Event Location:
The Pyle Center, University of Wisconsin-Extension
702 Langdon Street
Madison, Wisconsin
Abstract:
Do you cringe whenever you have to look at an XML document? Does the very thought of XML data living in your database make you scream? Do you have a panic attack any time you have to parse XML? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this session is for you! We'll start with reasons why having XML in SQL Server might be a good thing, then we'll face our fears and turn tabular data into XML, and finally we'll confront the true source of our anxiety by parsing XML back into tabular data using xQuery. If you survive this session, you'll have faced your fears about XML in SQL Server, you'll have a solid understanding of creating XML from tabular data, and you'll know how to use xQuery to parse XML.
Speaker(s): Adam Belebczuk,
Abstract:
Come to this session to learn the new features and functionalities available in SQL Server 2016. SQL Server 2016 delivers breakthrough mission-critical capabilities with in-memory performance and operational analytics built-in. Comprehensive security features like new Always Encrypted technology help protect your data at rest and in motion, and a world-class high availability and disaster recovery solution adds new enhancements. Organizations will gain deeper insights into all of their data with new capabilities that go beyond business intelligence to perform advanced analytics directly within their database. Additionally to the ability to dynamically stretch warm and cold transactional data to Microsoft Azure in a secured way.
Speaker(s): Ross LoForte,
Abstract:
Self-service BI tools such as Power BI and Tableau provide business users the ability to use their data when they need it – without relying heavily on IT. Self-service BI tools speed up analysis, take strain off of IT for BI requests, and allow businesses to truly be more data driven. Power BI or Tableau alone usually won't be complete BI solutions; they're designed to be pieces of a larger enterprise puzzle. In this session Ross Parks, will talk about where Power BI stands in the market of self-service BI tools and how it can be utilized within an enterprise. He will also demonstrate multiple implementation strategies for companies considering a self-service BI tool. Ross Parks has worked with several companies across with Wisconsin to implement self-service BI tools and will discuss his experiences as use-case examples.
Speaker(s): Ross Parks,
Abstract:
Many companies scale out their databases horizontally, partitioning data by customer (or some other identifier) into separate databases or instances. Sometimes, it becomes important to move that data from one database to another. SQL Server Integration Services is a fantastic tool for ETL, but creating and maintaining dozens or hundreds of data flows by hand is exhaustingly tedious. Instead of doing it the hard way, use the BI Markup Language (BIML) to automate package development. This talk will show how we can use metadata tables and BIML to auto-create SSIS packages to migrate data from one database to another, handling foreign key constraints along the way.
Speaker(s): Kevin Feasel,
Abstract:
In this session, we look in depth at how the query processor architecture and show what operations it performs during query optimization to generate equivalent query plans and find a “good enough” plan with limited time during query optimization, explain query optimization phases and show a few DMVs that are useful when diagnosing optimizer behavior We will also explore the differences between In-Memory OLTP tables vs Disk based tables, and have a look at some considerations when you use the new cardinality estimator We explain why query optimization complexity increases exponentially with the number of tables included in the plan, and how to diagnose and remedy issues that relate to bad query plans
Speaker(s): Luke Jian,
Abstract:
“It’s slow! FIX IT!” is not a fun way to walk into the office on a Monday morning. However, putting objective metrics to the subjectivity of ‘slow’ is as much a science as it is art. Performance engineering takes effort well before an issue arises. Collecting the right metrics, trending and comparing against an established baseline, and identifying bottlenecks are all part of the performance process. This interactive session will help the DBA fine-tune their performance tuning approach so that the foundation for long-term proactive performance review is in place. The DBA can then shift the job responsibilities from a reactive response to a more predictive and proactive role.
Speaker(s): David Klee,
Abstract:
This presentation is a quick introduction for the DBA or developer who was just told that their boss promised a major new customer a scalable, well designed database. The customer will pay a lot of cash and years of ongoing business using this database… If you deliver it this week! You’ll get a big bonus if you build this right, but you also remember what your co-workers did to the person who bungled the last database design… and wonder if that designer ever recovered! This session will introduce you to the fundamentals of Datatypes, Relational Algebra, and Normalization to help you avoid the major pitfalls and maybe get some sleep too! This presentation is a survey of Data Architecture for the Intermediate DBA, it is not intended for experienced Data Modelers.
Speaker(s): Pat Phelan,
Abstract:
For years it seemed that the only message SQL Server professionals were hearing was "to the Cloud.... you must get to the Cloud!". However, if you work in a highly regulated industry, or one simply averse to change, this likely was not an option for you. The good news is, Microsoft heard your feedback and has been busy incorporating Cloud connectivity, compatibility, and functionality into the box product. Come spend the hour with me and you’ll learn how to leverage the power of the Cloud with your on-premises SQL Server install. We’ll cover backup and restore options with Windows Azure Storage, using Windows Azure VMs for high availability, how to store your data files in Windows Azure Storage, and more. We’ll start with SQL Server 2012 and work our way up to the most recently released bits for SQL Server 2016. You can have the best of both worlds with a SQL Server Hybrid Cloud strategy!
