SQLSaturday #745 - Indianapolis 2018

Event Date: 08/11/2018 00:00:00

Event Location:

  • Ivy Tech Noblesville
  • 300 N 17th St
  • Noblesville, Indiana

PDF of Schedule

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

If there are any data quality issues or corrections needed, please contact the webmaster for this site or submit a pull request for the appropriate file(s).


Sessions

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


Title: Building the HASSP: Putting SQL Server In Space

Abstract: In today’s world, technology is a pervasive part of our lives. We have “smart” appliances everywhere: from cars, thermostats, and even refrigerators contain built-in systems to collect, store, and transmit data. Small embedded devices can also be used for scientific purposes as well, offering new and exciting ways to collect data for studies or projects at home.

The High-Altitude SQL Server Project, or HASSP, is one such project.

The HASSP team has created a high-altitude balloon that uses sensors to collect various data points and store the results in an embedded version of SQL Server!

In this session, you’ll hear about how this is possible: we’ll discuss the hardware used, the custom device that we built, and the software used to make it all work together. Best of all, you’ll see how to recreate (and hopefully improve!) the project on your own.

Speaker(s):

  • Drew Furgiuele

Track and Room: Other - 137


Title: Essential Linux for the SQL Server DBA

Abstract: Linux has come to Microsoft! Do you want to gain the knowledge that Oracle DBAs have been using for years to manage their databases on this valuable OS? This session is taught by a multi-platform DBA who specializes in Oracle and SQL Server with almost two decades on Unix/Linux experience. The goal is to give you the most valuable fundamentals and commands that are important to the DBA when managing a database in a Non-Windows environment. We’ll learn:

  1. Linux history and concepts.
  2. Important differences between systems
  3. Crucial commands to get around a. Navigating, searching and managing b. Monitoring, tracing and updating c. Editing and scripting

You’ll leave feeling more at ease with Linux and have plenty of content and links to continue the learning after the session!

Speaker(s):

  • Kellyn Pot’Vin-Gorman

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 136


Title: Data Protection Privacy in the World of Database DevOps

Abstract: Ensuring the ongoing protection of personally identifiable information is mandatory in today’s business, helping you to guard against data breaches, and comply with the GDPR. In a climate where cyber attacks are all too frequent, and data is spread across a growing number of different environments, the challenge of protecting your data can seem daunting. This session will address the implications of the GDPR on database management, and demonstrate a privacy-first approach to controlling and protecting data as it changes and moves through your SQL Server estate. As well as offering guidance for assessing your data estate for GDPR readiness, this session will include some great tools and tips for building data protection and privacy into your development processes, and dispel the myth that database DevOps and compliance can’t go hand in hand. With the right preparation, you can build compliance into your processes, keep sensitive data safe, and deliver value quickly to your end users.

Speaker(s):

  • Grant Fritchey

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 143


Title: Revenge: The SQL!

Abstract: Pop quiz DBA: are your developers all using cursors? SELECT *? Running dynamic SQL using sysadmin privileges? And all in production despite your warnings? WHAT DO YOU DO? Answer: You attend Revenge: The SQL! This session will show you how to “correct” all those bad practices without actually killing them. You’ll see demonstrations of little-used features in unconventional ways. You’ll also see methods to prevent common mistakes that even you might make, like dropped a table, or database, or WHERE clause accidentally. We’ll also demonstrate the dangers of too many permissions and how to convince everyone to never use the sa login again! Revenge: The SQL! is fun and educational and may even have some practical use, but you’ll want to attend simply to indulge your Dark Side. Revenge: The SQL! assumes no liability and is not available in all 50 states. Do not taunt Revenge: The SQL! or Happy Fun Ball.

Speaker(s):

  • Rob Volk

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 109


Title: Ten Things Power BI Can Do for Your Business

Abstract: In the world of data, we spend much of our time talking about software, and for good reason: the modern wave of tools is dramatically superior to the tools of even five years ago. But there’s a related question that bears revisiting: WHAT should we be doing with those tools? While that may seem like an obvious question, the very existence of the revolutionary new tools makes now a great time to revisit the fundamentals of how we view our relationship with data.

Spoiler alert: many of the obvious valuable things were prohibitively difficult to execute using previous tools – so much so that we’ve forgotten what we should be doing! The speaker (Rob Collie) has seen it all in the process of helping literally hundreds of organizations revolutionize their relationships with data, and in this thought-provoking and non-technical talk, he will share 10 recurring and valuable patterns observed within the past 2-3 years.

Speaker(s):

  • Rob Collie

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 137


Title: Introduction to Spatial Data with the help of SQL Server 2016/17

Abstract: If you would like to learn about Spatial Data but don’t know where to start, this session is for you. We will begin by focusing on what Spatial Data is through examples and interactive demo’s. The goal is to show how Spatial Data can improve your professional experience and serve as an asset to your business.

I will introduce you to Spatial Data in the SQL server and show how to import data into SQL Server. We will focus on demonstrations of the SQL Server 2016 and JSON functions used to create geoJSON objects from Spatial Data. Next we will cache these objects by using In-Memory tables with the help of SQL Server 2017.

Speaker(s):

  • Hasan Savran

Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - 141


Title: Getting started with Machine Learning

Abstract: Do you have large amounts of data which you want to leverage to predict the answers to difficult questions? The seemingly new field of Machine Learning (ML) has been around for almost 60 years, with this exact goal in mind.

In this session, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of ML, to get you started without requiring a mathematics background. We will look at how to “frame” your data questions, as well as understanding the type of outputs ML can provide in responding with predictions. Focus will be placed on the high-level overview of the ML process, and spend time on the simple steps of determining the “right” algorithm to use. Tools used include Weka and Azure ML Studio, but the focus of the session is on fundamentals and the ML process, not specific toolsets.

Speaker(s):

  • Andrew Loree

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 144


Title: Inside the SQLServer PowerShell Module

Abstract: SQLPS has been evolving since 2012 and the SQL Provider/cmdlets have been around since 2008. Have you taken advantage of the PowerShell infrastructure that is on your servers? This session takes you behind the scenes of the SQLPS and the new SqlServer module that is installed with the tools. We will cover how to get it without the tools, how to use it once you have it and why you will want to use it for simple tasks or complex ones. When you learn how to navigate SQL Server and all its services using Paths, you won’t go back. Join me for a fun filled hour and learn how to keep SQLPS from becoming frustrating and a black box. You will be glad you did. Let’s continue the journey to becoming a PowerShell DBA.

Speaker(s):

  • Ben Miller

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 145


Title: Choosing the Right Microsoft Data Science Platform

Abstract: So you’ve done traditional BI for some time, but now you and your company know it’s time to dig into advanced analytics. The big question is, with so many data science platform options available, which one is the right one for us?

In this session we dive into the available platforms listed below and provide a brief summary, strengths and weaknesses, scale capabilities, and last but not least, pricing/licensing. • Microsoft R Open • Microsoft R Server • R and Python Services for SQL Server 2017 • Azure Machine Learning Workbench • HDInsight (with Spark) • Microsoft Data Science VM

If you’re looking to maximize and optimize your data science platform of choice, be sure to attend.

