Tag: vExpert

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VMware vExpert 2020 application (2nd round)

The VMware vExpert program is VMware’s global evangelism and advocacy program. The vExpert program was designed by VMware to reward community members for evangelizing VMware’s products and services. Each year the title vExpert is awarded to people who have contributed to the community in an outstanding way. That can be bloggers, book authors, public speakers, VMUG leaders, VMTN contributors, VCDX and other IT professionals who share their knowledge.

Application

Application opens twice a year. Currently the second half application is open from June 1st to June 25th.

Why to become a vExpert

Yes there are benefits (I will come back to that later), but that’s not the point. Being a vExpert is not about what to get, but what you can give. Many vExperts put a lot of their spare time into the community. Preparing a blog post, a VMUG presentation or organizing a VMUG meeting consumes a lot of time. For those community warriors is the vExpert program.

Since I’ve joined the vExpert program I made a lot of friends in the community. I also witnessed a very warm welcome as a newcomer by seasoned vExperts. To name just a few there was Ather Beg from Britain, Andreas Lesslhumer from Austria and Vladan Seget from Reunion Island.

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VMware vExpert award 2018

With pleasure I’ve found an email in my inbox, telling me that I’m part of the 2018 vExpert program.

Another year vExpert

For me it’s an honor and an obligation. I will continue to share my knowledge with the community, and – time permitting – extend that effort.

VMware vExpert Program

The annual VMware vExpert award is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the community of VMware users over the past year. The title is awarded to individuals (not employers) for their commitment to sharing their knowledge and passion for VMware technology above and beyond their job requirements.

The VMware vExpert program is VMware’s global evangelism and advocacy program. The program is designed to put VMware’s marketing resources towards your advocacy efforts. Promotion of your articles, exposure at our global events, co-op advertising, traffic analysis, and early access to beta programs and VMware’s roadmap. The awards are for individuals, not companies, and last for one year. Employees of both customers and partners can receive the awards. In the application, we consider various community activities from the previous year as well as the current year’s (only for 2nd half applications) activities in determining who gets awards. We look to see that not only were you active but are still active in the path you chose to apply for.

Links

vExpert tweets on Twitter: #vExpert

VMTN Blog – vExpert 2018 Award Announcement

VMware – vExpert Directory

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vExpert experience

The first 3 months in the life of a vExpert

I’ve been blogging about virtualization and VMware for almost 8 years now. It started simple as a digital reminder, or as I like to call it: “a swap partition for my brain”. This blog was meant to be a central location to store all these tips and tricks, procedures and workarounds. I didn’t expect anyone to read my content and in fact in the beginning there was no reaction. After two years of blogging, first responses reached me (someone actually read that stuff). So I’ve started to design my posts in a more comprehensive and educational way. More and more people wrote comments or sent emails – all of them very encouraging and positive.

Thank you all for pushing me forward.

In May 2017 I’ve visited VeeamON in New Orleans. After more than a decade in virtualization this was my first international convention and also a game changer. I met there some well-known bloggers, vExperts and Vanguards. While chatting about their blogs I found out that some of them actually knew my site, which honestly surprised me.

Until then my personal definition of vExperts were people whose blogs I used to read frequently. Excellent resources like Yellow-Bricks by Duncan, ESXvirtualization by Vladan, frankdenneman.nl by Frank, CormacHogan by himself and a dozen others. In mid 2017 some colleagues convinced me to apply for vExpert 2017 (2nd half). Honestly, I did not expect to have the slightest chance of success – but on the other hand I had nothing to lose. OK, let’s press submit.

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VMware vExpert 2017 – Second Half

A nice surprice at breakfast

Each year VMware selects people who were particularly engaged in the community and awards the title vExpert to these bloggers and evangelists.

Earlier that year some friends and colleagues encouraged me to apply for the VMware vExpert program. Although I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now about virtualization and related IT stuff, I honestly did not expect to fit into the frame. But it was worth trying, so I filled in the application form.

After not hearing anything until early August and not finding my name on the official list, I’ve lost the issue out of sight. Nevermind – better luck next year.

Last week I had a new follower vExpert on Twitter, which isn’t too unusual because I used to follow them for a while too. Nothing suspicious.

Today at breakfast time I’ve received a couple of invitation mails by Corey Romero, who’s part of VMware Social Media and Community Team. Could it be an error? My name wasn’t on the list. So I’ve checked the official list again and actually found my name on it. 🙂

I’m both surprised and honored!

VMware you made my day

I would like to thank all people who encouraged me to apply and who gave me feedback on my blog (without feedback you can’t be sure if anybody is reading at all).

My special thanks go out to Michael Melter from idicos GmbH and Jens Söldner from Söldner Consult GmbH, who both convinced me to apply for vExpert.

And last but not least I would like to thank my wife Ruth for being my rock in rough seas. I apologise for getting lost in the lab so often and spending many hours in front of the terminal.

Thank you so much!