PASS HQ Spotlight
Every month or so, we profile a member of the PASS HQ team. Get to know the behind-the-scenes folks who help make PASS such a successful community organization (and bring us closer to the community we so happily serve).
David Yang | Craig Ellis | Sanjeet Gandham | Michelle Nalliah | Anika Poliseno | Karla Landrum | Marcella McKeown | Jane Duffy | Al Shuler
From his home office in Gahanna – rhymes with “banana” – Ohio, PASS’s Al Shuler helps vendor partners get the word out about their products and services while supporting the SQL Server community.
How long have you been with PASS HQ, and what are your primary responsibilities in handling sponsorships and exhibit sales for PASS and PASS events?
I have been exclusive with PASS HQ since 2008, but I really began working with PASS at the 2007 Summit in Denver, where I was the project manager for Event Marketing Group, the company responsible for the trade show production and sales that year. I am currently responsible for sponsorship development (working closely with Marketing and Operations), sponsor recruitment, sales, and trade show management for PASS Summit, SQLRally, 24 Hours of PASS, and Virtual Chapters. I’m also responsible for online advertising sales, such as banner ads on the website, sponsored mailings, and Connector newsletter sponsorships. I really enjoy the variety and creativity of my position. But the real buzz is getting to work with the outstanding professionals representing the organization and the community and building relationships with our vendor partners.
As advertising and sponsor/exhibitor opportunities continue to evolve, what are some trends you’re seeing?
It’s a challenge keeping up with the constantly changing technology market and presenting new opportunities that provide value to companies in our market. New media, personal communication devices, electronic readers, and social networks – just to name a few – have really changed the landscape and options for companies. Combine that with a major economic downturn and shrinking marketing budgets for our partners, and our focus is on being even more creative and efficient to provide maximum value.
How about some favorite recent sponsorship ideas you’ve liked?
The sponsored massage chairs at last year’s Summit was a creative idea, and sponsors had a lot of fun with the First-Timers Program. Sponsoring Internet kiosks at events provides attendees with really useful services, with your name attached. More sponsors are also connecting with the community and finding value year-round with Women in Technology programs, SQLSaturdays, Virtual Chapters, and other programs.
What do sponsors make possible for PASS members and event attendees?
Sponsor participation in events, and the resources they provide, let us offer additional benefits to members and event attendees and keep registration fees very reasonable – and even free, in the case of 24 Hours of PASS and SQLSaturdays. However, sponsors are not only participating to demonstrate their products and services. In the SQL Server space, vendors are an integral part of the community. They provide the tools and services that help make the lives of database pros easier and more productive, but they are also speakers, MVPs, and PASS volunteers.
Our sponsors understand the value of community. Most vendors are not participating just to sell something – they prefer to serve as partners because they know that if the community and their clients are successful, they will be successful as well. They truly want to hear what their customers need and want so they can produce cutting edge technology for their users. And they are a valuable asset for learning more about SQL Server and best practices. Their support of so many PASS events and activities helps keep the community informed and engaged.
Any tips for organizers of local events, such as SQLSaturdays, as they try to line up sponsors – especially local ones – in their area?
Here are my top tips for local event organizers looking for sponsors:
- Be passionate about your event.
- Carefully analyze and establish your sponsorship levels and pricing, and then get the word out. Communicate the opportunities in every possible way – personally, through your SQLSaturday team, blogs, phone calls, emails, etc.
- Recruit companies whose target customers will/would attend the event.
- Project a positive and successful image, even though your event may be new and untested. Communicate the overall success of PASS.
- Provide as many opportunities as possible for sponsors to interact with your attendees.
- Provide the sponsors good value. It is OK to go overboard just a bit if you are launching a new event until it establishes some success. You can always adjust the pricing and benefits as you move forward.
- It tends to work better with smaller events to target a lot of smaller sponsors rather than a few sponsors at a much higher price. Larger companies may still be interested, however, so don’t forget them.
- Make sure that the companies you are recruiting know who is already sponsoring your event. Competition is good. :)
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work for PASS.
Like PASS’s Craig Ellis, I spent a large part of my career – 35 years – in the publishing industry, with the last 20 serving in several administrative roles at the Columbus Dispatch. I was able to retire early, in 2006, after serving for about 9 years as the Advertising Operations Manager.
I was then recruited by Event Marketing Group to manage and sell the trade show of a new event it had been contracted for, which was the 2007 PASS Summit. At the end of the Summit, EMG wanted to focus its resources on the travel and home and garden industries, and I was able to offer my services exclusively to PASS, where I have been happily situated since 2008. So the PASS sponsorship sales office is located in my home office in Gahanna (if you can say “banana,” then you can say “Gahanna”) Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.
If we stopped by your office for a cup of coffee, what would we notice?
You are certainly welcome to stop by anytime. Since I have a small home office, it requires me to keep it fairly neat – so does my wife. I have some eclectic artwork on the door from my artist grandchildren (7, 5, and 3) that makes entering very warm and inviting. I have some shelves with memorabilia from the past – a couple of awards, a model fire truck (I was a past volunteer), lots of PASS lanyards and badges hanging, a couple of pictures, and a copy of the softball newspaper that I owned and produced in 1982. I also have a bookshelf unit that has mostly books on it, but on top sets three smaller RC helicopters for break times.
What do you like to do to relax and re-energize yourself?
