mssql – Speaking Mentors

16th October 201816th October 2018

Greg Levenhagen

Location: Midwest US (UTC -6)
Expertise: Software Development, Community Building, Public Speaking, Strategy & Innovation, Career Development, Entrepreneurship
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn

Greg Levenhagen is a Microsoft Regional Director, Microsoft MVP in Windows Development and Principal Software Engineer Consultant with Skyline Technologies. He has a great passion for giving back to the community and teaching. A true enthusiast of computer science, with passions and interests including mobile, UX, architecture, parallel, testing, agile, 3D/games, cloud, languages and much more. Greg speaks at conferences like ThatConference, CodeMash, Code PaLOUsa, TechBash, VSLive, KCDC and DevLink.

He is also a Volunteer Teacher for CS through TEALS, Microsoft Certified Trainer, board member of ThatConference, president of the Northeast WI Developers User Group / Northeast WI Code Camp / Milwaukee Code Camp, cofounder of the Northeast WI Agile User’s Group, INETA speaker, IEEE and ACM member and a PhD student.

Along with being a life-long geek, Greg enjoys golfing, football, woodworking, philosophy and stimulating conversation.

24th May 201824th May 2018

Mohammad Darab

Location: EST (UTC -5)
Expertise: SQL Server database engine, high availability and disaster recovery, security
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn | Blog

My name is Mohammad Darab. I’m a SQL Server Consultant, speaker and blogger with over 18 years of IT professional experience, 10+ years of that working with SQL Server. Some areas of focus: database engine, high availability / disaster recovery, and security. I’m an MCITP and MCP 2016 (working towards my MCSE), as well as Security+ certified.

I am fairly new to speaking and absolutely enjoy it. That is why I reached out to become a mentor to anyone thinking about it! Feel free to reach out if you want to talk about how I overcame my fear of public speaking.

You can reach me either on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Email.

9th March 2018

Richard Munn

Location: Wiltshire, UK (UTC)
Expertise: SQL Server, Windows, some Linux, some BigData, some fun…
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn

Hi.

Thanks for picking me. Or, if you haven’t picked me and I just turned up randomly, “hi” as well. How has your day been ?

I guess you want to know a little bit about me, and why I’m more than happy to give up my time for you. See, I’ve always thought that people don’t talk enough. Sure, we communicate, but that’s too easy and not really helping anyone to grow. So, that’s why I’m talking to you now…

I started being a geek a long time ago (it was a Dragon32, if you must know). After a brief failure to study for a Batchelor’s Degree, I worked as a Legal Executive, a production-line operative, and a burglar alarm salesman. Getting tired of that, I fibbed a bit and said I could work Excel (hey, I’d used Lotus 123 at home – how hard could it be ? That ‘Windows 3.1’ wouldn’t take off, though).

After a while, I moved into data, and that’s pretty much where I’ve been since 1998.

I’ve always enjoyed showing-off… errm… sorry, ‘Presenting’ but as a confirmed geek, it took a while for me to be able to put that social awks aside, find my voice, and get out into the world. I took sandwiches, you know, I case I got lost…

My first real ‘public’ session was at a Lightning Talk at SQLBits Nottingham in 2013, about how SQL 6.5 was the future.

I’ve done several user groups since then, a SQLSaturday, and several SQL Relay days. My latest one (at time of writing) was at SQLBits 2018 (Mostly Microsoft Data Platform stuff), and was about a NoSQL datastore running on Linux. I was *really* surprised they even let me in the building !

Anyway, enough about me. We’re here for you, and that’s why you’re here. How can I help you be your future ?

Thanks for reading. Talk soon, yes ?

2nd March 201819th March 2018

Bjoern Peters

Location: Germany | DE (UTC +1)
Expertise: Relational databases (primarily SQL Server), Azure SQL Database, Azure Data platform
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn | Blog

My name is Bjoern Peters and I love SQL Server and Azure SQL Databases and to speak about it 😉

I’m in MSSQL databases since version 6.5 (which was in 2000), since 2011 I’m a member of SQL PASS and held my first talk about SQL Server in 2015. Here in Germany, I’m active as volunteer and speaker at several data platform events like SQL Saturday or SQLGrillen.

Since October 2016 I’m also the organizer of the Azure Meetup Hamburg, where we talk about all topics of Azure on a monthly base.

