SQLSaturday #943 - St. Louis 2020
Event Date: 02/08/2020 00:00:00
Event Location:
- Microsoft Technology Center
- 4220 Duncan Ave Ste 501, St. Louis, MO
- St. Louis, Missouri
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Sessions
This is a list of sessions from the event, based on the schedule in the XML files.
Title: Learn How to Master DATETIME Functions Like a Boss in 59.5 Minutes or Less
Abstract:
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Do you know the dates of the 1st Monday, 2nd Tuesday, 3rd Wednesday, and 4th Thursday of any month between the 22 weeks and 47 weeks of any given year?
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Do you know the date that Daylight Savings starts in Nashville 4 years from now?
Those two questions may have been a trivial but there is nothing trivial about working within the complexity of dates and times. Trains, Planes, and sometimes at automobile races depend on precise and accurate date-time recordings.
In this demo-heavy presentation, we will answer the following questions and more:
- When to use DATETIME and DATETIME2 and why.
- How do you filter date ranges that will make SQL Server run faster?
- How language and date formatting affect EVERYTHING.
- What’s the best way to work with functions relating to the current date and time.
- What’s the best way to properly use SWITCHOFFSET, TODATETIMEOFFSET and AT TIME ZONE Functions.
So stop wasting time and get on board because it’s about time for the plane to depart.
Speaker(s):
- Peter Doyle
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch II
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 of the query optimization process that are not very well known. We will discuss how SQL Server parses a T-SQL statement then 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 free 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: SQL Server - Gateway Arch II
Title: Real-World PowerShell for SQL Administration
Abstract: If you’re like me, you’ve attended PowerShell sessions before. However, much of the practical usage of PS comes with rolling back your sleeves and digging into the nuances of syntax and how to get things done. We are going to focus specifically on using PowerShell within the SQL Server Agent to build out everyday jobs.
In this session, I’m assuming that you know the basics of PowerShell. What we’re going to cover are some of the “gotchas” and nuances that I’ve run into when I’ve been working with the language, and particularly with the SQL Agent’s flavor of PowerShell.
And then we’ll spend the balance of our time looking at real-world, practical scripts that I use pretty much every day. PowerShell is an awesome way to automate so many processes and relieve some of the everyday monotony of SQL administration.
Speaker(s):
- Brian Hansen
Track and Room: SQL Server - Wright
Title: Azure Data Factory: Ingestion Framework
Abstract: You’re going to learn how to design an Ingestion Framework capable of scaling multiple sources without additional pipelines to populate Azure Data Lake. We will walk through Ingestion Strategy, the Ingestion Model, and the Ingestion Pipelines that fully automate data lake ingestion.
Ingestion Strategy - First, we will lay the foundation for best practices when it comes to ingesting data and storing data within Azure Data Lake.
Ingestion Model - Second, we will learn how to design a metadata model framework built using Data Vault techniques to capture and store data from across the business.
Ingestion Pipelines - Finally, we will build two Data Factory pipelines that read from the framework and does that actual data ingestion, these are built so that we only ever have to build these two pipelines when scaling to a new source type.
Speaker(s):
- Sean Forgatch
Track and Room: Data Warehousing - Wright
Title: Code Smells - How to Keep Your Code From Stinking!
Abstract: Maybe you’ve had some experience writing SQL, but no one’s ever told you what not to do. Or maybe you’re aware of some bad habits to avoid when writing SQL, but no one has ever shown you why a bad practice can hurt your query – or SQL Server. Perhaps you feel a little more confident with your TSQL, but don’t understand why your queries aren’t running as quickly as you would like.
Bad SQL coding practices are known in the SQL community as “code smells”. Sign up for this hour-long workshop where you will work with me through five common coding mistakes that can make performance stink. By the time we’re done, you’ll have a better idea of how to freshen up some problem queries.
Speaker(s):
- Pamela Mooney
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch I
Title: Why Learn Python? A Microsoft DB/ETL/BI Developer’s Answer
Abstract: You’re a Microsoft Developer. C#, MSSQL, SSIS/SSRS, SSMS, and Azure are your tools of choice. Why would you want to learn Python? In this session, I will show you several take-home utilities that use Python. The first hunts through a folder structure full of SSIS packages looking for the one(s) that load(s) a specified table. The second executes the data sources in an SSRS report to identify performance problems and document them in Excel. The third GeoCodes the City/Country names from a SQL table, getting the Lat/Lng so you can use the data in maps. Familiarity with Python is not necessary to use the utilities, but we’re not going to do Hello World either. This is real Python for Microsoft Database, ETL and BI Developers. This all-demo session shows you how to use Python with the .Net CLR, XML, ODBC, Excel, SQL Server, and Web API calls.
Speaker(s):
- Simon Kingaby
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - World’s Fair
Title: SQL DevOps Simplified with Production Databases
Abstract: DevOps is based on building an application binary (immutable artifact) that supports a highly reliable, repeatable engineering process. In the case of SQL Server, however, a database is already in production, and isn’t simply replaced (as an app binary), but is upgraded. Current SQL Server DevOps methods use source control to build a “development” database, with schema and objects and static data needed for functional testing. “Near production data” is used in Staging, and finally production is upgraded. This approach involves complexity, and breaks the principle of working with immutable artifacts throughout the process. Our session introduces a new approach to SQL Server DevOps, with production databases used in all stages. Production database clones are delivered more quickly than “built” databases, are more easily integrated with source control, and produces higher fidelity outcomes. Learn how leading enterprises are simplifying SQL DevOps.