We have always been a very sports-active family, and now with five grandkids and their activities, there is not a lot of time for me to play. But I enjoy escaping on our motorcycle. Plus, several years ago we bought an old boat, fixed it up, and can take the kids out for some water fun and fishing. We also enjoy spending time with friends doing a variety of activities.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I was a part-time police officer for 20 years.
If you were writing a slogan about why companies should support PASS/PASS events, what would it be?
If you care about the community, PASS it on!
Go behind the scenes of 24 Hours of PASS, the Connector newsletter, PASS Summit’s video series, and more with the Marketing Team’s Jane Duffy – she promises to leave the camera crew behind.
You joined the PASS HQ Marketing team in Fall 2010 as an independent contractor – what are your primary responsibilities?
I love working with the PASS HQ Marketing team on a variety of projects – I’m always at the ready to help out where needed. My primary responsibilities include the PASS Connector newsletter, where I research blog posts for the Blogosphere section, write the odd article, solicit articles, and work with the team to determine the flow of content; 24 Hours of PASS in a project-management capacity to ensure deliverables are being met and that the event runs as smoothly as possible; and the PASS Summit Program Guide, collaborating with the team to pull together all the pieces. I also update various areas of the website, post blog entries, and generally work behind the scenes to do what needs to be done.
24 Hours of PASS continues to evolve as a can’t-miss global community event. What was the most interesting thing about this year’s free series of 24 back-to-back webcasts?
It was so exciting to extend the reach of 24 Hours of PASS by offering closed captioning in 15 languages. While we’re waiting on the final tally of how many used the service, I’m happy to say that we had over 100 countries represented in the recent event.
Die-hard attendees aren’t the only ones who get little sleep during 24 Hours of PASS – what goes on behind the scenes to put on and support the event?
A lot of caffeine! Seriously, though, we rely on 60 volunteers to make the event happen. From speakers and moderators, to back-up moderators and members of the organizing committee, everyone has a hand in putting on a 24 Hours of PASS event.
In March, each session had a back-up moderator who ensured the speaker and moderator arrived and began their session on time. On occasion, they also filled in for the scheduled moderator. This time around, we also tried a new platform, IBTalk, instead of our usual Live Meeting for the webcasts. IBTalk provided a tech support person in each session, which greatly reduced dependency on back-up moderators to troubleshoot technical issues.
As you produce and pull together content for the PASS Connector, what are your favorite articles or sections of the newsletter? What do PASS members like to read most based on click-throughs?
My favorite section of the PASS Connector newsletter is the Blogosphere list. There are a lot of smart and clever bloggers in the SQL Server community – reading through their posts is a great way to stay connected and be in the know. I also really enjoy the PASS editorial articles, which provide a snapshot of all the great things going on in the organization.
The Connecter has good readership. Typically, the events get a lot of hits, as well as the Blogosphere round-up. Really, it all depends on the content of the newsletter. For example, the recent SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch and 24 Hours of PASS articles generated a lot of click-throughs, as did the Virtual Chapter events, likely because these online events appeal to a wide member audience regardless of geographic location.
At PASS Summit 2011, you spent a lot of time with the video production team talking with attendees about PASS and community – what characteristics stick out the most for you when you think about the PASS community?
After people realized that I wasn’t stalking them, they were very open and receptive to talking to me and the camera crew. The characteristic that sticks out most for me when thinking about the community is the strong sense of camaraderie. This was evident throughout PASS Summit 2011, both in the official and unofficial events outside the training sessions. For example, a SQL prayer group met in the lobby of the hotel every morning, a SQL run took place to limber up for the 3 days of learning, and there was even a SQL wedding with an open invitation for all to attend!
This is a community of helpers who turn to each other when looking for technical advice, career advancement strategies, or just to share a laugh. I see these interactions on a daily basis through Twitter, blogs and blog comments, and by participating in events, both online and in-person. Even if you aren’t active on Twitter, simply following the #sqlpass hashtag will keep you in the loop.
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work for PASS.
I’ve been based in Toronto for the past 12 years and spent a few years working in Montreal before that. My professional background is in association management, where I worked with several national associations on their event and membership marketing strategies.
When things started getting busy at PASS (when isn’t it busy these days?), I was given the opportunity to step in and help out where I could. I was winding down from a maternity leave, so I jumped at the chance to work with PASS. I enjoy working with a fantastic team on exciting projects, and I have a great work-life balance.
If we stopped by your home office for a cup of coffee, what would we notice?
I live in the heart of Toronto in a fairly small and ancient house, which forces me to get creative with my space. My office is located in the basement and doubles as a playroom for my children outside of office hours. There are various “masterpieces” on the walls and a long, bright-red cabinet that stores my printer, router, NAS box, various binders and notebooks, a stash of Twizzlers candy, and my laptop. It’s a fun working environment that often reminds me not to take life too seriously.
What do you like to do to relax and re-energize yourself?
I have 3-year-old twins, which does not leave much time for relaxation, but when I do steal some time for myself, I like to read. I just finished Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, and it was so touching that I think I’ll have to re-read it – it was that good. I also enjoy taking my dog for long walks and slipping off to my favourite coffee shop to recharge.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
In 2006, I travelled to Tanzania, where I trekked Mount Kilimanjaro. It was one of the best and most unforgettable experiences of my life. Also on my bucket list is to paddle the Nahanni River in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
What would tempt you to voluntarily stay up for 24 hours straight?
