So, this is a bit of a strange post for me to write. I founded and have been working with SQLskills since I left Microsoft in 1995. I left because I wanted a combination of things on which to focus and I just couldn’t find that combination without creating it. I love teaching. I love speaking at events / conferences. I love consulting and tackling problems (especially large table design or performance problems). I enjoy writing but, not as much as teaching / speaking or consulting as I love the interaction that happens at events. When I reached 25 years, I was overcome with emotion as I pulled together photos and memories from around the world. (Check out my post: Celebrating 25 Years of SQLskills)
It was hard to believe that I’d met so many people and had been able to see so much of our incredible planet. I’m truly honored to have been able to speak to so many people about a product for which I have so much passion and for which I was able to gain so much knowledge over the years. I remember reading the Adminstrator’s Guide to SQL Server 4.2 – cover to cover. Something you can’t even think about doing now… not only does it NOT exist as an actual book but it’d just be too darn large to hold!
If I go back in time a bit further, I think about my very first Microsoft job at Microsoft University (MSU). I’m thinking about this even more as I just had lunch (yesterday) with one of my former colleagues and mentors – Bill Vaughn. We laughed about my MSU interview now, over 30 years later. And, if I go back even further, I think about how I got started with Microsoft SQL Server while working at a small (but FANTASTIC) training company called LAN/mind in Chicago. Or, another mentor of mine: Ward Christensen, at IBM. Or, my college buddies that inspired so much programming fun. I’ve absolutely adored technology. If you want to go way back with me, I wrote a blog post called: What led me to where I am today and what’s inspired me along the way? When you really look back, there are always so many pivotal moments, inspiration people, and sometimes just perfect timing!
And, my interview story with BV is just too good not to tell:
MSU “Trial By Fire” Interviews
When I went in to interview for Microsoft University, Bill Vaughn was one of the interviewers. As we entered his office, I nervously went to close the door. It wasn’t closing easily…
In Bill’s commanding voice, it would help if you took the doorstop out…
In my head, oh my, this isn’t going well.
We completed the interview, and I went on to the next person. And the next. And the next.
At the end of an MSU interview, candidates were to present for an audience. One presentation was chosen by the candidate (I chose SQL backup / restore) and one was chosen by Microsoft. The Microsoft presentation was specifically selected on a topic about which you were less familiar. For mine, they chose Programming with DBLib.
It was 1992, I focused on backend details – not client programming; I definitely was not familiar.
I gave my backup / restore presentation and then had a short break before my DBLib presentation. During my DBLib presentation, the woman who later became my manager (Stacey Dickinson) asked a question I did not know.
Bill, now sitting in the front row for my “TBF” – was nodding his head (yes or true, I can’t remember now – I do remember that I had a 50/50 shot).
But in my head, do I trust him? Do I pretend I know the answer and go with it…
No, I can’t do that. So, I said to Stacey… I’m not entirely sure 
of the answer. I can look into it and get back to you though.
Then, with a slight pause – Oh, but Bill says it’s true!
***
When he signed his latest novel for me (A Seldith Christmas, by William Vaughn) he wrote – it would help if you took the doorstop out! We still laugh about that. What a GREAT MEMORY!! And, it was followed by some of my best times at Microsoft – with Microsoft University!!
And so many amazing times from 1995 until 2007 when Paul joined SQLskills. I can’t even begin to say how truly fortunate I’ve been to be able to travel the world and work with my best friend and partner. What a true gift. (and, his Mother won’t take him back – so I’m also stuck with him… ;-)
And wow – the stories we can tell. Oh my! One of the best rumors was about how Paul used a very focused pick-up line on me: Hey Baby, wanna learn some undocumented DBCC commands?
Given that won’t work on 99.999999999999% of the population, he got super lucky trying it on me! lol (that is NOT at all true)
PHOTO: 2007, Kimberly and Paul on the Kirkland Woodmark Dock before heading out on a Wedding Cruise with all of our friends!
