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Speaker Biographies & Session Abstracts

Tjeerd Veninga

Tjeerd Veninga is Field Marketing Manager for Microsoft in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Born from a long line of school teachers, his parents have now (nearly) forgiven him for choosing a career in marketing. After university, Tjeerd worked in academic publishing, the games industry and fundraising for an international Child Aid charity. He joined Microsoft Learning 5 years ago and is truly passionate about the impact of Training and Certification on peoples’ lives and the companies they work for.

Richard Klees,

President of Communication Power, has been a communication

training specialist over 25 years. As Training Consultant for Corporate Communication Skills International his clients included American Express, Bar Association of NYC, Bristol Myers-Squibb, IBM, Citibank and the United Nations. As Vice President of Training and Corporate Affairs for Protech International, he worked with expert witnesses on their testimony before Congress and the Judiciary. Since establishing a home in Seattle in ‘91, Communication Power has conducted programs for AT&T Wireless, Weyerhaeuser, U.S. West, Flow International, Cell Pro, Lotus, Rational Software, Macromedia, Polycom, Mosaix, Synopsys Corp., G.A. Sullivan, Oblicore, v-Jungle, Paramark, digiMine, Quilogy, and, of course, Microsoft.

Since 1994, Richard has worked on countless Microsoft events and conferences, offering his unique approach to coaching speakers. Communication Power prepares speakers for over 20 MS conferences each year such as: Tech Ed, MEDC, MMS, WinHEC, Tech Ready, WPC, Convergence, PDC, MEC, MGB, MS Insider, SBC, Windows World,, SAP TechEd, Web TechEd, V Bits, Win CE DevCon, Embedded DevCon, Mobility DevCon, Office Deployment, Windows Server ’03, Windows 2000 Live, Win 2000 TechWeek, Win DNA/SQL Server 2000, VS Live, and numerous launches, airlifts and DCR events.

Groups and individuals have utilized his services in Redmond for everything from PM talks and Competitive Reviews to EBC’s , Design Reviews, BLT’s, SLT’s,and JDP Summits . He has taught monthly courses for MSTE, LDG, BLD, EDG.

Groups he’s worked with include: Win FS, Avalon, Whidbey, Indigo, RTC, PBM, CDDG, MSN, SBS, NT, OEM, Accessibility, IE, Resource Kits, Dev Tools, COM+, ZAW, Site Server, App Center, HIS, ISA, SQL, Exchange, HRD, CATM, Net Meeting, Encarta, Dev Tools, Office, XBox, Commerce Server, App Compat, Tablet PC, Smart Phone, .NET Frameworks, Ultimate TV. He has an ongoing relationship with these and other groups, along with MSTE, now EEG, working on special projects like PM BootCamp, Lead Symposium, DevNet, Tools Fair, NEO, PCM class.

He prepared individuals for meetings with press and analysts. He helped ready a Pocket PC Director for his winning debate against a Palm Pilot VP at Comdex 2000. He has worked with many executives over the years including Pete Higgins, Michael Park, Jens Moberg, KD Hallman, Michelle Buswinka, Harel Kodesh, Orlando Ayala, Gord Mangione, Russ Stockdale, Chris Atkinson, Jawad Khaki, Debbie Black, Dave Thompson, Robbie Bach, Rosa Garcia, Bob Vellone, Mitch Koch, Steve Schiro, Mike Risse, Richard Fade, Kurt Kolb, J.Allard, Iain McDonald, Allison Watson, Rosa Garcia, Soma Somasegar, Luis Jose Salazar, Tad Parker, Liza Thomas, Sabina Nawaz, Anoop Gupta, Robert Ahearn, Todd Dunlap, Leslie Osborn, John Mangelaars, Lisa Anderson, Amit Mital, Dave Campbell, Peter Boit, Joe Peterson.

