PASS Business Analytics presents MVP Jessica Moss: Putting the Business Into Business Analytics

I saw Jessica Moss presenting at the PASS Summit a couple of years ago on Reporting Services. She has been an author to many books and has a good series on SQLServerCentral.com’s Stairway series for Reporting Services.

Please join the PASS Business Analytics virtual chapter on April 4th at noon Eastern as Jessica presents “Putting the Business into Business Analytics”. Do not forget about the PASS Business Analytics conference in Chicago April 10-12 where you can see Jessica live.

Putting the Business into Business Analytics

Live meeting: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/8000181573/join?id=3J2DTB&role=attend&pw=RG%2F652Wqq

Jessica Moss, BI Architect CapTech Consulting

Having analytical information is only as good as what you do with it. A key component to business analytics is incorporating your informational results back into your business to create an ecosystem of analytics that will continually improve how you run your business. This session will discuss ways to integrate your knowledge back into your business processes, using examples from several industries and subject areas.

About Jessica:
Jessica M. Moss is a well-known architect, speaker, author, and Microsoft MVP of SQL Server Business Intelligence. Jessica's expertise includes data warehouse modeling, Integration Services ETL, Analysis Services semantic modeling, Reporting Services report design, and helping customers across industries successfully implement and enhance their BI solutions. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with the central Virginia community, speaks regularly at user groups, Code Camps, and conferences, and has co-authored four technical books. You can read more on her website at http://www.jessicammoss.com.

PASS Data Arch VC presents Steve Hughes on Accounting for Windows Azure

I meet Steve this past November in Seattle at the PASS Summit. Reading his series on XMLA and Analysis Services help me understand more about SSAS. It was good to finally talk with this dude and get him to present to the Data Arch VC

His blog is Data on Wheels.

Please join us on March 21st at noon central to get some data architecture information for Windows Azure.

Steve Hughes Accounting for Windows Azure

Online Meeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/UserGroups/join?id=C2NPG7&role=attend&pw=x9%25%299%23Dr2

When iCal
UTC : Thu, Mar 21 2013 17:00 - 18:00
Event Time : Thu, Mar 21 2013 12:00 - 13:00 (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Accounting for Windows Azure in Your Data Architecture

Speaker: Steve Hughes, Practice Lead - Data and Business Intelligence Magenic

Summary: As Windows Azure becomes a more significant part of the IT landscape, data architects need to understand the data technologies at their disposal. Not all data can nor should be stored in the relational database in Azure. The discussion will include the various storage types available for data in Azure and how they may fit into an architecture. Learn which data storage techniques may work best for your next project with Azure and some of the nuances of using each type within a project.

About Steve: Steve Hughes is a Practice Lead at Magenic, working with Microsoft’s SQL Server stack to deliver data and BI solutions. He has worked with technology for over 15 years and is passionate about helping customers understand that data is valuable and profitable. Over the past 6 years, he has delivered more than 30 presentations on SQL Server and data architecture. In 2010, he received Consultant of the Year honors at Magenic. Steve is also a PASS Regional Mentor for the Northeast.

Baton Rouge SQL Server User Group

Wednesday March 13th 2013, I have the pleasure in presenting to the local SQL Server User group in Baton Rouge, LA. The topic will be Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012. The flow will be from requirements gathering thru implementation in the Semantic Model.

My employer, Turner Industries, LLC, will be sponsoring the evening which includes the .Net User and Windows Phone groups in Baton Rouge. We all meet on the same night and have networking/dinner together with a lightening round for all groups. Please come join us at Louisiana Technology Park on Florida Blvd. The park is an business incubator for technology companies in Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

March '13 SQL Server User Group Meeting

Topic: Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Location: The Louisiana Technology Park

Sponsored By: TBA

Agenda:

5:45 - 6:15 pm: Networking and Refreshments

6:15 - 6:30 pm: Lightning Round Topic

6:30 - 8:00 pm: Main Topic

8:00 - until: Open Forum for questions and giveaways

Main Topic: Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012

Main Topic Speaker: Thomas LeBlanc, Turner Industries

Summary: The session explains Attributes and Hierarchies in Analysis Services 2012 Semantic Model. They are used to slice (filter) and dice (group) measures and dimensions used to view analytical data. The slicing and dicing of data involves fields, columns, or whatever you want to labeled them. But, in SQL Server Semantic model these are called Attributes and Hierarchies. The configuration of these slicers and dicers are important in SQL Server Analysis Services. This session will demonstrate the difference between an attribute and columns in a hierarchy in the dimension as well as the configuration of these for best performance and viewing.

