I'M A PC
AND I'M A MVP
If you were in Seattle this week for #mvp09 (the 2009 Microsoft MVP Summit), then you either skipped the Wednesday Keynotes or you know what I'm talking about. For everyone else, we had to sign waivers because they filmed all of us yelling that. Then Steve Ballmer started his keynote by having us yell that as well!
But just like all other good things, #mvp09 is in my rear-view mirror. I took the badge off and climbed on the shuttle to the airport about 1:45pm on Wednesday, just a little sad, but also very tired.
So what is it we do?
The summit is the once-a-year golden opportunity for all the MVPs to meet with the product groups that build the stuff we use and interact with them. Some of the stuff we talk about is covered under our MVP NDA, and for good reason. I know this has been a big topic this year and if you followed us all on twitter I'm sure you're aware of what was going on.
I was going to take off on that, but it sounded very negative so I'll just say that IMHO if you don't like the NDA, sit in the hall when it's invoked :)
So we get to pass along information from users we are in contact with, and from our own experience, and in some regard help shape the products coming up. Our opinions are asked many times on ranking features, so make sure the local MVPs you know have all the information you want to send along to Redmond!
Along the way we meet up with folks we haven't seen in a year, and attach faces with names we've just learned.
I had an incredible time and am humbled by the company I'm allowed to keep when I'm there. Thanks so much to Microsoft for the opportunity and the support and all the effort that goes into every little thing. And thanks to all the rest of you guys for making this old hacker feel like one of you!
I met Zusanna Moran, my MVP lead, and had a small amount of time to speak with her during the week, a very tireless lady that seems to have an incredible amount of energy for her MVPs... thanks Suzanna!
Then new folks I met this year, in no order at all: Page Brooks, Chris Hay, Al Pascual, Inseok Gong, BrowniePoints, Corey Miller, KC, Andras Velvart, Chris Bennage, Peter Bromberg, Shawn Oster, David Silverlight, Toi, Tamir Khason, Andrew Duthie, Scott Barnes, and who knows who-all else I've forgotten!
I can't forget to thank my room-mate, Michael Washington for brainstorming and coding up changes for my website with me (to be announced later). My first choice would be no room-mate, but second choice worked out just great!
You never know from year to year if you'll able to be at the next Summit, but if it's a possibility, I'll be there, and am looking forward to it already!
posted @ Thursday, March 05, 2009 5:11 PM