Minnesota Microsoft BI User Group 2013 Q2 Meeting–Jun 4

The next MN Microsoft Business Intelligence User Group is coming up on Tuesday, June 4. This meeting we will have two presentations starting out with a case study by Smead on replacing IBM Cognos BI with Microsoft BI and then a presentation on Excel 2013 with Data Explorer, GeoFlow, and Power View. Please register so that we can have your name badge pre-printed.

Are you planning to attend the PASS 2013 Summit October 15 – 18 in Charlotte, NC? Use the MS BI User Group discount code and receive 10% off!

Your chapter: Minnesota Microsoft BI User Group

Unique Discount Code: SUM156CH

To register for PASS 2013, click here: http://www.sqlpass.org/summit/2013/

Here is the remaining schedule for the quarterly meetings this year:

2013 Meeting Schedule

• Tuesday, June 4
• Tuesday, September 10
• Tuesday, December 3

MN Microsoft BI User Group 2013 Q2 Meeting

Sponsored by:

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Check In: 2:30 PM Event Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Microsoft Technology Center – 3601 76th St W, Suite 600 Edina MN 55435 (in LOW 1, 2, and 3)

Please Register Now (Please register so that we can have your name badge pre-printed)

Agenda:

• 2:30-3:00 : Registration
• 3:00-3:15 : Microsoft BI User Group Updates & Announcements
• 3:15-4:15 : Smead Case Study: Introducing a New BI Toolset
• 4:15-4:30 : Break
• 4:30-5:30 : Take Your Data Global with Microsoft BI Data Explorer, GeoFlow, and Power View Maps
• 5:30-6:00 : Social and Networking

Presentations:

Session 1: Smead Case Study: Introducing a New BI Toolset
Smead Manufacturing Company recently completed a migration project that replaced their IBM Cognos BI Toolset with the Microsoft suite of BI Tools (SharePoint Integrated). In this presentation, they will share their approach, benefits, challenges and insights as they introduced new BI Technologies to 100 users across 12 departments. Many aspects of their journey will be covered, including use of the MS tools, data and architecture considerations, implementations, training, and project management. Whether your role focuses on development, analysis, and/or management, learn from their experiences as they replaced a legacy toolset that was relied upon by many as their source of timely, detailed Business Intelligence information.

Speakers:

Cindy Kummer, Lead EDW/BI Analyst at Smead Manufacturing Company – Cindy has held a number of positions in the IT industry for 14 years, spending the last 4 years in the Business Intelligence arena as the Team Lead for the EDW/BI team at Smead Manufacturing Company in Hastings, MN. She recently led their project to migrate their BI platform from IBM Cognos to the suite of Microsoft BI Tools. Cindy has been involved in projects in the Transportation, Insurance, and Manufacturing industries with a wide variety of roles, including developer, analyst, and project manager.

Will Weber, BI Consultant – Will is currently working as a business intelligence consultant in the Twin Cities. He started his career as a juggler. Almost got a degree in Theatre. Actually got a degree in Chinese. He’s a Board member for the MNPASS user group. He also thinks that the robots probably won’t rise up against their human creators – probably. But we’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Session 2: Take Your Data Global with Microsoft BI Data Explorer, GeoFlow, and Power View Maps
Business Intelligence has now been a global discipline for several years, and with new Microsoft tools you can now bring the globe to Business Intelligence. Microsoft Data Explorer for Excel 2013 enables you to access, harness, transform, and mash-up data like never before. Data that is separated by source type, format, location and more will be reviewed and mashed up in Data Explorer. GeoFlow is a new geospatial Business Intelligence tool which literally adds another dimension to data visualization. The power of GeoFlow to transform inanimate data into a story will be demonstrated. Power View for Excel 2013 has the capability to recognize geospatial data and create reports that integrate with Bing Maps, enabling global data BI report development from a desktop computer. The ease of use, intuitive design, and value of maps with Power View 2013 will be reviewed with some interesting examples leveraging publically available data. Take your data global.literally.

Speaker:

Greg Beaumont, BI Architect at GNet Group – Greg Beaumont is a Business Intelligence Consultant at GNet Group. He joined GNet Group in 2009, and has industry vertical experience including healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, retail, and public/government data. His professional focus is upon building industry standard reporting methodologies into BI solutions. He enjoys staying up-to-date with technology related to his career within the world of Microsoft BI.

Minnesota Microsoft BI User Group 2013 Q1 Meeting Follow Up

Just wanted to do a quick post to let everyone know that the presentations and demos from the last MN Microsoft BI User Group meeting are available for download.  This includes the opening announcement materials for the meeting, Brian Larson’s Reporting Services demos, and Ross McNeely’s top down data modeling presentation.

You can access the material from the user group site in the past events and presentations location.

Effective Reporting through SSRS and Top Down Data Modeling for BI

Thanks to everyone that attended, it was a great turnout and special thanks to C2 for the post-event happy hour.

