Alain Hunkins is a globally recognized leadership strategist, bestselling author of Cracking the Leadership Code: Three Secrets to Building Strong Leaders, and a regular Forbes columnist on leadership strategy. With over 25 years of experience, Alain empowers professionals and organizations to cultivate stronger leaders, sharper teams, and smarter workplaces. He has delivered impactful keynotes and leadership development workshops for a diverse range of clients, including Fortune 500 companies like Pfizer, Microsoft, GE, Lockheed Martin, and Walmart, impacting over 3,000 groups across 30 countries. Alain's approach is distinctly practical and research-backed, helping organizations tackle today’s most pressing people challenges. Whether it's navigating the complexities of leading hybrid teams, fostering a robust culture of accountability, or closing the critical gap between strategic vision and flawless execution, Alain provides tangible solutions. As both a dynamic keynote speaker and a hands-on facilitator, he brings energy, insight, and humor to every session. He consistently delivers actionable tools that enable leaders to drive greater alignment, boost engagement, and build thriving cultures where both people and performance excel.

• Cracking the Communication Code: How Teams can Collaborate & Work Smarter

  Communication is the most undertrained skill in tech—and yet, it’s the one that determines whether your ideas get heard, your team stays aligned, and your influence grows. In this dynamic and experiential workshop, attendees will work through the most common communication challenges facing tech teams—from difficult conversations and feedback delivery to stakeholder buy-in and executive updates. Participants will leave with proven communication tools they can apply immediately. plus scripts, structures, and practice opportunities that bring the tools to life.

Andy is a database administrator, PowerShell fan, former developer, Open Source contributor, RVer, and connoisseur of dad jokes (not in that order). He’s worn a number of IT hats since 1999 before landing in database administration, including web server administration and development, systems integration, and database development. When he isn’t picking queries apart and wrangling unruly herds of databases, he can be found planning next summer's family camping trips or mentoring the TAN[X] FIRST Robotics Competition team.

• Vacation-Proof Your Environment: Documentation That Saves the Day

• Answering the Auditor's Call with Automation

  As DBAs, we're called on regularly to produce documentation for security & compliance audits. Being able to show who has what level of access to an instance is the minimum, but we're often asked for more. Collecting this information and compiling it into something usable by auditors could take you hours or even days. But with automation, you can pull it all together in a matter of minutes while you're getting that second cup of coffee from the kitchen. Through the PowerShell demos presented in this session, you'll learn how to build documentation of your backup regimen, who has access to your databases, and show that you're staying current with SQL Server patches from Microsoft. Whether you have one SQL Server instance or one hundred, you'll be able to create a script to automatically format this data so that it's usable for your auditors – and hopefully be so complete that you don't receive follow-up questions.

Andy Yun is a Consulting Field Solutions Architect at Pure Storage, who has been with SQL Server for over 20 years as both a Database Developer and Administrator. He focuses on performance tuning, with expertise in T-SQL, storage engine internals, and monitoring. Andy strongly believes in passing knowledge onto others, regularly speaking at conferences and user groups, and mentoring industry colleagues. Andy is a former Microsoft MVP, co-founder of the Chicago SQL Association, former co-leader of the Chicago Suburban User Group and Chicago SQL Saturday Organizing Committee.

• A Beginner's Guide to Becoming a Performance Tuner – T-SQL Edition

• Debating Two Viewpoints on Indexing – Development vs Operations

• A Practical Introduction to Vector Search in SQL Server 2025

  Are you uncertain if SQL Server 2025 Vector Search has useful applications? Concerned that it is just more AI hype? Then join me in this session, where I’ll break down how Vector Search works, where it fits into the AI landscape, and how you can use it today—on-prem and without changing your core architecture. We’ll cover: * The foundations of vector embeddings and similarity search * How SQL Server implements Vector Search, including indexing and querying * Code demos and practical use case exploration You’ll leave armed with the knowledge to look beyond the hype and understand how Vector Search can work for you.

• Deep-Dive Workshop: Accelerating AI, Performance and Resilience with SQL Server 2025

  SQL Server 2025 delivers powerful new capabilities for AI, developer productivity, and performance all ready to run at scale on modern infrastructure. In this 1/2 day deep dive workshop, you'll get a first look at what's new and how to put it to work immediately. Learn directly from Microsoft and Pure Storage experts how to harness SQL Server’s vector capabilities and walk through real-world demos covering semantic search, change event streaming, and using external tables to manage vector embeddings. You'll also see how new REST APIs securely expose SQL Server's internals for automation and observability including snapshots, performance monitoring, and backup management. The workshop wraps up with insights into core engine enhancements: optimized locking, faster backups using ZSTD compression all running on a modern Pure Storage foundation that brings scale and resilience to your data platform. Whether you're a DBA, developer, or architect, this session will equip you with practical strategies for harnessing Microsoft SQL Server 2025 and Pure Storage to accelerate your organization's AI and data goals.

I am a Cloud, Data and AI Consultant with 25+ years of experience working in design and development of Data Warehouse, Business Intelligence, AI enabled applications and SaaS integrated solutions. I am a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) for Data Platform and Artificial Intelligence, MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) and really passionate in sharing knowledge. I enjoy solving complex business problems with innovative solutions using Microsoft technologies and use that experience in my trainings. I do speak at conferences (PASS Summit, SQL Saturdays, Data Platform Summit, Difinity) and organise local user group meetups and SQLSaturday Organiser in Wellington, New Zealand.