UPDATE: I didn’t want this to go on for days and I didn’t want to cry when I wrote this but I just can’t leave out the most amazing team of people we’ve had as either employees or contractors over the years. I can’t even imagine SQLskills without Jonathan. Or, our assistant / office manager Libby. Or Joe Sack, Tim Radney, Erin Stellato, Glenn Berry… Or, guest instructors / contractors Stacia Varga, Bob Beauchemin, Rafal Lukawiecki, Andy Leonard. Or, partners like SentryOne and ProData. Wow, I could go on for days here… no… I just have something in my eye!
I think this is the best way to show how much fun we’ve had:
So, where the heck am I going with this?
I adore SQL Server, but I also have many other passions… including, underwater photography and diving (both SCUBA and some freediving). And, we’ve purchased some land (in 2021) on which we are planning to build – and move – and live completely OFF-GRID (eventually). Yes, we have Starlink. Come on, we’re not savages! This adventure has been great fun and I’ve learned a lot. But it does require a lot of work. And time. And permits… and… and…
I was even thinking about retiring last year after I had such a blast giving the Community Keynote – 30+ Years of Innovation at the 2022 PASS Data Community Summit. I thought, what a great way to end… having delivered the keynote. But, I just wasn’t quite ready. I had a few more training ideas up my sleeves – one of which is our Blackbelt Base Camp Training Event that’s running through June 2024. And, even though I’ll be stepping away from SQL Server, I’m still going to be involved with the training event until the end!
But now, it’s time to venture out and try a few new things. And, how fun that this comes along at the same time that one of my photos is showcased on the cover of Current Biology. In fact, there are two more photos of mine within this Special Edition focused on cephalopods. There are some truly fascinating articles if you’re interested: Current issue: Current Biology (cell.com)
So… that’s why I’m writing today. This year’s PASS Data Community Summit will be my last public SQL Server training event. I have a precon workshop, a session, and I’ll also be introducing the Community Keynote and passing the proverbial torch. I hope to see you there!
And, above all THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING MEMORIES!
Cheers, and thanks for reading,
k
PS – No changes at SQLskills. Paul’s at the helm and business as usual! And, it’s not like he won’t ask me questions about indexes or statistics anyway… ;-) Plus, we still plan dive trips – where terribly fun photos are taken. Nope, not going to do it.
But, there are some fantastic photos and memories here: Celebrating 25 Years of SQLskills
98 thoughts on “Thanks for the amazing questions, events, and especially – the memories!”
Thank you for everything that you did. You and Paul encouraged me to start speaking and helped me grow my career beyond what I had ever imagined.
I am forever grateful and blessed to have worked with you.
Thank you Luke! It’s been so fun watching so many students become excellent teachers in their own right – you being one of them! Thank you for the lovely comment and I know you’ll keep doing amazing things in the SQL space!
Cheers,
k
(PS – Sorry for my delay – I was offline most of yesterday…)
Hi Kimberly
I knew that this day will eventually come, but it still feels sad. All sadness aside, I am really thankful for all you did for the SQL community and wish you a happy retirement and only happy days ahead. Can’t wait to see how CS will turn out.
Best of wishes to all of you.
Thank you Alin! It’s been an amazing ride. I’ve absolutely loved it and I feel both happy and sad as well. But I’d rather leave when it’s still exciting than find myself bored or hating it. It just seemed like time to give even more of a chance to the other passions that have been nagging at me! And, of course, you’ll see all of the fun stuff happening at CS!
Cheers,
k
(PS – Sorry for my delay – I was offline most of yesterday…)
Congratulations on an amazing career. I’m honored to have worked alongside you. You’ve inspired me for years. You’re the real deal and a wonderful person. Hugs!
Back at you Brent! It’s so funny how many think we’re all enemies and competitors… really, we all have the utmost respect for each other and what the other has done and has to offer. I think that’s what I enjoy most about the SQL community. It stands alone in SO MANY WAYS!!
Big hugs back!
k
(PS – Sorry for my delay – I was offline most of yesterday…)
Kimberly,
Thank you for sharing your highlights of the past 25 years. I am so lucky to have entered your orbit in several cycles of your career. You are a brilliant, fascinating, and loyal colleague and I congratulate you on your achievements and now your new chapters.