Speaker(s): Paul Timmerman,
Abstract:
This is a 100 level session that anyone who uses SQL Server Management Studio (developers and DBA's alike) may find helpful. We will demonstrate several features that are somewhat hidden, such as split screens, Tab groups, block replacement, RegEx, multi-server queries, SQL Command Mode, templates, query organization tips, connection coloring, Object Explorer Details, and a few FREE add-ins that will make a DBA's job more simple and more productive. I presented the session at work and got the following email from a developer: "Very good presentation today. I've been using SSMS daily for almost 10 years and I was surprised by the number of new tricks I learned."
Speaker(s): Gary Schultz,
Abstract:
Audit. The very word strikes fear in the bravest of hearts. But as a DBA, the need to know who is doing what in your production databases is critical. In SQL Server 2008, Microsoft finally gave us a true auditing tool. But how does it work, what exactly can it track, and how can you handle its output? In this session, we cover SQL Server Audit from the ground up. We go from the basics of which events can be audited to a look at how SQL Server Audit works "under the covers", and what that means for performance. While implementing server and database audits, we discuss audit granularity and filtering, as well as the pros and cons of Audit's output options. Whether it's through the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) interface, via T-SQL, or using PowerShell and Server Management Objects (SMO), at the end of this session you'll be able to deploy SQL Server Audit across your enterprise and manage its output, fearlessly.
Speaker(s): Colleen Morrow,
Abstract:
Deploying your database changes to production can be nerve-wracking as you introduce changes while attempting to protect your data. In order to take the stress out of these deployments, you must ensure that you practice your deployments before you ever get near production. This session shows how automating the deployment and testing processes through your various development and pre-production environments can make the whole experience of production deployments more repeatable, more reliable and more robust. In this session, we'll explore the concepts of continuous integration and continuous delivery for databases – what to consider, the challenges, the benefits, the testing, and the crucial approval gates necessary for a reliable production deployment. We'll discuss these and other release strategies as you think about how to evolve your deployment pipeline towards a more automated approach, starting with continuous integration and ending at your production systems.
Speaker(s): Grant Fritchey,
Abstract:
As luck would have it you need to get data from point A to point B on a regular basis so someone suggests replication. Many things run through your mind like maybe I could deliver the data myself I have a few thumb drives, “who is the DBA anyway?”and then finally which replication model and which type would be best to fit our needs? This talk will go over all replication options available in SQL Server along which the many of the pitfalls and gotchas you should be aware of before setting things up. An outline of steps and processes to put in place once replication has been set up to maintain and monitor the publication will also be provided.
Speaker(s): Thomas Lane,
Abstract:
Effective reporting is not simply the output of data, but the meaningful presentation of that data in a manner that informs the user. SQL Server Reporting Services provides a myriad of features to create a clear, instructive, and interactive experience. This session will demonstrate techniques to utilize SSRS advanced authoring features to facilitate more informative communication. These features include: nesting data regions, leveraging scope, geographic/geometric reporting, complex charting, rich formatting, incorporating managed code assemblies, intuitive drilldown, data from multiple datasets in a single data region, datasets that update source data, and more.
Speaker(s): Brian Larson,
Abstract:
You're looking to protect your SQL instance from a machine failure. Or maybe your storage budget and tight and you don't want to have your databases in two places with one of the other highly available options that SQL provides. Let's learn what a cluster is and why it might be the right thing for you. We'll explore the system, network, storage and database administration sides of the equation. And, when it's all said and done we'll even have built a SQL clustered instance!
Speaker(s): Paul Popovich Jr,
Abstract:
Running the Availability Group Wizard, or installing a clustered SQL instance can go pretty smoothly. But in complex and larger networks, that is not always the case. Even if the wizards complete without error and you think you have a highly available system, you may not. This session will review all the gotcha’s and things you need to know before you run the shiny wizard or run some PowerShell to make your HA/DR implementation of SQL a success.
Speaker(s): Michael Steineke,
Abstract:
For the most part, query tuning in one version of SQL Server is pretty much like query tuning in the next. SQL Server 2016 introduces a number of new functions and methods that directly impact how you’re going to do query tuning in the future. The most important change is the introduction of the Query Store. This session will explore how the Query Store works and how it’s going to change how you tune and troubleshoot performance. With the information in this session, not only will you understand how the Query Store works, but you’ll know everything you need to apply it to your own SQL Server 2016 tuning efforts as well as your Azure SQL Databases.