• Break the ETL Chains: Mirroring for Snowflake Databases in Microsoft Fabric

  With the General Availability (GA) of Mirroring for Snowflake Databases in Microsoft Fabric, the wait is over for real-time, no-copy access to Snowflake data — directly within your Fabric workspace. This session explores how organizations can eliminate data duplication, streamline analytics, and unlock insights without ever moving data out of Snowflake. Join us for an in-depth session that walks through the architecture, setup, and use cases of Snowflake Mirroring in Fabric. We’ll demonstrate how Microsoft Fabric now allows you to connect and query Snowflake data using Direct Lake mode, enabling low-latency insights, Power BI integration, and data governance — all while keeping your data within its original platform. Through live demos and practical scenarios, you'll learn how to: Set up mirroring for your Snowflake databases in just a few steps Ensure secure, governed access via OneLake and Fabric permissions Use Power BI to visualize mirrored Snowflake data without impacting performance Understand scenarios where mirroring adds value (e.g., cross-cloud insights, cost efficiency, and regulatory compliance) Whether you're a Fabric enthusiast, a Snowflake pro, or simply looking to simplify your data estate, this session is your launchpad to take full advantage of the new mirroring capabilities.

• Smarter Together: Agentic Capabilities + Fabric = Intelligent Automation

Ben Miller, aka @dbaduck, is a seasoned database professional with over 25 years of experience in SQL Server, PowerShell, and automation. As a passionate advocate for efficiency and innovation, Ben specializes in empowering IT professionals and DBAs to harness the power of PowerShell for database and server management. A Microsoft Data Platform and PowerShell MVP, speaker, and community contributor, Ben has a knack for breaking down complex topics into practical, actionable insights. When he’s not automating workflows or sharing his knowledge, you’ll find him engaging with the #SQLFamily or exploring new tech to help others work smarter. Follow Ben on all Social Media (@dbaduck) and dive into the world of automation and database magic with him!

• Database Migrations Made Easy with PowerShell and dbatools

  Database migrations can be complex, time-consuming, and risky—unless you have the right tools. Enter dbatools, a community-driven PowerShell module designed to make SQL Server migrations easy, reliable, and repeatable. In this session, you'll learn how to use PowerShell and dbatools to handle migrations of databases, logins, jobs, credentials, and more—with just a few lines of code. We'll walk through real-world scenarios, highlight key commands, and demonstrate how to validate and monitor your migrations for success. Whether you're moving a single database or an entire instance, dbatools takes the pain out of the process and replaces it with automation, consistency, and confidence. Perfect for DBAs, developers, and sysadmins alike—if you manage SQL Server environments, this is a session you don’t want to miss.

• Getting Started as PowerShell DBA

Bob Ward is a Principal Architect for the Microsoft Azure Data team, which owns the development for Microsoft SQL ground to cloud to fabric. Bob has worked for Microsoft for 31+ years on every version of SQL Server shipped from OS/2 1.1 to SQL Server 2025 including Azure SQL and SQL database in Fabric. Bob is a well-known speaker on SQL Server, Azure SQL, AI, and Microsoft Fabric often presenting talks on new releases, internals, and specialized topics at events such as SQLBits, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit, Fabric Community Conference, and Redgate Summit. You can also learn Azure SQL from him on the popular series https://aka.ms/azuresql4beginners. You can follow him at @bobwardms or linkedin.com/in/bobwardms. Bob is the author of the books Pro SQL Server on Linux, SQL Server 2019 Revealed, Azure SQL Revealed, SQL Server 2022 Revealed, and Azure SQL Revealed 2nd Edition available from Apress Media.

• Secure, Scalable AI Solutions with Microsoft SQL, Ground to Cloud to Fabric

  In an age where data drives innovation and artificial intelligence reshapes industries, organizations find themselves navigating the complexities of scalability, security, and advanced analytics. This keynote explores how Microsoft SQL empowers developers, IT Professionals, and administrators to leverage AI to unlock actionable insights while ensuring data security and seamless scalability across diverse environments—from SQL Server 2025 to Azure SQL to Microsoft Fabric. In our closing keynote you will hear about all the latest innovations for using AI with your data powered by the industry proven SQL Server platform that is trusted by organizations all over the world. You will hear about how developers can build intelligent AI agent applications with their data using a secure and scalable platform with familiar languages and AI-assisted tools such as GitHub Copilot. The advanced vector capabilities available in SQL Server 2025, Azure SQL, and SQL Database in Fabric will significantly provide smarter searching techniques for your data connected to AI models in a secure, isolated fashion, letting you pick the model of your choice, ground or cloud. You will also see how Copilot experiences in tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) can improve the productivity for developers, users, and administrators of SQL Server. Whether you are managing data on-premises, migrating to the cloud, or operating within hybrid models, this keynote will provide a comprehensive roadmap to scale your use of AI while safeguarding data integrity at every stage. Join us to explore how Microsoft SQL connects ground, cloud, and fabric into a cohesive and secure AI-powered data platform.

• Experience SQL Server 2025: The AI-Ready Enterprise Database

  Come learn about the latest information about SQL Server 2025. You will learn how to bring AI to your data with AI applications using built-in vector capabilities ground or cloud. In addition, you will learn the most significant SQL Server in a decade for developers including features like JSON, RegEx, REST API, GraphQL, and Change Streaming. You will also learn about all the new engine features for security, performance, and availability. All of this can be cloud connected to Azure and Fabric. This is your best session to learn about everything you need to know about the latest release of SQL Server.

