Microsoft MVP renewed
I'm proud to announce that Microsoft has renewed my Most Valuable Professional award for 2008/9. Once again my competency is Windows Server System - Small Business Server. There are currently (as of today, according to the MVP web site) about 55 such awardees worldwide, 2 in the UK and I'm the only one in Wales, so this is indeed a special honour bestowed by Microsoft.
Microsoft has slightly changed the way it classifies MVPs to recognise that they can have technical interests in more than one field. My online profile currently lists the following areas of expertise: Small Business Server (of course!), Dynamics CRM, SharePoint Server and Visual C#.
2008 will be an exciting time for SBS MVPs with a new version of Small Business Server 2008 and the introduction of a new product called Windows Essential Business Server 2008, both slated for public availability in the November 2008 timeframe. One of the roles of an MVP is to help Microsoft improve its products and TiGra Networks is actively involved in the pre-release beta testing for Small Business Server 2008 and I take part in regular conference calls with the SBS team.
The term MVP is less familiar in the UK than in the USA, where it is traditionally used in popular sports such as baseball, American football, hockey and basketball. A player will be nominated MVP, meaning Most Valuable Player, either for one specific game or for an entire season or major event such as the Superbowl. The term MVP is, therefore, fairly well established in American culture and Microsoft has borrowed from its popularity for its own way of recognising leaders in the technical community.