Richard has trained individuals in Dublin, Stockholm, Athens, Prague, Haifa, Singapore and Copenhagen. Richard has coached speakers from all over the world including India, Turkey, Romania and China, and coached Redmond speakers on how they should present when going abroad. There is probably no other speaker coach who understands the MS culture and trains as many MS employees. Whether it’s internal or external communication, speaking in meetings, being concise, engaging executives, email, Richard values his relationships with his MS clients and they rely on him for continued success in their work.

Nowhere to Run! Being Front and Center and Making a BIG Splash.

There is nothing more important in life than communication skills. Whether it’s enhancing your relationships, growing your network, building your career, or influencing others, communication is a life skill.

Let this “force” be with you, by adopting a skill set that will capture the attention of any audience. Improve your ability to give people an experience in a learning environment.

Let us use this force for good by creating success for ourselves, our customers, students, and anyone within our sphere of influence. We are all in the same business – the business of training. We may not ever achieve perfection, but we can strive for it.

As Ernest Hemingway said, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Join me for an opinionated look at communication and presenting.

MCT Presentation Skills Training

This is an opportunity for you to get feedback on your presentation style. In order to see as many of you as possible, five MCT’s will be seen each hour.

To make this effective, it is necessary to be on time and very prepared for the session. Your slides should be prepared on a USB stick to be projected on the screen.

Each person will only have 5 minutes to present an excerpt of a longer presentation on a business topic. Do not try to squeeze 20 minutes of content into 5 minutes. Just present a 5 minute slice of some longer content. There will be no time for you to offer background or context on this talk so please have it be self-explanatory. This will take 25 minutes of the hour.

Each person will get verbal feedback for 3 minutes for a total of 15 minutes. Each person will get 3 minutes of coaching for a total of 15 minutes. 10 minutes will be spent transitioning from one group to the next.

The schedule on Day 2 will be 8:30, 9:35, 10:45, 13:05, 14:10, 15:15, and 16:20 will be the last session of the day.
The schedule on Day 3 will be 8:30, 9:35, 10:45, 13:05, 14:10, and the last session of the day will be 15:15.

I invite you to join me for this round robin approach to presentation training.

Andy Malone

Andy Malone is the Managing Director of Quality Training Ltd. Based in Scotland, Andy is a motivated technical trainer, Microsoft speaker, and technology evangelist with over 14 years experience in IT training and consultancy. Andy was also the 2006 winner of the TechEd: IT Forum Speaker Idol contest.

Andy brings a wealth of real-world experience to his courses and teaches to a consistently high standard. His knowledge stems from early editions of Windows NT, Exchange, and the Office platforms to Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and beyond.

Andy’s recent speaker engagements include TechEd IT Forum 07, The MCT Summit 2007 (EMEA) in Zurich, IT Pro Connections Amsterdam. During 2007 Andy has delivered content to over 2500 delegates in Madrid, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stavanger, Amsterdam, Brussels and Reykjavik. For 2008 Andy is scheduled to deliver content in the US, Berlin and Dubai to name but a few. Andy’s blog: http://blogs.quality-training.co.uk/blog

Windows Server 2008 Active Directory – The Secret Session!

With Windows Server 2008 Active Directory has evolved. With fantastic new features like Read Only domain Controllers, Restartable Active directory, Certificate Services, granular security policies and Server Core but to name just a few. This 75 min session will explore the new features of Active directory and beyond. As well as giving an insight into how the service has evolved and more importantly where it’s going.

Hack to the Future! – The Ultimate Windows Server 2008 Networking Vs Security Guide!

There’s no doubt that over the past few years networking technologies have changed dramatically and with those changes have come increased security threats. From Wired to wireless and beyond, networking now plays a major role in everyone’s daily lives. In terms of adapting to change Windows Vista and the in-coming Windows server 2008 products have been at the forefront. With a redesigned networking architecture and improved security features. This is a critical time for network professionals to update skills. This 75 minute session will dive in to what’s new and more importantly what you need to know. Don’t miss it.

The Windows Server 2008 Application Platform – Technical Drilldown!