Summary: Thomas LeBlanc (MCITP DBA/BI) is a Sr. SQL Server DBA @ Turner Industries & the PASS Data Architecture Virtual Chapter Chair. His specialties include normalization, performance tuning, database design, ETL-SSIS, SSAS cubes and T-SQL code. DBA work includes monitoring many SQL Server instances at Turner for performance and uptime then spends the other half of his time gathering requirements, designing, coding and presenting Data Marts using SSIS, SSAS Cubes, Excel & PerformancePoint while migrating some cubes to 2012 Tabular Model for PowerView.

PASS Data Arch VC presents: Neil Hambly’s Think You Have The Right Data-Type?

Please join this Thursday Feb 24th 2013 at noon central for Confio SQL Server expert Neil Hambly talking SQL Server Data-Types. This seemingly simply feature is the heart of tables and data in SQL Server, so you do not want to miss Neil sharing implications of not knowing the details to Data Types.

Online Meeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/UserGroups/join?id=7BTR84&role=attend&pw=s%26Q2H%2B%3A%263
RSVP URL: DataArch.SQLPass.org

This month Confio DBA Neil Hambly presents Think you have the right Data-Type? He will talk about selecting the right Data-Type (DT) for data is key to efficient data storage, retrieval and processing, with over 30 different DT to choose from this isn’t as straight forward as you might think. Join us Feb 28th 2013 at noon central for a talk about data type design and decisions.

When

iCal
UTC : Thu, Feb 28 2013 18:00 - 19:00
Event Time : Thu, Feb 28 2013 12:00 - 13:00 (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Your Local Time: 2/28/2013 12:00 - 13:00

Think you have the right Data-Type?

Speaker: Neil Hambly, Database Administrator Confio Software

Summary: Selecting the right Data-Type (DT) for data is key to efficient data storage, retrieval and processing, with over 30 different DT to choose from this isn’t as straight forward as you might think, have your also considered the usage pattern of the data in addition to its storage requirements This session explores the various data-types now available, we look at conversion’s between different DT’s as well as index sizes & effectiveness, compression and other factors can that influence these decisions, we finish off by discussing different approaches on ‘migrating’ a DT to a different DT, throughout the session we consider any performance considerations, such as when implicit conversions occur and more

About Neil: Neil Hambly is a SQL Server veteran of more than 14 years, with expertise in SQL Server from Version 6.5 to the latest 2012 edition. He's held database roles at major organizations, including the BBC, ABN AMRO, and Accenture, as well as at a number of market-leading companies. Currently a Senior DBA at Confio Software, he’s held prior roles as a DBA, developer, and architect. Leader of the PASS London Chapter, Neil can frequently be found speaking at UK and international events.

PASS Data Arch VC presents: Intro to Master Data Services by James Serra

Please join this Thursday Dec 20th 2012 at noon central for Business Intelligence expert/consultant James Serra talking Master Data Services. This new feature of the Microsoft BI stack is sure to help elevate your skills with data in SQL Server 2012.

Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS) by James Serra

Online Meeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=4HQDRK&role=attend&pw=p%7E%29%7B%22X%2B4h
RSVPURL: http://dataarch.sqlpass.org/

 

When  iCal
UTC : Thu, Dec 20 2012 18:00 - 19:00
Event Time : Thu, Dec 20 2012 13:00 - 14:00 Eastern Standard Time
Your Local Time: Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:00 - 13:00

Where http://dataarch.sqlpass.org/

Featured Presentation

Introduction to Microsoft’s Master Data Services (MDS)

Speaker: James Serra, BI/Data Warehouse/MDM Architect and Developer Serra Consulting Services

Summary: Companies struggle with consolidating the same set of data from multiple systems to accurately report on critical business information. For example, having customer lists in multiple systems that often have the same customer in more than one list, sometimes with a different spelling. Master Data Services is bundled with SQL Server 2012 to help resolve many of the Master Data Management issues that companies are faced with when integrating data. In this session, James will show an overview of Master Data Services 2012, including the out of the box Web UI, the highly developed Excel Add-in, and how to get started with loading MDS with your data.