Speaker(s):

  • Sean Werick

Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - 141


Title: Get Your Optimizer to Give up All Its Secrets

Abstract: You know that execution plans can provide you with vital information to tune a query, but just how does that plan get generated? In this session, we will examine details the query optimization process that are not very well known. We will discuss how SQL Server parses a T-SQL statement then and begins applying rules to make it more efficient. Did you know that SQL Server can be coaxed into outputting hidden structures such as parse trees and memos? We’ll do just that, and then take it a step further with a unique visualization tool that I have created. With a better understanding of how SQL Server optimizes T-SQL (and sometimes doesn’t do it as well as might be hoped), you can write more efficient SQL statements.

Speaker(s):

  • Brian Hansen

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 136


Title: Relax! It’s just DAX.

Abstract: DAX is the language you use when working in Power BI or Power Query to create calculations using your data. At first, it may seem intimidating, but the truth is that if you have been using functions in Excel, you have the basic knowledge to help you get started in DAX. The first half of this session will introduce basic DAX terminology and concepts. In the second half, participants can use their own laptop and work on a demo data set, creating some beginner DAX statements. The experts in DAX say that DAX is an easy language to learn, and a hard language to master. DAX may be easy to learn (although that hasn’t been this speaker’s experience!), but it is definitely hard to carve out a chunk of time to try out a new skill. This is your chance! At the end of the session, I will also share a list of resources, including books, videos, and blogs for you to continue your journey into DAX.

Speaker(s):

  • Jessica Jolly

Track and Room: Professional Development - 145


Title: Database Design Fundamentals

Abstract: Data should be easy to work with in SQL Server if the database has been organized as close as possible to the standards of normalization that have been proven for many years, but are often thought of as old-fashioned. Many common T-SQL programming “difficulties” are the result of struggling against these standards and can be avoided by understanding the requirements, applying normalization, as well as a healthy dose of simple common sense. In this session I will give an overview of how to design a relational database, allowing you to work with the data structures instead of against them. This will let you use SQL naturally, enabling the query engine internals to optimize your output needs without you needing to spend a lot of time thinking about it. This will mean less time trying to figure out why SUBSTRING(column,3,1) = ‘A’ is killing your performance, and more time for solving the next customer problem.

Speaker(s):

  • Louis Davidson

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 143


Title: Python in SQL Server 2017

Abstract: SQL Server 2017 has finally arrived, bringing with it a host of exciting new features. Of particular interest to BI practitioners and data scientists is the integration of the Python programming language into the SQL ecosystem. This integration opens up a number of possibilities for in-database analytics and intelligent database applications, so let’s get started!

In this introductory session we’ll briefly introduce the Python language and then look at how to install and administer Machine Learning Services. We’ll start to demonstrate the power of Python by showing you how to create and run simple scripts from within T-SQL. We’ll then discuss some of the powerful open source packages that are available to aid your data analyses. Finally, we’ll go through some examples of how to use Python to integrate data analytical methods in real-world situations, and wow your customers with the power of analytics!

Speaker(s):

  • Chris Hyde

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 144


Title: Empowering Power BI with PowerApps

Abstract: The ‘recently’ introduced PowerApps visual for Power BI allows us to greatly extend the capabilities of our reports. In this talk we will cover the basics of PowerApps, from pricing to capabilities. We’ll also cover some potential use cases for adding PowerApps to your Power BI reports, and see some of those use cases demonstrated. Finally, we’ll walk through the whole process of building and deploying a PowerApp to a Power BI report.

Speaker(s):

  • Ben Kimmel

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 144


Title: Moving Past Imposter Syndrome

Abstract: We have heard a lot on recognizing Imposter Syndrome and how to address it. However, what if it’s not Imposter Syndrome after all? We will discuss working scenarios and how you approach or deal with them to determine “is it you or is it me?”

Speaker(s):

  • Wendy Pastrick

Track and Room: Professional Development - 145


Title: How did you get in here, and who said you could do that???

Abstract: This session covers the “101” issues of security within SQL Server. It covers authentication (AD, SQL Server, and Application Roles) and the basics of security declarations. This is targeted at entry and mid level database administrators and application designers that need an introduction or a refresher on how to grant access to the database engine and permissions at the SQL Server and database levels. NOTE: this presentation does NOT cover hacking, security work-arounds, etc.

Speaker(s):

  • Pat Phelan

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 109


Title: SQLStarter - Intro to Database Development

Abstract: Session in the SQLStarter beginner track to introduce the database development career. Will discuss aspects of what this job entails and what day to day could look like in this career path. We’ll go over important skills and where to find training information.

Speaker(s):

  • Grant Fritchey

Track and Room: SQLStarter - Auditorium


Title: Taking the pain out of database migrations

Abstract: Database migrations are scary. The migration of a database has many moving pieces and things to think about. Some of those things have nothing to do with the DBA and are outside of their control. However, if these items are not taken into account, it is the DBA that management will hold responsible for the failure.

This session will discuss what you need to take into account to ensure a successful pain free database migration. These steps can be used for a single database, multiple databases, or an entire server. By the end of the session, you will have a checklist of the items you need to consider for a database migration.

Speaker(s):

  • Chris Lumnah

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 136


Title: SQLStarter - Intro to Database Administration

Abstract: Session in the SQLStarter beginner track to introduce the database administrator career. Will discuss aspects of what this job entails and what day to day could look like in this career path. We’ll go over important skills and where to find training information.

Speaker(s):

  • Peter Shore

Track and Room: SQLStarter - Auditorium


Title: Learn History from Temporal Tables

Abstract: SQL Server 2016 came out with a bucket full of cool new features. One of them is Temporal Tables. SQL Server 2017 made some enhancements in this area. Temporal tables are basically history tables of the normal tables; that allows us to retrieve data from any point in time for every change such as updates and deletes. It does this all without any change to application code. In this session, we will see what the requirements of creating temporal tables are. We will see the demo on insert and update functionality and how to query historical information using new TSQL clause. We will touch upon retention of history as well. It has lots of demos and less theory.

Speaker(s):

  • Ameena Lalani

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 109


Title: Integrating Azure ML with Power BI

Abstract: Power BI is a robust tool for building data visualizations that help businesses derive insights from their data. Azure ML is a flexible tool that allows iterative development and deployment of predictive models across an enterprise.

It can be difficult, however, to productionize a machine learning model and present the findings to a business user in a manner that is easily-consumed and reliable. Combining Power BI and Azure ML businesses can easily leverage predictive models and present the results in a user-friendly way.

This talk will cover the basics of Power BI and of Azure ML, how to build and deploy a model using Azure ML Studio, alternative options to Azure ML and Power BI, and demonstrate how to easily score data from an existing SQL Server DB using Power BI.

Speaker(s):

  • Michael Huffer

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 144


Title: Tuning Like CSS: With These Tools There’s No Need Call Support

Abstract: What do you do when you have a performance or troubleshooting problem that you can’t figure out? One option is to open a support ticket with Microsoft Support (CSS). The CSS engineer will use a specific set of tools to collect and analyze workload data from your SQL Server. Based on this information they might recommend patches, configuration changes, or identify the worst-performing queries.   But what if you could bypass support and do all of this analysis yourself?   In this session, you’ll learn how to use battle tested tools to analyze your workload and error logs. Armed with this information, you’ll understand the root cause of the problem and propose solutions to performance and stability problems.