Windows server 2008 represents a major update of the Windows Server applications platform and a major investment for Microsoft. This 75 minute drill down session introduces the latest versions of Internet Information Services; Terminal Services as well as some of 2008’s other coolest features. This session is not to be missed!

Rick Taylor

Richard is a SharePoint architect and has assisted numerous, large companies in their implementations including the US Air Force, Charles Schwab, and Nestle. He is a published author, co-author, and contributing author including the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Administrator’s Companion by MS Press and principal author of The Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Resource Kit for Engineers and Architects, also by MSPress (coming in June!). His influence within the MCT and SharePoint communities facilitated his being selected to present at the first MCT Community Summit held in Zurich, Switzerland and prompted Microsoft Learning to make changes to the Beta courseware that it might be ready for prime time. Rick now works for Microsoft in the Business Online Services division. Rick is an avid Triathlete (Clydesdale class), enjoys playing chess and is active in the Boy Scouts of America. There’s a reason they call him Slick Rick…come and find out for yourself why!

How to incorporate the SharePoint SDK into your classes (TTT)

Microsoft Official Curriculum is best supplemented with tools that bring the content to life. The labs give a basic understanding of how features work, but using Software Development Kits (SDK) will give students tools to make their jobs easier. Come to this session to see how to increase your evaluations by using the MOSS SDK.

Migrating from SPS 2003 to MOSS 2007 (for ITPro and Dev)

We all wanted it. We all needed it, but no one knew how. Microsoft wouldn’t (or couldn’t) tell us how. After stumbling around in the dark, we’ve figured it out! Come to this session to see how to perform a NON-vanilla migration with sites that have been customized with FrontPage 2003 and discover how to decipher the TechNet document on the subject.

Demos are King

This session focuses on how to present using demonstrations. It’s more than just showing how a feature works, there is context, possible scenarios, and what should you do if the demo fails? Come to this session to learn how to use demonstrations (planned and unplanned) to give more value to your classes.

Marcel de Vries

Marcel de Vries is an IT architect at Info Support in the Netherlands. The past 10 years he spend most of my time building enterprise administrative applications for a diversity of large companies mainly in the financial industry. The past four years his focus has been software factories. He is one of the Lead architects at Info support for their Software Factory Endeavour. Since 2006 He is awarded as MVP Visual Studio Team system

Marcel teaches courses at the Info Support CPLS training center and is one of the top rated speakers at several events in the Netherlands including the Microsoft Developer days. Marcel has also written many articles in national and international magazines. You can find Marcel's blog at: http://blogs.infosupport.com/marcelv

What’s new in Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Studio Team System 2008

This session will give an overview of all new features that can be found in the Visual Studio IDE.

Customizing and extending Visual Studio Team System

This session will dive into the details on how to extend Visual Studio Team System.

Introduction to LINQ programming model

This session will show in what way developers can leverage the power of LINQ. This session will not dive into how LINQ works but for a change will give you an idea on what you need to know as the programmer using LINQ and how you can apply it to different parts of your work including manipulating in memory objects, data from a database and of course XML. This session will start with an introduction to the LINQ syntax. From this introduction we take a journey into the different available technologies that ship with Visual studio 2008 and are LINQ enabled today. These technologies include XLINQ, LINQ to SQL and LINQ to DataSets.

Stan Reimer

Stan Reimer is an MCT, enterprise consultant and writer. Stan has spent much of his time in the last 5 years developing courseware for Microsoft Learning. His company created all of the Exchange Server 2007 courses for Microsoft Learning, and is currently working on several Windows Server 2008 courses.
In addition to writing MSL courseware, Stan has consulted on Exchange Server and Active Directory deployments for some of the largest companies in Canada. He has also been an MCT for over 10 years and teaches many of the courses he writes. Stan is also the lead author for the Active Directory Services for Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference, and for the Active Directory Resource Kit for Windows Server 2008.