Before my first public session, I was really afraid but right after it… I’ll never stop it anymore it is so much fun to share knowledge with the audience! And now I want to help others to step ahead and make their own experience.

Looking forward to helping you prepare your presentation and speak for a session at any event you would like to.

14th February 201814th February 2018

Greg Moore

Location: Troy NY (UTC -5)
SQL Server, Disasters, Cave Rescue
@stridergdm

I’m just getting started here so bear with me as I figure out the lay of the land.

I’m a SQL DBA with over 20 years of experience with SQL Server.

I’ve been speaking at SQL Saturday Events for over 3 years now and love to see new speakers breaking into the field.

In addition to SQL, I also am a caver and teach cave rescue. I also enjoy studying disasters such as plane crashes.

I’ve combined my interests in these three fields into a book, currently on Amazon (small plug) IT Disaster Response: Lessons Learned in the Field.

I’d love to say my first SQL Saturday speaking engagement was a downright success with a standing ovation at the end. But alas, honesty and modesty prevails and I have to say far from that. The title was “Tips that Saved my Bacon.” Before I even started the presentation, a woman in the back raised her hand and asked, “What is bacon?” Fortunately it got better from there.

If I can survive that, you can survive your first speaking experience.

I’m looking forward to working with folks who like to combine slightly offbeat topics into something educational and entertaining.

8th February 20186th March 2018

Jan Mulkens

Location: Belgium (UTC +1)
Expertise: Applied Machine Learning with SQL Server and Azure ML Services, Power BI, Database DevOps (SQL Server), Data Integration with SSIS, Data Warehousing, Storytelling.
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn

Short version:

Active in IT since 2010 having covered a lot of the current Microsoft Data/BI/AI Stack
From nervous newbie speaker in 2014 to experienced international speaker in 2017
Grew from attendee to blogger to speaker to User Group founder
Willing to provide help on all topics but most comfortable in SQL Server, Power BI, Applied Machine Learning (Azure ML & SQL Server ML Services).
When not able to help you, I’ll find someone for you who can help you.
Contact me at any time with any question

Long version:

Back in July of 2010, I was working in a call center as a sales advisor. I didn’t have a college degree due to personal circumstances at the time, but i did have a healthy dose of curiousity. In response to an internal opening, I started working with the existing reports in excel that company had. Over the course of a couple of months, I slowly started automating them while learning and experimenting with the back-end, SQL Server 2005. Finally in April of 2011, I was asked to join the IT team full time. And when I say IT team, i mean the IT Manager and me.

Fast forward to July 2014, where I joined one of the largest consultancy firms in Belgium as a Microsoft Business Intelligence Consultant. Since then, I’ve learned a lot, from working with customers to teaching and coaching new starters. But also technical skills like optimising queries for performance, setting up a data warehouse end to end, working with relevant Azure offerings and automating everything possible.

What was perhaps the largest change for me, came when I started diving into Data Science and the related offerings by Microsoft, which at the time was only Azure Machine Learning Studio. I quickly learned the basics through online courses, including Microsoft’s Professional Program for Data Science, and was able to apply these principles when SQL Server 2016 came out with R Services. Throughout this all I had unknowingly positioned myself in such a way that in january of 2017 I was asked to pick up the secondary role of Competence Center Lead for Microsoft Advanced Analytics. Basically meaning I need to ensure everyone in our business unit has access to the necessary knowledge to serve current and future customers for offerings in this space.

Throughout this crazy personal journey I’ve been giving presentations since the end of 2014. Sharing what i’ve learned at user groups and conferences, has so far been an absolute joy. The feeling you get when someone comes up to you afterwards and talks about the new insights they got through your talk is almost addictive. It also enabled me to get new insights myself by talking with a very diverse audience, each with different use cases. And it helped me to learn more about the international community around SQL Server and what other people are doing at their employers and customers. Being quickly integrated into the speaker community where you can learn even more and help even more people is one of the surprising side effects of speaking.

However, as an employee for a consultancy firm and not being my own boss, this doesn’t come easy or cheaply. I’ve been paying for my own travel expenses to speak at 15 events in 2017 and as of february 2018 I’m already accepted at 10 events for 2018 with 11 more currently pending a decision.

So one of my goals, apart from helping you out, is ensuring that you’re in a position to someday offer others help with writing an abstract or creating a presentation. Or perhaps you might one day help a user group or even start your own user group!