Speaker(s):
- Paul Stanton
Track and Room: SQL Server - Ead’s Bridge
Title: Modern SQL Server CPU Architecture
Abstract: Modern CPU architectures are complex and misunderstood, especially as they relate to SQL Server instance configuration and database usage patterns. Default values in virtualization and the SQL Server instance can cause misalignments and improper balance in the way the SQL Server lines up with the CPUs and memory, which results in an immediate (and silent) performance penalty. Come learn as we discuss topics such as physical and virtual NUMA, hyperthreading, query parallelism, public cloud CPU selection, and SQL Server instance settings, and show you how to validate your SQL Server architecture and improve the performance of your critical SQL Servers for both on-prem and cloud-based SQL Servers.
Speaker(s):
- David Klee
Track and Room: SQL Server - Busch Stadium
Title: Intro to Powershell for the SQL Server DBA
Abstract: Many DBA’s have the same outlook on Powershell - we all know we should use it, but we don’t think we have time to learn one more tool that isn’t even really part of SQL Server anyway. I was one of these DBA’s for many years, but recently I have come to respect the power of Powershell. Come learn the basics of Powershell, how Powershell and SQL Server interact with each other, and finally how to use Powershell to automate common SQL Server tasks such as maintenance and SQL Server installations. If you need to interact with Windows or Active Directory, odds are Powershell is the right tool for the job - come learn how to use it!
Speaker(s):
- Andy Galbraith
Track and Room: SQL Server - Busch Stadium
Title: Python in SQL Server 2017 and 2019
Abstract: SQL Server 2017 and 2019 have arrived, bringing with them 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: Business Intelligence - Gateway Arch I
Title: Level Up Your Cloud Skills
Abstract: Think infrastructure in the cloud is still just for sysadmins? Think again! As your organization moves into the cloud, infrastructure architecture skills are more important than ever for DBAs to master. Expert knowledge of cloud-related infrastructure will help you maintain performance and availability for databases in the cloud. For example, know what an IOP is? Should you use a database-as-a-service or provision a cloud-based VM? How many compute resources does your database consume during a given day? Can you secure it properly? Come learn many of the key cloud infrastructure points that you should master as the DBA role continues to evolve!
Speaker(s):
- David Klee
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch II
Title: Getting Started with Extended Events
Abstract: Few subjects in Microsoft SQL Server inspire the same amount of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) as Extended Events. Many DBAs continue to use Profiler and SQL Trace even though they have been deprecated for years. Why is this?
Extended Events started out in SQL Server 2008 with no user interface and only a few voices in the community documenting the features as they found them. Since then, it has blossomed into a full feature of SQL Server and an amazingly low-impact replacement for Profiler and Trace.
Come learn how to get started - the basics of sessions, events, actions, targets, packages, and more. We will look at some base scenarios where Extended Events can be very useful as well as considering a few gotchas along the way. You may never go back to Profiler again!
Speaker(s):
- Andy Galbraith
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch I
Title: PowerShell for the DBA
Abstract: PowerShell is a tool used by many people in DevOps and Infrastructure. Should the DBA get on board with using PowerShell? The answer is yes - as a DBA, PowerShell can have a significant impact on tasks that would be long and tedious with just T-SQL alone. Today there are specific modules that can be incorporated into PowerShell to help in automating every-day DBA tasks. Beyond that, PowerShell can be used to do things like automate deployments and audit permissions.
In this session we will explore real-world examples and demonstrate how PowerShell can be leveraged by the DBA to not only improve efficiency but also streamline processes across an enterprise environment.
Speaker(s):
- Amy Herold
Track and Room: SQL Server - Ead’s Bridge
Title: Principle of Least Privilege: The Key to Strong Security
Abstract: A truly strong security model starts with no permissions and adds what is necessary to allow the user or application to do their assigned task - no more, no less. This is called the Principle of Least Privilege. It’s a simple concept, but it can be quite difficult to implement in practice, especially if the prevailing practice has been much more permissive.
In this session, we’ll talk about the Principle of Least Privilege in more detail, and we’ll discuss ways to implement it for the three primary classes of users - general users, applications, and administrators. Each has their own set of needs that requires a separate approach to allowing the security to meet those needs. You’ll leave with actionable ideas on ways that you can improve your company’s security while minimizing the impact of the changes.
Speaker(s):
- Ed Leighton-Dick
Track and Room: SQL Server - Ead’s Bridge
Title: An Introduction to Azure Data Lake Gen2…
Abstract: Microsoft’s modern data warehouse strategy is centered around their latest generation of Azure Data Lake - it is the hub for Azure Synapse Analytics and more. This session will dive into Azure Data Lake generation 2 (ADLSg2) and provide an introduction to the technology. We will discuss a number of topics including: what is new with gen 2, how is ADLSg2 different than standard Azure Storage, how is security applied and managed, what APIs and SDKs are available, how does it fit into the larger picture, and what is the current state and where is it going. The session will also provide tips and tricks to help you get started and be more successful.
Speaker(s):
- Pierre LaFromboise
Track and Room: Data Warehousing - Wright
Title: Migrating to Azure Managed Instance
Abstract:
This presentation will consist of essentially an after-action report of a successful migration from an on-premise environment to Azure. Although this focuses mainly on migrating our primary database to SQL Managed Instances we will be covering some details of classic SQL VM’s as well as SQL Database.
There are several phases that will be discussed, capacity planning, migration strategies and techniques, the big day and living with the cloud. This migration took place in August 2019 and we have been living with it ever since. Overall a positive experience, but I want to share what we learned so that the next person won’t stumble over the same steps that we did.