Speaker(s): Grant Fritchey,
Abstract:
Ask any DBA if they want to manage dynamic SQL: "Impossible-to-read source code and SQL injection? No thanks!" they'll say. However, dynamic SQL not a tool of the desperate and unskilled. It is flexible and makes complex queries screaming fast when more conventional methods cannot. In this session, we focus on: * Understanding pros and cons of dynamic SQL * Writing fast and efficient dynamic SQL code * Monitoring dynamic SQL statements and their performance To spark discussion and keep the audience riveted, this session is styled as a technical presentation weaved into an interactive murder mystery, complete with suspects, interrogations, and clues. Attendees form small groups to observe, discuss, and ultimately solve the mystery of the deadly dynamic SQL. Developers and DBAs: if you want to become wise in the ways of dynamic SQL, this session is for you. Be sure to bring your sleuthing skills!
Speaker(s): Doug Lane,
Abstract:
Power BI is a powerful analytics tool. It allows users to easily shape and transform their data into actionable insights in a very short period of time. We’ll explore how the tool can connect to your SQL Server database and allow you to visualize Database and Performance Metrics, such as, file size, Buffer Pool and Plan Cache, Wait Stats and more. We will create visualizations and reports in Power BI Desktop using SQL queries, publish that information to the Power BI Service, and walk through sharing and mobile consumption. The goal of this session is to provide you with a better understanding of how to leverage Power BI for yourself and your organization.
Speaker(s): Seth Bauer,
Abstract:
Microsoft recently announced the SQL Data Warehouse Platform as a Service (PaaS) feature for Microsoft Azure. This platform provides an on-demand Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) platform for build data warehouses that can handle from 10s of TBs of data up to PBs. This session will provide an overview of SQL Data Warehouse with a discussion on the value that Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) brings to your data warehouse and why the cloud may be the best platform for your solution. In this session, we’ll also dig into the capabilities of SQL Data Warehouse and compare those to other offerings. • Scale from terabytes to petabytes • Save on costs through on-demand scale • Take advantage of architecture designed for scalable performance • Gain a cloud integrated data warehouse solution
Speaker(s): Jason Strate,
Abstract:
Have you built a SQL Server Availability Group only to be suddenly surprised by all the gotchas and hurdles that pop up? Are you struggling with keeping your Availability Group running smoothly without a lot of management on your part? This session will cover what happens after you have created an Availability Group and how to manage it. We will review tips, tricks, and patterns for handling all the considerations that running this popular high availability solution. After this session, you will be prepared for managing your Availability Groups and how you can streamline that management to make your availability strategy more robust.
Speaker(s): Michael Fal,
Abstract:
You just finished patching your SQL Server. After rebooting it, though, some of your databases aren't coming online. What do you do? In this session we'll cover some of the various states that a database can be in. We’ll look at useful states like OFFLINE and STANDBY, as well as damaged states like SUSPECT or RECOVERY_PENDING. You’ll learn how databases get into those states, and the proper techniques to bring your data safely back online.
Speaker(s): David Maxwell,
Abstract:
SQL Server 2008 introduced object compression to the DBA toolkit. We all know there are different kinds of compression available in SQL Server. What you might not know boils down to some subtleties of compression. For example, not all page compressed objects are entirely page compressed. Many pages can be uncompressed or just row-compressed. This session shows you how to reach into the database and discover compression states at the page level. At the lower level, this session also shows how to determine compression settings of objects in the database. You can use both some undocumented and more commonly known commands to derive some interesting information from the database engine.
Speaker(s): Jason Brimhall,
Abstract:
In SQL Server 2016 Microsoft has include native handling of JSON. What does that mean? What is JSON? Why do I care? Will there be knives and hockey masks? Come to this session and you will learn what JSON is, where and how it is used and why as a DBA you need to know this.
Speaker(s): Jim Dorame,
Abstract:
TSQL is a necessity when interacting with SQL Server so knowing can be half the battle. Performance is always good as the database starts to grow, but building in resilience when you begin is a greater advantage than refactoring. I will go over 5 key things to know when you write TSQL, use DataTypes and/or variables in comparisons and you will also learn about the procedure cache and how to avoid pitfalls there. This is a beginners session but the concepts in this session are a great foundation to begin with. If you are looking for a solid foundation to build on and need the basics to start, this session is definitely for you.
Speaker(s): Ben Miller,
Abstract:
Ever encounter a table consisting only of BIGINT, CHAR(255), and NVARCHAR(MAX) columns? Did your gut tell you that this is bad, but you had difficulty explaining why? Did you know that these data type choices can be a real performance killer? Attend this session to learn how database records are stored within SQL Server, and why all data types are not created equal. Armed with that knowledge, we will then explore several performance scenarios that may be impacting your systems right now! When you leave, you will be able to explain to your colleagues why data type choices matter, assess your own systems, and implement some best practices to mitigate these performance killers.