-Rebecca
Thank you Rebecca! Many of your adventures and recent photos have inspired me to think about what I want to do… you’re absolutely on my “must have lunch and catch-up list” (well, when you’re back in Seattle for more than 5 minutes ;-)). This community, the SQL team, and the people I’ve met along the way – are something that I’ll cherish always. Such an amazing community!
Talk soon!
k
(PS – Sorry for my delay – I was offline most of yesterday…)
Congratulations on an amazing career!
Creating, advocating and inspiring all over SQL Server and more.
Happy shootings
Thank you Johan! We’ve been so luck as a community. It’s always been so open and welcoming – and not only wanting to learn but celebrating it! I’ve absolutely loved that about us!
And I’m definitely hoping to shoot more… photography for those that don’t know me! (However, I do like target shooting as well!) But, this reminds me of a time where I told someone I was going to “shoot eagles” and they replied – you can do that now? I said – PHOTOGRAPHY!!! Oh my! ;-)
Cheers,
k
First, congratulations! And good for you!
Secondly, it’s gonna take some time for this to sink in. For a lot of us. I’ve learned SO much from you — you were the person who taught me what write ahead logging is and how a transaction log works, and you helped me make sense of loads of things that were simply confusing before. But in a way, I learned so much from you that even if you retire, you’re always still helping me learn because of all the great guidance you’ve given.
I hope I get to say hello at PASS Data Summit this year.
It’s a date for sure! And, thank you Kendra! I can’t even begin to tell you how exciting it has been for me to have delivered training to folks that came out to be INCREDIBLE TEACHERS themselves. You’ve always had such a creative way of explaining things! And, people all learn in different ways so each of us contributes so much to make sure EVERYONE gets a chance at learning. Our community is truly remarkable and GIFTED!!
Let’s try to get something sorted for PASS for sure! Hugs,
k
You have been and always will be a legend! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and experience with the community!
Thank you Andy; such a lovely comment! You’re truly welcome!!
Cheers,
k
Well…
You’ve been an inspiration for years and years. Thank you. Just that. Thank you.
You too Grant. Can you believe we’ve all been doing this for as long as we have… and we’ve actually made money! How truly fortunate are we to have found careers that feel more like fun than work!
See you at PASS?? Hugs!
k
Hi Kim,
Thank you for bringing the light over the careers of so many people!
Wish you had an idea of how many people would just secretly say – “I want to be like Kim”, and whom you have inspired to step forward and lead.
Niko
Thank you so much Niko! I love your sentiment here! And for you as well. Your columnstore content has been instrumental in helping people to understand how and when they really should implement it. Such an inspiration for so many to think – how can I master something and help others… my reply – look at Niko’s columnstore series!
Cheers,
k
Hi Kimberly,
You have been a constant source of learning for me and DBA’s like me around the world.
Best wishes for your new adventures.
Thank you so much Saurabh!! I love how the internet and our community feels not only small but huge at the same time!
Cheers,
k
All the best for the future & thanks for your contributions
Thank you Chris! What a whirlwind of 30+ years that feels like it only began yesterday…
Cheers,
k
Kimberly,
You have been an inspiration to all of us.
I wish you all the best in your new adventures.
Take care!
Thank you Tim! The questions, the projects, the different perspectives – so much to keep us all entertained and excited to keep learning!
Cheers,
k
Enjoy the additional time to dive and the other adventures. Thanks for the assistance over the years, it has been very useful.
Thank you Henry! It’s been so fun to work with so many people… I’ll miss it but I’ll definitely enjoy the fishies a lot too!
Cheers,
k
I’m so happy for you, ma’am! At the same time, I will miss you. Thank you for your hard work in technology and our Community. Thank you and Paul for the honor and privilege of serving on the SQL Skills team. I pray you enjoy the new stuff. Lord knows you’ve earned it. Your brother and friend, Andy.