Speaker(s):
- Jonathan Fite
Track and Room: SQL Server - Wright
Title: Microsoft’s Modern Data Warehouse Architecture
Abstract: Microsoft recently announced a rebranding of their Azure SQL Data Warehouse to Azure Synapse Analytics. But, Azure Synapse Analytics promises much more than just a replacement for a relational data warehouse. It represents the culmination of their modern analytics data architecture vision and it spans everything from traditional dataset to big data to streaming real-time analytics all under a single pane of glass. In this session we will go through an architectural overview of platform, discuss what is available right now, what is coming, and how this changes the way we approach analytics.
Speaker(s):
- Pierre LaFromboise
Track and Room: Data Warehousing - World’s Fair
Title: Calculate: With great power there must also come…great responsibility
Abstract: Power BI DAX and checking performance and adjust for faster, more accurate results.
We will cover:
• Calculate and advanced Switch True • Variables • Tools- the where, how to connect, and basics to look for • Modeling Considerations and DAX for relationships
As data and models become more advanced, there are performance pitfalls that are easy to fall into when weighing the ever important ‘Can I’ vs ‘Should I’. I am happy to share the learning resources I used to overcome these and how I fixed the many mistakes that I made along the way.
Speaker(s):
- Erika Haase Nalley
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Gateway Arch II
Title: Test Driven Development (TDD) for T-SQL Database Development
Abstract: This session will cover the incorporation of Agile’s Test Driven Development (TDD) into traditional T-SQL Database Development. The session will show the benefits of integrating this methodology into your database development processes. These benefits would include proper unit testing as well as the prevention of introducing performance issues into production.
Speaker(s):
- Anthony Mendoza
Track and Room: SQL Server - World’s Fair
Title: Your User Feedback - in 2 Hours or Less - Part 2: Hunter Gatherer
Abstract: Our users are constantly generating valuable data that we, as the business, could leverage. Unfortunately, capturing and analyzing this data has been a costly endeavor both from a development standpoint as well as being labor intensive from an entry point of view. That is until now. Microsoft Power Platform now gives us the tools required to quickly development, store, and review our user’s data in 2 hours or less. In part two of this session, we will develop the transmission of data via Flow, and develop reporting on the data leveraging Power BI.
Speaker(s):
- Gary Polinsky
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Busch Stadium
Title: SQL Server Defaults SUCK!!
Abstract: If you just click next-next-next and think you have a good-to-go SQL Server THINK AGAIN!! :-) There are umpteen things you just GOTTA change right out of the box if you want your potentially very expensive and always precious SQL Server resource to perform and behave optimally. This session will cover a laundry list from High Power Setting to data file growth and many useful items in between.
Speaker(s):
- Kevin Boles
Track and Room: SQL Server - Ead’s Bridge
Title: Introduction to Power BI
Abstract: This sessions will provide an introduction to Power BI Desktop and the Power BI Service. With Power BI Desktop, we will import data from several sources, then perform some cleanup and transformation of the data. We will build a model from the data and then some visualizations of it. Then we will publish the model to the Power BI Service and build a dashboard from it, then look at how it can be used in collaboration scenarios and distribution in your organization.
Speaker(s):
- Mike Diehl
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Gateway Arch II
Title: Moving Data to the Cloud (with Azure Data Factory)
Abstract: You need to move data. A lot of data. To the cloud. You’ve got data in a variety of on- and off-site data sources. There are several ways to do it. Some of them can be quite easily implemented using Azure Data Factory. Learn how to use variables and looping in your Data Factory pipelines. Use the Integration Runtime to pull directly from on-site sources. See how to upload files to blob storage and import them. Learn how to trigger Data Factory activities. And, learn how to keep all those connection strings and passwords secret in Azure Vault. After this session, you will have tools that you can readily implement in your own data migrations.
Speaker(s):
- Simon Kingaby
Track and Room: Enterprise Delivery - Wright
Title: Capturing SQL Server activity with SQL Server Audit
Abstract: In today’s environment, more and more companies are finding that they need to capture the activity on their SQL Server instances. SQL Server Audit is a tool built into SQL Server that is designed to fill that need. With this tool, a DBA can capture nearly any action taken on a SQL Server, even some that cannot be captured by any other method.
In this session, we’ll take a detailed look at the capabilities of SQL Server Audit, how to configure it, and how to use the data it produces. We’ll also look into the areas where SQL Server Audit falls short and how to supplement it with other SQL Server tools to provide a complete auditing solution.
This session is part of the Data Security Learning Pathway. For more information please visit our Learning Pathways page.
Speaker(s):
- Ed Leighton-Dick
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch I
Title: Power BI Administration: Enabling true Self-Service BI for your organization
Abstract: What does your Power BI Tenant look like? Do you have a process in place for Administration? Are your BI Developers truly focusing on your organization’s larger issues? This session will detail these questions and more.
Just like Power BI Development; Power BI Administration is rapidly evolving. It will detail poor practices in Power BI and how to fix them. These solutions can range anywhere from development, publishing datasets, to even teaching your end-users the basics. This session will show you the fundamentals to truly enable Self-Service BI for your end-users and allow your BI team to focus on the larger issues.
