Techmentor 2011

Conference Chair and Advisory Council

Greg Shields - TechMentor Conference Chair

Greg is an independent author, speaker, and IT consultant, as well as a Founding Partner with Concentrated Technology. With nearly 15 years in information technology, Greg has developed extensive experience in systems administration, engineering, and architecture specializing in Microsoft OS, remote application, and virtualization technologies. Greg is a Contributing Editor and columnist for TechNet Magazine, a former columnist for Redmond Magazine and Virtualization Review Magazine, and has authored or contributed to ten books and countless white papers and webcasts. His writing is regularly seen in publications like TechTarget online, e-books from Realtime Publishers, and the UK-based IT EXPERT Magazine. He has also produced numerous video training series for CBT Nuggets.

Advisory Council

Doug Barney

Doug Barney has been a technology journalist for nearly 20 years, serving as a writer, news editor and editor in chief. Barney is Vice President/Editorial Director of the 1105 Enterprise Computing Group. In the space of 25 months, Barney launched Redmond Magazine, Redmond Channel Partner, and Redmond Developer News. In late 2006, the Redmond Media Group acquired Fawcette Technical Publications, including Visual Studio Magazine. Barney was most recently Editor in Chief of Network Computing, a bi-weekly publication with over 220,000 subscribers.

Early in his career, Doug worked as Senior Editor, Microcomputing for Computerworld. While not breaking news about PC software makers such as Lotus and Microsoft, Doug managed the Microcomputing section of the newspaper. One career highlight was the debate that ran in print between Doug and Bill Gates over the future of PC operating systems. From there, Doug became editor in chief of AmigaWorld, a 100,000 circulation newsstand-driven publication. Doug snagged art and editorial contributions from such notable readers as Arthur C. Clarke and Todd Rundgren. Later, Doug joined InfoWorld and once again covered PC software. There, Doug was the recipient of the Computer Press Association Award for Breaking News.

More recently Doug served as Executive Editor of News for Network World newspaper where he ran both print and on-line news operations. His very first story for the publication revealed that hate groups were using the Internet to recruit new members and to tie disparate groups together. The story also exposed calls for censorship from certain human rights groups. The piece was followed up by NBC, AP, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and was syndicated nationwide by NBC. Doug has also been a frequent guest on CNN, CNNfn, NECN, and NPR commenting about PC and networking technologies.

Lafe Low

Editor in Chief, TechNet Magazine

Lafe Low brings 20 years of experience as a writer and editor to the team of TechNet Magazine. Low served in various editorial positions with inCider, PC Games, InfoWorld and Redmond magazines. While working for CIO, he was the 2001 Neal Award winner for best single feature, and served with the 2001 and 2002 ASBPE Magazine of the Year award-winning editorial and design team.

Conference Speakers

John Baker

John started in computers many moons ago working on mainframes, some of which were water cooled. He quickly moved to mini-computers and then joined the PC revolution in the 1980's. He’s been with Microsoft over 13 years, starting in consulting as an SMS 1.2 specialist and moving onto various technologist and pre-sales roles. He specializes in Windows Server 2008 Active Directory and Group Policy, System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and desktop and server deployment. In the last 8 years, John has presented at hundreds of TechNet events and many product launches. He is currently a Senior IT Pro Evangelist at Microsoft covering Maine to Florida. As an IT Pro, John loves how new products and technologies are always lurking around the corner. All this new technology presents a major learning challenge, which is why he recently updated his MCSE certification to the new MCITP Server Administrator and MCITP Enterprise Administrator certifications. When not evangelizing Microsoft products John loves to cook Indian food and scuba dive, though not necessarily at the same time.

J. Peter Bruzzese

J. Peter Bruzzese (Triple-MCSE/MCT/MCITP: Messaging) is Co-Founder of ClipTraining, provider of screencast video Learning Management Systems. In addition, Peter works for InfoWorld as their Enterprise Windows column blogger, has a monthly column with Realtime Publishers called 'Exclusively Exchange' (with a corresponding site www.exclusivelyexchange.com), and contributes regularly to Redmond Magazine and WindowsITPro. His latest book is Exchange 2007 How-To (Sams, January 2009) with other titles to his credit over the past 10 years that continue to sell worldwide. He welcomes email at jpb@cliptraining.com or visit his website for both free and subscription based training videos at www.cliptraining.com.

