standard configurations, backups, maintenance, and disaster recovery.

By the end of this session, you will have developed a pallet of tools to help you create your SQL Server Masterpiece and be able to use it as a print for others.

Speaker(s):

Jim Donahoe

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 218

Title: Introduction to SQL Server Integration Services

Abstract: Take an introductory journey into the world of SSIS through the eyes of a SQL Server DBA as he navigates the Business Intelligence waters. This is an introductory course for beginners or users without any SSIS experience. Come learn how to SSIS with me!

Speaker(s):

Ed Watson

Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - 230

Speakers

This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.

Kerry Tyler

Twitter: - AirborneGeek

LinkedIn: Kerry Tyler

Contact: http://airbornegeek.com

Kerry Tyler is a SQL Server, Business Intelligence, and Azure consultant. His initial IT experience was in network engineering and Windows system administration before moving into the data realm. This infrastructure background builds a firm foundation for performance tuning and cloud infrastructure design and implementation. Kerry has full-time DBA experience in SQL Server since version 2000 and business intelligence architecture since SQL Server 2005. In addition to consulting work, he delivers presentations and training on SQL Server administration, business intelligence, and Azure data and infrastructure components.

William Wolf

Twitter: - sqlwarewolf

LinkedIn: William Wolf

Contact: http://www.sqlwarewolf.com

Bill is the Manager of SQL Server Performance Tuning for RDX. He works with over 400 customers on solutions within the SQL Server environment and specialized in code tuning and mentoring the team within RDX. He has become a SQLSaturday veteran speaking at nearly 40 SQLSaturdays in the last 3 years. He has also spoken at Summit and is an Idera Ace class of 2018. Bill is active in the Pittsburgh SQL Server User Group. He is also the chapter lead for the DevOps Virtual User Group. He is passionate about educating users on SQL Server and mentoring others.

Robert Verell

Twitter: - @sqlcowbell

LinkedIn: Robert Verell

Contact: http://sqlcowbell.com/wordpress/

Robert Verell is a SQL Server professional working in the Nashville area and has worked in healthcare, insurance, and banking. He found his passion for databases by learning SQL Server Integration Services and writing stored procedures, and eventually became a database administrator. Robert is a chapter lead for the Nashville SQL Server User’s Group, a volunteer for SQLSaturday, and was a finalist in the 2016 PASS Summit Speaker Idol competition.

Eric Peterson

Twitter: - @SQLeap

LinkedIn: Eric Peterson

Contact: http://www.SQLeap.com

Eric Peterson is a consultant specializing in database architecture with experience in demanding Fortune 100 company environments. He has a Computer Science degree complemented with an MBA, which meshes well with his jobs integrating business information with the systems that process it. He has worked with SQL Server since its inception and was an instructor of SQL courses at a national technical training company. He also speaks are regional SQLSaturday events.

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.

Daniel Glenn

Twitter: - DanielGlenn

LinkedIn: Daniel Glenn

Contact: https://DanielGlenn.com

Daniel is a Microsoft MVP with 15 years’ experience building technology solutions, intranets and extranets. As Practice Leader for the Nashville-based InfoWorks Inc., Daniel helps organizations of all sizes solve complex data challenges by implementing Office 365 and SharePoint without the need of customization and costly investments.

Daniel is passionate about giving back and building the Microsoft technical community. Daniel holds leadership roles in various local user groups, serves as an organizer for Microsoft 365 Nashville, and is a co-host for the popular podcast 365 Message Center Show on https://MessageCenter.Show. You can follow Daniel online at https://DanielGlenn.com and @DanielGlenn on Twitter.

Eric Peterson

Twitter: - @SQLeap

LinkedIn: Eric Peterson

Contact: http://www.SQLeap.com

Austin Senseman

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/austinsense

LinkedIn: Austin Senseman

Contact: http://www.powerpivotpro.com

Austin spent the last five years using Modern Excel in the field to solve analytical challenges for the financial services industry, first at BBVA and later at Harbert Management Corporation. As a former analyst, Austin is focused on enabling other data professionals to experience the joys of Power Pivot Power BI. Austin is a CFA Charterholder, former CPA, Excel Power User, and SQL Server Professional, whose involvement in data/analytics projects lowers the communication costs between business users and IT professionals and helps organizations get to solutions faster.