Speaker(s):
- Jason Roy
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Ead’s Bridge
Title: Azure Data Explorer: Bringing Visibility to the Data Lake
Abstract: Is your data lake a bit more like a swamp? Are your business analysts nearly drowning when you throw them into the deep end of the lake? In this session, you’ll see how to use Azure Data Explorer to create a more structured interface on the files in your data lake, so that your business analysts can consume it much more easily from tools like Power BI. Azure Data Explorer (ADX) is a service that adds a query engine to various types of data, including raw files in a data lake. We’ll look at the two ways you can add some structure and visibility to your data lake files using ADX, to eliminate the need for your data consumers to know the location and type of files in the data lake, and to add context such as entity names and data types. With a very small amount of simple code, you can add this structure to your data lake files and let the business analysts focus on the data. This session uses Azure Data Explorer and Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS gen2) as well as a bit of Power BI.
Speaker(s):
- Mike Diehl
Track and Room: Enterprise Delivery - Gateway Arch II
Title: Using tSQLt unit testing with SSDT Database Projects
Abstract: Unit testing is a key part of a DevOps process that helps to improve code quality (and increase your confidence).
Using tSQLt, a unit testing framework for SQL Server databases, you can create “mock” tables that contain test data and have powerful comparison assertions to validate your merge logic for more complex data change scenarios - beyond simple Type I and Type II Slowly Changing Dimensions.
This session will show how to write basic unit tests for a data warehouse/mart project, with a focus on unit tests for stored procedures that merge staging tables to dimensional and fact tables.
In this session we’ll also see how to structure your database projects in Visual Studio (SQL Server Data Tools) to separate your test code from your database structures and the unit test framework (in this case, tSQLt).
Speaker(s):
- Mike Diehl
Track and Room: SQL Server - World’s Fair
Title: A Beginners Guide to Transactions
Abstract: This session is for the absolute beginner to learn the basics of Transactions and will answer questions such as, What is a Transaction? What are the ACID properties of a Transaction? How does the Transaction Log work to provide consistency to a database? What is a checkpoint? Are dirty pages bad or good? What is a lock? The session is led by an expert Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and former Microsoft MVP who regularly teaches SQL Server certification courses.
Speaker(s):
- John Deardurff
Track and Room: SQL Server - World’s Fair
Title: Common TSQL Mistakes
Abstract: We are going to examine a variety of oopsies MANY developers fall prey too - some obvious, some pretty subtle and some down right sneaky! Lots of code examples with the bad AND good code presented. I GUARANTEE that you will find things here that will either prevent you from getting bad data, throwing unwanted errors or vastly improving your database application’s performance. I have given this talk over 100 times now and it is always very highly rated!
Speaker(s):
- Kevin Boles
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch I
Title: What is DevOps and Why Should DBAs Care?
Abstract: You may have heard the term “DevOps” a lot lately, but is this just one of those buzzwords that gets thrown around and means something different depending on who’s talking? While traditional software methodologies pit developers and operations folks like DBAs against each other, DevOps requires that they work together for a common goal. And, ultimately, shouldn’t the software project’s success be everyone’s goal? Attend this session to learn how DevOps is changing the DBAs world for the better and how Redgate’s tools can make your journey to DevOps easier.
Speaker(s):
- Kathi Kellenberger
Track and Room: Enterprise Delivery - Gateway Arch II
Title: Data Warehouse Cloud Service with Cloudera Data Warehouse
Abstract: Leverage the power of Kubernetes, Docker, and Open Source all within your own Azure environment. With Cloudera Data Warehouse, data warehousing is made easy. You no longer need to worry about noisy neighbors and unreliable SLA’s. Save cloud costs with auto-scaling both up and down all while owning your data in a secure and governed environment.
Speaker(s):
- Scott Shaw
Track and Room: Data Warehousing - World’s Fair
Title: Inside the Database Engine
Abstract: This session is for the absolute beginner to learn the basic components of the Database Engine (Relational Engine, Storage Engine, and SQLOS) and what is the purpose of each of these three components in the execution of a simple query. The relational engine to process a query, the storage engine to access data and the SQLOS to manage resource access. The session is led by an expert Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and former Microsoft MVP who regularly teaches SQL Server certification courses.
Speaker(s):
- John Deardurff
Track and Room: SQL Server - Ead’s Bridge
Title: Become a T-SQL Pivoting Ninja in 59.9 Minutes Or Less
Abstract: Would you like to create Pivot Tables in SQL with ease?
Become a query writing ninja who uses the Pivot operator to move unique column values into multiple column names for better data insight. In this demo-heavy presentation, you will learn how to create pivot tables enhanced with multiple aggregate columns and column totals using Rollup and Cube operators, and the grouping function. Attendees will also learn to use the Unpivot Operator.
Come join me, and by the end of this session, you will have the knowledge to level up your pivoting skills to that of a ninja or maybe even *Chuck Norris. *Not Possible
Speaker(s):
- Peter Doyle
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch I
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: SQL Server - Busch Stadium
Title: Navigating Row Level Security
Abstract: New to SQL Server 2016 (okay, it’s a few years old already, but it still feels new) is Row Level Security, which allows database developers and architects to effectively lock down tables, giving users access to a defined subset of data in the table. It sounds easy enough, but there are a number of design considerations and pitfalls to be aware of. This session will work through a few demos to implement RLS and dive into those pitfalls that need to be avoided. For anyone considering implementing Row Level Security or have tried but have run into issues, this should be a session you want to attend.
Speaker(s):
- Erin Dempster
Track and Room: SQL Server - Wright
Title: Data Hub Automation with Databricks Delta
Abstract: Databricks Delta is the new standard for building a data lake as a part to your data warehouse. In this sessions we will learn how we can automate the development and ETL of a Data Hub\PSE in Databricks Delta that can process 1000’s of tables with minimal code.