Speaker(s):

  • Kerry Tyler

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 141


Title: SQL Operations Studio: A Test Drive

Abstract: Unveiled at PASS Summit 2017, SQL Operations Studio is Microsoft’s new open-source cross-platform database development and operations tool. In this session, we’ll examine the new Operations Studio and see what’s great about it, what’s not so great, and how it ranks up against other apps like SSMS and SSDT. By the end, you’ll know how best to incorporate Microsoft’s newest database tool into your arsenal.

Speaker(s):

  • Jay Robinson

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 137


Title: Lift Off to the Cloud: Lift Shift Azure options for the SQL Server BI Stack

Abstract: The SQL Server Analytics\BI stack is widely used and mature. Azure PaaS offerings have matured greatly well beyond just Azure SQL DB the last couple of years. This session is designed for SQL Server professionals who want to expand their knowledge set to Azure or those interested in learning more about Azure data solution options. The focus will be on SQL Server on-premise (or on Azure VM\IaaS) to Azure equivalences, complementary tools, and hybrid approaches and possible challenges. Azure SQL DB, Azure SQL DW, Azure Data Factory, Azure Analysis Services, Power BI and more will be covered.

Speaker(s):

  • David Mellinger

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 137


Title: Plan Cache performance tuning

Abstract: In this session, we’ll discuss ways to manage execution plans inside the plan cache of busy and unpredictable SQL Servers. The plan cache keeps SQL Server healthy, but all it takes is one bad execution plan to decrease server performance.

Just like gardening, keeping a database healthy requires pruning. Techniques to manage, remove, and improve performance in the Plan Cache will be shown. The Query Store gives us power tools for this work, but it’s not the entire solution.

Speaker(s):

  • Arthur Daniels III

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 136


Title: SSRS; Not everything is a dashboard

Abstract: OH “SSRS is so 2005, why are we even talking about it?” Join me and find out why we should be talking about it, even in 2018. We’ll explore the differences between MS Business Intelligence offerings and help you see why SSRS is still relevant. We’ll review example scenarios and help you see what SSRS can do for you.

Speaker(s):

  • Tamera Clark

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 137


Title: Grudge Match: XML vs JSON

Abstract: Starting in SQL 2016, two rivals entered the ring in a professional fight for format supremacy. XML seems too fat to compete with the newcomer JSON but a fight has begun. JSON doesn’t seem experienced enough to have real punching power but does it have the speed to win? Who is the pound for pound format champion? Come watch this action-packed bout between two titans of SQL.

Speaker(s):

  • Aaron King

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 143


Title: SQLStarter - Intro to Data Science

Abstract: Session in the SQLStarter beginner track to introduce data science careers. Will discuss aspects of what this job entails and what day to day could look like in this career path. We’ll go over important skills and where to find training information.

Speaker(s):

  • Sean Werick

Track and Room: SQLStarter - Auditorium


Title: Extended Events: What are they and How do I use them

Abstract: Extended Events are an essential part of properly monitoring and every DBA should know what they are and how to use them. This session will cover the basics of Extended events as well as an introduction to the system_health session. This session will give someone who has never used Extended events before the skills to start using them!

Speaker(s):

  • Dave Bland

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 140


Title: What To Learn Next

Abstract: As technologists, we continually adapt to changing market needs and the maturity of concepts and tools. What To Learn Next explores four topics, each having important considerations for your opportunities in the next three to five years.

High Demand/Low Supply explores the effect on data technologists from social media, biztech media, and the modern focus on employee experience. So Many Technologies looks into the layers of technologies, from core to the edge, that define our world of data. Too Many Products gives a view of the hundreds of products in category upon category. Only the liar could know them all. This session concludes with a look at How To Learn, including the pros and cons of online, meetups, classroom, conference, and video - even books!

What To Learn Next will be most valuable to intermediate and advanced SQL Server professionals who seek to augment their current skills with modern, strategic data technologies.

Speaker(s):

  • Dave Leininger

Track and Room: Professional Development - 145


Title: Everyone Has a Story to Tell: Developing Your First Presentation

Abstract: Ever considered giving a presentation of your own? Pondered how your favorite speakers got their start? Contemplated whether you could ever do that too, but were not sure where to begin?

Well I say you can and will show you how to get started! In this session, I will teach you how to develop your idea and create session content, and share tips tricks that I have learned along the way.

You will leave armed with a wealth of resources (and hopefully some inspiration) to venture forth and develop your first presentation.

Speaker(s):

  • Andy Yun

Track and Room: Professional Development - 145


Title: The Case for Change: Identifying and Remedying Bad Code

Abstract: There is no organization that is immune from performance issues with their SQL Server queries. Sometimes all it takes is one “perfect storm” that kills your server performance and lands you in the hot seat with everyone asking you what happened. While many performance issues can be addressed with an index or configuration change, what about when the root of the problem is the code itself? Whether it’s a stored procedure or dynamic T-SQL generated by an ORM, the burden of proof lies with the DBA to demonstrate how the code is negatively impacting performance.

How do you capture those bad queries? When you have this data what do you look at besides the query itself? How do you make the case to the business that a code change is necessary? In this session we will explore capturing and identifying those problem queries, the analysis of the performance data, and how to effectively communicate your findings to the business to get your proposed code change approved and implemented.

Speaker(s):

  • Amy Herold

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 141


Title: Real-Time Streaming in Power BI

Abstract: Power BI offers compelling streaming features that allow you to view your data in real time in a web browser and on mobile devices. In this session we’ll examine how to setup streaming datasets and dashboards for real-time viewing. For a demonstration we’ll look at how to stream performance counter data from Windows into Power BI using C#, giving us a real-time view of system information that is accessible from anywhere.

Speaker(s):

  • Chris Koester

Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - 140


Title: SQLStarter - Intro to Big Data

Abstract: Session in the SQLStarter beginner track to introduce big data careers. Will discuss aspects of what this job entails and what day to day could look like in this career path. We’ll go over important skills and where to find training information.

Speaker(s):

  • Warren Sifre

Track and Room: SQLStarter - Auditorium


Title: Simple DR Setup

Abstract: Setting up a DR plan can be tedious. Luckily there is a WIZARD for most of it. However, when databases get larger, the wizards don’t work as well. Lucky for us, we have POWERSHELL!! This presentation will show you a simple way to set up your DR plan, and if you do a lot of log shipping, say goodbye to having to manage 5 separate SQL Jobs to get one database configured. This presentation includes usage of the community powershell tools project (dbatools.io).

Speaker(s):

  • Andy Wickman

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 109


Title: Transaction Log Internals and Performance

Abstract: The transaction log is one of the most critical, yet often misunderstood, components of SQL Server. From out of control log growth to very long start-up times, problems with the transaction log can cause a lot of pain. In this session, we’ll look at how the transaction log works and what information is actually stored in the log. You’ll learn how to optimize the log’s performance, determining the right settings for log growth, and what to do when things get out of control.