That’s a good question. There is little that would tempt me to want to stay up for 24 hours unless there was a really cool online event – something along the lines of 24 consecutive hours of free online training sessions. Has that been done before? Someone should really get on that.
Break into a sweat at the thought of speaking in public? Speaker Programs Coordinator Marcella McKeown knows how you feel and is here to support you and the hundreds of speakers who present at PASS events around the world.
You returned to the PASS HQ team last summer to oversee Speaker Programs. What are your responsibilities, and what do you enjoy most about your role?
The main role of Speaker Programs coordinator is to work directly with the Program Committees for PASS Summit, SQLRally, and 24 Hours of PASS. My primary responsibilities include back-end general and administrative support to these teams, enabling them to carry out a variety of initiatives such as call for speakers, community votes, and online session scheduling. I help manage communications with speakers about various details and logistics before each event and work on a multitude of tasks such as speaker contracts, agenda proofing, preparing the session scheduling grid, Orator projects, website updates, sign printing, and onsite logistics for speakers.
What do I enjoy most about the role? It is definitely the people. From the Program Committee members and the speakers to all the attendees who make these events possible, I enjoy meeting and working with all the passionate volunteers who care so much about this organization and these events.
How has PASS changed during your absence?
PASS has grown significantly, nearly doubling in membership since I left on maternity leave 2 years ago. The addition of SQLRally and 24 Hours of PASS are also big and exciting changes that I’m eager to get involved in.
Tell us a little about the Orator toolset and the features you think are most helpful to speakers at PASS events. Anything that people might not be using to full advantage or that’s coming soon?
Since returning to PASS, I’ve been very impressed by the in-house-built Orator system. Kudos to the volunteers and IT team for building a highly functional tool that keeps everything in one place and makes it easier to perform reviews, pull reports, update websites, enter and track session evaluations, deliver a session builder, and even contact our speakers directly through the tool.
The feature that should be most useful to speakers is the Speaker Portal, which lets us communicate upcoming deadlines, details, updates, and changes. It also houses the speaker contract and the speaker profile, where speakers can add/update their information, biography, and photos. The tool also encompasses AV requirements, and when the time comes, displays the speaker’s session date, time, and location. In addition, it provides a page where speakers can upload their PPT presentations and demos.
The perennial question: What’s the secret to a perfect session abstract?
I wish I had a definitive answer to this difficult question! Speaking strictly as an observer/non-speaker, I would say the answer depends on many different variables. First, topic selection is very important. Once you’ve selected a topic you are comfortable presenting and answering questions on and can cover sufficiently in the allotted session time, then the abstract is easier to accomplish. I suggest you keep the abstract short, simple, and direct. Provide a brief outline of your session content, and make sure to emphasize the benefits of attending.
What would you tell the many SQL Server and BI pros out there who want to start presenting on their favorite topics but don’t know where to begin? What resources does PASS have for them?
My advice is to lay the groundwork for speaking by learning as much as you can from those around you. Talk to speakers at events you attend, and corner Program Committee members when you see them at PASS Summit. Find a topic that is popular and with which you are knowledgeable and comfortable presenting, as well as answering questions on.
You can find speaking opportunities through your local PASS Chapter. And PASS events such as SQLSaturdays, SQLRally, 24 Hours of PASS, and, of course, PASS Summit are all excellent venues for gaining speaking experience. You can find a wealth of speaker resources on the PASS Speaker Resource page and the PASS Chapters page.
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
I majored in Criminology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. However, as engaging as my classes had been, there weren’t many job prospects I was interested in pursuing at the end of it. I spent the next 10 years working at a few Internet consulting companies in the administration, office management, and HR departments, which led me to a love of event planning and eventually to a job posting for a Program Coordinator position at Christianson & Company for PASS.
If we visited your PASS HQ office, what we would notice?
I’m pretty orderly. I like to keep my workspace neat and tidy with little on the surface. Aside from my water bottle and coffee cup, I keep a photo of my little one next to my monitor and have a SQLCAT Panther lurking just below it.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I am a homebody and enjoy being at home with my family. I love to read and play video games, so I try to squeeze those in when I can, which seems to be less and less these days. I spend the majority of my spare time playing with my 2-year-old son and visiting with family and close friends on the weekends.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I have dual Canadian/US citizenship. My parents had the travel bug in their early ‘30s, so I was born in New Orleans and spent my first 5 years growing up in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany, before settling down in British Columbia.
If you could give a presentation on any topic under the sun, what would you speak on?
Ironically, I have a crippling fear of public speaking. But if I were able to overcome it, I would probably speak on “How to overcome your fear of public speaking.” :)
Community Evangelist Karla Landrum is spreading the good news about PASS Chapters and SQLSaturdays around the world and helping develop a new generation of leaders in the SQL Server community. No wonder her Twitter avatar is Wonder Woman.
You joined the PASS HQ team last summer as Community Evangelist – a great title, BTW. What are your responsibilities in this role?
Primarily I work to spread and grow PASS Chapters and SQLSaturdays – mentoring new and existing user-group leaders and event organizers on ways they can help increase their attendance, get sponsors and speakers, and in general, better market their events and meetings. Many of our volunteers are master DBAs and SQL Server gurus, but they do not necessarily have the experience or knowledge about how to market their meetings/events. Imbedded within the evangelist role and through these channels, my goal is to reach as many people as possible to spread the word about what PASS is and what we have to offer to everyone in the SQL Server community.