Yung Chou

Yung Chou is currently a Senior IT Evangelist at Microsoft. His previous roles and responsibilities within the company include support account management, service deliveries, and a Technology Specialist. His professional interests include infrastructure as a service, virtual desktop infrastructure, and collaboration platforms. He has been a frequent speaker at Microsoft conferences, roadshows, and TechNet events.

James Conrad

MCSE, Server+, A+, Certified Ethical Hacker is a sought-after consultant and trainer including those within the Fortune 500. James has been an official contributor to the MCP program and was a key contributor in determining MCSE exam objectives in the Microsoft Certification and Skills Assessment division. James has trained and consulted for Intel, UCLA, Raytheon, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, MCI Worldcom, Sprint, Exxon-Mobil, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, State Farm, US Department of Justice, Bureau of Land Management and many others. James also wrote the CompTIA Server+ college curriculum for Thomson Learning. James also served as the technical editor for Thomson Learning's Network+ college curriculum. James is currently the lead recruiter and instructor for CBT Nuggets, a leading Microsoft, Cisco, and Linux video training source.

Mike Danseglio

Mike Danseglio has worked in the IT field for more than 20 years. Starting at the bottom allowed Mike to build experience in all aspects of the computer industry. He is an award-winning author, public speaker, and instructor on a variety of technology topics including security, virtualization, computer hardware, and OS operation and deployment. His security work has included protecting militaries, government agencies, and private industry around the world. Mike holds numerous certifications and credentials but doesn't clutter up his bio that way. He is based in Redmond, Washington, a mere stone's throw from Microsoft's main campus.

Jay Paul Gundotra

Jay is the founder of ENow, Inc. He has over 15 years’ experience in network computing. Jay has designed, deployed, administered, and consulted on Microsoft Exchange server since version 4.0 was released in 1996 for various organizations including Department of Justice, Small Business Administration, Storage USA, Westfield, Visa, DS Waters, and Fox Television. He has experienced the entire spectrum of IT services from development of software to managing a global IT team for an enterprise company. Jay is also an instructor and has also spoken at various Microsoft events including the Microsoft Exchange Conference.

Jeff Hicks

Jeffery Hicks (MCSE, MCSA, MCT) is a Microsoft MVP and an IT veteran with almost 20 years of experience, much of it spent as an IT consultant specializing in Windows server technologies. He works today as an independent author, trainer and consultant. Jeff has co-authored or authored several books, courseware, and training videos on administrative scripting and automation. His latest book is Windows PowerShell 2.0: TFM (SAPIEN Press 2009). You can follow Jeff on twitter.com/jeffhicks and jdhitsolutions.com/blog.

Laura Hunter

Laura E. Hunter is a Principal Technology Architect for Microsoft IT's Identity & Access Management team, responsible for determining architecture and strategy for Microsoft deployments of Active Directory, ADFS, Identity Management, PKI and RMS. In previous lives, Laura has been an Identity Management consultant, the Active Directory architect for a global engineering firm, and other assorted IT pursuits. Laura has a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Laura is the author of the Active Directory Cookbook, 2nd & 3rd Editions, from O’Reilly Publishing, is an unrepentant ADFS technology zealot, and likes to talk about herself in the third person when providing auto-biographical information. She blogs at http://www.shutuplaura.com, and Twitters (tweets? She’s not cool enough to know the verb form of Twitter) @adfskitteh.

Don Jones

Don Jones has more than a decade of professional experience in the IT industry. He's the author of more than 30 IT books, including Windows PowerShell: TFM; VBScript, WMI, and ADSI Unleashed; Managing Windows with VBScript and WMI; and many more. He's a top-rated and in-demand speaker at conferences such as Microsoft TechEd and TechMentor, and writes the monthly Windows PowerShell column for Microsoft TechNet Magazine. Don is a multiple-year recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award with a specialization in Windows PowerShell. Don's broad IT experience includes work in the financial, telecommunications, software, manufacturing, consulting, training, and retail industries and he's one of the rare IT professionals who can not only "cross the line" between administration and software development, but also between IT workers and IT management.

Ed Liberman

Ed Liberman (MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCDST, MCT, MCTS, MCITP, A+, Network+, Server+) has worked in technology for 18 years and has been certified and instructing IT since 1998. He's helped thousands of people get started or advance their careers in the IT industry. When not in the classroom, he is out helping corporations with their network infrastructure as an independent consultant. Ed’s teaching style encourages you to have fun while you learn. Ed also volunteers his time in his local community as a math tutor for struggling grade school children.