Speaker(s): Andy Yun,
Abstract:
Companies today use a variety of core systems including on-premise applications and SaaS solutions. Additionally, the landscape of data analysis tools is continually changing. Microsoft is releasing services and tools at a break neck pace. In this session we will break down the major architectural components of a BI solution and look at both how they were implemented in the past and how services in Microsoft Azure are changing that. We’ll view various different architecture scenarios and discuss the pros and cons of each.
Speaker(s): Dave DuVarney,
Abstract:
Are you new to Hadoop? In this beginner-friendly (but technical) session you'll learn about the Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP) and Microsoft HDInsight from the ground up with a focus on what SQL Server professionals like yourself need to know. We will go into technical detail about what HDFS, MapReduce and YARN/Tez actually are how they work. Then you'll discover the Hadoop ecosystem and the myriad of projects within. We'll see demos of how Hive complements the traditional relational database world, and discuss real-world data tasks/use cases that Hadoop can accomplish.
Speaker(s): Bill Preachuk,
Abstract:
SQL Server 2016 is the latest version of the data platform from Microsoft (currently in public preview). Per Microsoft, “It is the biggest leap forward in Microsoft's data platform history with real-time operational analytics, rich visualizations on mobile devices, built-in advanced analytics, new advanced security technology, and new hybrid cloud scenarios.” There’s a ton of ground to cover on all of the new enhancements, so this session will focus on some of the new advanced security offerings that Microsoft has incorporated into the platform: Dynamic Data Masking, Row-Level Security, and Always Encrypted.
Speaker(s): Jared Zagelbaum,
Abstract:
High-profile attacks by hackers have made the news more and more the past few years, and your database is a prized target! Fortunately SQL Server offers many possible layers of protection, one of which is encryption. This session will cover SQL Server's encryption capabilities, how they work, and what they have to offer. Topics discussed will include certificates, encryption algorithms, backup encryption, transparent database encryption, and column-level encryption. Attend this session and learn how SQL Server can help you hide your data in plain sight!
Speaker(s): Bob Pusateri,
Abstract:
Mention SQL Server performance to any DBA, and the impulse is to dive headfirst into the database and queries. However, if the infrastructure underneath the data is your performance bottleneck, the time spent tuning at the database layer is usually in vain. Server hardware, operating system parameters, storage, interconnects, and networking will all be discussed in depth in terms that DBAs can relate to. Practical architecture guidelines and troubleshooting techniques will be presented so you can analyze your environments and see if your performance bottlenecks are where you think they are.
Speaker(s): David Klee,
Abstract:
Choosing appropriate performance levels, monitoring and optimizing resource usage of Azure SQL database is of primary interest to SQL database users. Azure SQL DB now has a number of great tools to help sizing, scaling, monitoring and performance tuning your database solutions. This talk will provide an overview of resource usage monitoring, scaling capabilities and techniques as well as performance tuning tools that you can use today, such as Query Store, Index Advisor, Extended Events and DMVs
Speaker(s): Julie Koesmarno,
Abstract:
Power Query is a wonderful Excel tool which also has ties and carryovers in Power BI. What is truly great about it however is that you can use it for anything, therefore this is a session for how the layman can use Power Query to beat the odds and learn some development basics in the process.
Speaker(s): George Bryant,
Abstract:
Do you have trouble remembering common administrative T-SQL commands? Remember when you created a cheat sheet in school to help you study for an exam? Use that same principle with the DBA Cheat Sheet! The DBA Cheat Sheet is a document filled with some basic administrative TSQL commands you’ll need in your daily work. During the session I’ll show you a few SSMS tricks and review some of the topics in the DBA Cheat Sheet document. You’ll leave the session with a document that you can use as a reference every day.
Speaker(s): Elizabeth Block,
Abstract:
Before handing over a new SQL Server to DevOps or a Dev team, there are several things you should do to follow best practices and ensure optimal performance. In this session, Jared will go through his build checklist and explain why he is doing things like setting Cost Threshold for Parallelism, verifying Kerberos, and checking disk drive settings. When you leave this session, you will have the knowledge and tools to successfully implement a new SQL Server instance – and a copy of his checklist!
Speaker(s): Jared Karney,
Abstract:
Excel power users have become accustomed to pivot tables displaying data from an Analysis Services Cube. What happens when they want to “tweek” things in what-if-analysis or make future projections? SSAS writeback measure groups allow for these scenarios. In this demo-centric session we’ll see what it takes to setup and use a writeback enabled measure group. We will work through a specific but simple business use-case to help reinforce the overall process.
Speaker(s): Rob Long,
Abstract:
Always Encrypted is a highly-touted new feature of SQL Server 2016 that promises to make encryption simple to use and transparent to applications while still protecting the data both at rest and in motion, even from high-privilege users such as developers and DBAs. Does that sound too good to be true? It isn’t - Always Encrypted is an incredible feature - but like any new technology, it does have some limitations. In this session, you’ll see how to configure Always Encrypted, and we’ll talk about when you should and shouldn’t use it in your environment.