Train the Trainer for Windows Server 2008 Active Directory TS Courses 6424/6425

The Windows Server 2008 Microsoft Learning courses are scheduled to release shortly after the product ships. This session will provide you with an overview and guidance on how to prepare for and teach the core Active Directory Technology Specialist courses for Windows Server 2008.

Train the Trainer for Windows Server 2008 Application Platform TS Courses 6427/6428

The Windows Server 2008 Microsoft Learning courses are scheduled to release shortly after the product ships. This session will provide you with an overview and guidance on how to prepare for and teach the core Application Platform Technology Specialist courses for Windows Server 2008.

Tiffany Nguyen

Tiffany is the Information Worker Solutions Lead for the Sogeti/Phoenix office. Prior to focusing on SharePoint, she worked on large-scale international E-Commerce solutions. She has architected and implemented SharePoint portal solutions for clients of all sizes and industries including oil, banking, constructions, semiconductor, and software makers. Currently, Tiffany is engaged in implementing a forward-thinking Internet site for a leading cable company with full shopping-cart functionalities and extensive integration with back-end systems using SharePoint as the platform. She also frequently works with decision makers to craft comprehensive IT solutions that help companies achieve their long-term goals.
Tiffany is a graduate of the Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) at Arizona State University and is a member of the Project Management Institute.

Building custom MOSS web services

Building a custom web service is easy. However, correctly setting up the necessary files so that the SharePoint framework can host the custom web service can be quite tricky. This session will walk you from beginning to end the steps of building a custom web service and hosting it in the MOSS 2007 environment.

Integrating Silverlight into your SharePoint deployments

Looking to give your SharePoint end-users powerful media experiences using the latest and greatest from Microsoft? Join this session to find out how Silverlight will fit perfectly into your SharePoint world. Learn the concepts and go through real-life scenarios, including creating dynamic videos with ads and navigation properties for an Internet-facing e-commerce site. This session will definitely put a smile on your developers’ faces.

Matthew Roche

Matthew Roche is a data architect with systems management innovator Configuresoft, Inc., and is also Chief Software Architect of Integral Thought & Memory, a BI-focused consultancy. Matthew has worked with Microsoft SQL Server since the mid 90s, starting with SQL Server 6.0 and 6.5, and has been falling deeper and deeper in love with SQL Server with each passing year. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Matthew has taught hundreds of database administrators and database developers how to better utilize SQL Server’s capabilities. As a software developer and architect, Matthew has built dozens of applications that use the SQL Server platform. Matthew has been using SQL Server 2005 since its early beta days and has been working with SQL Server 2008 since June of 2007. Matthew’s current focus is on the SQL Server Business Intelligence stack, specifically SQL Server Integration Services. Today, when not delivering training or building enterprise BI solutions, Matthew is hard at work co-authoring Applied Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence, due in Q2 2008 from Microsoft Press.

New Features in SQL Server 2008 for Database Developers

This technical session presents information on the key new features for database developers in the SQL Server 2008 product release. Emphasis is placed on the value proposition of the new features, how the features enhance and extend the functionality in SQL Server 2005, and how to communicate the importance of the features to your students. Where possible, the new features are also discussed in the context of the courseware in which they are presented.

New Features in SQL Server 2008 for Business Intelligence Developers

This technical session presents information on the key new features for business intelligence (BI) developers in the SQL Server 2008 product release. Emphasis is placed on the value proposition of the new features, how the features enhance and extend the functionality in SQL Server 2005, and how to communicate the importance of the features to your students. Where possible, the new features are also discussed in the context of the courseware in which they are presented.

So you want to be a SQL Server MCT? Jumping into the Deep End with SQL Server 2008

This session presents information for MCTs who do not currently teach SQL Server courses with the information that they need to be successful delivering SQL Server 2008 courses. The first portion of this session covers a technical introduction to the SQL Server product suite with an overview of core products and features. The second portion covers existing training materials and presents a proposed plan of self-study to help attendees build the skills they need to succeed in the classroom with the SQL Server 2008 courseware.