Thank you Andy!! And, I suspect I’ll still be hanging around every now and then!! I just want to try a few other things out… and, Camp Savage isn’t going to build itself – it needs a full-time construction wrangler. That might be my new title!
Hugs Andy!
Kimberly,
Thank you so much for your commitment to the SQL Server community for so many years! I have learned many things from you! I appreciate your classes where your expertise is clear and ur students learn. Plus, have always been super nice! Wishing you all the best in your future!
Thank you Mike! It really waws the people that made it so fun! Easy to be nice when so many of you are so awesome to work with!!
Cheers,
k
Thanks, Kim, so much for all the great knowledge you’ve shared. It’s been a big help to so many people including me. Enjoy your new adventures. Hope you’ll share how it goes occasionally. I’m sure many of us are intrigued by your off-grid living plans.
Thank you David! And, I will definitely share our adventures. It’s been a huge learning curve and it definitely requires more focus to move forward.
Cheers,
k
KT-
I had several funny, but inside, comments I almost wrote here…but I’ll save those to share in person when I see you at Summit!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that you were the first female speaker I heard present at a conference – 2007 DevConnections. You know this story, though I know you don’t remember me stopping to say thank you after
That said – your presence at that conference, as a speaker, as an excellent and extremely technical speaker, planted the idea that it was something I could do.
Representation matters.
And look how it turned out ♥️
Congratulations on an amazing journey in the SQL world, I’m so grateful I got to tag along for part of the ride. And thank you for everything you’ve taught me the last 16 years. Hugs
E
Erin – I adored working with you but even more so, I enjoyed our cheese curds and margarita escapes… and hats – we still need to go shopping for hats! You are truly a gem in a bazillion ways!
xoxo,
k
You were/are a blast. Thanks for the great shows, classes, and articles. You and your team made my job easier. Over a year ago, at age 72, I retired. Cleaning up my office I came across notes from you and Paul. I read them again and was again amazed at the knowledge and the friendship shown in the words.
Thanks for everything and I wish you both happiness and blessings. Love you both.
Larry
Larry Meklemburg
Solon, Oh
Thank you Larry! And, congrats on your retirement! I will miss a lot of the people for sure but I suspect we’ll all lurk on each other’s adventures here and there. It was a pleasure working with you over the years!!
Cheers,
k
Kimberly,
a huge THANK YOU for all you did for the SQL Server Community! I had the pleasure to see you in person multiple times and learn from you. You have a unique talent to explain complex matters in an easy and fun way.
All the best!
Varsham
Thank you so much Varsham!
Cheers,
k
I not sure exactly what year I first went to PASS (2001 or 2002 I think). I think it was my first time at a big tech “training” conference. I went to an interesting sounding session about indexes and “tipping points”. During that 80 minute session I was enthralled with how the presenter made the explanation of data pages and index structures seem so simple and the techniques for exploring index performance in SQL server almost obvious. During the last two decades I have seen you present this same material dozens of times. Every time I am reminded of how the enthusiasm, sense of wonder and curiosity about this incredible RDBMS software was the spark for me to spend countless hours trying to learn as much as I could about SQL server. Many of those hours spent reading blog posts or watching pluralsight videos from the whole SQLSkills crew. Thank you for being such a big part of my career.
Hearing this is the last opportunity, I may have to try and make it up to Seattle in a few weeks.
Thank you Glen – It’s so nice of you to say that! I’m so glad that I found such a fun topic (performance) to dive deep into and that I’ve been able to make it fun for so long! But really, it’s all of you, and your questions, and your enthusiasm that always kept me going!
Cheers,
k
Hi Kimberly,
I had the chance to meet you and Paul in a Microsoft event in Barcelona back in 2008. I would like to thank you for your valuable contribution to the SQL Server community. You taught us a lot of and helped us to handle and resolve the issues we often face.
I wish you the best for your next plans!
Petros
Thank you Petros! Those Barcelona events were some of the best! I might have to visit Port Olympico again someday too… Thank you for helping to make them even more fun!!
