Last week was my first week as the PM for the SQL MCM / MCA program. I am digging out from a large backlog of emails. Please be patient with me as I come up to speed. Watch for an announcement soon about the return of the MCM Community Calls. Till...

We recently completed the first round of exams for our first "hybrid rotation" - our alternate delivery model where we do one week onsite in Redmond followed by ten weeks of Lync-based remote training delivery - and we've had outstanding results with...

Please welcome our newest SQL Server Certified Master Li Xiaozhao. I was fortunate enough to get to greet one final Master on my next to last day at Microsoft. Welcome to the community. Li Xiaozhao is a SQL Server/BI consultant with Microsoft Consulting...

We wrapped up our first "hybrid rotation" last week, and R11 candidates are busy completing their exams - I look forward to more announcements for newly-minted MCMs in the near future. During the second half of R11, two candidates from past rotations...

Starting May 8: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) Accelerated Exam Preparation Program Our popular live accelerated training program for SQL Server MCM returns with another session starting May 8, 2012. Whether you're preparing for SQL...

I want to congratulate our newest SQL Server 2008 Certified Master, Nicholas Cain. Nicholas is very well known by most of us here in the Redmond area, and he is a frequent participant in our local #SQLNomz get-togethers. Here is brief introduction...

We held our most recent SharePoint MCA boards just a few weeks ago, from February 29-March 1 at the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston, VA. Please extend your congratulations to one of our candidates who successfully achieved the Microsoft Certified...

Our second quarterly webcast for SharePoint 2010 MCM will be held in just a few weeks on Friday, April 13 at 9AM Pacific Time . We'll provide a detailed program overview, share updates on program schedule, and set aside plenty of time for live Q&A...

We recently completed our most recent MCM Directory rotation where we had 23 participants. The largest in several years! Please congratulate the following individuals who have successfully completed all of the required exams during the rotation: ...

Uwe Ricken shared his story of his path to SQL Masters certification on the SQL Server Central forums . I am reposting his story here with his permission. Thanks for sharing your experience, Uwe! Hi all, I've just got the information that i have...

Please join me in welcoming our newest SQL Server Certified Master, Eric Strom. Here is a brief introduction to Eric: Eric Strom is a Database Consultant with Digineer, Inc , a business and technology firm in the Twin Cities metro area. He has been...

It's mid-winter and also the midpoint of our first hybrid rotation delivery, with the "R11" candidates working hard at attending remote instructor-led training, remote office hours, and doing LOTS of lab work and study. Six weeks down, six to go... ...

I am delighted to introduce another new SQL Server 2008 Certified Master to the MCM community. Please join me in welcoming Argenis Fernandez, our newest SQL Certified Master. Here is a brief introduction: Argenis has been working with SQL Server...

Please join me once again in congratulating Benjamin Wright-Jones ( blog| @superlatch ). Benjamin was already a double SQL Server MCM (2005 and 2008) and is now the newest SQL Server Certified Architect (MCA). Here is a brief bio of Ben has worked...

Please join me in congratulating our newest SQL Server MCM, Gavin Payne. I met Gavin at the SQL PASS Summit last year and knew he would be joining our ranks very soon. Here is a brief into to Gavin: Gavin ( blog | @GavinPayneUK ) is a Senior Consultant...

Back by popular demand: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) Accelerated Exam Preparation Program Our first online live accelerated training program for SQL Server MCM was such a hit that we’re bringing it back starting March 6. Whether...

Please join me in welcoming our newest member of the MCM community, Sean McCown. Here is a little info about Sean: Sean McCown is a Certified Master in SQL Server 2008. He is also a SQL Server MVP with over 15yrs experience in databases. Sean is...

We're kicking off an initiative to conduct regularly-scheduled LiveMeetings on Advanced Certification offerings. These will be hosted by the program managers and include detailed program overviews as well as time for live Q&A. You can find them here...

SQL Server 2008 Certified Master (MCM) and SQL Server Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Brent Ozar ( blog | @Brento ) offers up his advice on how to pass the SQL MCM knowledge exam . Sorry, Brent doesn't give out the answers, but he does give a unique...

Looking for options for taking the SQL Server Certified Master lab exam? For a limited time, Microsoft Learning will be offering remote delivery of the SQL Server Certified Master lab exam for a reduced price of $2000 US (normally $2500 US). Remote delivery...

Please join me in welcoming our newest SQL Server 2008 MCM Qikan Fang. Here is some info on him. Qikan ( @qkfang ) is Chief Developer at Health-e Workforce Solutions ( www.healthewfs.com.au ). His experience focuses around SQL Development, Data Integration...

SQL Server MVP Jason Strate ( blog | @StrateSQL ) has started a SQL MCM study group on Yammer.Yammer is free to join So check out the new study group and get involved. Head over to Jason Strate's blog post to learn more and join: http://www.jasonstrate...

Please join me in welcoming Martin Cairns to our community of certified Masters. Martin is very active in the SQL community, and I think we will definitely benefit from having him join us. Here is a brief bio about Martin: Martin Cairns , Senior...

After nearly four years I'm moving on as the PM of the Lync and OCS MCM programs. It has been quite a ride..... On January 12 th 2009 the first rotation of OCS MCM kicked off in building 11 on Redmond campus. Almost four years later we have achieved...

We wrapped up SharePoint 2010 MCM R10 (AKA R1010 for all you binary folks out there) a little over a week ago in not-so-sunny Redmond, and I'm very pleased to announce a number of additions to our community and new certifications for current community...