Speaker(s):

  • David Maxwell

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 136


Title: SQLStarter - Intro to Business Intelligence

Abstract: Session in the SQLStarter beginner track to introduce the business intelligence career. Will discuss aspects of what this job entails and what day to day could look like in this career path. We’ll go over important skills and where to find training information.

Speaker(s):

  • CJ Knapp

Track and Room: SQLStarter - Auditorium


Title: R For the SQL Server Developer

Abstract: R is the premiere language for data analysis. If the world of data science sounds fun and exciting, now is the time to get into R. We will walk through the core constructs of R, learn how to retrieve data from flat files and databases, and get a peek at the power behind R. This session will also give resources on where to go in order to become more familiar with statistics, R the language, and the R package ecosystem.

Speaker(s):

  • Kevin Feasel

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 144


Title: Managing Enterprise Data Quality with Data Quality Services 2016

Abstract: Regardless of your role or the system you work with, data quality is always critical to ensuring the accuracy of data. In this session we’ll discuss overall architecture and strategies for managing enterprise data quality, explore a variety of case studies, and demo an end to end data quality solution using Data Quality Services 2016.

Speaker(s):

  • Brian Beswick

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - 137


Title: Hadoop Shmadoop… What the heck is the all the Hadoop about it?

Abstract: Hadoop seems to be in every conversation related to Modern Data Platforms and Initiatives, but it is amazing how many people say it like it is thing. This talk will introduce the various components that can make up a Hadoop environment and discuss the differences between the different distributions of this technology.

Speaker(s):

  • Warren Sifre

Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - 141


Title: Linked Servers – Purpose, Pitfalls and Performance Implications

Abstract: Using linked servers allows for queries across instances. While connected to Server A, you can query resources on Server B. Developers often love them. DBAs often hate them. Regardless of what side of the fence you are on, they are an important tool in the DBA toolbelt and you need to know how they can help and hurt you. Attend this session and learn linked servers’ purpose, pitfalls, and performance implications.

Speaker(s):

  • Ben Davis

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 136


Title: Introduction to SQL Server Machine Learning Services

Abstract: Machine Learning Services is a powerful new product in the SQL Server family. It unlocks advanced analytics and machine learning functionality without leaving the SQL Server you know and love. I’ll demonstrate how you can build an end to end ML pipeline within a simple T-SQL procedure. Machine Learning Services makes it so that you don’t need a PhD to successfully implement predictive analytics in your organization.

Speaker(s):

  • Bradley Nielsen

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 143


Title: Using RDS SQL Server on Amazon Web Services

Abstract: This session will examine how RDS SQL Server is used to host SQL Server as a managed service offering on Amazon Web Services. We will discuss the capabilities of the service offering, considerations for migration and how to manage SQL Server databases hosted in the AWS cloud.

Speaker(s):

  • Richard Waymire

Track and Room: Other - 140


Title: Finding root cause for unexplained Availability Group failover

Abstract: In this session, we will walk you step by step showing how we determine root cause analysis of an unexplained failure in an Availability Group. Whether the databases simply became unavailable, synchronization stopped, or there was an unexplained failover. We will show you specifically what we look for in the OS Cluster logs, SQL error logs, Extended Events and other sources of information.

Speaker(s):

  • Trayce Jordan

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 140


Title: Introduction to T-SQL Windowing Functions

Abstract: T-SQL windowing functions can simplify many complex queries. They are the best thing that has happened to the T-SQL language in years, but many database professionals and developers haven’t heard about them. They were initially introduced with SQL Server 2005. In 2012, Microsoft added several new functions that let you do things like pull values from different rows without a performance penalty. Attend this session to learn how T-SQL windowing functions apply to many real world examples.

Speaker(s):

  • Kathi Kellenberger

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 143


Title: Where Should My Data Live (and Why)?

Abstract: Long gone are the days where the only architecture decision you had to make when scaling an environment was deciding which part of the datacenter would store your new server. There is a dizzying array of options available in the SQL Server and Azure ecosystems and those are evolving by the day. Is “the cloud” a fad? Are private datacenters a thing of the past? Could both questions have a kernel of truth in them? In this session I will go over real world scenarios and walk you through real world solutions that utilize your datacenter, cloud providers, and everything in between to keep your data highly available and your customers happy.

Speaker(s):

  • Matt Gordon

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - 140


Title: SQLStarter - Discussion/Networking Session

Abstract: Ending the day of SQLStarter sessions with a mix of QA and networking.

Speaker(s):

  • Hope Foley

Track and Room: SQLStarter - Auditorium


Title: Emergency! Are You Ready for Disaster to Strike?

Abstract: Just like pilots who are prepared for disaster recovery through regular practice, we as Database Administrators need to actually spend time practicing recovering with those backups. Ransomware has made it critical to prepare to rebuild your datacenter at any moment. This session will focus on the kinds of situations that can dramatically affect a data center, and how to practice recovery processes to assure business continuity.

Speaker(s):

  • Allen White

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 109


Title: 5 Lessons from Black Panther for any IT Professional

Abstract: “Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.” Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and a technological wizard, has this foundational quote in the movie that ties the cinematic marvel to the technology industry in a fun and challenging way. This session breaks down what we can take away and some ideas on how to apply these principles to lead our teams, products, and industry into the next chapter.

Speaker(s):

  • Hilary Wilkie

Track and Room: Professional Development - 145


Title: Alexa, Talk to Me

Abstract: Learn how to create your own skill (app) for Amazon’s Echo / Dot service known as Alexa. In this session, we’ll create a simple skill from scratch, and show how to get into some of the more advanced options.

Speaker(s):

  • Dave Mattingly

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - 140


Title: Simplifying SQL Data Protection (Sponsored by Rubrik)

Abstract: When you think about backups in your environment, how many servers scripts do you have to manage? Or have you ever needed to get a table back from a large database and didn’t want to argue with the storage admins about space for the restore? With Rubrik, we empower you to backup and restore your databases quickly and with ease. Come and see how you can quickly protect hundreds of databases with just a few clicks or bring back a database in minutes to satisfy your most demanding executives. With Rubrik, it’s not about backing up, it’s about going forward!

Speaker(s):

  • Chris Lumnah

Track and Room: Other - 136


Title: Data Science in Reverse: Creating Credible Fake Data Sets

Abstract: Sometimes a data professional will find themselves in need of a large demonstration data set. However, non-proprietary options are few and usually lacking. This session will educate attendees in how to get around these obstacles by creating their own data. We’ll talk about the process of using real-world variability, creating inconsistency that leads to insight using some basic statistical concepts, the process of putting everything together, and getting the data set into SQL Server.

Speaker(s):

  • Britton Gray

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - 144


Title: Relationship Goals: The SQL Server Graph Database

Abstract: Relational databases have their strengths. Ironically data relationships are not one of them. Graph databases excel in this department using nodes and edges. They are optimized to find and view relationships using graph theory. One of the best new features of SQL Server 2017 is the Graph Database! It brings us the best of both worlds in one easy platform! Come learn about the history of graph databases, how they work and why you should be using it!