Bruce Mackenzie-Low

Bruce Mackenzie-Low, MCSE, is a master consultant at HP providing 3rd level worldwide support on Microsoft Windows based products specializing in Clusters and Crash Dump Analysis. With over 25 years of computing experience at Digital, Compaq and HP, Bruce is a well known resource for troubleshooting highly complex problems involving clusters, storage, networking and internals. He has taught extensively throughout his career always leaving his audience energized with his enthusiasm for technology.

Mark Minasi

Mark Minasi is a best-selling author, popular technology columnist, commentator, keynote speaker, and IT consultant. Mark's written over a thousand computer columns and several dozen best-selling technical books, explaining operating system and networking planning, installation, maintenance and repair to crowds from two to two thousand. An independent voice hailed as "Favorite Technical Author" by CertCities four times out of four, Mark takes even the most technical topics, filters out the hype and explains them in plain English.

Mark is probably best known for his Mastering Windows Server and Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide books, both of which have seen more than 12 editions and sold over a million copies.

His humorous, provocative and yet informative style makes him a favorite of audiences around the world. Mark's firm, MR&D, is based in Virginia's Tidewater area.

Jeremy Moskowitz

Jeremy Moskowitz a Group Policy MVP and is the Chief Propeller-Head for Moskowitz, inc. and GPanswers.com. He is one of less than a dozen Microsoft MVPs in Group Policy. Since becoming one of the world's first MCSEs, he has performed Active Directory, and Group Policy planning and implementations for some of the nation’s largest organizations. His latest books are Group Policy Fundamentals, Security, and Troubleshooting and Creating the Secure Managed Desktop: Group Policy, SoftGrid, and Microsoft Deployment and Management Tools. Learn more about the books and Jeremy's Group Policy Master Class training www.GPanswers.com (ranked as one of "The 20 most useful Microsoft sites for IT professionals" by ComputerWorld magazine).

Justin Rodino

Consultant, Speaker, Author

Justin Rodino, MVP, MCT, CCNA, has specialized in deployment as a consultant, speaker, trainer and writer for over 20 years. Justin’s expertise has been sought by mom-and-pop shops with less than 10 computers to Fortune 500 companies with 25,000+ desktops, in order to help streamline their complex deployment projects. His career began speaking as a guest lecturer at Purdue University, he was a keynote and returning speaker at Altiris ManageFusion, and most recently has spoken at various Microsoft TechEd conferences around the world. As well as specializing in deployment, Justin writes books on various Microsoft technologies including Office and Windows Home Server. Justin enjoys sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for technology by speaking at community events, blogging on various technical topics and helping others make sense of complex issues by explaining them in plain English. Through analogies and humor his presentations are both informative and enjoyable for all.

Bruce Rougeau

MCSE, MCT, MCP+Internet, CCMA

Bruce Rougeau, MCSE, MCP+I, MCT, Citrix Certified MetaFrame Administrator, has been working in data processing for over 25 years. Bruce began his career as a developer and has focused his past 13 years in computing infrastructure ranging from mainframes to terminal servers. Currently, Bruce leads a team of engineers that support a manufacturing facility. Bruce has spoken at TechMentor since 2000 focusing on terminal services and the administration skills. Teaching is the best job Bruce has ever had and he brings a lot of knowledge, experience, and excitement to each session.

Alan Sugano

President, ADS Consulting Group

Alan is the President of ADS Consulting Group, Inc. (ADS). Founded in 1991, ADS specializes in Networking, Server Virtualization, Workstation Virtualization, Application Virtualization, Security, Exchange, Custom Programming, Web Development, SharePoint and SQL Server Development. Alan has given talks on Virtualization, Storage, Network Audits/Security, Troubleshooting, Server Selection, Network Documentation, Network Management, Network Design and Topologies, SQL Databases, and Disaster Recovery. He speaks twice a year at the WinConnections Conferences sponsored by Windows IT Pro Magazine.

Alan is a Contributing Editor for Windows IT Pro and has articles published in the magazine several times a year. He wrote a book titled the Real-World Network Troubleshooting Manual, which is a practical guide to network troubleshooting. Alan has been a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Connected System Developer from 2004 to 2008. For more information on Alan you can visit http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=alan+sugano.