Speaker(s): Ed Leighton-Dick,
Abstract:
A big hurdle for using Powershell and SQL Server together is the SQLPS module. Both old and new users of Powershell don’t completely understand its capabilities. In this session, we’ll talk about the cmdlets you may not know about, tricks to save time using the provider, and even a few gotchas on how the provider works that can save you some time and energy. When we’re finished, you will have a deeper understanding of how you can use SQL Server and Powershell together.
Speaker(s): Michael Fal,
Abstract:
Are you new to Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence? This session will explain the basics of a Data Warehouse, how it is used, why it is used, and how it differs from conventional normalized Relational Databases. We'll cover design basics, ETL strategies, and an over view of a total Data Warehouse Solution, from raw data to report presentation.
Speaker(s): Gill Rowley,
Abstract:
The release of SQL Server 2016 is right around the corner, and DBAs will be eager to encourage their companies to upgrade. Engineers and developers have a lot to gain in the feature set of SQL Server 2016, but may not know exactly how the upgrade will benefit them. You can help! In this session, we’ll share what our development team loves about SQL Server 2016. Arm yourself with useful tips, tricks and ideas to share with YOUR developers to help generate excitement. With a better understanding of the benefits, they will be much more likely to help you build the case to upgrade at your company.
Speaker(s): Omni Resources Speaker Panel,
Abstract:
At some point every SQL interview is going to get technical. This session will go through my favorite questions as an interviewer and talk about their overall relevance and answers. We'll talk about how to handle the situations where you aren't sure of the answer - or when you know that you don't know the answer The questions will cover database design, DBA, SSIS and SSRS aspects of SQL server. Pointers to resources will also be given.
Speaker(s): Reed Powell,
Abstract:
R is one of the fastest growing programming languages, useful for data analysis and visualization. You've been able to connect to SQL databases to work with large data sets before using R packages. But now, with the upcoming SQL 2016 release, R will be included as an Advanced Analytics Extension. You'll be able to run the same R scripts right in your database. In this beginner session we will look at how to set up R on your SQL instance. We'll work with some sample data to show how R works with SQL inside and outside the database with some basic R commands. And we'll create some graphs and charts for use in some SSRS reports.
Speaker(s): John Pertell,
Abstract:
As a DBA or developer, you want to know what is happening inside SQL Server. Extended Events are the modern framework for finding and interpreting SQL Server's actions. In this session, you'll see practical examples to solve everyday problems, such as capturing queries and their resources, measuring wait statistics, tracking I/O for database files, and deadlocks. Many useful features will be shown, such as the depth of events, filtering, and multiple target types!
Speaker(s): Jes Schultz,
Abstract:
Do you write a lot of SSRS reports with SQL queries or stored procedures? Have you heard about analysis services but don't know if it's a good fit for you? Are you trying to decide whether you should go with Tabular or OLAP? Are you thinking about using Power BI? In this session Phillip will go over use cases for Analysis Services and highlight the differences and strengths of each flavor of SSAS. If you have a data warehouse and aren't using SSAS come learn how SSAS will make your users love you.
Speaker(s): Phillip Labry,
Abstract:
Data loss can strike any server at any time. Are you prepared for the inevitable? A good DBA takes regular backups and practices regular restores; a great DBA has advanced restore techniques planned and tested. In this session, I will demonstrate three advanced restore methods that can make you a great DBA - point-in-time restores, page restores, and piecemeal restores, and will discuss the appropriate situations when each should be considered. Attend this session to better protect your business and your job.
Speaker(s): Jes Schultz,
Abstract:
Do you design your database's indexes? Well, have you ever analyzed how those indexes are being used, if at all? And do you know if SQL Server needs other indexes to improve performance? Attend this session and discover how SQL Server tracks actual index usage. We will use this data to identify wasteful, unused, redundant indexes. Finally, we will dive into the Missing Index DMV and learn how to make proper use of its recommendations. We will spend the second half of this session interactively working through a demo exercise, to reinforce the entire process.
Speaker(s): Andy Yun,
This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/seth-bauer/3/654/76
Seth Bauer is a Technical Architect with Concurrency Inc. He is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP (Power BI) and a Microsoft Certified Professional. He is the leader of the Milwaukee "Brew City" Power BI User Group in the Milwaukee and Brookfield Wisconsin area. He has partnered with Mike Carlo and produces tools and PowerBI related content on PowerBI.tips. And is a major contributor in the Microsoft Power BI Community forum. His major focus area is Power BI, and sharing what he’s learned with the user Community. He enjoys working with clients across the Midwest implementing BI / Power BI solutions.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfal/
Contact: http://mikefal.net
Mike is a specialist in data management technologies. As a community advocate, public speaker, and blogger, Mike is a practicing thought leader for data and automation. He is passionate about DevOps and data, building platforms to optimize, protect, and use data efficiently. Since 1999, Mike has been working in the database field, focusing primarily on SQL Server and specializes in automating data solutions to improve the reliability and efficiency of his environments. He has been caught playing trombone in public on more than one occasion.