Agenda:
- Data Lake Design and the Modern Data Warehouse
- Databricks Delta
- Automating Databricks Delta
Speaker(s):
- Sean Forgatch
Track and Room: Data Warehousing - Ead’s Bridge
Title: Your User Feedback - in 2 Hours or Less - Part 1: Making Entry Mobile
Abstract: Our users are constantly generating valuable data that we, as the business, could leverage. Unfortunately, capturing and analyzing this data has been a costly endeavor both from a development standpoint as well as being labor intensive from an entry point of view. That is until now. Microsoft Power Platform now gives us the tools required to quickly development, store, and review our user’s data in 2 hours or less. In part one of this two part session, we will review a proof of concept involving the development of a PowerApps for data entry.
Speaker(s):
- Gary Polinsky
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Busch Stadium
Title: Why You Need a Modern Data Warehouse
Abstract: What exactly is a modern data warehouse? How is it different from the data warehouse we already have? This session will attempt to deconstruct the marketing buzzword into its’ technical components, discuss common architectural patterns, migrations paths, and highlight the key advantages of a dynamic, scalable, cloud-based approach to analytics.
Speaker(s):
- Gary Bell
Track and Room: Data Warehousing - World’s Fair
Title: Database CI/CD Concepts and Tooling
Abstract: Database development often lags behind modern Agile application development Continuous Integration and Delivery practices because it’s harder. Unlike application changes, delivering database changes requires not only apply schema changes but preserving data as well.
This session will discuss guiding principles, strategies, and explore practices and tooling to support database development in the world of CI/CD. Common Agile development scenarios will be covered.
Speaker(s):
- Dan Guzman
Track and Room: Enterprise Delivery - Wright
Title: Data-Driven Diversity
Abstract: Data is all around us. From calculating projections to influencing meaningful decision-making, the impact data has on the way we live and work is increasing rapidly. But, what does this mean for data processes and the business world as a whole, when not everyone has a seat at the table? During this presentation, LaShana Lewis will outline the importance of diversity in business and how you can consider data through the lens of diversity and inclusion, using your skills as a data professional to raise awareness and make lasting change.
Speaker(s):
- LaShana Lewis
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Gateway Arch I
Title: Introduction to Database Containers
Abstract: Some say database containers are the future of database virtualization. I largely agree with that, at least for some scenarios.
This session will review fundamental container architecture and concepts, discuss database containers use cases, and demo image and container management with Docker.
Speaker(s):
- Dan Guzman
Track and Room: SQL Server - Busch Stadium
Title: ROI with Power BI: Do more than Excel
Abstract: Nifty tips and tricks to start taking your business from Point A to Point B2B using Power BI. We will use real world use case examples of combining supplier, syndicated, or retail data in Power BI in a way that can help you move the needle.
We will cover:
• Sales Dax/M: Options for measures and columns • Real life examples of converting data to continual, common sense Business Intelligence • Actionable items: Dashboards, Alerts, and KPIs
No matter what business you are in, we will cover the basics and benefits of advancing your company from emailing excel trackers to cloud collaboration.
Speaker(s):
- Erika Haase Nalley
Track and Room: Business Intelligence - Union Station
Title: SQL Server Management Studio - Beyond the basics
Abstract: Almost all of us use SQL Server Management Studio to interact with SQL Server, and thankfully it works right out of the box. But did you know there are so many tricks and shortcuts that hide just under the surface that can make working with SSMS feel like second nature?
In this session, I will take a fresh install of SSMS and step through customizing it. I will demonstrate features and help you become more efficient at utilizing SSMS to it’s fullest potential - a lot of the time without using the mouse. Finally, I’ll show you some cool text editing tricks that will take your SQL skills to a whole new level.
Speaker(s):
- Adrian Mee
Track and Room: SQL Server - Gateway Arch I
Speakers
This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.
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.
Mike Diehl
Twitter: - @MikeDiehl_Wpg
LinkedIn: Mike Diehl
Contact: http://weblogs.asp.net/miked
Mike Diehl is the practice lead for databases and Business Intelligence at Imaginet Resources, a Microsoft partner with offices in Dallas, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Mike has over 20 years of experience using Microsoft database technologies and is an expert in Agile Analytics, Scrum, Kanban, and Microsoft Team Foundation Server.
Adrian Mee
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/SqlNoodle
LinkedIn: Adrian Mee
A native of Melbourne, Australia - Adrian currently works for Falling Colors Technology in Santa Fe, NM. In this role, he is responsible for Database administration, data security and infrastructure. Adrian has been working with SQL Server since the Enterprise Manager days of SQL Server 2000.
Adrian is an Idera ACE, class of 2020, and in 2017 he founded the Santa Fe SQL Server User group. When out of the office, he loves biking and hiking the great outdoors.
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.
Pamela Mooney
Twitter: - PamelaMooney
Contact: https://thenonclutteredindex.com/
Hi there! My name is Pam Mooney. The road to IT was a long and winding one for me, but I fell in love with SQL Server and knew that I wanted to be a DBA after my first database class in college.I was fortunate enough to be hired in as a Junior DBA straight out of school, and I have never looked back. I’m now a Senior DBA who loves to mentor and teach – as well as to continue to learn. A one-time, part-time professional musician and songwriter, I have a medical background and am a passionate history nerd. In my spare time, I like to hike, bike, read, go to the Ren Faire, write, and talk to you.