The past year saw 33 new PASS chapters, bringing us to 250 around the world at the start of 2012. What’s behind the amazing growth, and what do we have in place for folks looking to start a chapter or transition their user group to PASS affiliation?
2011 was a great year for chapter growth – both in terms of new chapters as well as in depth and health of existing chapters. Most leads about potential new chapters come from our group of amazing Regional Mentors. I then spend a lot of time talking to folks before they start a chapter, walking through all their questions, identifying the “gotchas” to avoid, and helping with how to market their user group.
Another contributing factor to our growth has been just the SQL Server community itself. It’s just a phenomenal global network, and folks attending community events and other meetings are saying, “Wow! I want to bring this to my town.” It’s really word of mouth. So many people are spreading the word about PASS, and those folks are directing potential leaders my way so I can help them get over any initial concerns and let them know about the biggest benefit of all – the powerful support system behind them when joining as a PASS chapter.
A perennial problem for many local Chapters has been finding speakers or content for their meetings. Are there any programs on the horizon to help with that?
The need for speakers for local user group meetings is a huge problem worldwide. I can’t speak too much about the details of what the plans are just yet, but we are working on a couple of projects, defining the scope of, say, what a Speaker Bureau should look like. Hopefully, we will be able to offer an approach that’s easy to use, accessible, scalable, and sustainable and that meets the needs of our chapters to find quality speakers.
There has been a lot of community discussion lately about growing leaders. What’s your vision for how PASS can help mentor new chapter and committee leaders and event organizers?
There are a lot of community efforts surrounding the goal of building community leaders, and within PASS, I’m most dedicated to ramping up the Regional Mentor program. I was an RM myself before joining PASS HQ, and I see the role as key to helping identify, mentor, and support new leaders. I work with the RMs to get them the knowledge and tools they need to be good mentors within their regions. New chapters especially can really struggle in their first few months and need the guidance that these experienced leaders can provide.
The SQLSaturday phenomenon is spreading everywhere – most weekends have at least one and there are as many international events scheduled through April as US events. For those who’ve never been to a SQLSaturday, how would you describe it? Any new trends you’re seeing in SQLSaturdays?
SQLSaturdays are so beneficial to so many people, providing free training in many places that would never even see such expertise in their hometowns. Between the quality training, the concentrated networking, the growing of more expert speakers, the showcasing of sponsor tools and services… it’s just an all-around win for everyone involved. We’re seeing several new trends. Many SQLSaturdays are now including full tracks for Professional Development, even getting sponsoring recruiters to do some resume building and interviewing workshops. Several are starting to add Women in Technology panel discussions – some even hosting a luncheon, much like at the Summit – as well as adding for-a-fee pre-cons the day before their events.
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
I spent the last 12 years with a software development company in Pensacola – 4 of those in a tier-2 support role using SQL almost daily. Needing to learn more SQL, I attended my first SQLSaturday in Jacksonville in 2008 and was immediately addicted to community and learning. I started a user group the very next month. Over the next several years, I invested more and more time into the SQL Server community, including hosting three SQLSaturdays in Pensacola, one in Hawaii, and volunteering at dozens of other events. These contributions to the community and my role as an RM led to me being offered this newly defined position with PASS. I’m passionate about the SQL Server community and PASS, and I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity.
If you invited us for a cup of coffee in your home office in Orlando, what would we notice?
Two pools. One is an in-ground swimming pool, and the other is a cherry wood pool table. Two things I’ve wanted to own my whole life and finally bought a home large enough to where I can have both.
You’re known for your unflagging energy – a great characteristic for an evangelist – what do you do to relax?
I’ve been on the road a lot – racking up 12 events in my first 6 months, including SQLBits in the UK and SQLSaturday #100 in Brazil – and reading really helps me unwind. Aside from reading, camping is not just relaxing but very therapeutic for me. I love sitting by a roaring fire under the stars, listening to the sounds coming from nature and the wildlife around me. Rodney and I will just sit and talk for hours all night—no cell phones, no laptops or other devices chaining us to the world, just totally absorbing each other’s every word without distractions. It’s great having your husband as your best friend, who thankfully also loves camping. Hopefully there will be lots more camping and reading in 2012 for this girl!
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I am a grandmother. I have a grandson who will be 3 next month, and a granddaughter who just turned 5. They are super precious, and I just love being their “Grams.” My son-in-law is from Guam, and both look just like him, so I call them my “Little Island Babies.” They call Rodney “Papa Wahnee,” and they think that Lady Gaga song, Paparazzi, is about him. They sing it at the top of their lungs: “I’ll follow you until you love me, Papa-Papa Wahnee.” Too cute!
If you were designing a SQLSaturday t-shirt, what would it say?
My old fave was “SQLSaturdays Gone Wild.” To list all the ideas running through my head now would be way too much for this interview, but here are a few samples: “SQLSaturdays - Romper Room for DBAs,” or “Kool Aid for DBAs,” “Bacon & Geeks & SQLSaturdays,” “SQLSaturdays are My Tiger Blood,”… really, I’ll stop here because I could go on forever.
Handling the logistics for PASS’s many events keeps Anika Poliseno literally running, but she (usually) has her feet firmly on the ground, calming solving the unexpected and helping ensure attendees have an excellent experience.
