Denise Smith's Blog

Last week I spent 4 days in Seattle on Jury Duty. While being a juror I was instructed on not talking about the case on breaks in the jury room.  So our jury spoke of many things. Two topics that managed to take our time was transportation and technology. And today, one of the transportation vehicles that we were speaking of starts it's run: The South Lake Union Street Car. At 12:12 PM today it begins it's service! Go Seattle!  It's great to see public transportation develop here! 

MIX08- Just 86 days until cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web on March 5-7, 2008 at the Venetian in Las Vegas, NV.  MIX ix cool. I went in 2006 and am now working on the event. Watching the MIX08 planning unfold is really excitting. You can track the event development at http://visitmix.com/2008 and hear the MIX08 team plan with weekly podcasts on The Signal.  

It's official! We've launched Microsoft Student 2006. 

As per Microsoft.com, “Microsoft Student 2006 is a comprehensive, subject-specific resource designed to help middle- and high-school students complete high-quality homework assignments and projects in less time. With curriculum-based templates and tutorials, a fully functional graphing calculator with 2-D and 3-D four-color graphing capabilities, trusted content, and tools for cutting through online clutter, Microsoft Student 2006 provides students with the tools and information they need to achieve academic success.“

They're back!  Yes. Ken and Brian reminded me that TechEd is rapidly approaching.  Email from Brian reminded me that I will miss seeing them this year in action. Together they have one PreCon session on Sunday:  Visual Basic .NET Programming for Visual Basic 6.0 Developers and then Ken is speaking on Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Office System: Building Office Solutions Using Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office on Wednesday and Brian is talking on Developing on Virtual Server 2005 on Thursday.  Good Luck you two!!!

Don Box emailed me recently for information on Tech·Ed Europe planning. I thought perhaps I should post with the news that he knew, but others are starting to find out:  I moved from the Tech·Ed team to take a positon as the International Marketing Manager for the Home Retail Division in January. I am now working with the Digital Imaging, Streets & Trips, Encarta, Money, Works and Works Suite product teams.  I was involved in Tech·Ed through early session selection--which falls under 16 primary tracks and 2 virtual tracks.  I did touch base recently in best practice sharing with Jeremy Mazner for PDC planning. It's fun to see his questions pop up on his blog site. BTW:  I am for 2 days of PreCons--might as well take advantage of great minds, LA and Saturday night stay flight discounts.  Will blog more with news from the HRD group.

Hello!  Just back from travels in the Southwest (Tucson and Vegas-109 degrees! A nice dry heat). TechEd NZ and AUS organizers are up and ready with their event planning. Just wanted to highlight their plans:

Check out:
    TechEd NZ Content Owner Paul Andrew's blog:  http://blogs.msdn.com/pandrew
    TechEd NZ website:  http://www.microsoft.com/nz/teched/schedule.aspx
    Frank Arrigo's blog (AUS):  http://blogs.msdn.com/frankarr
    TechEd AUS website:  http://www.microsoft.com/australia/events/teched2004/default.aspx

More soon!
Denise

Didn't make it to Europe, but Tim Sneath's blog is tracking the hot cotent!  Tim is the content manager for TechEd Europe, and he's just listed the top sessions thus far on his site. Check it out at:  http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2004/06/29/168995.aspx

Or take a peak...

I've got more news on that SQL Server/Visual Studio Party for you!
Go to Matt Nunn's Blog for information on how to get an invite.
FYI: The party will be held at Werck on Wednesday, June 30th.

Hi. Just want to clarify a few things from a previously posted blog...

Share Your Thoughts
If you are at TechEd Europe please let share your ideas with me! Informally you may catch me at the RAI.

SQL Party @ TechEd Europe
SQL is hosting an Invite-Only SQL Server Party Wednesday, June 30.  Go to the SQL Server Ask The Experts area at the conference to collect a ticket.