Cheers,
k
Wow! on one hand, I’m sad. But on the other, I’m excited for you!!! You’ve brought so much to the SQL Community for so many years. Also, you’re just a great person. Real people and all. The kind that you only find a few of in a lifetime. You’ve inspired me and taught me much over the years. And I admire your non-SQL disposition and value as a person on this planet as well. I sincerely am happy to know that you’ll no doubt have such a great time in the next chapter!!! Thanks for being wonderful Kimberly!
Thank you Jim – You and your team have been fun to work with and watch grow too! This community is truly special; one that I will want to stay in touch with for sure!
Cheers,
k
Congrats on what you’ve done and a bigger congrats on everyone you’ve helped. Big thank you to SQLSkills, and a specific thank you to Kimberly for all the amazing help and work you’ve done for our Data community world wide. I can’t even begin to say how SQLSkills has helped my career (and life as well). Thank you for the emails that you and Paul have personally responded to help me specifically on my career path. Thank you for all you’ve done for our community.
Btw Egypt has amazing diving locations, so yes I’ll put that shameless plug in because we need to tourism.
Thank you Ayman – It’s been our pleasure helping so many to learn tech and/or figure out their options/goals. I think that’s a lot of why it’s been so fun – so many options! And diving in the Red Sea is on my list for sure. I’d love to get back to Egypt for more than 36 hours (unlike my last trip which was just under 36 hours… WAY TOO SHORT and without diving). Definitely a missed opportunity!
Cheers,
k
Lots of cool photos in that rotater, plus the ones with Jonathan in ;-D
What many people likely don’t know is that you really taught me how to be a good technical presenter, and for that I’m forever grateful.
My real goal when we first met was to make you “less Paul.” Brilliant but a bit too “in your head” and with a bit too much knowledge (the worst part being that you knew it). Seriously, you didn’t need much help, just a little bit less Paul. OMG – that still makes me laugh!!
xoxox,
k
Major congratulations on retirement and for an absolutely incredible career, Kimberly! Most of all, thank you for making a huge difference in this world by so freely sharing information and insights, especially in but not limited to SQL Server.
As a bit of a sidebar, I’ll never forget the incredible MCM Training Video you made having to do with the “Clustered Index Debate” nor the equally incredible presentation you did about Table Partitioning using a “porcupine” of USB thumb drives. Both were absolutely fantastic in their clarity and in the amount of knowledge they contained.
Thank you for what you’ve done… and will do… I have an ol’ man’s hunch that we’ve not seen the last of you.
Thank you Jeff – that USB demo was one of my favorites! If I ever did a “best of” video compilation (lol) that would be on it! So simple and yet – so many Ohhhs and Ahhhhsss when I pulled a drive out of the “active database.” Man, I need to come up with a way to sneak that into PASS somehow. lol
Cheers,
k
Kimberly – You, Paul and many others created a safe space for many invoice folks like me to learn about innards of SQL Server (best software ever!) Your enthusiasm and keen ability to help are infectious. Thanks for all you did for this community and good luck with this next phase of your life!
You’re so welcome Gaurav – it’s truly the questions and people like you that made it fulfilling and FUN!
Cheers,
k
Thank you Kimberly. I met you and Paul at the SQLIntersection conferences in Orlando. Attended your precons and sessions. Enjoyed the SQL
after Dark trivia events. Best of luck!!
Thank you Steve – The SQLafterDark events were so fun… even just the debates on the accuracy of the questions / answers were fun! I do miss those events!
Cheers,
k
You are amazing and have helped so many people along the way. Words can’t express the impact your have had on so many lives. You have inspired me and so many people. We will miss you terribly and know that where ever you are, you will impact people, inspire them, and they will love you.
Thanks for all your have given. For all were have received. For making us all better for simply knowing you.
Thank you TJay – you are too kind! And back at you! I absolutely love our handmade-by-Tjay cutting boards (and so did the family as I gave them out as gifts)… and your biking / hiking / mountain adventures – EPIC stuff! I look forward to watching everyone continue to grow in SQL and beyond!