You joined PASS HQ Event Operations in November 2010 and now manage all event-related logistics–what are your main responsibilities?
I joined PASS HQ just over a year ago, and coming into this role, I wasn’t 100 percent certain what to expect. I knew I was going to be mainly in charge of events, but I didn’t know at what level I was going to be involved. As the months have passed, I’ve been taking on more and more responsibilities, and I now oversee all event-related operations/logistics. It’s hard to narrow down my main responsibilities, as I touch a lot of everything, but in a nut shell, here are the main things I take care of: all RFP processes, venue negotiations and food and beverages, all event-related contracts, and hotel room blocks. I also work closely with our awesome production and marketing teams and lots more! In addition to all the event-related items, I help out with all HR tasks here at HQ.
Looking back at your first year at PASS HQ, what have been some of the defining moments?
My “first” PASS Summit without a doubt has been one of the biggest defining moments this past year. I say first, but it was actually my second Summit. My first day working for PASS HQ was also the first day of Summit 2010. I felt part of the PASS family the moment I arrived onsite in Seattle. Tear-jerker aside, my “real” first Summit would be the one we just completed in October. I won’t lie, it was stressful, and it’s to blame for my new grey hairs. But it was also very successful and most definitely one of my most defining moments here at PASS HQ.
In your experience, what are the key factors in choosing an excellent venue for an event?
There are several key factors in choosing the perfect venue, and so many different variables come into play. It is different for each event. General rule of thumb: A well-priced venue with outstanding customer service and that’s flexible to our needs usually will get my vote.
It seems like the saying “whatever can go wrong, will” often applies to logistics. How do you manage the unexpected and still deliver an excellent experience for attendees?
That’s the joy of being an event planner – there’s always something that comes out of left field! Usually, events are planned inside and out, and everything is double- and cross-checked before the big day. That doesn’t mean the unexpected won’t happen, though – even if you have been working on an event for an entire year. It will – it always does – and that’s what I love most about my job. Being on your toes 24/7 during events, troubleshooting as the days go by… And the trick is never look stressed and always remain calm, because let’s face it, there’s always a solution to everything and nothing is as bad as it may seem.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you during an event?
This is easy to answer because it just happened to me last Summit… Okay, maybe it wasn’t funny for me, but it was most definitely funny for the hundreds of people who were around and saw the wipe-out happen in front of them. Long story short, I was running from the Expo Hall back to the PASS HQ room. I had been on my feet since the previous Friday running around everywhere, and by Wednesday when it was time for the Expo Reception, my feet were terribly blistered (not to worry, blistered feet come with the territory!). As I was running with a limp, because blisters hurt less that way, I tripped and fell in front of the PASS Booth, landing in front of the bookstore. I fell flat on both my knees and whacked my shoulder on the ground. Not only did I fall, but I utterly embarrassed myself – my walkie-talkie went flying, my cell phone took a good hit, and I lost both my shoes. Seriously, who loses their shoes when falling!? For those who were there and helped me up, thank you so very much!
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
I moved to Vancouver from my home town of Montreal on October 12, 2010. I come from a strong hospitality background and managed several multimillion-dollar events. My client base was vast, from pharmaceuticals companies to firms that specialize in the beauty industry. I’ve gained most of my knowledge working in the field. When I arrived in Vancouver, I fortunately had the luxury of taking my time to find the perfect job, and as you can all see, I did! Just about 2 weeks after arriving on the West Coast, I had my first interview at PASS HQ. After several interviews, I was asked to come and see firsthand what Summit was all about. I accepted the invite and on that Thursday was officially hired. The rest is history!
If we visited your PASS HQ office, what would we notice?
Oh boy, please give me some warning before you arrive! I have piles of paper filed on the floor (not to worry – they are going into binders soon). And although my desk is messy, it’s clean. I am addicted to Windex – my desk is white, and I don’t like dust! Every time I leave the office for more than 2 days, I do a full clean-up. Michelle [Nalliah] always makes fun of me when this happens! On my desk, you’ll find an iPod docking station, a turquoise and pink picture frame with a picture of my best girlfriends from back home, hand cream and sweet pea hand sanitizer, and Post-its – lots of Post-its all over! Weird quirk of mine: I only write with a specific purple pen – the Paper Mate Flexgrip Ultra. And when going through my hundreds of pages of BEOs [Banquet Event Orders], the red pen comes out. You’ll also probably find the morning leftover coffee and a glass of water, if it hasn’t already spilled everywhere. I tend to spill about one or two glasses of water a month.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I really enjoy cooking. I try to do everything scratch-made. If I had it my way, I would have a dinner party each night. And whenever we get a long weekend or a few days off in a row, I’ll go explore what BC has to offer, discover new places, and go camping in the middle of nowhere.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I had a goal that if by 2010 I wasn’t an event planner, I was going to drop everything, go back to school, and become a paramedic. I became a meeting planner well before 2010, so now I need to find a new goal.
If you could put on your dream event, what would that be?
A Royal Wedding!
In the middle of her first PASS Board elections, Senior Governance and Community Administrator Michelle Nalliah is looking forward to a tight and well fought race to add to her collection of amazing tales.
You joined PASS HQ in May as the Senior Governance and Community Administrator – what are your main roles?
