SQL Saturday 84 / Kalamazoo Wrap-Up

Many thought I was crazy to stage a SQL Saturday in Kalamazoo.  By the time it was over though there were not too many doubting that it was one of the best SQL Saturdays that have been staged.

Just take a look at the numbers:

  • 9 SQL Server MVPs
  • 2 SQL Server MCMs
  • 1 Red Gate Exceptional DBA
  • 15 Fabulous Sponsors
  • 22 Hard-working, dedicated Volunteers
  • 1 Amazing venue and a talented and profession team there that was a pleasure to work with.
  • 210 Registrants
  • 177 Attendees
  • Countless student drop-ins from our partnering student organization AITP (Association of Information Technology Professionals)

How could it have not been a success?

I want to thank the following individuals for their hard work, dedication, commitment, and time.  Many spent the weekend away from their families and traveled at their own cost:

Joshua Fennessy, Shelly Noll, Sherrie Mann, Dan Frandsen, Jason Strate, Sarah Strate, Rob Kerr, Yanni Robel, John Robel, Charlie Otten, Jeremiah Peschka, Kendra Little, Andy Leonard, Brent Ozar, David Levy, Wendy Pastrick, Aaron Bertrand, Jeff Moden, Eddie Wuerch, Matt Mace, Allen White, Tom Groszko, Scott Schommer, Erin Stellato, Craig Purnell, Julie Purnell, Tim Costello, Doug Lane, George Squillace, Jeff Coates, Mike Anderson, Joe Fleming, Dustin Prescott, Mike Reigler,  Karla Landrum, Amy Ford, Austen Ford, and Trevor Ford.

Out of those individuals I’d like to single out Yanni and John Robel, Brent Ozar, Kendra Little, Jeremiah Peschka, Dave Levy, Erin Stellato, Doug Lane, and Mike Reigler.  These were all individuals with whom I had the pleasure to have join me on one of the SQL Cruises and it’s fulfilling seeing what they’ve gone on to do after returning from one of the cruises staged so far.  Thank you all for traveling the distances you did to be a part of this!

I would also like to extend thanks to those at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and AITP:  Kevin Sieling, Dawn Pantaleo, Marty Adams, and the simply amazing Mary Johnson.  I can only hope we were as decent enough to work with as they were and hopefully we can do this again next year!

Finally, I’d like to thank the sponsors.  Without them, this would not have been possible.  What they do for the community is deeply appreciated by those in my position among volunteers as well as those who attend events such as this.  They don’t hear it enough – they ROCK!  So thank you to BlueGranite, Idera, Confio, SQL Sentry, PASS, Red Gate, New Horizons, TechSmith, FusionIO, CozyRoc, YanniRobel.com, SQLJoe.com, ShannonLowder.com, SQLVariant.com, SQLSolutionsGroup.com.

Thank you Julie Purnell for taking photos for us throughout the day.  I carried my camera around, but didn’t really have time to shoot anything!  Her photos can be found here.