Speaker(s):

  • Jonathan Stewart

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 140


Title: SQL Server Encryption

Abstract: Have you ever wanted to know how Transparent Database Encryption (TDE) works or how you set it up? What about encrypting your backups? This session will go over all the steps and caveats that go with this technology. TDE allows you to have your database encrypted on disk and the same Encryption Hierarchy allows you to back up your database and have it encrypt the contents in the backup file. We will discuss the Encryption Hierarchy which is used for encryption in SQL Server and take you through keeping your secrets safe. We will also go over how Always Encrypted works as well. Master the concepts of SQL Server Encryption when you are done with this session.

Speaker(s):

  • Ben Miller

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 109


Title: IT and the Evil Empire (Business) : Friends or Enemies?

Abstract: Tensions between the business and IT can be high. The business sees IT as alien and IT sees the business as cavemen. The difference between a great IT professional and a mediocre one is that a great one can work well with the business. This session will give you 6 practical ways you can implement immediately to make a bigger, better impact on the business.

Speaker(s):

  • Kevin Wilkie

Track and Room: Professional Development - 145


Title: Hello My Friends, Welcome to CosmosDB

Abstract: Microsoft says Azure Cosmos DB is a globally distributed, multi-model database. Your reaction might be something like, “what the heck is it”, “why would I use it”, or “how do I use it”. The fundamental purpose of this session is to answer those very questions. After briefly discussing what CosmosDB is, we’ll take some time to discuss why you might use CosmosDB instead of SQL Server or another platform, and finally touch on some basics to get you started with CosmosDB. Upon completion of this session you will be better equipped to discuss the value of CosmosDB to your organization.

Speaker(s):

  • Peter Shore

Track and Room: Cloud Application Development Deployment - 140


Title: Migration Basics

Abstract: So you’ve got SQL Server instances that need to be moved off of old hardware or need a version upgrade for functionality and support purposes. Where do we begin? What pieces do we need to consider and how are we going to get them moved? What kind of window do we need to move everything?

We’ll cover all of these things and more, as well as querying the attendees on what to do next during certain steps to ensure you have your mind in the right place. Migrations can be tedious, but if planned properly, they can be easy and expand your knowledge for SQL Server.

This session does not cover dbaas migrations

Speaker(s):

  • Robert Verell

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - 141


Title: Discover the Hidden Mysteries of Common Table Expressions

Abstract: Although they have been around since SQL Server 2005, Common Table Expressions (CTEs) have been a complete mystery to many. As a result, there are many misunderstood myths and assumptions surrounding them. This session will explore deep into CTEs, what they are, what they are not, and how they work. We’ll look at situations where they can really help improve not only code clarity but also performance especially when compared side-by-side to usual methods. We’ll also identify situations where CTEs can be used incorrectly causing hidden performance problems.

Speaker(s):

  • Aaron Cutshall

Track and Room: Application Database Development - 143


Speakers

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

Andy Yun

Twitter: - SQLBek

LinkedIn: Andy Yun

Contact: http://sqlbek.wordpress.com

Andy Yun is a SentryOne Principal Solutions Engineer and a former Microsoft MVP. He has been working with SQL Server for nearly 20 years as both a Database Developer and Administrator. Leveraging knowledge of SQL Server Internals and extensive experience in highly transactional environments, he strives to make T-SQL leaner and meaner. Andy is extremely passionate about passing knowledge onto others, regularly speaking at User Groups, SQLSaturdays, and PASS Summit. Andy is a co-founder of the Chicago SQL Association, co-Chapter Leader of the Chicago Suburban User Group, and part of the Chicago SQLSaturday Organizing Committee.

Amy Herold

Twitter: - @texasamy

LinkedIn: Amy Herold

Contact: http://www.sqlkitten.com/

Amy Herold is currently a Premier Field Engineer with Microsoft, specializing in APS. Prior to this, she was a Sr. Database Administrator, focusing on PowerShell and automation. She is also currently the Director of Programs for the North Texas SQL Server User Group (NTSSUG). She frequently speaks at SQLSaturday and user group events across the United States and has also participated in numerous Women in Technology sessions as a panelist. Amy currently blogs at sqlkitten.com.

David Mellinger

Twitter: - @HoosierDataDev

LinkedIn: David Mellinger

David started working with SQL Server as an application developer in 2003. He switched to focusing on the database over 10 years ago. He has created and worked with ERP, e-commerce, middleware, geo-spatial, and of course analytic (ODS, DW) databases. David is a Practice Lead for Allegient’s Data Platform Analytics practice. He loves working with businesses to get them setup to use technology for success. Diving into complex challenges or “can you\how can you do this” scenarios is fun for David. He is passionate about mentoring and sharing experiences to help others (and himself!) grow.

Andrew Loree

Twitter: - @LowOnDiskSpace

LinkedIn: Andrew Loree

Contact: http://www.andyloree.com

Andrew Loree has over nineteen years of database experience with roles in architecture, design, development, and implementation of enterprise-scale SQL Server data solutions, supporting industries from legal e-discovery to manufacturing. Areas of expertise since SQL Server 2000 include data migration and ETL/ELT solutions, disaster recovery planning, high availability service design, licensing and virtualization. Andrew holds fourteen Microsoft certifications, has both a Bachelor and Masters of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University and is a Columbus (Ohio) PASS board member.

Arthur Daniels III

Twitter: - ArthurDanSQL

Contact: https://www.DBA-Art.com

Arthur Daniels is a Premier Field Engineer (PFE) at Microsoft. He has focused on diagnosing and optimizing performance on very large databases in mission critical environments.

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.

Dave Bland

Twitter: - @SQLDave29

LinkedIn: Dave Bland

Contact: https://www.davebland.com

Over 20 years of SQL Server experience that includes being a DBA, BI development and Application development using VB.NET. Dave currently is the Manager of the DBA team at Stericycle. Dave is a Friend of Red-Gate for 2019. He is a frequent presenter at SQLSaturday events and user groups around the country. Has been teaching SQL Server since version 2000 and is the SQL Server instructor at Harper College in Palatine, IL. Current certifications include: • Microsoft Certified Trainer • MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance • MCTS: SQL Server 2008, BI Development and Maintenance • MCSA: SQL Server 2008 • MCSA: SQL Server 2016 • MCSE: SQL Server 2016 - BI • MCDBA: SQL Server 2000 • MCSD • MCSE: Data Management and Analytics

Ben Kimmel

LinkedIn: Ben Kimmel

Contact: http://ben-kimmel.com

I’m data analyst with strong communication skills and a broad background in development.

Wendy Pastrick

Twitter: - @wendy_dance

Contact: http://wendyverse.blogspot.com

Wendy Pastrick is from Chicago, IL, and for the past 15 years has served as a Database Administrator supporting both development and production environments. Her many years of involvement with PASS include WIT Virtual Chapter and the Chicago Suburban User Group, serving as Regional Mentor, and as a PASS Board member since 2013. Wendy has organized several highly successful SQLSaturday events in Chicago.