I have two roles essentially: serving as the administrative contact person for Chapters and the support person for the Board of Directors. For Chapters, I can provide help ranging from the PASS website to Chapter agreements. For the Board, I provide meeting support and keep tabs on the governance requirements of the organization. I really like the mix as it provides perspective. I see PASS at the grassroots level when I work with Chapters and SQLSaturdays, but I also get to see the future vision of PASS develop when I assist the Board.
In supporting the PASS Board and NomCom in the elections process, what would you like to see in this year’s Board of Directors elections?
We have a very qualified and talented group of applicants for this year’s election, which should make things interesting. I would like to see a tight and well fought race. I hope a good race will urge people to become involved in the elections process and start their own journey toward leadership. You can’t wake up one morning and decide you want to be on the Board. It is a lot of hard work, and if people become excited about the possibilities and potential of being a Director, they can start the process of building up the skills and experience necessary to shape PASS’s future. As much as the thought of the increased workload scares me, the idea of having more and more candidates is very exciting.
At Board meetings and gatherings like the recent PASS Board Meet and Greet/Q&A at PASS Summit, we can find you furiously taking notes in the corner. What’s your secret to reporting on many of the organization’s meetings and discussions?
My secret? Don’t tell anyone, but I’m essentially a town gossip with too many degrees. I am interested in capturing what was said and how an idea grows. I have a background in politics and an inherent desire to be “in the know.” The Board is full of incredibly smart and opinionated people, and they often grapple with fascinating concepts, so taking notes is pretty easy for me – it’s like plotting out a very nerdy soap opera.
You work closely with Karla Landrum on the Community Team – what are some of the most helpful benefits/support tasks that we provide to Chapters, Virtual Chapters, Regional Mentors, and SQLSaturdays? Anything people might not be aware of or might not be taking full advantage of?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the Chapter Management Module is a great tool. Part of the PASS website, the CMM allows Chapter Leaders to email their membership, attract new members, update their contact details, and a slew of other features. The more people put into keeping their chapters current, the more we can direct traffic to them and build up their membership. If you aren’t part of a Chapter yet, the CMM can help you find your local active group. Karla and I are always available to help people with the CMM features. No..., Karla and I are always available to help people – Full Stop.
As a PASS Summit “first-timer,” what are your impressions coming off your inaugural conference this fall?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like Summit before. It’s a huge conference – I took photos of the Summit banners on Pike Street and the packed keynote sessions – but it maintains a wonderful sense of intimacy and community. I admit it, I was perplexed by all the tweets about people being psyched for Summit and was taken aback by people greeting each other like long-lost friends at the registration area on the first day. But by Friday evening, I was getting goodbye hugs and had a pocket full of business cards that I’m eager to follow up on.
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
My CV is a little eccentric. I have degrees from Montreal, Canada, and Sydney, Australia. I’ve worked around the world – Hawaii, New York, Canada, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. I’ve worked in tiny start-ups based out of the owner’s spare room and in large organizations such as the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. PASS HQ has been a great opportunity to use this wide and unique spectrum of skills.
If we visited your PASS HQ office, what we would notice?
If you visited, you probably wouldn’t notice me at first. I’m tucked into the corner, and right now I’m sharing an office with the newest addition to the team, Lana Montgomery. I think my office makes me look like a bit of a nut job. I have lists upon lists on my walls – Board deadlines, elections timelines, Chapter listings, time zone notes…
The best things in my office are the maps. As PASS grows globally, they’ve proven indispensable. I have a world map and a detailed US map – I love getting emails from community members and being able to see where they are! It boggles my mind sometimes how far spread this community really is.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Summit just ended, so I’m not used to spare time! I feel pretty lost when I have it now.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I had cancer. Knock on wood, I’m OK now, but when I was going through treatment, I promised myself that I would live a thousand lives over. All I wanted was to beat cancer, grow old, and end up regaling people with stories of an amazing life. I think I’m doing a pretty good job at racking up some tales. I’m always open to suggestions for new adventures. Well, except for SQLKaraoke. It’s not going to happen, people.
What’s the best day you’ve had at PASS HQ since you started?
The best is yet to come. Excuse me while I make fun of myself for that answer.
From PASS newsletters, web updates, and Events page postings to Summit and SQLSaturday swag, sponsorship ads, and more, Marketing and Sponsorship Coordinator Sanjeet Gandham gets the word out.
As PASS HQ’s Marketing and Sponsorship person, you have a wide range of responsibilities. Can you summarize your main roles for our readers?
In terms of marketing, I work on mail-outs, so that includes putting all newsletter content into HTML and sending out the PASS Connector, the Summit Bulletin to PASS Summit registrants, and emails to the membership. I add content to the sqlpass.org and Summit sites, approve events that are submitted via the Events page on sqlpass.org, and order swag for PASS SQLSaturdays. For sponsorships, I work closely with Al Shuler. Al sells sponsorships, and I am responsible for executing on all contract deliverables. For instance, for sponsor contracts for Summit, I ensure logo placement wherever we’ve promised it – this may include placing logos on the website, in mailings, or on the conference notepad, bag, lanyard, pen, etc. I also collect ads for the Program Guide and make sure all sponsors get their inserts to the venue ready for the bag stuffing. In addition, I work with sponsors that have bought sponsorship slots in our e-newsletter, banner ads on the PASS site, or emails to our membership, identifying available dates, sending specs, and collecting content.