Shabnam Watson

Twitter: - ShbWatson

LinkedIn: Shabnam Watson

Contact: https://shabnamwatson.wordpress.com/

Shabnam Watson is a Business Intelligence architect with 20 years of experience developing data warehouse and business intelligence solutions. Her work focus within the Microsoft BI Stack has been on Analysis Services and Power BI.

She is an active member of PASS community and has spoken at PASS Summit, SQLSaturdays, PASS Business Analytics and Women in Technology virtual chapters, and many other local user groups and conferences. She is one of the organizers of SQLSaturday Atlanta BI Edition.

She holds a master’s degree in computer science, a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, and a Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) certification by The Data Warehouse Institute (TDWI).

William E Pearson III

Twitter: - @Bill_Pearson

LinkedIn: William E Pearson III

Contact: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=02C5CD07-7511-4151-A678-3A4A3451F85E

Bill Pearson created Island Technologies Inc. in 1997, and has developed a large and diverse customer base since. Bill#39;s background as a CPA, Internal Auditor, Management Accountant, and SQL Server MVP (BI) enables him to provide value to clients as a liaison between Accounting / Finance and Information Services. Bill has implemented enterprise business intelligence systems over the years for many Fortune 500 companies and focuses his practice upon the integrated Microsoft Business Intelligence

Teo Lachev

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/tlachev

LinkedIn: Teo Lachev

Contact: http://prologika.com/cs/blogs

Teo Lachev is an internationally-recognized authority on Data Analytics. Through his Atlanta-based company Prologika, a Microsoft Gold Partner in Data Analytics, he helps organizations make sense of their most valuable asset: their data. His strategy formulation, trusted advisory and mentoring, design and implementation services empower clients to apply effectively data analytics in order to understand, improve, and transform their business processes.

Teo has authored and co-authored several bestselling books on organizational and self-service data analytics, and he has been leading the Atlanta Microsoft BI and Power BI group since he founded it in 2010. Teo has been a Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) Data Platform since 2010.

Dan Evans

Twitter: - @danthebiman

LinkedIn: Dan Evans

Dan Evans is a Data and Analytics evangelist with over 25 years’ experience deploying strategic and innovative analytic solutions. He’s focused on Microsoft technologies including Data Platform, Advanced Analytics and Business Applications. Current focuses include SQL Server, Power Suite, Cognitive Services, Artifical Inteligence and other Data Platform related topics in Azure. Dan presents at many local, regional and national events including SQL PASS, DAMA, TDWI, TechEd and Ignite and supports best practices in Microsoft data and analytics across North America.

Damu Venkatesan

Twitter: - @vdamu

LinkedIn: Damu Venkatesan

Damu Venkatesan is a Business Intelligence Consultant with over 25 years of IT experience including architecting and implementing BI/DW solutions using Microsoft SQL Server, PDW, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, and Power BI. He has been speaking at many SQLSaturdays and user groups on data analytics and is actively involved in the Atlanta SQL community for several years. He has successfully delivered several BI/DW solutions and data migrations to various clients. He is also currently serving as President of DAMA Georgia chapter in Atlanta. He is the co-organizer of BI SQLSaturday in Atlanta.

Adam McDonald

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/adam_mcd1

Adam McDonald is a Certified Hotel Industry Analyst with 15+ years of experience building tools to serve the data needs of the Hotel industry. He is an IT Architect who loves SQL development, data analytics, and efficient database solutions that development teams can build on. His passion is clean, quality code.

Nathanial Gainer

Twitter: - @SQLGainer

LinkedIn: Nathanial Gainer

Former United States Marine turned Software Developer. I have spent the past five years working with IBM, Oracle and Microsoft technologies. Over the past three years I have worked with Microsoft SQL Server exclusively from SQL Server 2005 to 2014 focusing on Administration, Development and Business Intelligence solutions.

