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...

Folks often ask me about the cost of MCM Exchange training, and at $18,500 I understand the sticker shock. I also know that the MCM program provides incredible value for the right candidate. We don't let anyone teach this stuff...we get the very best...

We are pleased to announce two new training opportunities being launched by Microsoft Learning to help prepare candidates for the Certified Master exams or for anyone looking to take their SQL Server skills to the next level. Coming November 29: Accelerated...

Congratulations to Dimitri Furman who became our newest SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master this past Friday. Dimitri Furman is a SQL Server consultant working for Microsoft Consulting Services. In the last four years, he has been involved in...

SharePoint MCM instructors, candidates, and community members have been going at a fever pitch through late summer and early fall. We made a number of updates to our content, labs, and exams following the release of SharePoint 2010 MCM Service Pack 1...

With Rotation 11 of Lync MCM done and dusted I'm pleased to welcome four new Lync MCMs to the ever expanding community. Lars Harbeck Sørensen who comes from Denmark and works for Atea A/S Timothy White who works for Dimension Data in Australia...

I spend a lot of time talking with potential MCM candidates about what to expect from attending the Lync MCM training in an effort to help them understand the expectations, demands and also rewards of the program. In an effort to provide a first hand...

We informally announced the newest Certified Master for SQL Server 2008 last week. I am pleased to officially introduce our newest SQL Server MCM to you: Reeves Smith is a SQL Server consultant specializing in data warehouse projects. He is currently...

Today at the SharePoint Conference in Anaheim, California, Microsoft is excited to announce a new addition to the suite of Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certifications: MCA: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010. Joining MCA Exchange Server, SQL Server...

We are proud to announce the first wave of SSAS Maestros v1.0. After three 3-day sessions in Redmond, London, and Hong Kong in Feb/Mar 2011 with hundreds of applications and eighty one attendees, we now have the first wave of SSAS Maestros who completed...

Hi everyone. Starting in calendar year 2012, we'll be expanding the delivery methods for the SharePoint Microsoft Certified Master’s program to include a "hybrid" delivery model that includes both onsite and remote training. We posted high-level...