SQLServerCentral.com, along with Red Gate Software, are glad to announce that nominations for the fourth annual Exceptional DBA Awards are now open. Four years ago, the award was established to help bring about more awareness regarding the importance of the DBA role among the IT community. So far, three DBAs have won the award, and you or a co-worker could be the winner this year if you enter.
If you would like to nominate a DBA, or yourself, for the 2011 Exceptional DBA Award, please visit the www.exceptionaldba.com website and complete the nomination form. Nominations close on June 30, 2011.
The winner of the award will receive a trophy; a SQL DBA Bundle license with 36 months support and upgrades; a full conference pass for the 2011 PASS Community Summit; plus four nights hotel accommodations and $300 towards travel expenses to attend the Summit. The award ceremony will take place at the 2011 PASS Summit in Seattle in October.
Once all of the nominations are made, a list of five finalists will be selected by a panel of judges, which include Brad McGehee, Director of DBA Education for Red Gate Software; Steve Jones, Editor of SQLServerCentral.com; Rodney Landrum, DBA and author; and Brent Ozar, Microsoft Certified Master and SQL Server MVP. Once five finalists are selected by the judges, then the winner will be selected by a combination of popular votes from members of SQLServerCentral.com, and the judges.
As a judge for the past three years, I have seen all the nominations that have been submitted. Based on these nominations, the best piece of advice I can give you if you nominate yourself, or another DBA, is to include as much detail as you can when you answer each question. I would also suggest that you first write out your answers to the questions in Word, taking the time to ensure that your responses are complete, and that your writing is up to snuff. Once you are happy with the responses, then cut and paste your answers into the nomination form. If you follow this advice, it will put you ahead of the majority of the nominees.
So take some time to visit the www.exceptionaldba.com website and check out how the nomination and award process works. Then if you feel you are an Exceptional DBA, or know of an Exceptional DBA you would like to nominate, please do so before the June 30th, 2011 deadline.
Past winners of the Exceptional DBA Awards include: Tracy Hamlin (2010), Josef Richberg (2009), and Dan McClain (2008).