David Elfassy

After completing University, David Elfassy began his career in IT in the early 90's; delivering Microsoft Official Curriculum, specializing in Microsoft Exchange Server since 1997. David has worked as project lead on many migrations and implementations of Microsoft infrastructure technologies for governmental and corporate organizations. David has been working closely with Microsoft Learning teams on various projects, including exams, certifications and curriculum development.

Integrating Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 into your Exchange deliveries (TTT)

Do you teach Exchange Server 2007? All of your courseware is based on a RTM version of the product. Learn how to properly incorporate Service Pack 1 into your deliveries, both within your virtual images and technical content. Discover hidden features of Service Pack 1. This session is based on multiple deliveries of Exchange courses with Service Pack 1.

Michael Korp

Michael Korp joined Microsoft in March, 1996 as an infrastructure consultant focusing on large enterprise customers and infrastructure architectures. System management always was an important part of his work. In his current role as a technology evangelist he is a frequent speaker on system management, virtualization topics and identity management at different conferences, seminars and in webcasts. He also runs a blog at http://blogs.technet.com/mkorp/.

Implementing SCCM 2007 and SCVMM 2007

Implementing a lifecycle capable solution for managing systems is sometimes challenging. Extending such a solution from the desktop to the server often requires separate solutions. In addition servers are largely moving into a virtualized environment. Two new products from Microsoft are addressing these challenges.
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is the successor of SMS 2003 and covers managing desktops, mobile systems, devices and servers. It delivers all functions from the initial OS install to inventory, software distribution, update management, configuration monitoring and extensive reporting while addressing new scenarios like managing systems over the internet.
System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 is a new product for managing virtualized environments. It provisions new hosts and new virtual machines, manages libraries of images and also allows self services for users controlled by administrator defined policies. Through integration with other System Center products even large virtualized environments can be managed and maintained.
This session will introduce the different feature areas and also cover some relevant topics for getting the products up and running.

Cesar de la Torre

César de la Torre is a software architect. He works for Microsoft Spain and his current role is “MBS-ISV Developer Evangelist” focusing on working with ISVs and helping them with their software architectures to be based on Dynamics CRM 4.0 and Dynamics AX “5.0” as backend and development platform.
During the last 11 years he was principal software architect and co-founder in Renacimiento (Microsoft Gold Partner, in Spain), as well as MVP in Connected Systems (SOA, WCF, WF, Web-Services and distributed development). His background is also based on SharePoint, CMS, Biztalk Server, SQL Server, IIS, .NET (C#), Visual Studio Team System and TFS and even COM/COM+ and C++ (ATL & MFC) development.

Steffen Niehues

Steffen Niehues is part of the Dynamics ISV Developer & Evangelists team at Microsoft Western Europe. This team helps to recruit and enable ISVs who want to benefit from the power of the Dynamics platform. Steffen is very successfully driving specific offerings for ISVs interested in connecting to Dynamics.
Prior to his current role he had various roles within Product Management and Product Development. With more than 10 years he has quite a broad experience in ERP and ISV development .

Wilfried Heermann

Wilfried Heermann is a Group Manager at Microsoft and driving Dynamics Platform Evangelism in EMEA. As part of Developer & Platform Evangelism (DPE) Western Europe HQ his team is in charge of early adopter programs for AX 5 and CRM 4 (METRO, formerly Ascend and Touchdown) and working with Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who are interested in developing their solutions based on the Microsoft / Microsoft Dynamics platform or want to integrate their applications with Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV or Dynamics CRM.
Wilfried Heermann joined Microsoft as ERP developer with the Great Plains acquisition in 2001 and was responsible for Partner Readiness in EMEA before joining DPE.

