I got an email today from Microsoft informing me that I am a 2006 MVP by Microsoft Frontpage

I got an email today from Microsoft informing me that I am a 2006 MVP. Overwhelmed is putting it mildly as to how I feel right now. I have always been astounded at how accessible the SQL Server community is. To be recognized as one its technical community leaders like this is both a joy and an amazement at the same time.

I first of all want to thank God for allowing this blessing to come into my life.

I next want to thank my wonderful parents, Charlie and Eileen, and I want to dedicate this MVP award to them. Mom and Dad, I love you both, very much.

Thank you to my brothers and sisters: Jean, Roe, Rita, Chris, and John. You know what you all mean to me. Maybe this means you will stop calling me "Cha-Cha", John? Nah, I didn't think so. Worth a try...

I want to thank my best friend, Valerie, who knows that I love her and I'll leave it at that.

I want to thank my boss, Bob McCarthy, for encouraging me to get involved in starting up a user group.

I want to especially thank Steve Wynkoop for supporting my attempt to get a Philly SQL Server User Group started (and suggesting the acronym PSSUG). You're a great guy, Steve, and I'm always amazed at how positive and supportive you always are.

I need to give a HUGE! thank you to the one and only, Stan Spotts. When Stan contacted me and let me know that he and Microsoft wanted to support the user group and have me join him and community leaders for community dialog (and dinner on Microsoft) I could hardly believe it. Stan, I love you, guy.

I want to thank Bill Wolff for being the pillar of the Philly Dev Community and for always sharing his enthusiasm for cool technologies.

I must thank Stephan Yelenik for being a lion of a champion for SQL Server technology, and for being a good friend and a great Captain.

I must give a HUGE thank you to Rushabh Mehta for inviting me to work on the PASS Chapter Committee and for allowing me to talk NYC PASS Chapter Leader, Joe Lax, into joining us. Joe and Rushabh, I have so much respect and admiration for you guys, it's not even funny. The SQL Server community is EXTREMELY fortunate to have you and the PASS Global Community is well served by you both. My best to both of you and thanks for your friendship and encouragement.

Thank you to Annie Snyder and Shannon Kimball of PASS, as well. You both rock!

Thanks to Itzik Ben-Gan for speaking at the Philly User Group TWICE (and for giving me some great advice at Tech Ed).

I next want to thank my Director, John Schmidt. John is one of the most "stand up" guys I have ever met and I truly admire you, John. You're a great leader.

Thank you to the guys I depend on the most at IBC: Bruce Rosen, Kevin Kelly, and
mr. christian. I don't know what I would do without you guys. You guys know I love you. Rock on!

I next want to thank Kevin Kline. I cannot believe I even have access to someone of the stature of Kevin Kline, let alone a relationship. Kevin is truly an extreme expert and is astonishingly accessible. Thank you very much, Kevin, for making yourself available to me when I've asked you for help.

Paul Nielsen is a great guy and a true SQL Server expert. It was a pleasure getting to meet with Paul at some of the Roadshows. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your expertise and for your encouragement, personal and professional.

Thanks to Raj Gill. Raj is so smart, it's crazy. I had a great time meeting you, Raj, and I thank you for being so accessible.

Reed Sutton: the man, the myth, the legend. Reed is our local Microsoft SQL Server TS, and I only ask Reed a question after I've totally given up, because I know he'll have a 3 paragraph textbook perfect answer every time. You're a great guy, Reed, and a true expert. Thank you for being so supportive of the SQL community.

Geoff Snowman! Geoff, you're a great guy and you've been a great encouragement.

Mitch Ruebush and Terry Weiss. You guys are great RDs!

I want to thank all the leaders of the Philly SQL Server community: Sharon Dooley (aka T-SQL Rock Star), Vince Napoli (Vince I want to especially thank for always supporting me, especially at the beginning of PSSUG), Chuck Urweiler, Joe Toscano, Scott Coutant, Tony Bressi, Dave Doyle, Mark Scott (can you believe how rich the Philly SQL community is??? listen to these names!!! crazy), Doug Osborne, Dacheng Wang, Paul Parsons, Dennis McCarthy, Bill Zimmer, Mike Welsh, Jing Li, Russ Snyder, Steve Rosen, and I'm sure I'm forgetting many others.

In addition to the user group in Philly, I met many other wonderful SQL community people that I want to thank: Curt Crazer, Jason Hall, Mohab Eskaros, Brian Moran, Jeremy Kadlec, Alan Luu, Andy Gurzynski, Ben Aminnia, Beth Kelly, Brandi Johnson, Michelle Crockett, Brian Lucas, Carol Roosevelt, Don Demsack, Jason Beres, Meredith Estes, Careyann Farrell, Sherry Feldman, Ganesh Irusapillai, Hassan Fahimi, Hilary Cotter, John Lynn, John Voorhis, Kaia Petin, Pete Meredith, Tom Curtin, Andre Jenkins, Joe Browne, Mark DelRosi, Bill Hauck, Pete Miller, Randy Dyess (one of my DBA heroes!), Rick Heiges, Rob Keiser, Sean Darby, Chris Shaw, Todd Desimone, Jim Fox, Wilson Cheung, Kevin Swift, Dave Smith (smartest guy I've ever worked with), Jim Darlington, Les Weyant, Trey Johnson...whew! I am sure I am leaving people out. I really don't mean too.

Finally, let me thank my wonderful Uncle, Abbott Edmund Boyce, OSB and all of my other wonderful family members who I haven't named. I love you all. Thanks again and thanks Bill Gates.

:-)

Chuck