Dan Guzman
Twitter: - guzmanda
Contact: http://www.dbdelta.com
Dan Guzman has been using Microsoft SQL Server since version 4.21 was introduced on the Windows Server platform and has 30 years of experience in Database Administrator, Developer, and Architect roles.
Andy Galbraith
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/DBA_ANDY
LinkedIn: Andy Galbraith
Contact: http://nebraskasql.blogspot.com/
I’m a forty-something Microsoft SQL Server DBA of 18+ years, a devoted husband, and a father of three young boys (all aged eight and under!) I have been a DBA at a public university, at a major bank, at a healthcare system, and I now work as a consultant with customers across the United States. I write and speak primarily about the tips and tricks that I discover along my SQL Server journey.
Erin Dempster
Twitter: - https://www.twitter.com/em_dempster
LinkedIn: Erin Dempster
Contact: https://www.endlessreporting.com
Erin currently serves as a SQL Developer II at Trean Corporation in Wayzata, Minnesota. With over 15 years of experience with SQL Server, as a developer and as an administrator, she has dabbled with most areas in the SQL Server realm. Areas of expertise include database design, query tuning and SQL Server Integration Services.
Dan Guzman
Twitter: - guzmanda
Contact: http://www.dbdelta.com
Dan Guzman has been using Microsoft SQL Server since version 4.21 was introduced on the Windows Server platform and has 30 years of experience in Database Administrator, Developer, and Architect roles.
Ed Leighton-Dick
Twitter: - eleightondick
LinkedIn: Ed Leighton-Dick
Contact: http://www.edleightondick.com
Ed Leighton-Dick is a Microsoft MVP, SQL Server performance and architecture specialist, and Founder/Principal Consultant of Kingfisher Technologies. He is a frequent volunteer with PASS, including current roles as a Regional Mentor, co-leader of I-380 PASS local group, and co-leader of the HA/DR virtual group. He can often be found teaching sessions at local, regional, and national events, including user groups, SQLSaturday, and PASS Summit.
Scott Shaw
Twitter: - @shawsql
LinkedIn: Scott Shaw
Contact: http://www.dbaexperience.com
Scott Shaw has over a decade of experience in data management. He is a frequent speaker at local and national community events and has co-authored two books on T-SQL. He teaches as well as implements Pig, Hive, Hadoop, as well as teaches courses on SQL Server, and Microsoft BI. He is currently working on a book titled quot;Practical Hive” to be published by Apress publishing. He lives in St. Louis and is a Sr. Solutions Engineer for Hortonworks.
David Klee
Twitter: - kleegeek
LinkedIn: David Klee
Contact: http://davidklee.net
David Klee is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and VMware vExpert with a lifelong passion for technology. David spends his days focusing on the convergence of data and infrastructure as the Founder of Heraflux Technologies. His areas of expertise include cloud, virtualization, performance, and business continuity. David speaks at a number of national and regional technology related events, including PASS Summit, VMware VMworld, SQLBits, SQLSaturday events, and many SQL Server User Groups.
Pierre LaFromboise
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/MrVitaminP
LinkedIn: Pierre LaFromboise
Pierre has worn multiple hats on his journey through technology: everything from a systems administrator for Internet service providers to a web designer to even a .Net developer. Starting with a chance encounter with Ralph Kimball’s Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit, the last decade has been focused on business intelligence and data warehouse design primarily on Microsoft’s SQL Server platform. Currently, he leads one of the largest Microsoft focused BI consulting teams in the St. Louis region.
Paul Stanton
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/Paul_E_Stanton
LinkedIn: Paul Stanton
Contact: https://www.windocks.com/blog-2
Co-founder of Windocks, Paul is a former Microsoft engineer who is focused on delivering solutions for SQL Server development and test, including SQL Server containers and database cloning.
David Klee
Twitter: - kleegeek
LinkedIn: David Klee
Contact: http://davidklee.net
David Klee is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and VMware vExpert with a lifelong passion for technology. David spends his days focusing on the convergence of data and infrastructure as the Founder of Heraflux Technologies. His areas of expertise include cloud, virtualization, performance, and business continuity. David speaks at a number of national and regional technology related events, including PASS Summit, VMware VMworld, SQLBits, SQLSaturday events, and many SQL Server User Groups.
Jason Roy
LinkedIn: Jason Roy
Jason is a Data Analytics Consultant within Covenant Technology Partners. He is relatively new to Business Intelligence space being a BI Developer for the past 3 years. Jason has a focus on Microsoft’s technology stack with an emphasis on Business Intelligence and Power BI development. He he has worked with clients in a multitude of industries. He has a passion for making end-users’s lives easier and enabling teams to focus on what they do best.
LaShana Lewis
Twitter: - lmlewis517
LinkedIn: LaShana Lewis
Contact: https://lmlewisconsulting.com/blog
LaShana Lewis is a technologist working in the diversity space with over 20 years of experience. She is currently the CEO of L. M. Lewis Consulting, a company which aims to make employers more diverse through recruitment, hiring, and retention best practices. She also lends her I.T. knowledge as tech director and consultant for progressive companies such as: Astral AR, a drone technology company seeking to create safer risk mitigation tools for first-responders; Givable, an organization seeking to highlight smaller nonprofits through an email subscription-based giving platform; and Muff’n + Me, a black woman-owned online children’s boutique offering pop-up markets throughout the St. Louis region.