Cheers,
k
You have been a community reference, you helped build our careers and your legacy will live on through all of us who learned from you and your unique and joyful way of sharing your experience. Thanks you
Thank you Roman! It’s truly been my pleasure!!
Cheers,
k
Hi Kimberly,
Good wishes to you. It was always a pleasure to interact with you and learn so much from you. My Indexing knowledge has improved only because of the questions I asked you and the Blog posts you have written. All the classed I attended at SQLskills which you taught is a time I am going to cherish always.
The SQL Community is going to miss your amazing knowledge and skills.
Thank you for everything you have done for the Community.
Warm Regards
Meher
I owe so much of what I’ve achieved in the second phase of my career, directly thanks to you, Paul, Jon, Erin, and Joe. I know I’m repeating other sentiments already posted, but no words can express my appreciation for you and SQLskills. You know it, and I know it.
I hope to see you around.
You are probably the single biggest influence on my career as a SQL Server professional. I used your high availability book and even named dropped that I had your email address enroute to getting hired at my first real DBA job in 2003. It wasn’t a lie, as you actually did reply every time I emailed! I still fondly remember that incredible moment in one of your sessions at the old SQL Connections conference circa 2005 (in either Vegas or Orlando, I saw it more than once) where you pulled one of your multiple USB thumb drives out of a “hub” that was your “storage array” and could still query data. Ooohs and Aaahs for sure. But the biggest takeaway was after your presentation, you took the time to speak with and take one-on-one questions from dumbasses/noobs like me. You were (and still are) a rockstar to me! Thank you for being the best technical presenter ever. Thank you for all the knowledge you shared with the community. And most of all, thank you for just being a wonderful and amazing human being! I wish you continued success and happiness in every aspect of your life.
I still fondly remember the “Dubrovnik Incident”, where only one of us made it to the early flight the morning after…
May your road go ever on!
Best of luck from a snowy Sweden
Kimberly, I bought your books and have been a follower for many years. Thanks for all the years of dedicated work helping the SQL community.
Kimberly – I wish you well on your new adventures. I’m not sure you would even remember me – but I remember you. There were not very many women that were programmers during the 90’s and I graduated with a computer science degree in 1995 and was starting my DBA career. I remember attending my first SQL Pass in Seattle and there were only a handful of women. You and Kalen Delaney were hosting a round table lunch for women at the event. There was only enough for one table. Your energy and excitement for technology left a mark on me for all of these years. I’ve followed you ever since and sent many of my staff to your training classes – as you have always been a phenomenal teacher and mentor. Thank you for your contributions and for inspiring me in the very beginning of my career to stay the course as a female in technology. I LOVE my career and am still very passionate about IT. Best wishes to my all-time favorite SQL Server guru!
I’m one of the many thousands of little people your articles and blogs have helped over the many years (including your now-ancient-but-still-educational run-through about SQL injection risks and mitigation). You were already a giant in this field back in 2008 when I began working as a SQL DBA, one of a handful of SQL experts online that everyone knew delivered knowledgeable, trustworthy, insightful, and funny insights and solutions.
Thank you so much for all you’ve done, especially for setting the bar for community service for those of us working in SQL Server. We look at people like yourself and see the best in knowledge-sharing and education.
All the best for a fun-filled and rewarding retirement!
Thank you for all you’ve done. It is fair to say that the entire trajectory of my career and life were changed having listened to a presentation on indexes you gave about two decades back. Enjoy your retirement.
Kimberly, you are a legend, and have been such a source of inspiration for me. Thank you for all the classes, for fielding my questions, for your encouragement, and for all you have done for the community. Enjoy a well-earned retirement!
Thank you Pam – My pleasure entirely! I always loved chatting with you – tech or otherwise! I love that so many are running UGs and presenting and continuing to carry the torch! Thanks Pam!!
Cheers,
k
Congrats Kimberly!
Thanks Steve!! So many memories over so many years with so many people… Our time at MS – and the MVP program. Wow, so many years with this crazy group. I’m sure we’ll cross again somewhere!