• Deep-Dive Workshop: Accelerating AI, Performance and Resilience with SQL Server 2025

  SQL Server 2025 delivers powerful new capabilities for AI, developer productivity, and performance all ready to run at scale on modern infrastructure. In this 1/2 day deep dive workshop, you'll get a first look at what's new and how to put it to work immediately. Learn directly from Microsoft and Pure Storage experts how to harness SQL Server’s vector capabilities and walk through real-world demos covering semantic search, change event streaming, and using external tables to manage vector embeddings. You'll also see how new REST APIs securely expose SQL Server's internals for automation and observability including snapshots, performance monitoring, and backup management. The workshop wraps up with insights into core engine enhancements: optimized locking, faster backups using ZSTD compression all running on a modern Pure Storage foundation that brings scale and resilience to your data platform. Whether you're a DBA, developer, or architect, this session will equip you with practical strategies for harnessing Microsoft SQL Server 2025 and Pure Storage to accelerate your organization's AI and data goals.

• Effortless Data Transformation with Microsoft Fabric

  The ability to transform and analyze data as it arrives is a game-changer for businesses seeking timely and actionable insights. This session will introduce you to some of the strengths of Real Time Intelligence in Microsoft Fabric, focusing on its capabilities for effortlessly transforming data. Say goodbye to complex orchestration paths and brittle pipelines, and let the database automatically handle the transformation for you. We'll delve into the core concepts, practical applications, and best practices that make KQL an essential tool for modern data analytics. Join us to learn how you can unlock the potential of event driven architectures and revolutionize the way you approach data transformation and analytics.

Danny has been working in IT for nearly 20 years in various roles. With over 15 years of experience with SQL Server, he has always placed a strong emphasis on Security, Risk Management, and Compliance for the SQL Server Data Platform. Ensuring industry best practices and regulatory requirements are followed from an infrastructural point of view. While speaking at (public) events, Danny also works as a Solutions Engineer for Redgate Software, helping customers on their Database DevOps journey.

• Kerberos: A Dive into Delegation & SQL Server

  In this session, we will explore the inner workings of Kerberos authentication in Active Directory and its critical role in modern network security, with a special focus on delegation and its application to SQL Server environments. Kerberos is the gold standard for secure authentication in distributed systems, but its complexities – particularly around delegation – can be challenging to navigate. This talk will break down the key concepts of Kerberos, explaining what it is, how it works, from the login process up to the use of services like SQL Server. We'll be looking into delegation, the technical aspects of it, how the various delegation types work, including their weaknesses and how this relates to our SQL Data Platform. Last but not least we'll also take a look at attack scenario's hackers use and what you can do to prevent certain attacks.

• Securing the SQL Server Data Platform: Defining a Security Strategy

  In today’s world of escalating cyber threats, securing your SQL Server environment has become a critical priority. The phrase "It's not a matter of if, but when you're going to be hacked" has never been more true. With external attacks becoming more sophisticated, organizations must prepare for the inevitable and safeguard their SQL Server data platform against data breaches, unauthorized access, and data loss. This talk will focus on the essential steps to secure SQL Server environments against external threats and prevent the loss of critical data. We'll explore how to design a security strategy that reduces the attack surface and ensures your data is protected – even when facing advanced, targeted attacks. From securing network connections and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms to implementing encryption, we'll discuss a range of practical, actionable measures that will help you safeguard your SQL Server Platform from malicious external actors. How to monitor and audit these settings, not only for yourself, but also for compliancy purposes.

• Database Development with a Security-First Mentality

Deborah Melkin has been working as a database professional with SQL Server for over 20 years. She spends her days helping programmers with all aspects of database design, queries, performance, and deployment. In 2016, she began her blog, Deb the DBA. Soon after that, she began speaking at SQL Saturdays and user groups. Deborah is a co-leader of the Data Platform Women in Tech (WIT) Virtual User Group and co-founder of WITspiration, a WIT mentorship circle. She is a former board member of the New England SQL Server User Group. She was named as One to Watch as part of the #Redgate 100 in 2022 and won Speaker Idol at PASS Summit 2019. Deborah is also a Microsoft MVP for the Data Platform (2020- ). In her spare time, Deborah can usually be found doing something musical or something geeky with her husband, Andy, and their dog, Sebastian.

• Optimized Locking: Improving SQL Server Transaction Concurrency

  Some aspects of the SQL Server engine have not seen much change for a long time – locking is one such component. Until now. Optimized locking is here and it affects not just the locking mechanisms but the way concurrency is handled. This session is designed to help us understand how optimized locking works. First we will cover the foundation on which it was built, the version store. Then we’ll dig deep into the two components of optimized locking: Transaction ID (TID) and lock after qualification (LAQ). Finally, we’ll review some best practices when enabled. By the end of this session, you should have a clear understanding of how it works and why we want to take advantage of this new functionality.

• A Beginner's Guide to Becoming a Performance Tuner – T-SQL Edition

• Debating Two Viewpoints on Indexing – Development vs Operations

Duan Uys is a seasoned data professional with over a decade of experience architecting and implementing data warehouses and software solutions for clients in diverse sectors, including finance, healthcare, and retail. He has dedicated his career to streamlining manual processes, empowering teams to navigate operational challenges, and accelerating the delivery of high-impact results. Through these efforts, Duan has gained invaluable expertise in the best practices, and common pitfalls, of developing solid data foundations.

• The Need for Speed: Agile Prototyping in Microsoft Fabric

  In this session, discover how agile principles can revolutionize data warehouse development through rapid prototyping. We'll examine automated modeling techniques, iterative schema design, and efficient workflows that dramatically shorten cycles from concept to deployment. Attendees will gain real-world insights into integrating varied data sources, validating prototypes early to minimize risks, and scaling solutions to production, all supported by practical examples and best practices for adapting to changing business requirements.

Edward Pollack has over 20 years of experience in database and systems administration, architecture, and development, becoming an advocate for designing efficient data structures that can withstand the test of time. He has spoken at many events, such as SQL Saturdays, PASS Community Summit, Dativerse, and at many user groups and is the organizer of SQL Saturday Albany. Edward has authored many articles, as well as the book "Dynamic SQL: Applications, Performance, and Security", and a chapter in "Expert T-SQL Window Functions in SQL Server". His first patent was issued in 2021, focused on the compression of geographical data for use by analytic systems. In his free time, Ed enjoys video games, sci-fi & fantasy, traveling and baking. He lives in the sometimes-frozen icescape of Albany, NY, with his wife Theresa and sons Nolan and Oliver, and a mountain of (his) video game plushies that help break the fall when tripping on (their) toys.

• Advanced Optimization with Columnstore Indexes

  Columnstore indexes provide an excellent solution to storing large analytic data in SQL Server. They can tame tables with millions or billions of rows with ease. Understanding their architecture, compression, and best practices can allow for significantly faster workloads while saving computing resources. This session dives into the details of how columnstore indexes work. Topics discussed will include: Columnstore encoding, optimization, and compression algorithms Segment and rowgroup elimination Optimization of secondary indexes Ordered columnstore indexes Best practices for data load processes This is an advanced dive into columnstore indexes that will allow data professionals interested in this technology to make the most of its features in SQL Server 2022+ Learn the biggest secrets and details of how analytic data is stored in SQL Server – no whitepapers required!

• Performance Optimization on Modern Data Platforms

Erik has been working with SQL Server just about forever – Really challenging DBA/Developer/Architect roles – Started consulting for Brent Ozar Unlimited in 2015 Started Darling Data in 2019 – Worked with over 600 very happy clients – Lots of free community activity like blogging, training, open-source projects – Speaking about SQL Server at conferences all over the world

• SQL Server Performance Engineering: Techniques that Actually Work

  Every SQL Server professional needs to understand not just what makes queries fast, but what makes them slow. This knowledge is essential whether you're aiming to become a performance wizard or just trying to make those problematic queries stop holding up the business. As a consultant who resolves complex SQL Server performance headaches for clients worldwide, I'll share the exact analysis and troubleshooting techniques that deliver real results. No theoretical fluff—this comprehensive session reveals my battle-tested approach to identifying problematic queries, designing indexes that actually help, and implementing changes that make a measurable difference. You'll gain practical insights into hardware considerations, query rewrites that actually fix problems, indexing patterns that survive in production, and more. I focus on techniques that work in the real world, not just in perfect lab conditions. By the end of this session, you'll have the tools and confidence to diagnose and resolve SQL Server performance issues without resorting to guesswork or prayer.

• SQL Server Performance Therapy: Relationship Tips for Queries and Indexes

• For a Few Rows More: Mastering Row Goals in SQL Server

  In this performance tuning deep dive, Erik Darling exposes the strange and often overlooked impact of row goals on SQL Server execution plans. Through practical demonstrations, you'll see how these optimizer shortcuts, designed to retrieve just enough rows to satisfy a query, can silently steer execution plans in ways that drastically affect performance —sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. You'll walk away with immediately applicable techniques for recognizing, troubleshooting, and strategically implementing row goals in your environment. Learn how to finesse these mechanisms to your advantage, using them deliberately to push SQL Server toward faster, more efficient plans. If you want to understand why SQL Server sometimes makes bewildering decisions, and how to take back control of your queries, saddle up — it's time to go looking for a few rows more. These essential techniques are vital for anyone serious about advanced SQL Server performance optimization.

• A Fistful of Parameters: Take Care and Control of Unstable Plans

• The Metric Mindset: What Modern Performance Tuners Need To Care About

Ginger Grant is a distinguished Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), renowned for her deep expertise in advanced analytics, machine learning, AI, data warehousing, and the evolving landscape of Microsoft Fabric. As a sought-after consultant, Ginger empowers organizations to harness the full potential of their data ecosystems. Beyond consulting, Ginger is a prolific thought leader and speaker for both keynotes and technical training. She contributes regularly as a columnist for Pure AI, authors insightful books, and shares practical knowledge on her blog, DesertIsleSQL.com. Her educational impact spans a wide range of technologies, including Azure Synapse Analytics, Python, and Azure Machine Learning, making her a trusted voice in the data community. Whether on stage, in print, or in the classroom, Ginger’s passion for data and commitment to knowledge-sharing make her a standout figure in the world of data and AI.

• Incorporating AI in Data Analysis

  Jump start your understanding of AI with this crash course in everything you need to know to start using AI every day for many different purposes. Microsoft and many other companies are working on incorporating AI for many different scenarios. Data professionals need this information and this session was designed for you, not for an app developer. Here you will receive explanations of the important parts of AI in order to implement AI in many different aspects of your job from writing emails, to developing pySpark, T-SQL, ETL or Power BI reports. You will learn all about generative AI, prompt engineering, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Vector Databases. The demonstrations and hands on exercises will show you how to implement the skills so you will leave knowing how to use AI. Be sure to bring your laptop to do these exercises as you will learn these skills . As we are targeting skills for the data professional, this course will focus on the Copilot and AI Agent in Fabric and the copilot usage in Power BI. After attending this session you will have some practical experience on how to make AI work for you. You will leave with techniques for how to implement AI without coding or spending money to be able to take advantage of this advanced technology.

• Unlock the Power of T-SQL in Microsoft Fabric

• Optimizing SQL Database Management in Microsoft Fabric

  Cloud Architects face critical decisions about where to create and manage SQL databases as you have the choice now to create one in Azure or in Microsoft Fabric . This session will delve into the differences and similarities between Azure SQL DB and SQL DB within Microsoft Fabric. You'll learn how these databases are managed and monitored, uncovering the benefits and potential drawbacks of using Fabric including the ability to easily incorporate AI. We will compare the costs of Azure SQL DB with Fabric's SQL DB, exploring various cost models to demonstrate how Fabric can minimize expenses and reduce management efforts through automated maintenance and centralized resource monitoring. Practical use cases will illustrate when and why SQL DB in Fabric can enhance your data environment.

• Harnessing Fabric Data Agents for Intelligent Data Interaction

Grant Fritchey is a Data Platform MVP with over 30 years' experience in IT, including time spent in support and development. He has worked with SQL Server since 6.0 back in 1995. He has also developed in VB, VB.NET, C#, and Java. Grant has written books for Apress and Simple-Talk.

• Answering Questions Using Extended Events

• Leveraging AI as a DBA

• Future-Proofing Your Database Estate: Smarter Monitoring for Strategic Growth

  As database environments evolve spanning hybrid infrastructures, diverse platforms, and growing performance demands, it's no longer enough to monitor what's happening now. Strategic estate planning requires a forward-looking approach. In this session, you'll discover how you can use Redgate Monitor to plan for the future with confidence. Learn how to leverage historical performance data, disk usage trends, and alert patterns to inform decisions around patching, capacity planning, and workload optimization. We'll explore how to identify risks before they become issues, and how to adapt your monitoring strategy to support long-term goals. You’ll also get a first look at new deployment options designed for scalability and cost-efficiency, including running Redgate Monitor’s data repository on PostgreSQL with TimescaleDB. Whether you're managing SQL Server, exploring PostgreSQL, or preparing for a cloud-first future, this session will equip you with practical insights and tools to evolve your monitoring strategy, and manage your estate with agility and foresight.

• Expanding Your SQL Server Expertise with PostgreSQL

With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, I’m a database enthusiast with deep expertise across multi-database and multi-cloud platforms. I’ve worked with global enterprises like Microsoft, Wells Fargo, and UHG, and currently, I’m at AWS in Hyderabad INDIA, helping enterprise customers migrate and modernize their database workloads on the cloud, playing a key role in their digital transformation journeys.

• Accelerate MSSQL to Postgres using AI driven tools and techniqueseiif

• Mastering Database Migration: A DBA’s Roadmap from SQL Server to PostgreSQL

  As organizations move from SQL Server to PostgreSQL to reduce costs and embrace open-source databases, a well-planned migration is crucial. This session covers different migrtaion pathways, schema conversion, stored procedure translation, performance tuning, and workload optimization while highlighting key differences in indexing, partitioning, and concurrency control. Attendees will explore migration tools like AWS DMS, Babelfish, pgLoader etc, learn best practices for high availability and disaster recovery, and tackle challenges like T-SQL to pgSQL conversion. Through real-world case studies, DBAs will gain a clear roadmap for a seamless transition and maximizing PostgreSQL’s capabilities.

• Migrate SQL Server to AWS: From Strategy to Success

• SQL Server on AWS: Architecting for High Availability and Resilience

Jason Romans is a Business Intelligence engineer in Nashville, TN working with the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack. Jason started his career as a DBA and over the years moved to working in his passion of Business Intelligence and data modeling. As a Microsoft MVP he is always learning and eager to share what he has learned. His first computer was a Commodore 64 and he's been hooked ever since.

• Unlocking the Power of TMDL: Enhancing Power BI Development

  Tabular Model Definition Language (TMDL) is a game-changer for efficient Power BI development using code. With the new TMDL view in Power BI Desktop, developers can quickly create and modify semantic model objects, surpassing the capabilities of the Power BI Desktop UI. This allows for the generation and modification of semantic objects that previously required third-party tools, enabling standardized reusable scripts that benefit individual developers and their teams. This presentation will begin with an introduction to TMDL, highlighting its unique features and differences from other scripting languages. Attendees will learn the syntax and common pitfalls to avoid. We will explore how the TMDL view integrates with Power BI projects and provide guidance on when to use it. Additionally, we will examine the support for TMDL in other tools such as Tabular Editor and Visual Studio Code. One of the key advantages of TMDL is its text-based nature, allowing developers to use their preferred editors to develop and apply changes. We will also touch on source control and how it can be utilized to detect changes between models efficiently. Finally, we will discuss common use cases and demonstrate how to leverage TMDL to become more effective and sought-after Power BI developers.

• How to Diagnose a Slow Power BI Report

Jeff Iannucci is a Senior Consultant with Straight Path Solutions and the author of "Learn SQL in a Month of Lunches." For over 20 years, he has worked extensively with databases and SQL development in sectors such as healthcare, finance, retail sales, and government. He appreciates any opportunity to share his knowledge, including blogging, creating video content, and presenting at user groups and conferences.

• Defending Your SQL Server: Practical Strategies against Ransomware

• Revealing Hidden Performance Issues with Extended Events

  Extended Events may be the most underutilized SQL Server tool for query performance tuning. Did you know there are now Extended Events that can tell you about spills to tempdb, aborted queries, and even queries that execute with common antipatterns? It’s true! With newer Extended Events released in SQL Server 2022, you can now diagnose these query problems and more. You can even measure the impact of these Extended Events with other Extended Events. In this demo-filled session you will see how you can create these powerful Extended Events, how to review the collected data to determine which queries you can improve, and even how to rewrite the captured queries for improved performance. You’ll leave this session with a new set of tools to find and fix hidden performance issues in your SQL Server queries.

• Surviving SQL Server: Guidance for new or accidental DBAs

• Performance Tuning Your Transactions

Joey D'Antoni is a Principal Cloud Architect, and a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and VMware vExpert with over 20 years of experience working in both Fortune 500 and smaller firms. He is a frequent speaker at major tech events like Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit and Enterprise Data World. He blogs about all topics technology at joeydantoni.com. He believes that no single platform is the answer to all technology problems. He lives in Malvern, PA and holds a BS in Computer Information Systems from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from North Carolina State University, and is the co-author of the Microsoft book "Introducing SQL Server 2016"

• How to Manage Your Azure Infrastructure Like an Expert: Top Best Practices

• Cloud Strategy in a Turbulent World

  Between regulatory, geo-political, and capacity concerns, having an exit strategy from a cloud provider is a decision many organizations face. While having an exit strategy from the cloud isn’t a pleasant thought, in this session, you will learn how to plan, the tradeoffs of choosing various services, and your options for where to relocate. You’ll learn about co-location facilities, national clouds, and the challenges of moving back to an on-premises data center. We will discuss the complex services to move, like email or chat, and those that move more quickly. You will learn about how sticky various cloud services are, and how you best plan for a turbulent future.

• Azure: From Admin to Architect

Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with SQL Server since 2000. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY Data Technology Group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He's an IDERA ACE alumnus and Redgate Ambassador. His original data professional role was in database development, which quickly evolved into query tuning work that further evolved into being a DBA in the healthcare realm. He has supported several critical systems utilizing SQL Server and Azure SQL and managed dozens of 24/7/365 SQL Server implementations. As a consultant, he works with customers large, medium, and small to migrate to the cloud, make their data estate operate efficiently, and find the right tools and solutions within the Microsoft Data Platform.

• Racing to Real-Time Intelligence: Live Insights from Live Data

• Personal Career Tips for an Impersonal World

• Azure-ish SQL and Azure AI 101

  You've heard way too much about AI – but you're not sure what you need it to do or what you want it to do. You're used to working with Azure SQL or SQL Server in some form or fashion but you don't know how to make them work with AI. Or, you're brand new to data and AI and want to know what you need to know so you can take that next step in your career. If any of this resonates with you, join me for this one hour session that takes you through what you can do with Azure AI and Azure-ish SQL, whether it's for fun or for work. You'll walk out conversant in AI in the Microsoft data world and able to have that next conversation about data and AI and what you can do with it – either with your current boss or your next one.

Michael McKinley is a data analytics consultant, instructor, and Power BI evangelist with a passion for turning complexity into clarity. At AllianceBernstein, he leads data intelligence efforts that empower senior leaders with actionable insights. Outside the office, Michael runs the Nashville Power BI User Group, teaches live training courses, and speaks at conferences to help others harness the full potential of Power BI, the Power Platform, and Microsoft Fabric.

• AI in Action: Supercharging Power BI Development and Troubleshooting

  Unlock the power of AI to streamline your Power BI workflows, from design to delivery. This session explores how tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI assistants can support every stage of Power BI development: designing reports, optimizing data models, troubleshooting issues, and even analyzing insights. Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others can: • Simplify DAX creation and debugging, offering tailored solutions for complex calculations. • Clarify data modeling challenges, including filter context and relationship issues, to deliver accurate insights. • Provide actionable guidance for creating effective visuals that meet specific user needs. • Summarize complex reports and datasets, empowering data consumers to generate insights independently. • Streamline workflows for expert developers, reducing repetitive tasks and accelerating project delivery. This session is designed to demonstrate how AI can elevate Power BI development at all skill levels, helping you work smarter and faster while delivering impactful results.

• Application Lifecycle Management for Business Intelligence: ALM for BI

• Creating Influence Through Analytics: Lessons From 20 Years in BI

Mike has been working with SQL Server since 1999. In 2011, he founded Straight Path Solutions as a side project. He eventually hired his first full-time employee, and fast-forward to today: Straight Path is a 17-employee SQL Server consultancy that performs SQL Server tuning, cloud migrations, and managed DBA services for small and large businesses. When he's not working with his team, he's keeping busy with his family of 6, listening to music, trying to slow down and enjoy each day as it happens.

• Becoming a SQL Consultant: Lessons for Every Stage of the Journey

  Whether you're dreaming of going out on your own, just signed your first client, or are thinking about building a team—you’re on a journey I know well. Fifteen years ago, I negotiated with my employer for them to become my first anchor client. From there, I started networking, doing side gigs, and slowly growing—with all the trial and error that comes with it. This session is a candid look at the stages of building a consulting practice in the data world. We'll cover lessons for: -The aspiring freelancer—how to prep while still employed -The brand-new solo consultant—how to protect your time and build trust -The solo-to-team leap—how to delegate, hire, and preserve your culture I’ll share what worked (and what didn’t): navigating partnerships, choosing a business structure, setting pricing, and managing client relationships. We'll touch on contracts, taxes, and the real-life decisions that can make or break your momentum. Along the way, I’ve leaned on books, mentors, coaches, and a lot of late-night second-guessing. I’m still learning—but I’ll give you a head start on the "straight path" I took. This isn’t a business school lecture or MBA program – it’s a real-world field guide. If you're considering the leap—or want to be more intentional about the path you're already on, this session will offer insights you can use Monday morning to start down the road.

• Avoiding DBA Regrets: Tales from the Trenches

I am a Senior Database Specialist Solutions Architect at AWS, focused on helping customers across diverse industries optimize their database solutions. I specialize in designing, migrating, and enhancing SQL Server workloads on managed database platforms such as Amazon RDS, Amazon RDS Custom, and Babelfish for Aurora PostgreSQL.

• Mastering Database Migration: A DBA’s Roadmap from SQL Server to PostgreSQL

  As organizations move from SQL Server to PostgreSQL to reduce costs and embrace open-source databases, a well-planned migration is crucial. This session covers different migrtaion pathways, schema conversion, stored procedure translation, performance tuning, and workload optimization while highlighting key differences in indexing, partitioning, and concurrency control. Attendees will explore migration tools like AWS DMS, Babelfish, pgLoader etc, learn best practices for high availability and disaster recovery, and tackle challenges like T-SQL to pgSQL conversion. Through real-world case studies, DBAs will gain a clear roadmap for a seamless transition and maximizing PostgreSQL’s capabilities.

Results-driven professional with over 7 years of experience in project and product management, business analysis, data analytics, and technology-driven solutions. Proven track record in leading strategy, optimizing identity and access management (IAM) processes, and delivering impactful analytics to enhance business performance.

• Secure, Compliant, and Insightful: Data Governance for AI-Driven Analytics

  As organizations increasingly integrate AI and machine learning into their analytics pipelines, the need for robust data governance has never been greater. But how can you innovate with AI while ensuring your data practices remain secure, compliant, and trustworthy? In this session, we will explore the intersection of advanced analytics and governance, offering practical guidance on building governance frameworks that support—not stifle—AI initiatives. You will learn how to structure policies that protect sensitive data, ensure regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.), and promote transparency in AI/ML models. We'll discuss key components such as data lineage, access controls, ethical AI practices, and auditability. We'll examine how modern tools like Microsoft Purview, Power BI, and Azure ML can enable governance at scale. Whether you are a data professional, analyst, or AI practitioner, this session will equip you with strategies to drive insights from your data while upholding the principles of security, compliance, and accountability.

Ray is an advocate for documentation and technical communication. He is a co-founder of the Albany, NY SQL group (CASSUG) and a member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC). He has spoken at PASS Summit and STC Summit, as well as numerous SQL Saturdays and other events. He has worked various positions in technology, including as a developer, webmaster, analyst, technical writer, and instructor. He holds an MS in technical communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BS in computer science from Syracuse University. He currently works as a technical writer and trainer for The Professional Development Program at The Research Foundation for SUNY. A musician in his spare time, Ray plays four different instruments (piano, clarinet, mallet percussion, saxophone). He also enjoys going to ball games and doing CrossFit, and is a two-time SQLServerCentral.com fantasy football champion. He lives in Troy, NY with his wife, Lianne, and their tuxedo cat, Bernard.

• Networking 101: Building Professional Relationships

  Networking. You keep hearing that word throughout your career development, but you don’t know much about it, much less, how to do it. You want to connect with technical and data professionals, so you attend events such as Data Saturday and your local user group. But what about your book club, your gym, your church group, or your kid’s soccer game? Those are prime — and overlooked — opportunities to network! In this interactive session, we will discuss networking — what it is, why it’s important, and where opportunities exist. You will even have an opportunity to practice networking within the confines of our room. You might even leave this session with new networking contacts that you didn’t previously have! Bring business cards if you have them!

• SQL101 — Learning about SQL: Building a Sandbox

• I lost my job! Now what?!? A survival guide for the unemployed

• Disaster Documents: The role of documentation in disaster recovery

Microsoft Data Platform MVP | Global Data Solutions Leader | Cloud & AI AdvocateTaiob Taiob Ali is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with over 19 years of experience designing and implementing data solutions across finance, e-commerce, and healthcare. My expertise includes the Microsoft Data Platform, MongoDB, Azure AI, and Python for data-driven innovation. As a dedicated community advocate, I've presented at over 100 events worldwide, including SQL Saturdays, Data Saturdays, and international conferences. I founded the Database Professionals Virtual Meetup Group, serve on the New England SQL Server User Group and SQL Saturday boards, and contribute regularly to Microsoft Learn, where my work is featured in the Contributor Stories.

• Magnificent Seven & Beyond: Intelligent Query Processing in SQL Server

  Can we enhance query performance without any code changes? Modifying applications can be an expensive endeavor or completely beyond your control. Therefore, developers and DBAs prefer that the query processor adapts to their workload requirements rather than relying on options and trace flags to improve performance. Adaptation is the foundational concept behind Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) in the latest versions of SQL Server. This demo-intensive presentation will explore the fifteen intelligent query processing features introduced in SQL Server 2022, 2019, and 2017. For each of these fifteen features, we will examine the issue it aims to resolve and the algorithm it uses to tackle the problem. We will evaluate the pros and cons of using these features. You will learn how to deploy them at various scopes tailored to your specific needs, such as server, database, session, or query levels. You will also be able to identify the features built on the Query Store. Attending this session will allow you to learn about the new capabilities of intelligent query processing and gain powerful tools to persuade your peers to upgrade SQL Server and databases to the latest build, both on-premises and in the cloud.

• PostgreSQL vs. SQL Server: Security Model Differences

  Security is paramount in database management. If you are an SQL Server expert looking to learn PostgreSQL, it is essential to understand how PostgreSQL's security model differs from that of SQL Server. This talk will compare the security models of both database systems. Aimed at database administrators and developers, the presentation will highlight the key differences in how these systems handle user authentication, roles, and permissions. For example, did you know that: -SQL Server distinguishes between logins and users, whereas PostgreSQL uses a unified role-based system for authentication and authorization. -SQL Server offers predefined server and database roles, such as sysadmin, which provides a range of out-of-the-box permissions. Conversely, PostgreSQL includes default roles like pg_read_all_data, designed to simplify standard permission sets. -SQL Server allows the creation of custom roles with flexible permission assignments. PostgreSQL's roles enable inheriting permissions from other roles and support complex role hierarchies. Understanding these differences and others discussed during the session will enhance your grasp of the security model distinctions between SQL Server and PostgreSQL, enabling you to implement security best practices effectively in either environment.

• Azure PostgreSQL: 15 Essential Standards for Compliance and Security

• Getting Started with Kusto Query Language (KQL) in Azure

• Lifting Your Data Skills to the Cloud

Lead Architect – Data Management – Datavail Proficient Cloud & Data Analytics Lead Cloud, Big Data, & Traditional Data Warehouse expertise Cross-functional project leader using advanced data modeling and analysis techniques Improving organizational performance by evaluating best practices for DB servers and data quality issues for ETL and Analytics systems

• Microsoft Fabric Modernization Pathways in Action

  Microsoft Fabric has many organizations reconsidering their current data estates. Understanding how to modernize your existing data platforms into Microsoft Fabric's all-in-one platform is essential for getting the most out of your data and analytics investment. Learn about your modernization pathways and get real-world examples of organizations preparing for a Fabric future.

Tonie Huizer is a Software, Data, and DevOps Consultant who believes good tech starts with understanding your people. A regular on international stages and a Microsoft Certified Azure Developer, Tonie loves helping teams simplify complex challenges; whether that’s modernizing database deployments, designing scalable systems, or just getting Dev and Ops to finally talk to each other. Tonie is known for his clear, energetic presentation style and ability to make complex topics accessible and engaging. As a Redgate Community Ambassador, he advocates for database DevOps and contributes to open knowledge sharing through blogs, talks, and events across the globe. He also co-leads SeaQL Saturday, a community-driven event that blends education, networking, and Sammie, his Kooikerhondje mascot. (Because yes, even events are better with a dog.) Whether he's discussing Azure DevOps workflows, database release automation, or the cultural shifts required to implement DevOps successfully, Tonie brings real-world experience, humor, and actionable insights. His goal is to inspire professionals not just to adopt new technologies, but to transform how teams collaborate and innovate. And when he’s not speaking about tech, he might just be speaking about whisky. Tonie is a passionate whisky enthusiast who loves sharing stories, flavors, and the occasional tasting session with his fellow connoisseur of TasteWhisky. If you're into DevOps, data, and a well-aged dram on the side, Tonie’s your man!

• Code First, Review Later: Making EF Core Work for DBAs

  Developers love EF Core for its speed and automation. DBAs fear it for the exact same reason. Automatic generated migrations can bypass crucial checks, leading to friction, surprises—and sometimes, outages. Database teams need transparency and control. Changes should be reviewable, testable, and deployable through trusted pipelines. EF Core’s migrations often feel like black boxes—and the confidence of the database team begins to slip. But what if you didn’t have to choose? With the right approach, you can let developers work in EF Core and give DBAs the control they need—by transforming EF migrations into Flyway-compatible scripts. In this session, you’ll see how EF Core and Flyway can work together. The result? Shorter deployment cycles, fewer surprises, and better collaboration between teams that traditionally don’t speak the same language. Join this session to explore real-world examples, automation with PowerShell and YAML, and the recipe for getting devs and DBAs on the same page.

• Learn How to Build Workflow-Driven Database Provisioning in Azure DevOps

  You’ve convinced your team to use version control. You’re provisioning dedicated databases. But the process still feels clunky. It’s manual, script-heavy, and often tied to specific developer machines. Sure, PowerShell helps, but it’s not consistent across the team. And when it breaks, not everyone can fix it (or wants to). In this deep dive, you’ll explore a more scalable approach: self-service database provisioning that happens automatically when someone starts new work. By integrating this process into Azure DevOps, you’ll see how to make database environments part of your team’s natural workflow. We’ll cover how to stash and resume work-in-progress environments, manage long-lived branches, and clean up unused resources. Throughout the session, we’ll look at how these ideas fit into the bigger picture of building an Internal Developer Platform (IDP) specifically for database development. Expect a few slides, but mostly hands-on demos using real-world PowerShell and YAML. You'll leave with patterns, scripts, and a practical plan to make database delivery faster, easier, and fully self-served.

• Database DevOps…CJ/CD: Continuous Journey Continuous Disaster?