Jonathan Fite
LinkedIn: Jonathan Fite
I have been a Database Administrator/Developer for over 15 years. In that time I have developed a passion for making systems go fast and solving real problems for real users. I have also found that I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others and have often volunteered at places I work for tech lunches or small classes; usually to help developers learn or clarify aspects of SQL Server they may not have known about. I have worked for companies in a variety of industries, from manufacturing, legal, construction, consulting services and finally transportation. I’ve enjoyed almost all of them.
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.
Mike Diehl
Twitter: - @MikeDiehl_Wpg
LinkedIn: Mike Diehl
Contact: http://weblogs.asp.net/miked
Mike Diehl is the practice lead for databases and Business Intelligence at Imaginet Resources, a Microsoft partner with offices in Dallas, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Mike has over 20 years of experience using Microsoft database technologies and is an expert in Agile Analytics, Scrum, Kanban, and Microsoft Team Foundation Server.
Pierre LaFromboise
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/MrVitaminP
LinkedIn: Pierre LaFromboise
Pierre has worn multiple hats on his journey through technology: everything from a systems administrator for Internet service providers to a web designer to even a .Net developer. Starting with a chance encounter with Ralph Kimball’s Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit, the last decade has been focused on business intelligence and data warehouse design primarily on Microsoft’s SQL Server platform. Currently, he leads one of the largest Microsoft focused BI consulting teams in the St. Louis region.
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.
Kevin Boles
Twitter: - @TheSQLGuru
LinkedIn: Kevin Boles
Kevin Boles is a SQL Server expert, working exclusively with the product since v6.5. With over 25 years of database experience and over 45,000 man hours of SQL Server engine experience, he holds many related certifications, is an MCT and was a SQL Server MVP from 2007 to 2012. Kevin has been a very successful independent consultant for over 20 years. His passion is the relational engine, especially designing, building, analyzing and tuning high-performance database applications.
Sean Forgatch
Twitter: - 4gatchsql
LinkedIn: Sean Forgatch
Contact: https://www.modern-dataengineering.com
Sean Forgatch is a Manager in Data Engineering consulting Avanade\Accenture based out of Chicago, IL focusing on Data Strategy, EIM , and Data Archtiecture. Serving multiple Fortune and Global 500 companies he has helped push the limits of Azure and is working on some of the largest Azure Data Lake and Analytics implementations in the industry. He has spoken at over 25 conferences across the United States since 2016, was the President of the Northeast Wisconsin PASS, and served on the board for SQLSaturday Madison.
Originally from Southern Illinois, Sean enjoys running and lifting, as well as casual conversations with coffee, and spending time with his dog Sailor, an all white Siberian Husky.
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.
Peter Doyle
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/thepeterdoyle
LinkedIn: Peter Doyle
On Jan 12, 2019, Peter attended his first SQLSaturday and experienced an engaging and uplifting community that encouraged everyone regularly to give back. That experience resulted in teaching eleven sessions and delivering a SQL Fundamentals pre-conference the last six months of the year. He is passionate about sharing knowledge on building a solid T-SQL foundation without wasting time.
Peter’s journey from minimal Excel knowledge to writing Dynamic SQL all started from watching Youtube videos for three hours every morning before work. Managers took notice of the results and transferred him to the reporting department. A few months later, a co-worker suggested he should learn SQL Server and his world of data has never been the same.
Erika Haase Nalley
Twitter: - ErikaHaase
Erika Nalley works with STX Business Solutions in Bentonville, Arkansas specializing in retail data solutions for adult beverage suppliers and distributors. As Microsoft Silver Partners in Data Analytics, STX uses all Microsoft Platform solutions. With certifications in Category Management and Wine Production, Power BI has been our preferred way to slice and visualize data for the last few years. It’s a rough life working with data, whiskey, and wine, but someone has to do it!
After work, Erika can usually be found hiking with her husband and three dogs or trying to keep up with friend and co-worker, Amber Muehlbach on a trail run (which usually doesn’t happen:).
Gary Polinsky
Gary is a business intelligence professional with more than 10 years experience working in the Microsoft data platform. He has been the chapter leader of the St. Louis Microsoft Business Intelligence User Group for four years, and is the organizer of SQLSaturday St. Louis 2020.
Peter Doyle
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/thepeterdoyle
LinkedIn: Peter Doyle
On Jan 12, 2019, Peter attended his first SQLSaturday and experienced an engaging and uplifting community that encouraged everyone regularly to give back. That experience resulted in teaching eleven sessions and delivering a SQL Fundamentals pre-conference the last six months of the year. He is passionate about sharing knowledge on building a solid T-SQL foundation without wasting time.
Peter’s journey from minimal Excel knowledge to writing Dynamic SQL all started from watching Youtube videos for three hours every morning before work. Managers took notice of the results and transferred him to the reporting department. A few months later, a co-worker suggested he should learn SQL Server and his world of data has never been the same.
Erika Haase Nalley
Twitter: - ErikaHaase
Erika Nalley works with STX Business Solutions in Bentonville, Arkansas specializing in retail data solutions for adult beverage suppliers and distributors. As Microsoft Silver Partners in Data Analytics, STX uses all Microsoft Platform solutions. With certifications in Category Management and Wine Production, Power BI has been our preferred way to slice and visualize data for the last few years. It’s a rough life working with data, whiskey, and wine, but someone has to do it!
After work, Erika can usually be found hiking with her husband and three dogs or trying to keep up with friend and co-worker, Amber Muehlbach on a trail run (which usually doesn’t happen:).
Gary Polinsky
Gary is a business intelligence professional with more than 10 years experience working in the Microsoft data platform. He has been the chapter leader of the St. Louis Microsoft Business Intelligence User Group for four years, and is the organizer of SQLSaturday St. Louis 2020.