About James: James is currently a Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence/MDM architect and developer with over 25 years of IT experience. James started as a software developer, and then was a DBA for 12 years, and for the last six years he has been working extensively with Business Intelligence using the SQL Server BI stack (SSAS, SSRS, and SSIS). James has been at times a permanent employee, consultant and contractor. James is a noted speaker, blogger, and contributing editor for SQL Server Pro magazine.

PASS Summit 2012 - Done!!!

Thursday afternoon

Thursday afternoon concluded with How to run SSRS in Sharepoint integration mode, Enriching Tabular with DAX and Monitoring SSAS. The best was the last.  Tim Peterson (SolidQ) shared his 12+ years working with SSAS to give us 3 ways to monitor SSAS – SQL Profiler, PerfMon and a CodePlex module call ResMon. Most of the time was spent showing Profiler while running MDX after clearing the Cache, File Cache and Script Cache. These three demos paid for the whole conference. I love watching presentations from seasoned experts.

Below are pictures from Day One pre-conference session on the left – Rob Colledge, Day Two meeting with PASS Virtual Chapters leaders – Denise McInerney and Ryan Adams talking about promoting Virtual Chapters.

    

The DAX sessions was demoed in Excel 2013 and PowerPivot (which I am not using), so it was kind of disappointing and the SSRS integration was mostly in 2008 R2 (he did show 2012 at the end) and all on one machine. It would have been nice to show deployment on multi-server SharePoint farms because that is what most enterprises use. Even though I did not get what I wanted (gotta stop the selfishness), both were great sessions with experience presenters and 2-3 bits of information I had not known before.

One the left is Chuck Heinzelman and the right is Tim Mitchell preparing for his SSIS session.

    

Friday morning

The last morning started with conversations at breakfast with some Germany user group leaders where we talked a lot about last year’s summit and SQLSaturday. They are hosting I believe #170. The first session was Mike Davis(a consultant from the north) showing demos of starting and improving a SSAS Tabular Modular cube. Do you call it a cube or semantic model? His examples where great and very simple to understand. Maybe that has more to do with tabular than his demos.

The second part of the morning was Tim Mitchell showing SSIS and some patterns to use for handling errors and validation of data. I really like Tim’s presentation skills. You can tell he has been doing this for some time. I probably took 2 pages of notes to use back at work. He showed event handling and properties like propagate that I had never seen or use before.

Lunch was at the Birds of a Feather table on Database Development. The attendees were from South Africa, San Diego, Louisiana and others. We talked mostly about our backgrounds and some of the more comical situations at work where we learned some lessons. There was more laughter than seriousness, which helped with digesting the food (not that it was bad, the food is top notch). This is were I try to practice some listening and slow down on the talking. While most tables started to empty out, we were still going at it. That was a nice way to end the day.

Below is Peter Meyers and Matthew Roche, the middle is Carlos Bossy and the right is a view from the bloggers table during the WIT luncheon.

   

I am typing this at the airport with the sun in my eyes, but it does not bother me because of the great time I just had. You know, I never got out in the city at all and spent most of the time with SQL Server professionals. I do not even want to use the terms geeks or tweeps or SQLFamily, we are definitely a group of IT professionals that are employed to do a serious job of protecting, mining, speeding and handling data the runs business profitably and governments effectively yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love my job!!!

Mount Rainer from the plane.

     

It was also nice to have attendees come up to me later and say how much they enjoyed my session. I always reminded them to fill out the evaluations to help me(us) with future sessions.

God Bless!!!

Live Blog: PASS Summit–WIT Luncheon

WIT – Women In Technology 10 anniversary PASS Summit Luncheon

Please go to this link for more info on the speakers and content. I am blogging and tweeting from this luncheon to help with exposure of the message and to learn more myself.