Cheers,
k
I’m a female DBA, and once I saw one of your videos I was so excited to find someone I could look up to in this field. I tried to find all of your articles, and learned so much about VLFs from you and Paul. Honestly this is a major loss for the SQL Community, but an even bigger loss for young girls everywhere who might dream of being a DBA. Thank you so much for everything you have shared with us, and for being a super hero to this geek.
Thank you so much Jodi! Your comment makes me so happy but also inspired to keep on helping girls think STEM and TECH is a great way to go! I have a few tricks up my sleeves that I hope will continue to help girls find their way… stay tuned!
Cheers,
k
Thank you Kimberly for all of your efforts in training and writing over the years for the SQL Server community. I enjoyed your indexing class years ago in MPLS and still remember chatting with you on the way back to the hotel and thinking this woman is full of adventures! It sounds like your adventures will continue for you in retirement. Enjoy it!
Kim has been an inspiration to me over my years working with MS SQL. She did numerous podcast interviews and presentations that ensured I had the right SQL DBA answer, “it depends.” I deeply appreciate her voice that she brought to the community and wish her well into retirement years. Thank you Kim!
Thank you Scott – I absolutely adore “it depends” as the perfect starting place for all things SQL. In fact, I think that’s what I’ve enjoyed the most about SQL Server – it can really do ANYTHING… but many options have pros / cons… learning those dependencies and really picking THE RIGHT solution is so interesting (and sometimes difficult). But, that flexibility is one of my favorite aspects of SQL Server!
Cheers,
k
Congratulations Kimberly! I still remember taking your pre-con session at the Gaylord Palms many years ago. I wish you all the best!
Hey there Rob – Ha! I was just chatting with someone about this… the windows had been blown out due to a passing hurricane and yet we were all geeking out on partitioning (among other things). Can you believe all of the fun events over the years? It’s kind of crazy thinking about all of them!
Cheers,
k
Learned a lot from Paul and yourself as we grew Boomtown. Congrats!
They there Thomas – Such a great and interesting data set too. It’s too bad that I learned that some things didn’t work as they should have… but, always appreciated learning interesting (if not truly frustrating) stuff!!
Cheers,
k
Happy Retirement Kimberly. I have benefited immensely with all your lectures/blogs and advises over the years. Your way of presenting was truely unique: easy to digest and you drove home all the points you meant to communicate. Thank you so much for all you have done for SQL community over the years. Wishing you an amazing retirement.
Thank you Mohammed – Such amazing comments. I can’t even begin to tell you how truly honored I am at the sentiments!!
Cheers,
k
Truly the end of an era. It’s not just the SQL community who has lost a great leader, but an ambassador for the wider IT industry. You have inspired so many people it cannot be counted (or ever repaid).
I remember burning the 2008 MCM videos as audio files onto CDs, storing them in the car and listening to them whenever I was driving on my own. They were an invaluable part of the career I went on to have.
Myself and others will be forever indebted to you and the SQLSkills team. You have changed the database landscape forever.
Good luck
Thank you Richard! I’m glad you didn’t play them when you weren’t driving alone… you might end up always driving alone. ;-) Seriously though, so many great times over so many years! I’ve truly appreciated all of the events and all of the beers and all of the fun we’ve all been able to have (plus the tech stuff ;-).
Cheers,
k
You have helped me learn all the indexing internals properly . All the SQLskills classes of yours I attended, the questions I asked over email and in person made me grasp the concepts thoroughly. Thank you for everything you gave to the Community. I wish you a peaceful retirement. Wishing you all the best.
The Community will miss you.
Warm Regards
Meher
Thank you so much Meher! The pleasure was mine – in working with so many people to really understand how things work!! It was your great questions that always kept me going and happy to do so!
Cheers,
k
You have been such an inspiration and have been so kind to share your amazing knowledge. Your kindness and willingness to help all of us become better members of the community is greatly appreciated.
Thank you and you will be missed.