Alex Grinberg

LinkedIn: Alex Grinberg

I have more than 20 years of IT experience. My primary focus is with the latest Microsoft technologies including .NET (VB and C#), SSRS and SSIS. I provide services in tuning, optimization, analysis and development for the creation of new applications, converting legacy technologies (SQL Server, VB.NET and C# ) and site training. I have worked for CSC, VerticalNet, IDP, LSAC , and TMNAS (to name a few) and I am currently employed with Cox Automotive. I am Apress author book “XML and JSON Recipes for SQL Server”, also wrote number of articles for Simple-Talk and SQLServerCentral.com

Kevin Feasel

Twitter: - feaselkl

LinkedIn: Kevin Feasel

Contact: http://www.catallaxyservices.com

Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and CTO at Envizage, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand. He is the lead contributor to Curated SQL (https://curatedsql.com), president of the Triangle Area SQL Server Users Group (https://www.meetup.com/tripass), and author of PolyBase Revealed (https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484254608). A resident of Durham, North Carolina, he can be found cycling the trails along the triangle whenever the weather’s nice enough.

Robert Cain

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/arcanecode

LinkedIn: Robert Cain

Contact: http://arcanecode.com

Robert C. Cain (http://arcanecode.com) is a Microsoft MVP, MCTS Certified in BI, and is the owner of Arcane Training and Consulting, LLC. He is also a course author for Plurasight, author for Red Gate’s SImple Talk website, and co-author of 4 books. A popular speaker, Robert has presented at events such as the SQL PASS Summit, TechEd, CodeStock, and numerous SQLSaturdays. Robert has over 25 years experience in the IT industry, working in a variety of fields ranging from manufacturing to telecommunications to nuclear power.

Mike Lawell

Twitter: - @sqldiver

LinkedIn: Mike Lawell

Contact: http://sqlserverassociates.com/Blog

Mike Lawell is an 19 year veteran of SQL Server, working with all versions since 6.5. He specializes in performance tuning and high availability as an independent consultant.

He is a Linchpin People Teammate, he also consults with SolidQ, Intellinet and Microsoft Consulting Services.

He is also a certified Scuba instructor with a long bucket list of dive sites.

He resides in Atlanta, GA and you can catch him at many of the SQLSaturdays in the SE region of the United States.

Robert Cain

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/arcanecode

LinkedIn: Robert Cain

Contact: http://arcanecode.com

Vladimir Oselsky

Twitter: - @VladyOselsky

LinkedIn: Vladimir Oselsky

Vladimir Oselsky (Vlady) is an IT Professional with over 15 years of experience in various IT Jobs. Born and raised in Siberia, moved to United States in late 90s. Passion for computer and programming started with DOS games and learning Borland Paschal in 8th grade as a hobby. IT career consisted of everything from hardware and software support to server administration. Current focus on SQL Server Database Development and .NET programming

Aaron Nelson

Twitter: - SQLvariant

LinkedIn: Aaron Nelson

Contact: http://sqlvariant.com/

Aaron Nelson is an author, public speaker, blogger, and leader in the community. He has over 15 years of experience in architecture, Business Intelligence, development, and performance tuning of SQL Server. Aaron has received many certifications and is a six time winner of the Microsoft MVP Award.

Aaron leads the PowerShell Virtual Group of PASS (SQLPS.io), is a board member of PowerShell.org, and is a volunteer at his PASS Local Group, AtlantaMDF.

Rick Lowe

Twitter: - DataFLowe

LinkedIn: Rick Lowe

Contact: http://dataflowe.wordpress.com/

Rick is a Microsoft Certified Master with more than 20 years of SQL Server experience in a variety of roles. He currently lives in Washington state and works as an independent consultant providing remote performance DBA and performance tuning services for clients in the USA and Canada. His first exposure to SQL Server was as a database developer, but over time he became more and more interested in how the database engine operated… eventually specializing more on performance issues than code.

Rick will work with all things relational, but most enjoys helping smaller companies get better performance from MSSQL, as well as smoothing over relationships between DBA and development teams.

Vladimir Oselsky

Twitter: - @VladyOselsky

LinkedIn: Vladimir Oselsky

Justin Randall

Twitter: - jh_randall

LinkedIn: Justin Randall

Contact: http://blogs.sqlsentry.com/justinrandall

Justin Randall is a Senior Consultant at SQL Sentry, LLC. He has over 30 years of data management experience in a variety of roles from Enterprise Data Modeler to DBA, supporting development in DB2, Sybase, and SQL Server. Justin frequently speaks at SQL Server User Group meetings and SQLSaturdays, and has presented at several SQLintersection conferences. His current professional interests are SQL Server performance monitoring and tuning, and career development.