Louisiana has a WIT community - http://www.la-wit.org/

11:55AM

Room is filling up, many conversations at tables. Bloggers table is full, actually overflowing and the session should start at 12noon pacific

12:05PM

PASS president Bill introduces Wendy as moderator. 10 years for WIT. Room for 700 people and Wendy reviews how they would recruiter people like the PASS Ambassadors of today. Wendy thanks SQLSentry and volunteers for support. Wendy also recognizes SQLSaturday organizers for running these events.

12:10PM

Stefanie is keynote speaker of WIT luncheon and says how overwhelmed with the attendance. Talks about have 60+ at the first luncheon and now 700+. Talks about her early years in technology and using COBOL.

12:15PM

Up next is Wendy, the VC leader on the WIT chapter. Talks about in 2002 search for a woman at PASS. But, now that has changed. A 24-HOP of women speakers have helped more women speaker at PASS, SQLSaturday and local user groups. Now, promotion of women in IT has grown. About 15% at PASS Summit are women in 2011 and 2012. Denise wants to she more woman create the technology not just support. she is concerned about the amount of women leaving tech jobs.

12:20PM

Kevin Kline is up next. Kevin has been involved with PASS since it started. Talks about the early days not having the money to help but we do have the attitude and heart to help the community. Leads the conversation of not being segregated and compares the different places that have welcome signs but a exclusive. PASS is goodness and we want to share with you

Mentions the need to have women in IT teams in order to bring the a different dimension to the task at hand. As a father of teenage girls, he is trying to find away to encourage them in IT. Always a Work In Progress.

12:30PM

Jen, the PASSion award winner up next. Very soft spoken woman, but experienced with the BI stack from Microsoft. Scottish accent is strong. Talks about the IT job helps her as a single mom to support her family. More diversity helps team dynamics. Mentions government studies in Scotland and US.

12:35PM

Kendra (MCM and MVP) talks about her search for the comfortable in the IT field and the different jobs she worked in. As she started speaking at SQLSaturday, She realized that when an attendee came up and asked more questions, being a consultant was a possibility. The encouragement she gives is start talking about what you know.

Rap Up

Question and answer period continues…

This luncheon was sponsored by

 

WIT Panelists
Stefanie Higgins
Stefanie Higgins has been a PASS member since 1999 and was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve as a PASS volunteer and eventually a PASS Board member from 2000 – 2005. She is one of the founders of the WIT luncheon event at PASS and as a mom of four she has a passion for encouraging working women especially in the area of work/life balance. Stefanie has worked as a Sr. DBA for IndyMac Bank, The Walt Disney Co. and as an IT Manager at DirecTV. She is an MCITP SQL Server 2008 R2, currently working as a Sr. DBA for Disney and enjoys telecommuting days from her home in beautiful San Diego CA.

Kevin Kline
Kevin Kline is a well-known database expert and software industry veteran. A long-time Microsoft SQL Server MVP and noted leader in the IT industry, he is a founder and former president of PASS and the author of popular IT books such as SQL in a Nutshell. Kevin is a top-rated speaker at industry conferences worldwide.

 

 

Kendra Little
Kendra Little is all about data, communication, and creativity. Kendra nerds out on SQL Server full time as a founder of Brent Ozar PLF, LLC, a boutique consulting company. She is a Microsoft Certified Master in SQL Server 2008 and a Microsoft MVP.

 

Denise McInerney

Denise McInerney began her career as a SQL Server DBA in 1998 and currently works as a Staff Technical Data Analyst at Intuit in Mountain View, CA. Denise, who serves as a Director-at-Large on the PASS Board of Directors, started volunteering for PASS in 2003. She founded the PASS Women in Technology Virtual Chapter (VC) and served as VC chairperson or co-chair for 5 years. Denise received the PASSion Award in 2007.

 

Jen Stirrup

Jen Stirrup is a SQL Server MVP, with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and two Masters in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science. Jen holds a Europe-wide volunteer role in helping to co-ordinate 'Women in Technology' events as a SQLPass volunteer, which covers WIT events in disparate countries from Sweden to Poland. Jen is a veteran SQL Server Developer with 15 years SQL experience in delivering end-to-end Business Intelligence solutions. Jen blogs for SQLServerPedia as well as her own blog. She has presented in many SQL Server User Groups in the UK.