From the click-through analysis you do for the bi-weekly PASS Connector newsletter, what kinds of content do our members like most?
Technical articles in the newsletter tend to get a high rate of clicks, as do professional development articles. When we ask people what sessions they’d like to see at PASS Summit, that is always popular, as is any content on must-see sessions for Summit or 24 Hours of PASS. The Events page on the PASS site gets a fair number of clicks, too.
In your experience working behind the scenes to help support PASS’s many events – from Summit, SQLRally, and SQLSaturdays to other regional and international gatherings – what are some key success factors you’ve noticed?
The SQL Server community is passionate about learning and networking with their peers. If we continue to organize events where they’ll find awesome content, speakers, and networking opportunities, they’ll have a great experience.
What part do sponsors play in our community? What do you enjoy most about working with them?
Sponsors are integral to our community. Their financial commitments help, for example, SQLSaturday organizers buy t-shirts, supply lunches, and pay for the venue. Similarly, their support of PASS Summit helps us offer great things like session evaluation prizes (Dell Minis), free 5-minute chair massages (courtesy of Dell this year), and prizes for Quizbowl – not to mention supporting the WIT Luncheon, the First-Timers program, and more. Their support helps us make events more valuable and fun for all. On top of that, our sponsors are great to work with – I’ve worked with many of the same contacts for several years now, and our communication is second to none. It feels like a team.
What are the best swag items you’ve seen at PASS events?
I’m usually so busy at the PASS Booth that I don’t get to see all the swag in the Expo Hall, but I always notice the Idera rubber duck at Summit each year!
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
I went to law school, but after completion, I decided that it wasn’t the field I wanted to go into. I was always more business minded, and so I did a Masters in Business and then worked for the school board in the research and marketing department. I moved to Vancouver in 2005 and worked for Ernst and Young, largely on its Entrepreneur of the Year Program, which entailed the call for nominations, mini events, and organizing the awards banquet. Having worked on this for 2 years and feeling like I’d excelled at it, I wanted something with more responsibility. That’s when I applied for the job with C&C. At first, it was a transition going from working in a huge corporation to a small office, but it’s been for the best as I’ve found my job here very fulfilling.
If we visited your PASS HQ office space, what we would notice?
I share an office with Marcella McKeown, and it’s wonderful to work alongside her. We both started at C&C on April Fool’s day in 2008, and she recently returned from maternity leave – it seems like she never left! On my desk, you’ll see organized piles of work (low piles!) and Post-it notes around my monitor as reminders. You’ll see swag in my office too – Summit DVDs, t-shirts, and SQLSaturday stickers that get sent to events – and samples of things like pens and lanyards, which a vendor drops off as we start choosing items for Summit.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like working out – I have a treadmill at home and go to the gym whenever I feel like a change. I have got back into swimming over the summer, though in the weeks leading up to Summit, my exercise routine becomes non-existent! I have a passion for interior decorating and enjoy eating out, spa treatments, baking, and reading magazines.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I have an identical twin sister, and my husband is a twin too (though fraternal). Plus, my twin and my husband’s twin share the same name. I believe I was destined to meet my husband!
If you could win one prize in the raffles or giveaways at PASS Summit 2011, what would it be and why?
Well, I have a camera, webcam, and a phone that I like. What I’d really like to win at Summit is the $10,000 prize from the Varigence Biml Challenge. Now that would be lovely! I could have that trip to Dubai I’ve been dreaming of…
In the hectic leadup to his fifth PASS Summit, PASS’s Operations Manager shares some behind-the-scenes secrets and his excitement around SQLSaturdays, SQLRally, and working with inspiring community volunteers.
What are your primary roles as Operations Manager for PASS?
Being the Operations Manager means I am involved in most aspects of the operations at HQ. This includes overseeing the planning and execution of events, as well as managing the day-to-day operations within a team of 12. I am also involved with getting new projects off the ground that are proposed and approved by the board.
How many PASS Summits have you worked on? What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in Summit since you joined PASS HQ in 2007?
I am working on my fifth Summit. One of the biggest changes I have seen over the years is Microsoft’s engagement in the Summit and PASS. Every year, it has played a bigger role and invested more into the event through participation and promotion. Another area where we have seen a big change is community involvement in the planning and execution of some of the onsite activities. The success of the Women in Technology and Birds of a Feather lunches, Ask the Experts, the First Timers Program, and more are directly due to the hard work and dedication of community volunteers.
So much happens pre-event and behind the scenes to ensure a successful conference – what are some things people might be surprised to learn about the process?
The thing that always amazes me is the amount of time and planning that goes into the event in the 8 months leading up to it. Once on site, it takes only two and a half days to get the venue ready, and then when it’s over, the show is completely taken down within 5 hours.
What has it been like to see the continued and growing success of SQLSaturday events and, now, the addition of SQLRally conferences?
It has been extremely rewarding to see the value that the SQLSaturday events have brought to the community. The passion and energy invested by the event leaders to bring free education to SQL Server users is truly inspiring. We are now seeing that flow into the international arena, with at least five global events in the works in the next six months.
As for SQLRally, it feels that this style of event is going to do well. The inaugural Orlando event in May was a success thanks to all the hard work from the community and HQ, and I see this trend continuing with the latest work being done on the SQLRally Nordic 2011 and SQLRally Dallas 2012 events. We are also in talks with two more potential International events as part of our newest global reach efforts. It’s been exciting to be a part of all that is going on.