Tamera Clark

Twitter: - https://twitter.com/tameraclark

LinkedIn: Tamera Clark

Contact: http://tameraclark.com

Tamera Clark has been involved in the IT industry for greater than ten years, with experiences ranging from systems analysis/engineering to SQL Server and SSRS administration/development. She is an active member of the SQL Server community, participating in the Women in Technology Virtual Chapter, Co-leading the Nashville BI Chapter, assisting the Nashville PASS Chapter and serving as a Regional Mentor. Tamera is also the event chair of SQLSaturday Nashville.

Jim Donahoe

Twitter: - SQLFlipFlopsDBA

Contact: http://www.sqlflipflopsdba.com

Jim is a Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft in the Data/AI space. He lives in Pittsburgh in a small suburb. He loves working with all things Azure(ARM templates, DBaaS, SQL on IaaS). He is an avid collector of retro video games! He is a member of the Idera ACE program for 2018.

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.

Ed Watson

Twitter: - http://twitter.com/SQLGator

LinkedIn: Ed Watson

Contact: http://sqlgator.com

Ed Watson is a Principal Data Platform Consultant for Improving Enterprises, a full-stack Microsoft consulting firm in Atlanta. Ed is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP since 2014 and like most children, Ed was born at an early age. Today, Ed specializes in the Business Intelligence stack and enjoys specializing in Power BI immensely. He currently lives in Atlanta and is active with the Atlanta MDF and Atlanta BI user groups and is an organizer for SQLSaturday Atlanta, Atlanta BI, and Pensacola.

Ryan Wade

Twitter: - MrDataGeek

LinkedIn: Ryan Wade

Ryan is an experienced data analytics professional. His education and work experience enables him to understand things from a technical, analytical, and business viewpoint. He has the ability to present complex data in an intuitive way using sound analytical and visualization methods.

He has an advanced analytical and technical skill-set which includes Power BI, T-SQL, R, Python, Azure Machine Learning Services, Azure Databricks, SQL Server Machine Learning Services, Advanced Modern Excel, SSIS, SSAS Tabular.

He is a data analytics enthusiast that has spoken at a variety of database and data science conferences about various topics dealing with data analytics.

Vishal Pawar

Twitter: - Vishal_BI

LinkedIn: Vishal Pawar

Contact: http://bimentalist.com/

Vishal Pawar is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), founder of the Global Power BI User Group and co-leader of the PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group. He is a Principal BI Architect in Green House Data, with decades of experience in BI solution architecture and best practices. He has published more than 1000 articles since 2011 in SQL and BI. Vishal teaches a free Power BI course through Udemy, which has more than 65K students from the glob. Vishal is an exceptional technology community of leaders worldwide who actively share their high quality, real-world expertise with the technical communities.

Jeff Reinhard

Twitter: - @SQLMajor

LinkedIn: Jeff Reinhard

I have 25 years of database development experience, mostly with SQL Server, with companies such as Ernst amp; Young, Internet Security Systems/IBM, AirWatch, WebMD, CheckFree and others. My recent focus has been on AlwaysOn availability groups and database DevOps.

Mike Robbins

Twitter: - @mikefrobbins

LinkedIn: Mike Robbins

Contact: http://mikefrobbins.com/

Mike F Robbins is a Microsoft MVP on Windows PowerShell and a SAPIEN Technologies MVP. He is a co-author of Windows PowerShell TFM 4th Edition and is a contributing author of a chapter in the PowerShell Deep Dives book. Mike has written guest blog articles for the Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog, PowerShell Magazine, and PowerShell.org. He is the winner of the advanced category in the 2013 PowerShell Scripting Games. Mike is also the leader and co-founder of the Mississippi PowerShell User Group. He blogs at mikefrobbins.com and can be found on twitter @mikefrobbins.

