Matthew Roche, Conference Chair - Microsoft SQL Server MVP Matthew Roche is the founder and Chief Software Architect of Integral Thought & Memory, a BI-focused consultancy. Matthew has worked with Microsoft SQL Server since the mid 90s, starting with SQL Server 6.0 and 6.5, and has been falling deeper and deeper in love with SQL Server with each passing year. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Matthew has taught hundreds of database administrators and database developers how to better utilize SQL Server’s capabilities. As a software developer and architect, Matthew has built dozens of applications that use the SQL Server platform. Matthew has been using SQL Server 2005 since its early beta days and has been working with SQL Server 2008 since early 2007. Matthew’s current focus is on the SQL Server Business Intelligence stack, specifically SQL Server Integration Services. Today, when not delivering training, presenting on BI topics at conferences, or listening to the world’s loudest heavy metal, Matthew is hard at work helping IT&M's clients design and build enterprise business intelligence solutions using SQL Server 2005 and 2008.

Donald Farmer - Donald Farmer has worked in the Microsoft Business Intelligence team for 6 years. He has worked on both the Analysis Services and Integration Services product teams. Donald is now Principal Program Manager for SQL Server Data Mining, working to build a seamless integration of predictive and exploratory analytics with the Microsoft business intelligence offering. Mr. Farmer is a popular speaker at international events for both business and technical audiences, with a wide range of interests including data integration, information quality, metadata intelligence, master data management and predictive analytics. He is the author of a number of books and articles. Prior to joining Microsoft, Donald worked not only in business intelligence but in fields as varied as medieval archaeology and fish-farming.

Brian Knight - Brian Knight, SQL Server MVP, MCSE, MCDBA, is the co-founder of Jumpstart TV and SQLServerCentral.com. Brian has written and co-written 7 technical books including recently: Professional SQL Server 2005 Administration and Professional SQL Server 2005 Integration Services. Brian has spoken at conferences like PASS, TechEd and Connections.

Ted Malone - Microsoft Visual Studio Team System MVP Ted Malone is currently Product Strategy Architect for Configuresoft, Inc., a Microsoft Gold Certified ISV Partner. At Configuresoft, Ted is responsible for incorporating leading edge technology into the company’s flagship product line, Enterprise Configuration Manager. Ted is also responsible for the Configuration Intelligence Analytics product, which uses the entire business intelligence stack (SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services, Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Microsoft Office Performance Point Server 2007) from Microsoft to deliver leading-edge business intelligence for Information Technology managers and executives. Ted has been working with SQL Server Technologies since version 1.0 (Yes, there really was a SQL Server 1.0) and has worked as an Administrator, Developer, Trainer and Architect.

Sonya McNeal - Sonya McNeal is a Senior Principal Consultant with Vital IT Solutions and a Microsoft certified Trainer. She has been providing consulting and training services for over 12 years. She work with a wide range of technologies, in planning, implementation, design, supporting, and management. Sonya is an experienced trainer who is fluent in both classroom-based Instructor Led Trainer (ILT) and online E-Learning, with a focus on SQL Server and SharePoint. Sonya is a Senior SQL Business Intelligence (BI) consultant for Vital IT Solutions to provide consulting and learning solutions in BI assessments, design and deployment. When she is not in the classroom or onsite with a client, Sonya keep herself busy with speaking engagements and writing projects.

Scot Reagin - Scot Reagin has more than twenty years of technology experience serving in a wide variety of roles including: Software Designer, Solution Architect, and Operations and General Manager. Mr. Reagin has substantial experience architecting, designing, and implementing complete analytic solutions for organizations of many sizes and in diverse industries. His Business intelligence specific experience encompasses all aspects of Enterprise Information solutions including: Information Quality, Enterprise Data Warehousing, Business Analysis Data Marts, and comprehensive visualization applications. Having developed and delivered public and private training in the use of specific technologies (including DTS/Integration Services, Analysis Services, and MDX), best practice implementation strategies, and overall information architectural concepts, Scot is a respected speaker at business and technical conferences including TDWI, SQL Connections, Tech-Ed, and PASS.

Craig Utley - Craig Utley is a Mentor with Solid Quality Mentors and a former Program Manager with the SQL Server Customer Advisory Team (SQLCAT) where he focused on Business Intelligence. Craig has been involved in the Microsoft BI space since the betas of SQL Server 7.0, when he helped write Microsoft's first data warehousing course. Since then he has consulted at a variety of businesses worldwide on their BI solutions as an independent consultant, a ProClarity consultant, and a member of SQLCAT. Thanks to his time on SQLCAT, Craig has seen some of the largest Microsoft data warehouses in the world and has worked directly with the Analysis Services development team. Craig is also a former MVP in C#, which he had to give up when he joined Microsoft in May 2006. Craig is a current member of the INETA Speaker's Bureau and maintains an interest in the .NET space. He is the author of over 35 articles and 3 books, the most recent of which is about PerformancePoint Server 2007.

Erik Veerman - Erik Veerman is a Mentor for Solid Quality Mentors focusing on training, mentoring and architecting solutions on the SQL Server BI platform. His industry recognition includes Microsoft's Worldwide BI Solution of the Year and SQL Server Magazine's Innovator Cup winner. Erik has designed dozens of BI solutions across a broad business spectrum-telecommunications, marketing, retail, commercial real estate, finance, supply chain, and information technology. His experience with high volume multi-terabyte environments and SQL Server 64-bit has enabled clients to scale their Microsoft-based BI solutions for optimal potential. As an expert in OLAP design, ETL processing, and dimensional modeling, Erik is a presenter, author and instructor. He led the ETL architecture and design for the first production implementation of Integration Services (SSIS) and helped drive the ETL standards and best practices for SSIS on Microsoft's SQL Server 2005 reference initiative, Project REAL. Erik is co-author of the book SSIS Professional and Expert SSIS.

John Welch - John Welch is Chief Architect at Mariner, responsible for designing and implementing Mariner’s business intelligence, data warehousing and performance management solutions for companies in the education, financial services, manufacturing and healthcare industries. John’s experience with business intelligence solutions began with Business Objects reporting products, then he began providing OLAP solutions to customers based on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services 2000. John has since delivered solutions on Microsoft’s SQL Server 2005 platform, leveraging Reporting Services, Integration Services, and Analysis Services extensively. Typical solutions include: migrating from Business Objects reporting platform to Microsoft Reporting Services; implementing Microsoft PerformancePoint Server to manage and monitor KPIs; and implementing an enterprise data warehouse using the Microsoft BI stack end to end.

Matt Masson - Matt has worked in the BI industry for the past seven years, and is now a developer on the SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) team. A experienced programmer with a strong customer focus, he provides a unique insider’s view to the SQL Server 2008 release. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2006, Matt was employed with Cognos Inc., where he worked on various BI and CPM products. He maintains an SSIS blog on MSDN.com, and can frequently be seen trolling the Integration Services support forums.