Simon Kingaby
Twitter: - SimonKingaby
LinkedIn: Simon Kingaby
Contact: http://omwtm.blog
Simon Kingaby has been moving data for 20 plus years. In the last few years, he’s been moving data from DB2, Oracle, Netezza and SQL Server to Azure SQL and Azure Data Warehouse, using Azure Data Factory, SSIS and SQL. At BMI, he developed a Rules Engine Sync application that uses DB2 QRep messaging and Azure ESB to move DB2 transactions to the cloud in near-real-time. Now at Deloitte on the Big Data team, he is developing ETL processes to move API, SaaS and SQL data into reporting databases on-premise and in the cloud. He is also creating SSRS and Power BI dashboards for the CIO and related Services.
John Deardurff
Twitter: - SQLMCT
LinkedIn: John Deardurff
Contact: https://www.sqlmct.com
John has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for over 20 years teaching Azure, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and Windows Server networking courses. He is currently a SQL Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft. He is an MCT Regional Lead for the Eastern United States and a former Data Platform MVP.
John Deardurff
Twitter: - SQLMCT
LinkedIn: John Deardurff
Contact: https://www.sqlmct.com
John has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for over 20 years teaching Azure, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and Windows Server networking courses. He is currently a SQL Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft. He is an MCT Regional Lead for the Eastern United States and a former Data Platform MVP.
Kevin Boles
Twitter: - @TheSQLGuru
LinkedIn: Kevin Boles
Kevin Boles is a SQL Server expert, working exclusively with the product since v6.5. With over 25 years of database experience and over 45,000 man hours of SQL Server engine experience, he holds many related certifications, is an MCT and was a SQL Server MVP from 2007 to 2012. Kevin has been a very successful independent consultant for over 20 years. His passion is the relational engine, especially designing, building, analyzing and tuning high-performance database applications.
Sean Forgatch
Twitter: - 4gatchsql
LinkedIn: Sean Forgatch
Contact: https://www.modern-dataengineering.com
Sean Forgatch is a Manager in Data Engineering consulting Avanade\Accenture based out of Chicago, IL focusing on Data Strategy, EIM , and Data Archtiecture. Serving multiple Fortune and Global 500 companies he has helped push the limits of Azure and is working on some of the largest Azure Data Lake and Analytics implementations in the industry. He has spoken at over 25 conferences across the United States since 2016, was the President of the Northeast Wisconsin PASS, and served on the board for SQLSaturday Madison.
Originally from Southern Illinois, Sean enjoys running and lifting, as well as casual conversations with coffee, and spending time with his dog Sailor, an all white Siberian Husky.
Simon Kingaby
Twitter: - SimonKingaby
LinkedIn: Simon Kingaby
Contact: http://omwtm.blog
Simon Kingaby has been moving data for 20 plus years. In the last few years, he’s been moving data from DB2, Oracle, Netezza and SQL Server to Azure SQL and Azure Data Warehouse, using Azure Data Factory, SSIS and SQL. At BMI, he developed a Rules Engine Sync application that uses DB2 QRep messaging and Azure ESB to move DB2 transactions to the cloud in near-real-time. Now at Deloitte on the Big Data team, he is developing ETL processes to move API, SaaS and SQL data into reporting databases on-premise and in the cloud. He is also creating SSRS and Power BI dashboards for the CIO and related Services.
Andy Galbraith
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/DBA_ANDY
LinkedIn: Andy Galbraith
Contact: http://nebraskasql.blogspot.com/
I’m a forty-something Microsoft SQL Server DBA of 18+ years, a devoted husband, and a father of three young boys (all aged eight and under!) I have been a DBA at a public university, at a major bank, at a healthcare system, and I now work as a consultant with customers across the United States. I write and speak primarily about the tips and tricks that I discover along my SQL Server journey.
Mike Diehl
Twitter: - @MikeDiehl_Wpg
LinkedIn: Mike Diehl
Contact: http://weblogs.asp.net/miked
Mike Diehl is the practice lead for databases and Business Intelligence at Imaginet Resources, a Microsoft partner with offices in Dallas, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Mike has over 20 years of experience using Microsoft database technologies and is an expert in Agile Analytics, Scrum, Kanban, and Microsoft Team Foundation Server.
Gary Bell
Gary Bell is an architect in the Data Analytics practice at Covenant Technology Partners in St. Louis, MO. Gary has 20 years experience architecting and developing data warehouse and analytics solutions using the Microsoft SQL Server and BI stack.
Ed Leighton-Dick
Twitter: - eleightondick
LinkedIn: Ed Leighton-Dick
Contact: http://www.edleightondick.com
Ed Leighton-Dick is a Microsoft MVP, SQL Server performance and architecture specialist, and Founder/Principal Consultant of Kingfisher Technologies. He is a frequent volunteer with PASS, including current roles as a Regional Mentor, co-leader of I-380 PASS local group, and co-leader of the HA/DR virtual group. He can often be found teaching sessions at local, regional, and national events, including user groups, SQLSaturday, and PASS Summit.
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.
Anthony Mendoza
LinkedIn: Anthony Mendoza
Anthony Mendoza is currently employed as a Senior Development DBA with Transfast. He has worked with SQL Server in some capacity since 1998 across various industries such as government, elections, military, financial and transportation. He holds a Master’s Degree in IT Management as well as a MCDBA MCSD.
Sponsors
The following is a list of sponsors that helped fund the event: