Thanks for joining us at SQLSat Dallas!

Engaged crowds and great questions at both my morning sessions on Saturday morning at SQLSat Dallas, an event put together by a team of expert SQLSat organizers, including SQL Server 2017 Administration Inside Out co-author Mindy Curnutt.

Thanks to everyone who attended (and especially those who attended both!) my back-to-back sessions, What's New In SQL Server 2017 and Think Like a Certification Exam. Thanks again to UserGroup.TV, you can watch a recording of my first presentation: http://usergroup.tv/videos/whats-new-in-sql-server-2017-2.

I've uploaded my presentation slide decks for download to my Github and also to the SQLSaturday.com schedule website.

Again, asking only the tough questions.

Regrettably we won't be able to make SQLSat Pensacola in June, but we will see the #SQLFamily at SQLSaturday Houston on June 23 and then of course at our hometown SQLSat Baton Rouge on August 11. Baton Rouge's Call for Speakers is open for another 10 days or so, submit a session today!

See you at SQLSat Dallas!

Looking forward to making the road trip on Friday and joining the #SQLFamily at SQLSat Dallas 2018 this Saturday. It's my first SQLSat Dallas since my last trip to SQLSat Dallas in November 2013, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again.

I'll be speaking twice in the morning, back to back, with my two newest presentations: What's New In SQL Server 2017 and Think Like a Certification Exam.

Also check out presentations from fellow Baton Rougeans Thomas LeBlanc and John Wells!

Thanks for joining us at the Spring Houston Tech Fest 2018

Congrats to Michael, Eric, John, all the organizers and volunteers, and all the speakers for a successful Spring Houston Tech Fest 2018. It was a pleasure for the wife and I to get back into speaking at this conference, and oh did we, with a combined six hours of quality Assaf material. It was also great to see a presence from local schools and IT companies, including a whole bunch of folks from Improving. As a local tech conference organizer myself, a big personal thank you to Improving for bringing a host of speakers.

Thanks to usergroup.tv, video of my first presentation, "What's New in SQL Server 2017", is available online.

This was the first time I presented my "Think Like A Certification Exam" session, based on my experience as a writer and SME for the SQL Server exams since 2012. Thanks for everyone who attended and asked so many great questions. And best of luck to all of you who are still students as you launch your careers! Maybe just wait a few years before shooting for the MCSE. :)

I also presented my "What's New In SQL Server 2017" session, gave away a copy of SQL Server 2017 Administration Inside Out, and was joined again by my colleague Steve Schaneville for "Twilight TimeZone: Handling Time in Your App Architecture", our delve into the murky depths of handling time zones in your applications.

All the slides from all three presentations are available for download here.

During my "Think Like a Certification Exam" we asked the hard questions. 

Ready for Houston Tech Fest 2018

Houston Tech Fest is this weekend!

In 2016, there was a wedding. In 2017, rescheduled at the last minute because of Harvey, I couldn't reschedule. But prior to 2016, I had spoken at Houston Tech Fest going back to 2010 (at least, memory fails). I'm really happy to be returning to this annual event in its new season and venue, this weekend at the San Jacinto College Central Campus in Pasadena, TX.

Since you're familiar with SQLSaturdays, Houston Tech Fest will feel quite familiar, though with a broader technology scope. Register for this free Saturday training event today: houstontechfest.com

I'll be speaking in three time slots:

Session 1: What's New In SQL Server 2017

Session 3: Think Like a Certification Exam

Session 5: Twilight TimeZone: Handling Time in Your App Architecture (jointly presented with fellow Sparkhound Principal Consultant Steve Schaneville)

My wife Christine will also be speaking three times at the event, and will almost certainly draw more folks to her sessions than any of mine will. Not jealous!

See you there!