Presentations

On this page you can find my speaking history.

Slides and scripts for these presentations are available in my GitHub repository: https://github.com/desertdba/Presentations

 

Breaking Bad Habits: Solutions for Common Query Antipatterns

Your query returns the correct results, but even with supporting indexes it seems slow. Can it go any faster?

In this session, we focus on T-SQL query antipatterns – commonly used techniques that are unintentionally counter-productive. Through an interactive story of user requests, we identify several antipatterns, examine what makes them troublesome, and show alternative methods to improve performance.

—

Faster Transactions: Query Tuning for Data Manipulation

Your server has dozens of CPUs, terabytes of RAM, and uses solid-state drives…and yet your UPDATE statement still takes hours. Why?

In this demo-filled session, we examine common pitfalls for any SQL Server professional who manipulates large sets of data with INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements, and explore techniques you can use to improve performance.

—

An Introduction to Query Tuning using Execution Plans

Do you want to learn how to improve T-SQL query performance, but don’t know where to start?

The answer is execution plans, and in this session, you will get a gentle introduction to these strange icons and arrows. You’ll learn where to find a plan, what the most relevant parts of a plan are, and how to start applying this knowledge to make queries go faster.

—

It’s Not Your Fault, It’s the SQL Server Default

When you see those little green checkmarks, then you know your new SQL Server instance is ready to go, right? Not exactly. Your fresh installation has some questionable default settings that could cause headaches and heartburn in the future.

In this session, we identify several instance and database defaults that could lead to disaster, and discuss how you can modify them to improve performance and avoid unnecessary problems.

—

Level Up Your Digital Communication Skills

“Excellent communication skills” shows up repeatedly as a job requirement, and in the age of remote work, all our conversations involve digital communications. So… are you really excellent at using email, chat, and video conferencing applications? Or do you often get confused responses, or no responses at all?

In this session, we focus on these modern methods of communication, when to use each type (hint: they’re not interchangeable), and most of all, how to deliver your messages for more effective interactions. You’ll leave with a stronger understanding of how to use these tools to communicate truly excellently.

—

Query Store in the Real World

Query Store has been described as SQL Server’s “black box”, recording all sorts of information about executed queries. But is that what it is to you – a black box?

In this session, you will learn simple yet effective ways to use this incredible feature for troubleshooting real-world query issues like deadlocks, parameter sniffing, and excessive resource consumption. We will focus on leveraging the provided reports as well as querying the underlying tables with your own scripts or free, community-supported tools. You will leave with a greater understanding of the practical ways you can leverage Query Store to resolve query issues in your databases.

11/8/2023 Arizona Data Platform User Group
11/16/2023 PASS Data Community Summit

—

SELECT Start FROM Here: Querying for T-SQL Beginners

Have you been asked to begin querying data in SQL Server databases? Or are you just curious to try T-SQL? Great – let’s get started!

In this session, we cover the basics of the SELECT statement, your T-SQL tool for getting data. We explore the individual parts of a query, discuss basic aggregation, and demonstrate common filtering options using operators and functions. You’ll walk away with a solid foundation, ready to start your journey to become a T-SQL expert.

—

Surviving SQL Server: Guidance for new or accidental DBAs

You don’t have much (or any) experience as a Database Administrator, but you’re now responsible for the organization’s SQL Server databases. This means you might be the first person blamed for data corruption, excessive file growth, and ransomware. Does this keep you up at night?

In this session, you’ll learn how to properly prioritize your database tasks, what free tools available to make your job easier, and where to seek help for SQL Server issues. You’ll leave with a better understanding of “how to DBA” and hopefully get some better sleep.

—

Unlocking the Power of WhoIsActive

For years many SQL Server professionals have been using the free, community-maintained stored procedure WhoIsActive to troubleshoot problematic activity. Unfortunately, most of us only use the default results instead of using this wonderful tool to its fullest capabilities.

In this session, you’ll learn about helpful non-default options in the latest version of WhoIsActive, how to utilize them to quickly identify resource contention or blocking, and how to capture recurring data for later analysis. You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to use WhoIsActive more effectively to resolve troublesome activity on your SQL Server instances.