Thank you Lee! I will definitely miss the amazing community we have… I suspect I’ll occasionally lurk about. ;-)
Cheers,
k
So much to reflect back on. Your passion made the SQL training classes an absolute joy. Your dedication to quality in presentation at conferences has always been exciting. Learned so much from you. But more than anything, I think I am grateful for the inspiration you provided in travel. The lessons you may not even know that you were teaching. The photos you shared. Little tidbits of knowledge around going to Indonesia, when I needed that. Cannot thank you enough. Enjoy your retirement. Or rather, enjoy your new focus. Keep posting your photos. You are an inspiration in so many ways.
Thanks Jason! I’d love to hear more about your travels too! Indonesia is such a magical place – especially below water as it’s in the coral triangle and has some of the greatest biodiversity in the world. But, above water – the people I’ve met have been LOVELY! I especially enjoy Bali. Oh… and the food!
Anyway, THANK YOU for the lovely comments! I’m always happy to talk about travel – shoot me an email if you ever want to bounce anything off me!!
Cheeers,
k
What a great careers and achievements! Congrats, Kim.
Thank you for your contribution to the data community – especially for #SQLServer.
You helped #sqlFamily over the years and have been a great resource to many and a unique expert.
I still hold a copy of the MVP deep dive book with your signature (and many other MVPs including Paul’s) and remember when we met in person first time in Barcelona TechEd Developers 2006 and many other events later on including the MVP Summit Nov. 2013.
I am grateful that you helped me in my career over the years…
Big thank you Kim and I wish you all the best.
Thank you Hossam! I loved the MVP Deep Dives books – and all for charity too! And darn, Barcelona was one of my favorite conference destinations! Had a few nights dancing at Port Olypico! Great times for sure! Thank you again Hossam!
Cheers,
k
I have learned so much from you over the years. I even got my current job just because took you course “SQL Server: Indexing for Performance” on pluralsight. Good luck going off the grid :)
Thanks for everything.
Wow – that’s FANTASTIC Omkar! I can see why they’d be interested for sure… so many companies struggle with performance problems, knowing how to index is a great skill. That’s really a wonderful comment! I love it!
Cheers,
k
Thanks for all you have done for the SQL Server community. Kimberley, you are a natural teacher and true SQL Expert! You covered so many advanced topics IN-DEPTH and your courses were fun too! I took dozens of your courses and other SQLSkills courses over the years and I dont believe any one covered indexes as in-depth as your pluralsight course. Also your IEVLT course imight be the only one of its kind if you happen to have huge partitioned databases (like some I support). Also what was amazing was how you were always so willing to help whenever I had an issue or question. You have helped many DBA’s take their knowledge and skills to the next level and you will be missed! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
Best wishes Kimberly. You been amazing and I always look forward to your articles. I got chance to attend your 1:1 session in Microsoft Hyderabad office back in 2008. Later I got the chance to work closely with Kimberley Floss who is well known Oracle space. Two Kimberlys (Sql n Oracle) whom I will never forget in my life :). I been lucky all through my career to meet and work with greats in industry, Thanks a lot for your contribution.
Thanks,
-SreejitG
I was disconnected from #SQLFamily for a while and didn’t get a chance to attend this year’s PASS Summit.
I’ve learned so much from you, both directly and indirectly. Directly, when I attended IE1 from way back in 2012. And indirectly when I was dissecting your TechEd North America presentations and demos from way back 2005. The Index Internals presentation that I’ve done throughout the years was a result of countless hours of learning from your demos. I’ve revamped my presentation after watching your SQL Server MCM videos on index internals, clustered index debate, and indexing strategies.
You and Paul have made a huge impact in my career (in my mind, I still think that the raffle to win an exam voucher for the SQL Server MCM knowledge exam was rigged in my favor). Regardless, I’m so grateful for the opportunity.
It’s also great that you’re pursuing your passions. I remember our conversations about histograms where you went on explaining about SQL server statistics. When what I really asked was about histograms in photography. And while I rarely do photography nowadays, I’m pursuing a childhood dream of becoming a pilot.
Best of luck. Knowing you, I’m sure you’ll do great even when you’re not trying.