Beginning SQL Server 2008 Administration (Expert's Voice in SQL Server)
Rob Waltersis a data platform technology specialist for Microsoft. His extensive experience with Microsoft SQL Server began over 10 years ago when he worked as a consultant for Microsoft Consulting Services in Denver, Colorado. Shortly after the dot-com bubble burst, Walters returned to Microsoft�s headquarters and worked as a program manager in the SQL Server product unit. There, he owned various features within SQL Server including SQL Server Agent, various management features, and the security for the database engine. Walters has co-authored three patents for technologies used within SQL Server. Walters has also co-authoredProgramming Microsoft SQL Server 2005by Microsoft Press, and Pro SQL Server 2005,Accelerated SQL Server 2008, andBeginning SQL Server 2008 Database Administrationby Apress.  He holds a bachelor's of science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University and a master's degree in business administration from Seattle University. When not at work, he is very active in his community as an on-call firefighter.Grant Fritcheyworks as a development database administrator for FM Global, an industry-leading engineering and insurance company. In his previous time as a�database administrator�and developer, he has worked at three failed dot-coms, a major consulting company, and a global bank. He has developed large-scale applications in languages such as VB, C#, and Java and has lived with SQL Server from the hoary days of 6.0, right through to 2008. His nickname at work is "The Scary DBA." He even has an official name plate, and he displays it proudly.Grant volunteers for the Professional Association of SQL Server Users (PASS) and has written and published articles on various topics relating to SQL Server at Simple-Talk, SQL Server Central, SQL Server Performance, the PASS web site, SQL Standard, and the SQL Server Worldwide Users Group. He is the author of the bookDissecting SQL Server Execution Plans. He is one of the founding officers of the Southern New England SQL Server Users Group (SNESSUG).Outside work, Grant kayaks, learns and teaches self-defense, brews his own beer, chops wood to heat his house, raises his kids, and helps lead a pack of Cub Scouts. Carmen Taglientiis a SQL Server business intelligence architect for Microsoft in the Microsoft Technology Center in Boston. Prior to joining�Microsoft, he managed a business intelligence project for a Microsoft partner in which he built large scale data warehouse and analytic solutions using SQL Server. His academic background is in systems engineering and computer science. Over the course of his career, he has managed his own consulting business and worked as a 3D graphics programmer for a government contractor. Carmen spends a lot of time working with customers creating SQL Server platform solutions. He has published papers on data warehousing, frequently speaks at conferences and teaches internal Microsoft courses on business intelligence and SQL Server. Outside of work, Carmen is a triathlete and enjoys coaching his son in the sport. He also loves to spend time with his wife, daughter and two dogs.