Contact: http://blogs.lessthandot.com/index.php/author/mndba/
Paul is a Microsoft SQL Server MVP and the Lead SQL Server DBA at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Paul has fifteen years of experience in database administration and currently the Chapter Leader of the Minnesota SQL Server User Group, PASSMN. Paul is an active member of the PASS community and routinely speaks at user group meetings and SQL Saturday conferences.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/reed-powell/6/152/371
Reed is a database application developer and DBA with 40+ years experience in the IT industry. He has been working with Microsoft SQL Server since being certified on version 6.5, and is also the manager of the Pittsburgh Adobe ColdFusion User Group. He is a speaker on topics related to technology and genealogy.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phelanp
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.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlarsonscs
Contact: http://sqlmag.com/author/brian-larson
Brian Larson is Chief Creative Officer/Partner at Superior Consulting Services and has presented at SQL Server Connections, PASS Summit, and the Microsoft BI Conference. As a consultant to Microsoft, Brian contributed to the original code base of Reporting Services. Brian is the author of “Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services: 5th Edition” and “Delivering Business Intelligence with SQL Server 2016: 4th Edition”, as well as the forthcoming “Data Analysis with Microsoft Power BI.”
Tony Sebion is a Director at Omni Resources. Tony is a founder and current president of MADPASS, holds 21 Microsoft certifications, and has been working in IT for 20 years. Mike Acord has been developing on the SQL Server platform for over 12 years. He is currently a Senior Architect and Microsoft Practice Lead at Omni Resources where he designs and builds custom solutions using Microsoft technologies.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ljian
Contact: http://blog.sqlpositive.com
Luke Jian is an experienced database architect with a leading healthcare information company. A frequent speaker at conferences and local user groups he has 15+ years of experience in database design, development and optimization on SQL Server and Big Data projects.
Contact: http://phillip.labry.com
Phillip Labry is a Senior BI Consultant and Trainer with over 20 years experience in SQL Server and over 30 in IT. He has been lucky enough to work on data projects spanning telecom, banking, retail, law enforcement, health care, insurance, financial services and energy sectors. As a national consultant he provides training and builds solutions utilizing the full MS BI stack. He is an active member of the Madison, WI PASS chapter and speaks at events in the USA and Canada.
Ross LoForte is a Technology Architect at the Microsoft Technology Center in Chicago focused on SQL Server solutions. With more than 16 years of business development, project management, and SQL architecture solutions experience, he has been working with the Microsoft Technology Centers the past 10 years and has led architecture design and proof-of-concept engagements for Microsoft’s largest and most strategic customers to design enterprise, mission-critical SQL Server solutions.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekoesmarno
Contact: http://www.mssqlgirl.com
Julie Koesmarno, MCSE Data Platform, and MCSE Business Intelligence, MCT, is a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, with a Bachelor’s degree in IT. She has over 10 years of experience working with SQL Server for large-scale and multi-million-dollar OLTP and ETL projects as a SQL Server developer and system analyst/designer. Her past projects include delivering a SQL Server 2012 data warehouse and BI solutions in the US and Australia. She now works with hybrid, cloud and on-prem SQL projects.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdorame
Contact: http://www.jamesdorame.com/
Jim Dorame has been working with SQL Server for over 20 years. Over those years he has learned a great deal from the SQL community. He has also given back to the community in the hopes that he may help someone in their career. He is always looking for something to learn and luckily Microsoft keeps adding to SQL Server.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredzagelbaum?
Contact: https://jaredzagelbaum.wordpress.com
With over 10 years of experience using the Microsoft Data Platform suite, Jared’s main areas of focus include data lake architecture, machine learning, and application embedded analytics. Jared regularly speaks at user groups and events across the Midwest, as well as blogs and provides technical review for SQL Server publications.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobpusateri
Contact: http://www.BobPusateri.com
Bob Pusateri is a Microsoft Certified Master, DBA, and systems architect with over 10 years of experience on SQL Server. His interests involve internals, performance optimization, and cloud technologies. He is an active member of two Chicago-area PASS Local Groups, a community speaker, and maintains a web presence through both Twitter (@SQLBob) and his blog (bobpusateri.com).
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sqlbek
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, SQL Saturdays, 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 SQL Saturday Organizing Committee.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doclane
Thomas has been living and breathing Microsoft databases for over twenty years and is now relishing his position as a DW Consultant at Talavant (www.Talavant.com). After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemistry and following three years as a post-doc at Marquette University, Thomas left the world of science for a career in IT. He has worked as a programming and database instructor, a VB and C# developer, and for the past fourteen years worked with SQL server as a DBA, ETL specialist, and Data Architect at various Midwestern companies. Thomas recently received his MSCE in Data Management and Analytics.