Robert Verell

Twitter: - @sqlcowbell

LinkedIn: Robert Verell

Contact: http://sqlcowbell.com/wordpress/

William E Pearson III

Twitter: - @Bill_Pearson

LinkedIn: William E Pearson III

Contact: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=02C5CD07-7511-4151-A678-3A4A3451F85E

Matt Martin

Twitter: - @sqletl_matt

LinkedIn: Matt Martin

Contact: http://mddatatech.wordpress.com

Matt Martin is a SQL Server professional that loves data integration and data warehousing. He has over 9 years of experience specializing in ETL automation, and working with big data. In 2015, Matt co-founded a new software company called MD Data Technologies, which simplifies SQL Server ETL by using a T-SQL parameterized wrapper to automate the building and execution of SSIS packages.

Julie Smith

Twitter: - @juliechix

LinkedIn: Julie Smith

Contact: http://datachix.com

Julie Smith is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and a BI consultant for Innovative Architects in Atlanta, GA. She#39;s implemented increasingly complex Business Intelligence solutions for over a decade at various organizations. She#39;s also worn many other database “hats” in her career – production DBA and database developer–but data integration and BI are her true passions. Julie holds a BA from the University of South Carolina. She and Audrey Hammonds co-created The Datachix.com blog.

Tim Radney

Twitter: - @tradney

LinkedIn: Tim Radney

Contact: http://www.timradney.com

Janis Griffin

Twitter: - DoBoutAnything

LinkedIn: Janis Griffin

Janis Griffin has over 30 years of DBA/database experience including design, development and implementation of many critical database applications. Before coming to Quest Software, Janis primarily worked in the Telecom/Network Industry, working with both real-time network routing databases and OLTP business to business applications. Janis also held positions as a Principal Architect and Senior Manager, mentoring other DBAs on best practices in database performance tuning.

Naomi Williams

Twitter: - naomithesqldba

LinkedIn: Naomi Williams

Naomi Williams is a SQL Server professional working in the San Antonio area. Currently a seasoned Database Administrator for both Oracle and SQL Server doing database development, SSIS, SSRS and SSAS. Naomi has been working with SQL Server for almost 15 years. Naomi is passionate about performance, high availability, and creative non standard solutions to complex problems

SQLSaturday #498 - Chattanooga 2016

Sessions

Title: Context Calculation: Back to the Basics with DAX

Title: Perceptual Intelligence with Cortana Analytics

Title: Data Migration Using BIML

Title: Execution Plans for Mere Mortals

Title: Pragmatic Power BI: Transforming Data

Title: Azure SQL Database for the Production DBA

Title: Road to Better SQL Code - Advance Techniques Part 1

Title: PowerShell 201: Debugging, Security, Code Signing, and Remoting

Title: A SQL Developer’s Guide to MDX Basics

Title: Advanced Error Tracking for Quick Diagnosis

Title: Upgrade your Database Development Skills with SQL Server Data Tools

Title: Why “R” you not leveraging the power of “R” in Power BI?!?

Title: Create lightning fast Dashboard with Power BI and its Components

Title: 16 Enhancements for SQL Server 2016

Title: Building Unconventional SQL Server Tools in PowerShell

Title: Service Broker: Coach your processes asynchronously

Title: Keys to Successful SharePoint Administration for the DBA

Title: Zero to Hero with PowerShell and SQL Server

Title: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Guide to Configuration Options and Trace Flags

Title: Table Partitioning Intro and make that a sliding window too!

Title: Connecting Power BI to On-Prem Data with SSAS

Title: Smart Rats Leave First

Title: SQL Server Always On - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Title: What’s New for BI in SQL Server 2016

Title: Top 10 Wait Types Everyone Should Know

Title: Self-Service ETL with Microsoft Power Query

Title: Azure Data Factory: My Data Wandered Lonely as a CLOUD.

Title: Why Should I Care About … Partitioned Views?

Title: Road to Better SQL Code - Advance Techniques Part 2

Title: SQL Server 2016 - New DBMS Features and examples

Title: SQL Server XML 101

Title: Achieve More in Less Time by Using SQLPS

Title: SQL Server Internals

Title: Data Analysis With SQL Window Functions

Title: Microsoft Business Intelligence 2016 – More Love for Your Data

Title: New Instance, Now what?

Title: Introduction to SQL Server Integration Services

Speakers

Sponsors