Join Quest to learn how Foglight for SQL Server enables you spend less time on performance management tasks with comprehensive monitoring, non-stop data collection, and instant metric-sensitive alerts and scalable, easy to configure workload. Quickly access all the information you need to achieve optimal SQL Server performance.

Abstract: The PASS MN Board will be answering questions and helping solve issues. Do you have something that's been driving you crazy, a problem that you haven't been able to figure out or looking for a better way of doing something? Bring your SQL Server issues to the December Chapter meeting and we'll do our best to get you pointed in the right direction.

Abstract: My experience at many dozens of companies indicates that most database implementations don't follow some of the most fundamental best practices. Learn how basic built-in features can be leveraged to make your databases both more maintainable and more secure. Features covered include schema use and a detailed comparison between Ownership Chaining, Execute-As and Certificate Signing.

About Rick: Rick has 35 years experience as a systems, applications and database architect having designed major systems for such institutions as NASDAQ, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ecolab and Emperex. He holds multiple certifications including MCITP and MCSE in Business Intelligence and Data Platform. Rick currently designs database systems for custom software applications and likes speaking at local user groups and SQL Saturday events.

Abstract: As a DBA, it's very likely that your SQL Servers are virtualized, and viewing them as part of a complex system becomes more important. Attend this session to learn the key components to the SQL ecosystem, and how they interact with other aspects of your IT environment. I'll show you a few gotchas to be aware of, and a few neat tricks you can possibly take advantage of. I'll also talk about some key communication points across teams, and ways to facilitate the flow of information. When you leave this session, you'll have starting points for conversations with your sysadmins or ways to change the conversations you've been having – and I'll show you how I got the data to change the conversations I've had.

About Amanda: Amanda is currently the DBA for APi Group, Inc., a parent company to multiple specialty construction companies headquartered in the Twin Cities and with over 200 locations worldwide. Although she reported through the infrastructure team for her first two and a half years at APi Group, she is taking part in a “Leading Change” initiative and is now reporting through the development team. She has been working with SQL Server as either a developer or DBA since the 1990s, and has a fascination with internals and virtualization. She can’t seem to stop asking “How does that work?"

Abstract: If you've never queried an XML column you definitely want to attend. While targeted to beginners this isn't a "Just do this" session. After this session I'd like you to truly understand even subtle nuances of basic query syntax. Seasoned veterans stand a fair chance of learning something new.

About Rick: Rick has 35 years experience as a systems, applications and database architect having designed major systems for such institutions as NASDAQ, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ecolab and Emperex. He holds multiple certifications including MCITP and MCSE in Business Intelligence and Data Platform. Rick currently designs database systems for custom software applications and likes speaking at local user groups and SQL Saturday events.

Abstract: Microsoft introduced temporal tables in SQL Server 2016. Whether you manage history in a separate table or wish you could revert back to the correct version when users make a mistake, you will find that temporal tables are a simple implementation to support those needs. We will look at these and other scenarios then walk through the creation, querying, and management of temporal tables.

About Steve: Steve is a Principal Consultant Lead at Pragmatic Works. He is currently responsible for guiding the Principal Consultant team and working with other areas in the organization to build out our data and analytics offerings. His area of expertise is in data and business intelligence architecture on the Microsoft SQL Server platform. He was also the data architect for a SaaS company which delivered a transportation management solution for fleets across the United States. Steve has co-authored three books and delivered many presentations on SQL Server and data architecture. He also provides insights from the field on his blog at http://www.dataonwheels.com

Abstract: Join Ross McNeely and David Winegar from Tail Wind as they present on Azure Analysis Services and Agile Data Development. Ross will review how and where Azure Analysis Services fits into your company’s data capabilities. A quick demo on how to spin up Azure Analysis Services, and how to build and deploy a Tabular model from SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) to Azure. David will cover an agile hybrid approach to delivering data solutions rigorously, inexpensively, and quickly. Almost everyone has two data environments but they often need 3 or 4 environments to keep up with requests, while keeping costs down. David will start by laying out SQL Server and SSIS strategies/capabilities to show you how an Agile hybrid model will help deliver solid data solutions.