Drew Furgiuele

Twitter: - pittfurg

LinkedIn: Drew Furgiuele

Contact: http://www.port1433.com

Drew Furgiuele is a senior DBA that lives in Dublin, Ohio who is passionate about SQL Server and PowerShell. He’s been working with SQL Server since 2002. When he’s not accidentally dropping tables in production, he likes writing automation scripts, blogging about SQL Server Replication, wiring electronics, playing board games, and spending time with his dog. He’s also not embarrassed by his Spotify playlists.

Hope Foley

Twitter: - hope_foley

LinkedIn: Hope Foley

Contact: http://www.hopefoley.com

Hope Foley, a former Data Platform MVP, has worked across many industries as a DBA and Business Intelligence consultant. She joined team at Microsoft and is a Data AI Technology Solutions Professional. She has worked with enterprise customers but now focuses on education. Hope is an active member in the SQL Server and PASS communities speaking at events and organizing the SQLSaturday event in Indianapolis.

Louis Davidson

Twitter: - drsql

LinkedIn: Louis Davidson

Contact: https://www.red-gate.com/simple-talk/author/louis-davidson/

Louis Davidson has worked in the IT industry for over 25 years as a corporate database developer and architect. He has been a Microsoft SQL Server MVP for 15 years and has written five books on database design, and contributed to many other SQL Server books as an author and tech editor. He has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. You can read more about Louis at http://drsql.org.

Ben Miller

Twitter: - DBAduck

LinkedIn: Ben Miller

Contact: https://dbaduck.com

Ben has been a member of the SQL Server Community since 2000. He loves a challenge and has fixed many SQL Servers and helped hundreds of people get more out of their DBA jobs. He is a Data Platform MVP a SQL Server Certified Master (MCM). He has worked at various companies throughout the USA, as well as at Microsoft for 7 years. He is passionate about SQL Server Infrastructure, High Availability, Automation and Integration using SMO and PowerShell. He teaches DBAs how to use PowerShell to do their job and teaches SQL Server Internals. He is @DBAduck all around the web (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Blog) so let’s catch up.

Rob Volk

Twitter: - sql_r

LinkedIn: Rob Volk

Contact: http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/robv/

Rob Volk is a SQL Server DBA in the Metro Atlanta area since 2001. He also moderates and answers the forums on SQLTeam.com. While an old-time cranky DBA, he no longer considers quot;business intelligencequot; an oxymoron or quot;the cloudquot; as merely atmospheric moisture, and is delightedly dipping his toes into both of these new oceans, and loves to do things in new and and unusual ways.

Brian Hansen

Twitter: - tf3604

Contact: http://www.tf3604.com

Brian is a database administrator at Children International in Kansas City. He has been working with SQL Server technologies since 1998, including roles in report development, application development and database administration.

Kellyn Pot’Vin-Gorman

Twitter: - DBAKevlar

LinkedIn: Kellyn Pot’Vin-Gorman

Contact: http://dbakevlar.com

Kellyn Pot’Vin-Gorman is a member of the Oak Table Network and an Idera ACE and Oracle ACE Director alumnus. She is a Data Platform Architect in Power BI with AI in the EdTech group at Microsoft. Kellyn is known for her extensive work with multi-database platforms, DevOps, cloud migrations, virtualization, visualizations, scripting, environment optimization tuning, automation, and architecture design.

Kellyn has spoken at numerous technical conferences for Oracle, Big Data, DevOps, testing, and SQL Server. Her blog (http://dbakevlar.com) and social media activity under her handle, DBAKevlar, is well respected for her insight and content.

Sean Werick

LinkedIn: Sean Werick

Contact: http://www.seanwerick.com

I have been in the data industry for 15 years, specializing in Microsoft business intelligence for the last decade. I have architected, developed and integrated end to end solutions for customers in various sectors including finance, government, health care and retail. I am extremely passionate about data and the endless possibilities for companies utilizing it in the best ways. I enjoy data science and business intelligence because the possibilities and magnitudes of impact are immeasurable.

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.

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.

Chris Lumnah

Twitter: - @lumnah

LinkedIn: Chris Lumnah

Chris Lumnah began working in the IT as a programmer in 1996. He ended up becoming a SQL DBA out of necessity 15 years ago. He has worked on SQL Server version 2000 thru 2017. He likes to continue to use his knowledge of programming to create more automated solutions to assist him and his team to be more proactive. Chris lives in Providence, RI and is currently a SQL Server Solutions Architect at Rubrik Inc.

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.

Jonathan Stewart

Twitter: - sqllocks

LinkedIn: Jonathan Stewart

Contact: https://sqllocks.net/

Jonathan Stewart is a Business Intelligence consultant specializing in data visualization, data warehousing, and data management technologies. An advocate for educating others, he is a public speaker, teacher and blogger, continually teaching people about the Microsoft BI Stack. Since 2000, he has been working in the database field with industry leaders in healthcare, manufacturing, financial, insurance and federal, state and local governments.

Jonathan is very active in the community. He has presented on SQL Server, SSIS, Reporting Services, Power BI and Business Intelligence at numerous SQLSaturday events, local user groups, and conferences throughout the United States and around the world. He participates in webcasts, podcasts, and on

Richard Waymire

Twitter: - rwaymi

LinkedIn: Richard Waymire

Richard Waymire is a technical expert on Microsoft SQL Server. He has been involved in numerous Microsoft early adaptor projects and new technologies. Richard has broad ranging experience from the relational data modeling phase through the production implementation of database solutions built with SQL Server, including data loading, monitoring, and performance tuning. Richard has worked on SQL Server for more than 26 years, including 12 years as part of the SQL Server team at Microsoft. In his role with Amazon Web Services, Richard is the Americas specialist for SQL Server, as well as for Amazon Aurora.

David Maxwell

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

LinkedIn: David Maxwell

Contact: https://dmmaxwell.wordpress.com/

David Maxwell has almost 20 years of experience with SQL Server, with a keen interest in performance tuning, monitoring, and troubleshooting. He has experience in environments as diverse as health care institutions, auto manufacturers, and insurance companies. David has been a frequent presenter at SQLSaturday events around the United States since 2012, as well as a presenter for the DBA Fundamentals Virtual Group, the Performance Virtual Group, 24 Hours of PASS, and the annual PASS Summit. David participates in his local Columbus Ohio PASS Local Group, where he serves on the board of directors as SQLSaturday coordinator.

Kevin Wilkie

Twitter: - Oskaruth

LinkedIn: Kevin Wilkie

Contact: http://sherpaofdata.com

Kevin has 15+ years experience with SQL Server and has worked with the product since version 6.5, although he remembers with distaste the early versions of the product. He started working with SQL Server as an “Accidental” DBA, and has moved up through the ranks as a SQL Developer, a BI Associate, and Production DBA at various parts of his career. Currently, he works as a Lead Data Analyst spreading the gospel of how great data can be to anyone and everyone who will listen.