Rob Long is Chief Architect and Co-Founder of Talavant. Rob is passionate about developing solutions that improve the delivery of data warehousing and business intelligence solutions. He has a breadth of experience including development, network administration and database administration. For the last 8 years, Rob has focused his efforts on delivering solutions on the Microsoft BI stack. He is a proud father of four, a Certified Business Intelligence Professional, and enjoys spending time with family and keeping up with the ever changing data management industry.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sqlbek
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, SQL Saturdays, 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 SQL Saturday Organizing Committee.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pertell-2a2183b
Contact: http://www.pertell.com/sqlservings
I am an Accidental Database Administrator, working for the same healthcare company since 2000. I started using MS Access for report writing but started playing with SSRS 2000 and haven’t missed going back. In my spare time I enjoy reading, photography, and pretending I know how to golf.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillrowley?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
Contact: http://gillrowley.wordpress.com
I#39;m a SQL Server DBA and Business Intelligence Consultant with over 10 years experience working with all versions of SQL Server dating back to SQL Server 7.0. When not playing with SQL Server I spend my time hunting, fishing, weightlifting, relaxing on my boat, playing men#39;s fast pitch softball, and playing with my rescued bull terrier Lola.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/scarydba
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.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredkarney
Jared Karney has been working with SQL Server since 2007. He currently works as a Premier Field Engineer for Microsoft. His specialties include performance tuning, big data, cloud, automation, internals, and overall architecture. He is an MCT and holds a number of Microsoft certifications. He is also a leader for the Chicago SQL Server Users Group.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jesborland
Contact: https://blogs.lessthandot.com/author/jes-borland
Jes Schultz is a Software Engineer with Microsoft who has experience with a wide range of SQL Server features from version 2005 through 2019, and is on the cutting edge with Azure technologies. Since graduating Fox Valley Technical College with an IT-Programmer/Analyst degree, Jes has worked as an SSRS developer, DBA, and consultant. Before joining Microsoft, Jes was a six-time Data Platform MVP, recognized for her community work. Jes tackles every project and problem with tenacity and her enthusiasm is unmatched in the SQL Server community. In her free time, Jes never stops moving, and counts fitness, coffee, cooking, and travel as essentials in life.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jesborland
Contact: https://blogs.lessthandot.com/author/jes-borland
Jes Schultz is a Software Engineer with Microsoft who has experience with a wide range of SQL Server features from version 2005 through 2019, and is on the cutting edge with Azure technologies. Since graduating Fox Valley Technical College with an IT-Programmer/Analyst degree, Jes has worked as an SSRS developer, DBA, and consultant. Before joining Microsoft, Jes was a six-time Data Platform MVP, recognized for her community work. Jes tackles every project and problem with tenacity and her enthusiasm is unmatched in the SQL Server community. In her free time, Jes never stops moving, and counts fitness, coffee, cooking, and travel as essentials in life.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaklee
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, SQL Saturday events, and many SQL Server User Groups.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bill-preachuk/1/a53/954
Bill Preachuk is employed by Hortonworks as a Hadoop Solutions Engineer. He is also a SQL Server MCTS with plenty of years spent in the SQL Server DBA/Developer/DW trenches. Bill has been in IT since 1991 and has presented at PASS Summit , multiple SQL Saturdays, and PASS/Hadoop/Analytics user group meetings in the Twin Cities, Wisconsin, Iowa, Winnipeg, and Ukraine. He also served 2 years on the Board of PASSMN - The Minnesota SQL Server User Group.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/eleightondick
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.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrgbryant
George has over a decade of experience in the Business Intelligence industry and is an active member of the BI community across the Midwest. His knowledge spans multiple industries including, retail, manufacturing, finance, and medical, however recent years has seen him focus on the analytics in sports. George specializes in BI architecture and end to end development in order to deliver advanced analytics and metrics to multiple organizations across the country. In recent years George has focused on and worked primarily in the Azure cloud, utilizing both established and recent offerings.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossparks
Ross Parks comes from a background in the healthcare industry and has experience creating statistical models. He has worked with doctors and medical health records to help find correlations in unhealthy patients. He has worked with policy makers in Washington D.C. by compiling and analyzing national data and statistics to help predict future outcomes of healthcare policy. Most recently he worked with a bio tech company in Madison WI to launch their first medical device by helping identify top doctors to target and launch their self service BI tool. Ross currently works as the senior consultant on a large transportation manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. He has created databases and reports to automate executive level financial reporti
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-feasel/7/716/504
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.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/douglane4
Contact: http://www.sqltheater.com