Dynamics Evangelism in EMEA and ‘The real cool fit! - Dynamics AX "5.0" and the new Microsoft development technologies’

How Dynamics AX fits into the Mainstream Microsoft Stack and why you should care!. We will present how to access and consume Dynamics AX 5.0 business logic using several cool demo scenarios and latest technologies like:
- Cool UI - Silverlight and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). Accessing Dynamics AX via .Net Business Connector and the Application Integration Framework (AIF)
- OBA apps - VSTO (.NET Visual Studio Tools for Office 2007), InfoPath/InfoPath Forms Server and MOSS-2007 portals accessing AX.
- Workflows - Dynamics AX workflow which is based on Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)
- SOA: AX Application Integration Framework (AIF) and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Services consumed from remote apps, like Windows Mobile Apps (.NET Compact Framework).

Gina Haines

Sr. Product Manager for Microsoft Dynamics Partner Training and Readiness

Gina currently drives strategy for Microsoft Dynamics Partner Training and Readiness and is responsible for testing and globally rolling out new partner and customer programs and training offerings.

During her eight years at Microsoft, she has worked with enterprise customers and partners on new service development, competitive and marketing initiatives. She has a passion for creatively solving business problems with new technology and developing new channel opportunities. Prior to Microsoft, Gina has over 20 years in various technical sales and business development capacities.

Microsoft Dynamics Growth and the MCT Opportunity

What you will gain: Learn about Microsoft Dynamics products, upcoming releases, new modes of teaching Dynamics courses and how you can take action to add Microsoft Dynamics to your class portfolio.

Session Overview: Microsoft® Business Solutions with the Dynamics product lines goes to grow at a healthy pace and causes an increased demand for certified trainers. With steady growth of Microsoft Dynamics products, 17% in 2007 and a steady program of new product releases every 24 months of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Dynamics CRM next coming soon, there has never been a better time to add Microsoft Dynamics courses to your class portfolio. This session will provide the information and tools to help you jumpstart your Microsoft Dynamics practice.

The real cool fit! - Dynamics AX "5.0" and Integrated Product Training

Abstract: Why you should care about fitting Dynamics AX fits into the Microsoft Stack. Consuming Dynamics AX 5.0 business logic using several cool demo scenarios and latest technologies such as:
- Cool UI - Silverlight and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). Accessing Dynamics AX via .Net Business Connector and the Application Integration Framework (AIF)
- OBA apps - VSTO (.NET Visual Studio Tools for Office 2007), InfoPath/InfoPath Forms Server and MOSS-2007 portals accessing AX.
- Workflows - Dynamics AX workflow which is based on Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)
- SOA: AX Application Integration Framework (AIF) and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Services consumed from remote apps, like Windows Mobile Apps (.NET Compact Framework).

Dandy Weyn

involved in a lot of Microsoft Partner Readiness events.

Over the past couple of years he worked as consultant and content developer on SQL Server, and presented at many conferences.

Dandy is recently working as Curriculum Manager in the Sales, Marketing and Services group, where he is responsible for designing and managing the Database and Business Intelligence Curriculum.

SQL Server 2008 - What's new for Database Admins

This technical session presents information on the key new features for database administrators in the SQL Server 2008 product release. Emphasis is placed on the value proposition of the new features, and how to communicate the importance of the features to your students. Where possible, the new features are also discussed in the context of the courseware in which they are presented.

Train the Trainer on SQL Server 2008 clinics

This session presents information on the courseware releases and planning for the SQL Server 2008 Curriculum. We will look at the SQL Server 2008 Curriculum and Certification Roadmap, and have an overview of the currently released courseware. In this session, you will be prepared on the concepts and technical skills to present the courseware. This TTT session will also provide you with the necessary directions to find more readiness material on SQL Server 2008.

SQL Server 2008 Advanced Administrations

This technical session will dive deeper into the DBA features of SQL Server 2008, and should be considered as the 'We want more on SQL session', after you attended the 'What's new for Database Admins' session. Emphasis on this session is to deep dive into specific topics to improve your readiness and preparation as a SQL Server 2008 MCT.

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