About Ross: Ross is a Tail Wind Principal Consultant in Data Management, and the Practice Manager of Business Intelligence. He works with external vendors, customers, and partners to integrate disperse data sources. Throughout most of his 15-year career he has been specializing in Information Management, and implementing solutions for Information Strategy, Information Asset Management, Enterprise Data Management, and Business Intelligence.

About David: David is a Solutions Architect for Data and the Cloud, with Tail Wind. He has been delivering SQL Server and BI solutions for the better part of two decades and has been working with the cloud for the past 5 years. His passion for SQL Server and the Cloud stem from his love, some might say OCD-ness, of the efficiency, scalability and cost savings able to found by utilizing the synergies of both platforms.

Abstract: If you've never queried an XML column you definitely want to attend. While targeted to beginners this isn't a "Just do this" session. After this session I'd like you to truly understand even subtle nuances of basic query syntax. Seasoned veterans stand a fair chance of learning something new.

About Rick: Rick has 35 years experience as a systems, applications and database architect having designed major systems for such institutions as NASDAQ, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ecolab and Emperex. He holds multiple certifications including MCITP and MCSE in Business Intelligence and Data Platform. Rick currently designs database systems for custom software applications and likes speaking at local user groups and SQL Saturday events.

Abstract: Azure SQL Database provides fantastic scalability and flexibility for your data tier. You can scale it up with ease when you need more power and scale it down again when load returns to normal. With the pay as you go model, you pay for each database based on performance characteristics. But when you have a scaled out architecture of hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of databases, how can you keep costs from spiraling out of control? How can you query across all of those databases? How can you MANAGE so many databases? How can you write your application to make the right decisions about where to put which data? This session will introduce you to four key pieces of this overall story: Elastic Database Pools, Elastic Query, Elastic Database Jobs, and the Elastic Database Tools .Net library. With these tools, you take your Azure SQL Database data tier to the next level of scale and manageability.

About Mark: Mark is a Data Solution Architect for Microsoft and a former Data Platform MVP. He has been speaking on Microsoft data technologies at conferences and user groups for a decade. With a background in Theater and Improvised Comedy, Mark makes sure his presentations are informative AND fun.

Abstract: As companies start to embrace cloud based technologies, IT organizations will need to understand the available solution capabilities. Microsoft Azure is full of tools that improve data movement, storage, analysis and consumption. Some traditional on-premise concepts still apply and others do not. In this session, we will look at real world customer examples embracing Azure and provide insights into how organizations can start planning their move to the cloud.

About Dave: Dave DuVarney is President and Co-Founder of Talavant. Dave has delivered numerous business intelligence projects in both a technical and functional leadership role. Dave's latest technical focus has been on leveraging Microsoft Azure to support Business Intelligence need. Along with technical delivery, Dave has assisted clients in establishing Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence initiatives. This includes working with executive stakeholders to define objectives, assisting in the identification of team roles and implementing development best practices using Agile Scrum. Dave is currently training for his 4th marathon and hopes to not blow out a hip or calf muscle along the way.

Abstract: You are invited to be a participant on the SQL Server DBA Quiz Show; this interactive session will test your knowledge of SQL Server. We will be using an online tool to allow you to submit your answers to questions via a mobile device or laptop. If you have ever played trivia in a bar or restaurant you'll be familiar with the setup for this.

This session promises to be fast paced and fun and hopefully you will even learn something. This session will also be of value to people who need to interview or be interviewed for SQL Server positions as the questions may be the type of things you might hear in an interview.

About Eric: Eric is the SQL Server Architect for Boston Scientific, a self-proclaimed Level 70 Database Slayer, he enjoys development, performance tuning, and troubleshooting SQL Server.