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
My background is in publishing, and I spent many years as a production manager for a travel magazine. After the print industry began to die down, I moved into a customer service role at Kodak as the District Service Manager for Western Canada. In that role, I volunteered to assist at the Kodak Graphic User Group conferences under the leadership of Judy Christianson. This gave me some event experience, and I loved doing it. When Judy was selected to manage PASS, I jumped at the opportunity to work with her and her team, and here I am today!
If we visited your office at PASS HQ, what would we notice?
Our office has a great feel and is very comfortable. We are dog friendly, so I am able to bring my Pomeranian/Chow Lucky to the office, which is nice and forces me to get out of my chair and go for a walk twice a day. You’d also notice that I have Summit posters on the wall from the past two years, which bring back a lot of good memories.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my off hours, I love to garden and read up on producing organically grown vegetables. I also enjoy golfing and getting out to a movie once a week.
What have you learned about the SQL Server community in working with so many volunteers over the years?
I have learned that this community of SQL Server users is vibrant and extremely passionate. I am inspired at the dedication of the board members and the amount of their own time that they invest into ensuring the community is strong and continues to grow.
What’s PASS IT Manager David Yang’s favorite project, what’s next for PASS IT, and just where do SQL Server and badminton come into play? Read on for all the answers.
When did you start working at PASS HQ, and what are your main roles?
I started at PASS HQ as the IT Manager on November 3, 2008. IT at PASS was a team of one for all things technical until Wesley Chang came to my aid in April 2010 as our new full-time Systems Administrator. Wesley has been a huge help with our server-side projects and has recently hopped on SQLSaturday development with Jason Lau’s arrival. Jason is the newest addition to our IT team and has been working as a temp-to-full-time Systems Administrator since February 2011 to help with the growing number of Help desk requests we get. The easiest way to summarize my current role would be (in no particular order) IT Manager + Systems Analyst + Project Lead + Developer. Most of the IT team members wear multiple hats, which is vital for a team our size.
What have been your favorite IT projects at PASS?
There have been a lot of projects in the 3 years I have been with PASS, and I have enjoyed them all. But from a big-picture perspective, my favorite project to date would have to be the Orator project. Orator is our in-house, web-based, speaker-management tool, which first came into use last summer (2010) as the Abstract Review Module. The module was developed with strict requirements, following the detailed abstract review process used by PASS’s amazing Program Committee. If you are a speaker, you may have seen other modules of the Orator project when we launched the Call for Speakers module (used for Summit 2011 and both SQLRally 2011 events) and then the Session Preferencing and Speaker Portal modules. The top reasons why I love this project are the complexity of scope and the cost-savings to the organization. I believe we are saving as much as an additional RFT/FTE (annually) with this in-house tool, and that means a lot to me. Developing the Orator modules in-house also meant creating a customized solution tailored to our needs, which is incomparable to what we were limited to using previously.
What are you working on for the future?
What’s coming is no secret. As the IT team has evolved, grown, and matured (especially in the last year or so), we are able to work simultaneously on Orator 2.0, Chapter management tools, and the SQLSaturday website. The list goes on, but these are our higher priority projects at the moment.
What part does SQL Server play in the PASS IT infrastructure?
What is SQL Server...? Just kidding! We’ve upgraded to SQL Server 2008 R2 this year, and it is without question an essential part of our servers. All PASS sites (Chapter portals, Virtual Chapter portals, 24 Hours of PASS, Summit, SQLRally, and SQLSaturday) run on our production SQL Server. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) technologies play key roles in the new features we have released on our sites.
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to work at PASS HQ.
I actually came from the gaming industry as a Software Engineer at Electronic Arts Canada. I worked at EAC from 2006 to 2008, and I only realized shortly after leaving that I gained a vast amount of knowledge from my time there. The teams I worked on were always in transition, and I was given the opportunity to work both in game development and web application development using .NET, SharePoint, and SQL Server. I joined PASS HQ 2 weeks before Summit 2008, and it has been one amazing roller coaster ride from there, exponentially expanding my technical know-how with IT in the office to IT in the cloud.
If we visited your PASS HQ office, what we would notice?
How small we are! And I mean that in terms of number of people and office space. The IT room has 3 desks crammed into it. I like to keep my desk clear of papers except the occasional Post-it note. On one side of the room, we’ve got a big whiteboard, and on the other side, you’ll see a large PASS Summit 2009 poster on the wall. We are a tight, hardworking (and friendly, eh?) bunch, working closely alongside one another driving every PASS initiative from ideas to actuality.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Aside from spending 91.7% of all my time in front of a computer, I am a big badminton fan and play every Sunday at the local rec center. For pleasure and for health, badminton is just one of those sports you never tire of, even with age.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
These questions are getting personal, aren’t they?! Well, I’m betting few people know this, but I recently married my high school sweetheart after a decade together in May. We are lucky to have found each other early, and having found a job I enjoyed, I knew the timing was perfect. We’ve been happily married since our wedding in April this year.
What sessions are on your can’t-miss list for PASS Summit 2011?
There are so many great ones to choose from, I’m going to have a hard time fitting in all the sessions I want to attend (but that’s what the DVDs are for, right? :). I’m especially looking forward to Reporting Services 201: From Basic to WOW! with Jes Schultz Borland and Tim Mitchell’s Advanced Components in SSIS.