PASS Summit 2012 Recap

Ahh yes, yet another post PASS blog entry.  I know that SQL blogs will be riddled with these types of posts for the next week, but I just gotta add in my 2 cents as well.

I believe that this was my 8th time attending the PASS Summit.  I still feel that this is the best way to get a great amount of training as well as networking.  Remember to show your employers what you learned and how it will help your environment.  This will help them quantify and value of the event. Also remember to try to get approval early as there are typically deep discounts for signing up before the end of the year.

The biggest part of this year’s summit for me was being a speaker.  I felt honored to have been chosen as a speaker, and I really hope that those who attended learned a lot from my session on SQL Server and SharePoint.  My session was also streamed on PASS TV.  I did not realize that until the Friday before the event, which really upped the nerves for this first time PASS speaker.  I must say that getting miked up and seeing a camera was a little odd at first for me, but as I got going, I totally forgot about them.  It was also very weird not being able to see the screen with my presentation on it.  Although, I must add that the new presentation view in PowerPoint 2013 is simply awesome!  I really enjoyed giving the talk as well as all the questions I received.  One thing that always impresses me at PASS is the large number of extremely talented DBAs that I meet and talk to during the event. 

This year I also participated heavily in the SQL Clinic.  With the new extended hours and new location, we weren’t exactly sure what it would be like.  I was extremely pleased with how busy it was!  I got a lot of good questions and had a lot of great discussions with customers in the clinic.  I also got to meet some fellow Microsoft employees working in the clinic that I have never met in person.  It was a really great experience, and I hope that I get to do the same next year, and that the clinic is just as busy, if not busier!  In the past I would have said that it is the best kept secret at the summit, but it appears that the secret may be out!.

Now it is time to get back to work, but attending the PASS Summit always makes me feel excited and reenergized about my job.  Getting the opportunity to speak made it even more so.  I am already thinking of ideas for a session next year in Charlotte!

I want to give a huge thanks to the PASS organization for putting on such a large event so smoothly.  They always seem to pull it off.  I can’t imagine all the logistics that go on behind the scenes for this event.