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K. Brian Kelley - Databases, Infrastructure, and Security

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Author Bio
Brian is a SQL Server author, columnist, and Microsoft MVP focusing primarily on SQL Server security. He is a contributing author for How to Cheat at Securing SQL Server 2005 (Syngress) and Professional SQL Server 2008 Administration (Wrox). Brian currently serves as a database administrator / architect for AgFirst Farm Credit Bank where he can concentrate on his passion: SQL Server. He previously was a systems and security architect for AgFirst Farm Credit Bank where he worked on Active Directory, Windows security, VMware, and Citrix. In the technical community, Brian is president of the Midlands PASS Chapter, an official chapter of PASS. Brian is also a junior high youth minister at Spears Creek Baptist Church in Elgin, SC.
 

Vetting the PASS Board of Directors candidates

Rating: |  Discuss | 3,120 Reads | 2809 Reads in Last 30 Days |3 comment(s)

I've had a pretty heavy involvement in Brent Ozar's interview of Matt Morollo. The reason for my intense activity is he was an unknown factor to me. I interact with Thomas LaRock and Jeremiah Peschka on almost a daily basis through Twitter. I follow their blogs. I exchange emails with them. There are some things we agree on, others we don't, and still others we've never discussed. As a result, you didn't see me "laying the wood" to them on their interviews because I have a good sense of what they'd bring to the board, of what they think of PASS and its constituency, and what they see as pain points in our community. Brian Moran has been around a while. I've seen his track record. So while we've never talked in any way, I believe I have a good sense of what I believe he brings. But I needed to know about Matt Morollo. So I stepped in and participated heavily in the conversation.

Stuart Ainsworth made a good point that the other candidates should be similarly vetted by voters as has been done with Mr. Morollo. I explained to him why i didn't (and you see my explanation here). Jorge Segarra made another good point about Thomas LaRock having done that well through the UStream presentations he did. The bottom line is to know who you're voting for. Your vote makes a difference. If you don't know the candidates, ask them the questions you want answered. Do the research on them. Determine for yourself whether or not that person is the right person for the board or not, as Joe Webb put so eloquently:

"But I will tell you that you should give careful consideration and follow up on the questions I’ve outlined in this post. Email the candidates. Ask them questions until you’re satisfied with your knowledge and you can confidently make your decision."

So where do you start? Before you do anything else, start here: PASS Board of Directors Slate of Candidates.

Then look at what the candidates have to say for themselves (these were the two who have put more out specifically about their candidacy):

Check the interviews with Brent Ozar (and these are in alphabetical order by last name, so no one can say I'm showing Tom favoritism due to his love of bacon... because if that were true, I think Jeremiah would be 2nd on the list):

And engage with them, such as through Twitter:

In other words, take the time to understand where each candidate stands and cast your vote accordingly.

 

Comments
 

SQL Musings said:

There is an amazing debate occurring on Brent Ozar's blog where he interviewed Matt Morollo . Being

October 16, 2009 10:57 AM
 

stuart said:

Well put, and lots of resources; I think my argument is still fair for many of us in the community that DON'T have that deep raporte with some of the candidates.  And, even if we did, we should still engage them about specific details.  In short, if we already have a relationship with them, that just gives us the opportunity to go deeper.

October 16, 2009 11:20 AM
 

My Weekly Bookmarks for October 16th | Brent Ozar - SQL Server DBA said:

Pingback from  My Weekly Bookmarks for October 16th | Brent Ozar - SQL Server DBA

October 16, 2009 3:58 PM
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