Next month we will be sending out the invite for our next meeting that will be on Tuesday, June 4th, so stay tuned.

Minnesota Microsoft BI User Group 2013 Q1 Meeting–Mar 28

UPDATE (3/22/2013): Because of the snow storm on March 5 the meeting was rescheduled and is on March 28.

The next MN Microsoft Business Intelligence User Group is coming up on Thursday, March 28. This meeting we will have two presentations starting out with a talk on Reporting Services (SSRS) and then a presentation about Data Modeling. Please register so that we can have your name badge pre-printed.

Here is the schedule for the quarterly meetings this year:

2013 Meeting Schedule

• Thursday, March 28
• Tuesday, June 4
• Tuesday, September 10
• Tuesday, December 3

MN Microsoft BI User Group 2013 Q1 Meeting

Sponsored by:

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2013

Check In: 2:30 PM Event Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Microsoft Technology Center – 3601 76th St W, Suite 600 Edina MN 55435 (in LOW 1, 2, and 3)

Please Register Now (Please register so that we can have your name badge pre-printed)

Agenda:

• 2:30-3:00 : Registration
• 3:00-3:15 : Microsoft BI User Group Updates & Announcements
• 3:15-4:15 : Effective Reporting through SSRS Advanced Authoring Features (Brian Larson)
• 4:15-4:30 : Break
• 4:30-5:30 : Top-Down Data Modeling for BI (Ross McNeely)
• 5:30-6:00 : Social and Networking
• 6:00: Happy Hour Sponsored by C2 at Macaroni Grill! 7651 France Ave S, Edina, MN 55435

Presentations:

Effective Reporting through SSRS Advanced Authoring Features – Effective reporting is not simply the output of data, but the meaningful presentation of that data in a manner that informs the user. SQL Server Reporting Services provides a myriad of features to create a clear, instructive, and interactive experience. This session will demonstrate techniques to utilize SSRS advanced authoring features to facilitate more informative communication. These features include: nesting data regions, leveraging scope, geographic/geometric reporting, complex charting, rich formatting, incorporating managed code assemblies, intuitive drilldown, data from multiple datasets in a single data region, datasets that update source data, and more.

Brian Larson, Vice President of Technology, Superior Consulting Services. As a consultant to Microsoft, Brian contributed to the original code base of Reporting Services. Brian is the Vice President of Technology for Superior Consulting Services and has presented at national conferences including SQL Server Connections, the PASS Summit, and the Microsoft BI Conference. Brian is a former columnist for SQL Server Magazine and is the author of “Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Reporting Service: 4th Edition” and “Delivering Business Intelligence with SQL Server 2012: 3rd Edition” as well as co-author of “Visualizing Data with Microsoft Power View,” all from McGraw-Hill Professional.

Top-Down Data Modeling for BI – Business Intelligence platforms are offering capabilities, such as, in-memory analytics, ad hoc reporting, and self-serve report development. These capabilities allow for rapid development and do not require a Data Warehouse. A Business Intelligence platform without a Data Warehouse works well during the pilot phase, but tends to fail when deployed to the enterprise. Join as I lay out how to implement a Top-Down Data Model that will allow Business Intelligence to be created before or in parallel with the Data Warehouse. This will allow for rapid BI development while reducing the DW development cycle.

Ross McNeely, BI Practice Manager,  C2 IT Solutions. Ross has presented at several SQL Saturday events in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Recently, Ross presented at ERWorld2012 on data modeling. Ross adds real-world examples from the Financial Services, Logistics, and Retail industries in his presentations. Regardless if you have a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skill set, Ross will provide a solid foundation for each topic he presents. Please join Ross McNeely for a fun and informative meeting.

This is our first meeting of the year and our first meeting as an official chapter of PASS, looking forward to a great meeting, hope to see you there!

MN Microsoft BI User Group Official Chapter of PASS!

Just a quick announcement that I am happy to announce, yesterday the Minnesota Microsoft Business Intelligence (MSBIMN) user group completed the process and is now officially affiliated with the national PASS association.  The user group is part of the U.S. North Central region.  I am really excited about this and looking forward to another exciting year in 2013 when we resume our meetings.  You can check out the content from our 2011 and 2012 meetings here – past presentation content.

The Leadership Team

• Neelesh Raheja, GNet Group
• Dan English, Superior Consulting Services
• Terry McDonald, Pentair Technical Products
• Jin Cho, Microsoft

2013 Meeting Schedule

• Tuesday, March 5
• Tuesday, June 4
• Tuesday, September 10
• Tuesday, December 3

In 2013 we are also planning on organizing a couple of special session meetings, stay tuned for information about those as well and to stay in touch don’t forget we also have a group setup on LinkedIn that you can get associated with.

Thanks to everyone on the Leadership Team, the speakers, and the user group for another great year! 

Happy holidays to everyone and see you all next year!