What you should know about me?

I have an intense passion for Data that has followed me through my 20+ years working in various IT roles.

I’m committed to bringing people and communities together via Data and Technology.

The culture of Technology and Self-Improvement is engrained in my life culture.

My personal definition of “Women in Technology” is directly tied to inclusion and providing settings where EVERYONE feels respected and valued.

I’ve been a static corporate ‘cube’ dweller, but I’m not certain that this will be my desired work setting in the future.

I LOVE DATA, I REALLY LOVE DATA so I’m slowly migrating from twitter @sqldiva to @datamelange to reflect this.

What have I done?

I began my career as a Quality Assurance tester for a large insurance company in the late 80’s.  With little college, I thrived and within 8 years changed roles many times progressing from QA, Programmer Analyst, Systems Analyst, Management.

In the late 90’s, I re-tooled myself from working on mostly mainframes by attending a technical program, finishing my associates degree in MIS and juggling the needs of my then 2 and 8 year old daughters for 15 months.

I emerged as programmer, but was quickly drawn to working on Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 when the current group of DBAs didn’t even want to look at a lick of stored procedure code.  A big thanks goes out to all those lazy DBAs!!

As a Development DBA, I thrived and found myself working with Data Warehouses, OLAP and Reporting.  I went on to work at D&B, Reckitt Benckiser, a small stint at an <unnamed> credit card provider as an operational DBA (position was a BaaaaD fit), and then onto my current position as a Manager of SQL Architecture for a large player in the Real Estate Industry.  I work with Microsoft SQL Server, Integration Services and develop corporation data warehouses that bring all business drivers in the enterprise together.

How have I brought people and communities together via Data and Technology?

In 2013, I started on a new adventure in the areas of Business Analytics and Mentoring with the hopes finding a way of further connecting people and technology.  As a member of the PASS Business Analytics Conference Program Committee, I’m excited for the upcoming prospect of expanding my community.  I have also elected to Lead the PASS Business Analytics Virtual Chapter and started my speaker journey presenting on Data Careers.

In 2006, I founded the NJ SQL Server User Group (NJSQL) and lead it through 2012. In addition to monthly meetings, I have lead/organized Saturday SQL topic bases training events before the SQLSaturday brand.  In the last few years, I lead/organized NYC SQL Saturday #39, #59, #158, NYC SQLInspire and NJSQL SQL Azure Saturday.

I founded the NJ Women In Technology networking group in 2010 and continue to be a mentor for the group.  Most recently, I developed and lead the NYC WIT Connect Event with Rachel Appel from Microsoft.

I have been involved with the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) since I started NJSQL and was a member of the PASS Summit Program Committee from 2007-2010 and the PASS North East Regional Mentor for a year or so.