SharePoint Speaking in June

Next month is starting to fill up with SharePoint activity – here’s some info on two events I’ll be speaking at in June:

SharePoint & Windows Azure Integration - Practical Ways to Make Your Project More Agile
(SharePoint Saturday Atlanta – June 2nd)

Abstract: More organizations today are embracing Agile principles when completing their software projects. SharePoint projects can also benefit from an Agile methodology, and when combined with Windows Azure, they can provide value in areas like rapid prototyping, good architectural design, and speed to market. In this session, we'll see the different ways that Windows Azure and SharePoint can be integrated, and we'll demo some specific scenarios to show how effectively a SharePoint/Azure project can be implemented. (300-Level)

 

InfoPath 2010: Your Path to the Smart Side - Leveraging the Powerful Forces of InfoPath
(Dayton SharePoint User Group – June 12th)

Abstract: InfoPath allows powers users and developers to create rich UI smart forms, and includes features that allow form designers to enforce business rules and integrate line-of-business data into their forms. Combined with SharePoint Form Services, users can create powerful no-code composite applications. This presentation examines best practices for creating and enhancing InfoPath forms. We’ll explore the basics of how InfoPath interacts with SharePoint lists and workflow, touch on some advanced features, and discuss the pros and cons of InfoPath compared to other data entry technologies. Demos will be included. (100-Level)

Hope to see you there!

SharePoint vs Skyrim

I, like millions of others, have an addiction… and its name is Skyrim.  Also known as The Elder Scrolls V, it’s a video game – the only video game you’ll ever need. : )

The problem is, as much as I’d like to play it for hundreds of hours like so many others, regardless of its effects on our fragile economy, I can’t – because SharePoint won’t let me. I have speaking engagements coming up, and SharePoint says that I should prepare for them. Instead of exploring the world of Tamriel trying to figure out how to stop the evil dragons, I have to explore the world of Azure and figure out the many ways that SharePoint integrates with it. Instead of deciding between my mace or my sword as I go into battle, I have to decide between farm or sandboxed solutions as I go into my next project.

Sigh… perhaps one day, my Skyrim addiction and my SharePoint addiction will find a way to control my life in a more balanced way. I’ll call it ShareRim…. 

Everything I Know About SharePoint Consulting I Learned from The Ghostbusters

I recently wrote an article about the skills that consultants need to be successful, and since it also applies to SharePoint consultants as well, I thought I’d cross-post here. Enjoy!

3 Reasons Why Los Angeles InfoPath-Lovers are Awesome

This past Saturday Improving Enterprises sent me to the West Coast to meet with a couple of our clients, but primarily to speak at SharePoint Saturday Los Angeles on the topic of InfoPath 2010. I had a full room (sorry to the folks that had to stand), and a very lively and interactive group of folks who were all very interested in learning more about InfoPath. In fact, I enjoyed our time together so much, I thought I’d share with everyone at least 3 reasons why Los Angeles InfoPath-lovers are so awesome!:

SharePoint Saturday Los Angeles

Next Saturday, April 14th, the Cowbell will be in Long Beach, California speaking at SharePoint Saturday Los Angeles on the topic of InfoPath & SharePoint. I’m looking forward to doing some demos to show attendees how easy it is to create powerful smart forms and pseudo-applications using InfoPath (don’t let me down, virtual Cloudshare environment!) : )

Check out the other great speakers that will be sharing their expertise at this event as well. Also, if you attend my session, you’ll have a chance to take home some swag that my company (Improving Enterprises) will be giving away! See ya there!

SharePoint User Groups on Twitter

“Lists” are a great Twitter feature for grouping all the tweets from a list of people into one convenient feed. You would create a list if you want to follow the tweets of a group of people talk about the same topic. So, wouldn’t it be great if there was a list of all the SharePoint User Groups (SPUGs) that have Twitter accounts? That way, you could keep up on all the SPUG activity around the world!

Well, the Cowbell wants to help! Check out the Cowbell SPUG list here:

SharePoint Crash Course webinar with BDPA Atlanta

On Tuesday, April 3rd at 7pm EST, I’ll be delivering an online webinar for the Atlanta chapter of the BDPA as part of their Tech Talks series. I’ve got 90-minutes to give a crash course to attendees on everything that is the wonderful world of SharePoint – that’s right, from calendars to content types, from lists to libraries, from RBS to BCS.

My intent is do a 60-minute lap around the “wheel”, then wrap up with some live demo of solutions that attendees can do as soon as they get back to their office or friendly-neighborhood VPN. Q&A will also be included.

To join the webinar on Apr 3rd, 7pmEST:
   Go to URL http://www.anymeeting.com/bdpaatlanta1
   Call conference call toll free number: (218) 339-2409
   Use Attendee Access Code: 471 4295

[Update 4/4/12 – slide deck added below, and on Slideshare:]

So strap yourself in and join the ride – I’m gonna show you all the stuff you didn’t even know you didn’t know, and weren’t sure you ever wanted to know, but now you know – and knowing is half the battle.