7th February 201811th February 2018

Mark Wilkinson

Location: Raleigh, NC
Expertise: SQL Server performance tuning/monitoring, using Git without breaking things, Linux, and drinking coffee
Contact: Twitter | Email

I am a father of 4, and live in Raleigh North Carolina (read more about my family life @ Two Plus Four Makes Us). I love fixing problems, teaching others how to fix problems, and learning new things. In my spare time I like to play with my kids, watch movies with my wife, and nerd out on whatever technology I am currently interested in (I am nerding out pretty hard studying for a Red Hat certification at the moment).

I fell into database work when I became the accidental DBA after our only DBA left the company. I fell in love with performance monitoring and tuning out of necessity and haven’t looked back since. I have been working with SQL Server for a little over 10 years, and it was the SQL community that got me interested in speaking.

After going to a few SQL Server user group meetings on 2014 I learned about something called SQL Saturday. The user group leader was also the organizer of the local SQL Saturday and he convinced me to submit a session. I did and it was accepted. Speaking at that first SQL Saturday changed my life. I met a lot of great people and found out that I really enjoy teaching people about things I am passionate about. Since then I have spoken at several SQL Saturday events and user group meetings on the east coast, and I try to convince others to speak anytime I can.

You can reach me via Twitter or Email.

7th February 201811th February 2018

John Morehouse

Location: Kentucky (UTC -5)
Expertise: SQL Server and DevOps (well, I like to think so).
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn

I’m a SQL Server DBA living in Kentucky. I started off as an accidental DBA as most of us do. Started working with SQL Server full time in 2007. Anywho, several years ago I recognized that to grow career wise within the field, speaking would really help.

So I signed up to co-present with a lead developer on 10 Things Your DBA Wished You Knew at the Heartland Developers Conference (HDC) in Omaha, Nebraska.

Fast forward a couple of months and it was time. My first ever public speaking session was give to 130 people. To 130 really smart people. To 130 Developer oriented people who probably didn’t like their DBA to begin with. Yikes!! Talk about nerve wrecking.

But I got through it. I didn’t die. I didn’t faint.

Actually, I loved it. I had people asking me questions for over an hour after the presentation. I was hooked and never looked back.

Public speaking is hard no question about it. However, even with how hard it may seem, YOU have a story to tell so let’s tell it. Like me, you’ll make it through just fine.

You can reach me via LinkedIn or Twitter

7th February 201811th February 2018

John Deardurff

Location: United States – Indiana East
Expertise: Microsoft Certifications, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and Active Directory
Contact: Twitter | LinkedIn | Blog

John has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer since July 2000 and has worked for New Horizons in Indianapolis since August 2002. He specializes in teaching SQL Server, Exchange Server, and Windows Server courses. He has also been a guest speaker at over two dozen SQL Saturday events and Microsoft Conferences.

My first experience teaching professionally was in the spring of 2000 when I was working at a Network Consulting and Learning Center in southern Indiana. I had been hired primarily to be a Windows consultant setting up small to medium networks. I am normally an introverted person and never had any desire to teach. About three months into the position, one of the applications instructors became sick and my boss walked into my office and said, “John, you are teaching Outlook tomorrow, here is the book.” It was trial by fire and I did not sleep at all that night.

But I nailed it the first time, not a single issue happened and I have been an awesome trainer ever since… Obviously, that is not completely true. Although the students loved the class, I was miserable, nervous, sweating, and in constant fear of being found out as an imposter. Traits that still happen to this day, well except the miserable part. That day truly changed my life, as I found that I had a passion for teaching and helping others achieve their goals. Since that time, I have probably taught over 10,000 people from all over the world. Just please don’t ask me to teach Outlook again.

7th February 20186th November 2019

Gavin Campbell

Location: UK (UTC+0)
Expertise: Data, Databases, Continuous Delivery, Azure, AWS
Contact: website

I’m a freelance database developer interested in applying the lessons of Continuous Delivery and Agile to database and PaaS application development.

I’ve been speaking at meetups and conferences off and on for several years, mostly in short bursts of manic activity with long gaps in between. Some years ago, I did benefit from some semi-formal training in public speaking through the ASC.

I’ve also been an organiser and volunteer at a number of conferences and meetups, meaning that I have a good understanding of the logistical side of public speaking.