Warren Sifre

Twitter: - WAS_SQL

LinkedIn: Warren Sifre

Contact: http://www.broadstrokeconsulting.com/blog/, http://www.allegient.com

Warren Sifre has been in the IT community since 1998 and has worked in a variety of industries deploying solutions utilizing MS SQL Server in one capacity or another. In 2003, he decided to make SQL Server his mastery and has since developed skills in most defined disciplines of MS SQL. Currently he is a Principal Consultant and Technology Leader with Moser Consulting. He is responsible for BI Solution Architecture and the mentorship of team members. He has been a SQLSaturday Speaker since 2012, Azure Global Bootcamp, and many user groups in 2015 alone. He has a passion for knowledge transfer and solutions architecture, with a keen interested in Info Security.

Chris Hyde

Twitter: - ChrisHyde325

LinkedIn: Chris Hyde

Chris Hyde is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He works as an independent SQL Server BI and DBA consultant, and is the leader of the Albuquerque PASS local user group. He is also part of the Friends of Redgate program and was a member of the Idera ACE class of 2018. He loves loud music and cricket, but usually not at the same time.

Ben Miller

Twitter: - DBAduck

LinkedIn: Ben Miller

Contact: https://dbaduck.com

Ben has been a member of the SQL Server Community since 2000. He loves a challenge and has fixed many SQL Servers and helped hundreds of people get more out of their DBA jobs. He is a Data Platform MVP a SQL Server Certified Master (MCM). He has worked at various companies throughout the USA, as well as at Microsoft for 7 years. He is passionate about SQL Server Infrastructure, High Availability, Automation and Integration using SMO and PowerShell. He teaches DBAs how to use PowerShell to do their job and teaches SQL Server Internals. He is @DBAduck all around the web (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Blog) so let’s catch up.

Hilary Wilkie

LinkedIn: Hilary Wilkie

Hilary Wilkie has worked with prominent companies like Home Depot and small solo entrepreneurs. She is a Business Analyst with a Six Sigma Black Belt and currently working at AutoVIN, a division of KAR Auction Services. Hilary has worked with professionals at all levels of business including C-level, managers, and even the warehouse person! She believes behind all good processes and software are great people; often we get so passionate about the technology we forget about the people.

Matt Gordon

Twitter: - sqlatspeed

LinkedIn: Matt Gordon

Contact: http://www.sqlatspeed.com

Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with SQL Server since 2000. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY PASS local group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He’s an IDERA ACE alumnus and 2020 Friend of Redgate. His original data professional role was as a database developer, which quickly evolved into query tuning work that further evolved into being a full-fledged DBA in the healthcare realm. He has supported several critical systems utilizing SQL Server and managed dozens of 24/7/365 SQL Server implementations. He currently utilizes that real world experience as a data platform consultant helping clients design solutions that meet their ever-changing business needs.

Peter Shore

Twitter: - pshore73

LinkedIn: Peter Shore

Peter Shore is a seasoned IT professional with over 25 years of experience. He took the accidentally intentional DBA plunge in 2013 and has discovered that he loves to find the stories the data has to tell. Peter is comfortable working with both physical and virtual servers, where he tries to apply best practices to attain performance improvements. He is also adept at bridging the gap between technical and business language in order to bring technology solutions to business needs.

Ameena Lalani

Twitter: - SQLHands

LinkedIn: Ameena Lalani

Ameena Lalani is a SQL Server veteran and started her journey with SQL Server 2000. She is a Microsoft Certified Solution Associate on SQL Server 2016 and also hold Azure Administrator Associate certification. Ameena works at Microsoft as a Premier Field engineer. She has implemented numerous High Availability and Disaster Recovery solutions at various companies. Ameena loves to share her technical knowledge and speaks at local user groups and SQLSaturday events throughout the United States.

CJ Knapp

Twitter: - @CjKnapp84

LinkedIn: CJ Knapp

A husband and SQL Server addict who is obsessed with making data move faster. CJ has held positions as a data analyst, database developer, database/BI architect, and ETL developer for various companies throughout the Indianapolis area. CJ loves working with every part of the Microsoft data stack, and is eager to acquire every bit of data knowledge possible.

Trayce Jordan

Working with SQL Server for almost 20 years, Trayce is one of the first certified masters, holding an MCM for SQL 2005 and has been working at Microsoft since 2006. Prior to joining Microsoft, he worked for a major online travel company as well as financial institutions and has served as a consultant working with companies in many different industries. His specialties include database performance tuning, operations management and support, high availability and disaster recovery.

Allen White

Twitter: - SQLRunr

LinkedIn: Allen White

Contact: http://dataperfpro.com/blog/

Allen White is a Data Platform consultant. He has been both a developer and an administrator, so he understands both perspectives towards database technology. He loves sharing his experiences and helping people learn how to use SQL Server. Allen has spent over 40 years in IT, using SQL Server since 1992, and has been awarded Microsoft’s MVP Award for the last 13 years. Allen was a PASS Director from 2016 - 2018.

Michael Huffer

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

LinkedIn: Michael Huffer

Michael is a Data Scientist at Salesforce. Prior to that he worked as a Data Analytics Consultant for DMI for 3 years. Michael has a passion for predictive modeling to discover hidden patterns in data and modern data ecosystems.

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.

Hasan Savran

Twitter: - Savranweb

LinkedIn: Hasan Savran

Contact: http://h-savran.blogspot.com/

Hasan Savran is a BI Architect at Progressive Insurance Company. He spends his days architecting cutting edge business solutions by using the latest Web and Database technologies. He is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer. Hasan has spoken at many SQLSaturdays, Code Camps and User groups. He is an active member of the HTML5 and WebAssembly W3C groups. He likes to write about SQL, CosmosDB, C#, and Front End development on his blog.

Aaron Cutshall

Twitter: - sqlrv

LinkedIn: Aaron Cutshall

Contact: http://sqlrv.com

Aaron N. Cutshall is an Enterprise Data Architect with 20 years of experience in analysis, design and development for applications and databases in manufacturing and warehousing plus over 15 years in the Healthcare Informatics field. His primary focus is in designing and developing solutions for extremely large data sets that perform quite well in SQL Server. He is active in the SQL Server community and speaks at SQLSaturday sessions across the country.

Chris Lumnah

Twitter: - @lumnah

LinkedIn: Chris Lumnah

Chris Lumnah began working in the IT as a programmer in 1996. He ended up becoming a SQL DBA out of necessity 15 years ago. He has worked on SQL Server version 2000 thru 2017. He likes to continue to use his knowledge of programming to create more automated solutions to assist him and his team to be more proactive. Chris lives in Providence, RI and is currently a SQL Server Solutions Architect at Rubrik Inc.

Andy Wickman

Twitter: - @andyw426

LinkedIn: Andy Wickman

Contact: http://performantdb.blogspot.com

Andy is a Principal Consultant and the SQL Server Technology Leader for Moser Consulting. He LOVES consulting and has helped companies in over 20 industries. He has over 17 years IT experience and over 15 years working with SQL Server. He enjoys learning different SQL Server environments and making them more reliable and improving their performance. He strives to learn more about SQL Server and strives to continue learning.

He is a father of 2 awesome boys and husband of the perfect wife for him (probably the only one who can put up with him). He is an avid sports fan. In case you didn’t realize, baseball is the best sport (GO ASTROS!!)