Women In Technology Luncheon
Wednesday, June 30 hear from panelists: Christine Betts (General Manager, CSS, Microsoft EMEA), Natalie Ayres (Senior Director Platform Strategy, Microsoft EMEA), Suzy Black (Microsoft EMEA Diversity Group), Kimberly L. Tripp (President, SYSolutions, Inc.) and Kalen Delaney (Solid Quality Learning). 

TechEd 101
Tim Sneath's blog telling how to make the most of TechEd reminded me to let you know that next year we will have a TechEd 101 session that explains how to make the most out of TechEd. We'll cover cabana sessions, breakout sessions, CommNet usage, which parties to attend, etc....

Orlando Planning
I am going to Orlando, Florida July 7-8 to draw up plans for the Cabana Sessions in the Orange County Convention Center.  Hoping to make it better than v1.0.   The Convention Center expanded (since we had TechEd there in 2000) and we will be housing many things in the North and South Complex Building.

New to Blogging
BTW:  Kimberly Tripp emailed me to let me know she's got a blog now. She'll be in Amsterdam too!

Good Bye San Diego I am packing to leave sunny (yes-at last) Southern California.  As I pack, I remember that I had an action item from the Women In Technlogoy Luncheon. At the end of the event I met Esther Schindler, Site Editor from Ziff Davis Media and she echoed the thoughts of the panelists in that a great way to get known in the industry is to write articles. So ladies and gentleman, if you're interested in submitting , please send Esther articles:  esther@bitranch.com

Wrap-up  I spent yesterday working on post TechEd surveys for the track owners. I've got a long list of notes from attendees and bloggers to start planning the “cabanas” V2.0 and the breakout sessions. Here's an interesting chart that shows the growth in TechEd. It also highlights the fact that the free DVD is going to be huge. I will be working on that with a team that has already begun to finish it and let you know when it gets mailed.  :)

As of Friday, the top sessions by attendance were: 

The top 10 speakers for Tech•Ed 2004:  

With the exception of Patrick Paludan-Müller, all of the top speakers are return speakers from Tech•Ed 2003 and Tech•Ed 2002.

It's not my story, but one that both Kimberly and Steve told me on seperate occasions. Last year, Kim was flying to TechEd Europe on a non-direct flight to Barcelona. She relates that the passenger next to her started to chit chat before the flight took off and they both learned they were going to Barcelona. Then the discovered they were both going to TechEd to speak. That's when they finally introduced each other and Steve learned that he was sitting next to the top rated speaker from TechEd 2003 in Dallas.

I just left the community lounge in the Sails Pavilion where I said farewell to the track owners and saw Steve Checking his scores. The evaluation system gets turned off at noon tomorrow, here's where it stands...updated at 10:45 PM:

I can't believe it is almost over. 8 hours left.  Ugh.  It's been such a great show. We began planning it in Dallas the day TechEd 2003.  I need sleep (as does everyone else). I think I may have a little bit of the “Show Is Over” Blues. And, it's not just TechEd. It's been a wonderful year. When I left Dallas last year, I was finishing the plans for my wedding . It's been fun to see everyone at TechEd that I only see once a year because they all remind me that I am a newlywed. This was followed by an incredible PDC, followed by an amazing show with the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association NW Dance Team called “A Dance To Die For“ . My head is spinning with feedback, ideas, inspiration...I am looking forward to vacation and then heading back to Redmond, Schmoopy and seeing what's next!

Thanks to all who I need to thank...I will be writing my thank you notes soon.  :) But until then I will be sipping a few espressos in the community lounge soaking up the last hours of TechEd.

Kimberly has gone on to beat Steve Riley as of Thursday at 6:00 PM.  Now I know this seems crazy, but you will have to read my blog tomorrow for the story behind the competition. 

Thanks to Kevin Lisota  and the Mobile Devices team for providing Smart Phone Incentives for Evals.

:) Now I am off to see SHAMU. See y'all there!  Denise