Doug Lane is the founder of SQL Theater, a company specializing in helping junior developers and public speakers. Doug has over 15 years#39; experience in IT and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Production. In addition to presenting at conferences, SQL Saturdays, and user group meetings, Doug also blogs and produces video training courses.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaklee
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, SQL Saturday events, and many SQL Server User Groups.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-popovich-jr-2a03b692?trk=hp-identity-name
Contact: https://pmpjr.wordpress.com/
Paul Popovich Jr. has been in the IT space for his whole career and tinkering with computers since his 486 PC back in the mid 1990s. Professionally he is a senior DBA for a large hospital system. You can find on twitter @pmpjr, email at paulpopovichjr@gmail.com.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsteineke
Contact: http://www.michaelsteineke.com
Michael Steineke is a Windows Server Platform expert with an industry-wide reputation as an innovator in the areas of Windows Server, storage and network architecture, disaster recovery, datacenter configuration, and SQL Server. He is a Cloud and Datacenter Management MVP specializing in High Availability and has spoken on subjects like Windows Server, clustering, Storage, Hyper-V, SQL Server, and multi-site clusters at user groups and conferences of all sizes, including SQL Saturdays, SQL PASS Summit, Microsoft TechEd, and the Microsoft MVP Summit.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/scarydba
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.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/itacb
Contact: http://www.sqldiablo.com/
Adam Belebczuk is the Owner amp; Principal Consultant at Belebczuk Consulting Services, LLC and has more than 10 years of experience in IT, ranging from customer service to server/network administration to software and database development and administration. Adam is the Chapter Leader for the Ohio North SQL Server Users Group, a frequent speaker and volunteer at PASS events, and specializes in SQL Server development, performance tuning, high availability, and disaster recovery.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/colleen-morrow/2a/95a/651/
Contact: http://colleenmorrow.com
Colleen Morrow is a database professional living in Cleveland, OH who has been working with database systems since 1996. For more than 12 years, she was a Database Administrator at a large law firm where she developed an appreciation for auditing, automation, and performance tuning. Since that time she has worked with clients in the healthcare, manufacturing, software, and distribution/freight delivery industries. Colleen is currently a Senior Consultant at Fortified Data. She is an active member of the Ohio North SQL Server User Group and has presented at many SQLSaturday events as well as PASS Summit 2014 and 2015.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfal/
Contact: http://mikefal.net
Mike is a specialist in data management technologies. As a community advocate, public speaker, and blogger, Mike is a practicing thought leader for data and automation. He is passionate about DevOps and data, building platforms to optimize, protect, and use data efficiently. Since 1999, Mike has been working in the database field, focusing primarily on SQL Server and specializes in automating data solutions to improve the reliability and efficiency of his environments. He has been caught playing trombone in public on more than one occasion.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dbaduck/
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.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveduvarney
Contact: http://www.talavant.com/blog
Dave DuVarney is President and Co-Founder of Talavant, a business intelligence consulting firm focused on strategy, architecture and implementation services. He has broad technical and functional BI knowledge and has worked with organizations across the full BI life cycle. Dave has helped clients establish their BI program and run Agile development teams. He specializes in implementing SQL Server Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services as well as .NET development.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbajbrimhall/
Contact: http://jasonbrimhall.info
Jason Brimhall has more than 20 years of experience and has worked with SQL Server 6.5 through SQL Server 2019. He has experience in performance tuning, high transaction environments, and large environments. He is currently a consultant specializing in performance tuning, server analysis, and problem resolution. Jason is a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) and a Data Platform MVP.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyschultz
Contact: http://007sql.blogspot.com/
Gary is currently in his third year as a full time production DBA. Prior to that he was the systems administrator and DBA for TechSkills, LLC, where he virtualized their online techlab system, physically moved the entire data center twice, and twice more virtually to co-location hosts. Gary loves tools and learning to work smarter. Gary has attended all of the SQL Saturday events in Madison, WI and PASS Summit 2015. He has spoken at his local chapter of PASS - Wisconsin SQL Server Users Group (WISSUG) on virtualization and SQL install automation (SPADE). When not in front of a screen Gary enjoys the great outdoors of Wisconsin, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hunting and bicycling.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonstrate/
Contact: http://www.jasonstrate.com/
Jason Strate is a SQL Server Solutions Architect with Pragmatic Works. He is also a Microsoft SQL Server MVP and MCM. He has over 15 years of experience developing, architecting, and managing data platforms. Jason writes, blogs, and presents on SQL Server.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmmaxwell
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.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sqlservermama
Elizabeth Block is passionate about using database technologies to solve business problems. Currently a Senior DBA at PeaceHealth in Springfield, Oregon, she’s on a team managing over 300 SQL Servers. Extensive experience in database design and analysis has helped her in her roles as database consultant, developer, and DBA. She’s worked with SQL Server for over 10 years.
The following is a list of sponsors that helped fund the event.