Kathi Kellenberger

Twitter: - auntkathi

LinkedIn: Kathi Kellenberger

Contact: http://auntkathisql.com

Kathi Kellenberger is the editor of Simple Talk at Redgate and a Data Platform MVP. She has worked with SQL Server for over 20 years and has authored, co-authored, or tech edited over a dozen technical books. Kathi is the co-leader of the PASS Women in Technology Virtual Group and a volunteer at LaunchCode. When Kathi isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cycling, singing, and climbing the stairs of tall buildings. Be sure to check out her courses on Pluralsight.

Jay Robinson

Twitter: - @downshiftdata

LinkedIn: Jay Robinson

Contact: https://downshiftdata.wordpress.com/

I write C# and T-SQL code that scales well. I teach others to do it. DBAs like me.

Aaron King

Twitter: - trendoid

LinkedIn: Aaron King

Contact: http://www.aaronstanleyking.com

Aaron King is a application architect specializing in enterprise web applications and very large databases.

Sean Werick

LinkedIn: Sean Werick

Contact: http://www.seanwerick.com

I have been in the data industry for 15 years, specializing in Microsoft business intelligence for the last decade. I have architected, developed and integrated end to end solutions for customers in various sectors including finance, government, health care and retail. I am extremely passionate about data and the endless possibilities for companies utilizing it in the best ways. I enjoy data science and business intelligence because the possibilities and magnitudes of impact are immeasurable.

Jessica Jolly

Twitter: - JBJ2110

LinkedIn: Jessica Jolly

Contact: https://www.altentertraining.com/bitybybyteblog/

I am a Microsoft Certified Trainer with an MCSE in Data Analytics, with a practice focused on Power BI specifically, and the Power Platform more generally.  I focus my training on teaching business analysts the practical uses of the features and functionality in Microsoft Office applications, with a special focus on Power BI, Excel, Power Pivot (Excel 2016), and the Power Query Editor.  I speak regularly at Power Platform events (both World Tour and Summit) and SQLSaturdays. I blog at www.altentertraining.com. I tweet at @JBJ2110 when I am at professional seminars and conferences. You can connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabjolly/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ALTEnter/.

Dave Leininger

Twitter: - @DaveLeininger

LinkedIn: Dave Leininger

Contact: http://box160.com

I have decades of experience in data technology consulting. Projects in 2018 include data KPI analysis for the region’s largest healthcare provider, and data architecture for IoT monitoring in a smart home application. I spent ten years in Europe and Southeast Asia while discussing database development with enterprise developers in 20 countries. I have consulted in a variety of public and private companies, and government agencies, with a focus on data architecture, integration, and analysis.

Rob Collie

Twitter: - @powerpivotpro

LinkedIn: Rob Collie

Contact: http://www.powerpivotpro.com/

Rob Collie is President and Founder of PowerPivotPro, a national consulting firm 100% dedicated to Power BI and the “Agile BI” methodology. A former engineering leader at Microsoft, Rob led the BI-focused team within Microsoft Excel, and later shaped Power Pivot v1 – the groundbreaking forerunner to Power BI. He is a sought-after speaker with a distinctive, down-to-earth style, and author of the world’s #1-selling Power BI book.

Peter Shore

Twitter: - pshore73

LinkedIn: Peter Shore

Peter Shore is a seasoned IT professional with over 25 years of experience. He took the accidentally intentional DBA plunge in 2013 and has discovered that he loves to find the stories the data has to tell. Peter is comfortable working with both physical and virtual servers, where he tries to apply best practices to attain performance improvements. He is also adept at bridging the gap between technical and business language in order to bring technology solutions to business needs.

Warren Sifre

Twitter: - WAS_SQL

LinkedIn: Warren Sifre

Contact: http://www.broadstrokeconsulting.com/blog/, http://www.allegient.com

Warren Sifre has been in the IT community since 1998 and has worked in a variety of industries deploying solutions utilizing MS SQL Server in one capacity or another. In 2003, he decided to make SQL Server his mastery and has since developed skills in most defined disciplines of MS SQL. Currently he is a Principal Consultant and Technology Leader with Moser Consulting. He is responsible for BI Solution Architecture and the mentorship of team members. He has been a SQLSaturday Speaker since 2012, Azure Global Bootcamp, and many user groups in 2015 alone. He has a passion for knowledge transfer and solutions architecture, with a keen interested in Info Security.

Chris Koester

Twitter: - cjkoester

LinkedIn: Chris Koester

Contact: https://chris.koester.io/

Chris Koester is a Data Analytics Solution Architect at DMI, focusing on cloud data engineering and architecture. Chris graduated from Indiana University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Informatics.

Dave Mattingly

Twitter: - @dave_mattingly

LinkedIn: Dave Mattingly

Contact: http://www.davemattingly.net

Dave Mattingly has spent thirty years of designing, developing, databasing, documenting, and directing a variety of projects in many industries. In the past, he’s worked on space travel, fraud prevention, data accuracy, and virtual reality for industries such as games, ecology, health, religion, and money. He also writes, publishes, orates, teaches, and preaches.

Ben Davis

Twitter: - @BenjaminDavis22

LinkedIn: Ben Davis

Ben is a technology innovator with 18 years of infrastructure experience. He has managed many aspects of SQL Server during that time including version migrations, clustering, replication, virtualization, performance tuning, SSRS/SSIS development and deployment, and more. He loves learning new skills to help clients solve their infrastructure problems to make them more resilient and perform better. He enjoys family road trips, auto enthusiast track events, and keeping track of the latest developments in space, science, and the auto industry.

Britton Gray

Twitter: - IDreamInSQL

LinkedIn: Britton Gray

Britton Gray is a veteran of database development, data management, business intelligence, analytics, and data privacy in BI. He has successfully completed projects in a variety of technologies in different technology stacks. Coming from a family full of teachers, he thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to share knowledge and insights; it’s an extension of “getting the right information to the right people at the right time” mantra of BI. He lives near Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the Director of BI for Project Lead The Way, a nonprofit organization providing transformative learning experiences in computer science, engineering, and biomedical sciences.

Brian Beswick

LinkedIn: Brian Beswick

Contact: http://brianbeswick.com/

Brian is a Managing Consultant at Allegient. He has many years of experience in database architecture and development across multiple versions of SQL Server. He’s an accomplished Database Architect with a specialty in Business Intelligence. He’s particularly strong at understanding and designing solutions for complex requirements.

Bradley Nielsen

LinkedIn: Bradley Nielsen

Bradley Nielsen is a Data Science Engineer specializing in the Microsoft BI stack. He is passionate about data driven analysis and has worked with databases since his first college internship. Brad has a Master#39;s in Human Computer Interaction and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science from Indiana University.

Pat Phelan

Twitter: - @YetAnotherSQL

LinkedIn: Pat Phelan

Pat Phelan first joined a computer user group (DECUS) in High School, and has joined many more since then. Pat worked many jobs in high school and college, and over twenty years for a major accounting firm. Pat started working for Involta in 2007 and is now the database mentor and a member of the Engineering team. Involta builds, owns and operates world class colocation datacenters and also provides managed services and support staff to clients.

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.

Sponsors

The following is a list of sponsors that helped fund the event:

Back to the SQLSaturday Event List

Back to the home page