PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group Feb 21 “Using Self-service Analytics to Build Strong Data Teams”

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be next week on Wednesday, February 21.  We welcome Julie Hyman who will be talking to us about building strong data teams using self-service analytics.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

February 21 – Using Self-service Analytics to Build Strong Data Teams

Session Abstract –

We understand that organizations like yours are looking for more efficient ways to tap into the data generated by your marketing and sales efforts, customer engagement, back-end operations, and more. If you want your business to be data-driven, you’ve got to strategically synthesize and analyze all of this data to turn it into actionable business intelligence. During this webcast, Quest product manager, Julie Hyman will explain the differences between full-service and self-service analytics, making the case for self-service as a way to eliminate analytic silos and data bottlenecks.

And, you’ll discover how the Toad solution helps create strong data teams:

• Non-technical business users can connect to nearly any data source.

• Users can standardize best analytics practices using a collaborative platform.

• Data teams can publish workflows and share information.

• Analysts can present fully prepped data to the rest of the business.

Speaker Bio –

Julie Hyman is a Sr. Product Manager for Quest Software. With 20+ years of experience in Development, Project Management and Product Management, Julie currently manages Toad Solutions, including Toad Data Point, Toad Intelligence Central and the new Toad Edge, among others.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away seven $50 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analtyics Virtual Group Jan 25 “Power BI: How to take advantage of ArcGIS Maps, SandDance and Synoptic Panel”

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be this week on Thursday, January 25.  We welcome Marek Matuszewski who will be showing us some of the new cool data visualizations in Power BI.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

January 25 – Power BI: How to take advantage of ArcGIS Maps, SandDance and Synoptic Panel

Session Abstract –

Join us and learn best practices and some of the most powerful features which are available in all 3 Power BI visuals: ArcGIS Maps, SandDance and Synoptic Panel.

Speaker Bio –

Marek is the Managing Partner & Head of Business Intelligence at the Efexcon AG,+8 years Software Development Experience, Business Intelligence Specialist, Entrepreneur, extraordinary performer, Visionary leader. In 2017 at – O365 Business Tag, Microsft Munich; CeBIT 2017 Hannover, Microsoft Partner stand; SQL Saturday 656 in Denmark, Microsoft Kopenhagen. First person in Germany who gave a speech at ALL German Power BI User Groups. One of his biggest audience was 40 000 people hearing him live, broadcasting an Audition about IT in the local radio station. He is very energetic and always give a lot of positive energy for the Audience. Power BI expert -one of his report “Regular Crimes in Central London” was featured on Microsoft Power BI blog.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away eight $50 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group December 5 “What’s New SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services”

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be next week on Tuesday, December 5.  We welcome Anupama Natarajan who will be showing us some of the new features in SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

November 29 – What’s New SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services

Session Abstract –

In this session, you will get to know the new features that are released as part of SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services.

– Power BI Report Server

– REST API

– VS 2017 and Reporting Services

– MS Build Support

Speaker Bio –

Anu is a Software Professional with over 15 years experience in designing and developing Web, Data Warehouse, Business Intelligence and Mobile solutions. She is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and really passionate in sharing knowledge. Anu loves solving complex business problems for her clients with innovative solutions using Microsoft Technologies and uses that experience in her trainings.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away eight $50 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group October 19 “R visual in Power BI: with pbiviz and ggplot2”

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be this week on Thursday, October 19.  We welcome back Leila Etaati who will be showing us how to use R to visualize data in Power BI.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

October 19 – R visual in Power BI: with pbiviz and ggplot2

Session Abstract –

The integration of R inside Power BI provides lots of possibilities for doing machine learning and providing more data visualization options. In this session, I will first show how to write R code inside the R visualization area. Then, how to create some visuals that we do not have currently in Power BI visualizations like Slope chart, Facet chart and Column width chart with the help of ggplot2 package. Moreover, there is a possibility to create your own custom visual as pbiviz file by writing R codes and importing it into your Power BI report. I will go through the process of creating a pbiviz file.

Speaker Bio –

Leila is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, PhD, mentor, speaker, trainer, and consultant. She spoke in some important SQL server conference such as Data insight Summit, SQLNexus, SQL Rally and Microsoft ignite New Zealand, PASS BA, PASS 24 H, and so on. She has over 10 years’ experience working with SQL server. She was involved in many large-scale projects for big sized companies as SQL server and BI consultant. She worked in Industries including banking financial, power and utility, manufacturing .Leila is PhD of Information System department, University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is a lecturer of BI and Machine Learning courses.

–> REGISTER NOW <– (Login with PASS account first to register for webinar)

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away eight $50 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group September 21 “Visualizing Financial And Economic Data”

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be this week on Thursday, September 21.  We welcome back Mark Wilcock who will be showing us how to visualize financial and economic data using Power BI and R.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

September 21 – Visualizing Financial And Economic Data (Using Power BI and R)

Session Abstract –

Firms make massive efforts to collect, clean, aggregate and report on their data but this is only meaningful when people use it to get insight, make better then take action. We’ll show several examples of visualisations of financial and economic data, and discuss how they were built and analyse how effective they are. These examples include market risk chart to compare trading profit & loss (P&L) against measures of risk and regulatory limits and a version of the famous visualisation by Hans Rosling of the health and wealth of nations over 200 years, and also many others.

Speaker Bio –

Mark Wilcock is an independent consultant specializing in the analysis, reporting and visualization of financial data. Over the last 20 years, he worked on many systems to measure and monitor financial performance and manage market risks that arise from banking and trading activities. He’s the organizer of the London Business Analytics Group, a popular community group that holds monthly talks on topics ranging from Predictive Analytics to Power Query to Personalized Medicine. He blogs at zomalex.co.uk

–> REGISTER NOW <–

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away eight $50 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey, we will also be giving away a free comp to the PASS Summit (assuming you haven’t already registered and can use the complimentary invite)!

PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group August 17 “R-Ternatives in Power BI”

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be tomorrow on Thursday, August 17.  We welcome Ryan Wade who will be showing us the different options for utilizing R code in Power BI.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

August 17 – R-Ternatives in Power BI

Session Abstract –

R is a very powerful statistical programming language that has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years. In early 2015 Microsoft acquired Revolution Analytics, a major provider of software and services for R. Microsoft have since incorporated R in Azure ML, SQL Server 2016, and Power BI. There are 3 ways you can leverage R in Power BI. You can use it as a data source, you can leverage it in Power Query, or you can use it to create custom visualizations. In this session I present easy to follow examples of those 3 scenarios. I will also provide resources that will enable you to take what you learned to the next level.

Speaker Bio –

Ryan Wade is a data analytic professional with close to 20 years of experience. My education and work experience enables me to understand things from a technical, analytical, and business viewpoint. I have the ability to present complex data in an intuitive way using sound analytical and visualization methods. I have an advanced analytical and technical skill-set. My technical background includes the following tools and programming languages: Power BI, T-SQL, Excel, DAX, M, R, SQL Server R Services, Python, VBA, Office 365, SSIS, SSRS, & SSAS Tabular. I also have an elementary understanding of Azure ML and Octave.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away eight $25 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group March 21 – Excel to Power BI

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Group meeting will be next week on Tuesday, March 21.  We welcome Avi Singh who is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, trainer, and author and he will be presenting on taking the leap from Excel to Power BI.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

March 21– Excel to Power BI: 5 lessons you need to Unlearn to unlock Analytical Superpowers

Session Abstract –

Are you struggling to make the transition from Excel to Power BI? As Avi Singh found out, through his own experience and that of hundreds of his students, there are key habits you need to UNLEARN before you can embrace the awesomeness of Power BI. Join us to learn what’s been holding you back.

Speaker Bio –

Avi Singh is a Power BI trainer and consultant based out of Seattle. He is a Microsoft MVP, co-author of the top-selling book “Power Pivot and Power BI: An Excel User’s Guide” and a regular speaker at conferences and user events. Avi has personally experienced the transformation and empowerment that Power BI can bring, going from an Excel user to building large-scale Power BI solutions. His mission now is to spread the word and share his knowledge about Power BI. You can follow him on his blog at www.avising.com or video blog at https://www.youtube.com/ModernExcel

–> REGISTER NOW <–

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away one $25 Amazon gift card to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analytics Virtual Chapter January 26–Take Power BI Visualizations to the Next Level

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Chapter meeting will be tomorrow on Thursday, January 26.  We welcome back Reza Rad who is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and BI Rockstar and he will be presenting on Power BI and data visualizations.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

January 26 – Take Power BI Visualizations to the Next Level

Session Abstract –

Visualization is the front end of every BI system, and getting it right will affect tremendously on the data analysis solution. In this session you will learn tips and tricks of data visualization with Power BI, examples of effective visualizations, and you will learn when is best to use which type of chart. You will learn about best way of visualizing elements through built-in visualizations or custom visuals.

Speaker Bio –

Reza Rad (http://www.radacad.com/reza) speaks in world’s best and biggest SQL Server and BI conferences such as PASS Summits, PASS Rallys, SQLBits, TechEds, Ignites, and so on. He is author of books on this topic, and he has more than 15 years’ experience in the Microsoft BI technologies. 10 years of his experience focused on training and consulting to the largest BI teams in the world. He is also Microsoft Certified Trainer for years. He is Microsoft SQL Server MVP (Most Valuable Professional) focused on BI and Data Analysis for seven years, He has been awarded MVP from Microsoft because of his dedication and expertise in Microsoft BI technologies. He is author of Power BI book from Rookie to Rock Star (http://radacad.com/online-book-power-bi-from-rookie-to-rockstar).

–> REGISTER NOW <–

Also, we will be doing a random drawing after the webinar and giving away two $25 Amazon gift cards to anyone that attends and fills out the survey!

PASS Business Analytics VC December 20 – The Civic Technology Movement

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Chapter meeting will be next week on Tuesday, December 20.  We welcome Adam Hecktman who is Microsoft’s Directory of Technolgoy and Civic Innovation for Chicago who will be teaching us about the new Civic Technology movement.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

December 20 – The Civic Technology Movement

Session Abstract –

Civic Technology is a relatively new movement of people with technical skills who want to work towards the public good. Developers, designers, and…yes…data folks are working together to build tools to make our democracy work for everybody and to solve some of the most intractable social problems in cities around the country. But that is only part of the story. Learn what is being done and how you can participate by joining this webinar

Speaker Bio –

Adam J. Hecktman is Microsoft’s Director of Technology and Civic Innovation for Chicago. In this capacity, Adam helps Chicago’s civic leaders – and the communities they serve – use cutting-edge ideas around technology to solve the city’s biggest challenges. He provides thought leadership on the key issues and opportunities facing Chicago today and in the future.

Prior to this role, Adam was the Director of the Microsoft Technology Center – Chicago, helping organizations maximize business value and ensure long-term success when facing their toughest business challenges and opportunities. He has been with Microsoft in Chicago since 1991. Prior to Microsoft, Adam was a consultant for Accenture.

Adam received a Bachelor of Science in commerce and business administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is pursuing his Masters of Data Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He regularly appears on television, print, and radio, and has authored numerous articles.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

Also, make sure you check out some of the other exciting events coming up:

The world of data and analytics is rapidly changing, and we’re pleased to offer the Business Analytics (BA) Marathon for data professionals looking to use data to make better business decisions. This edition features six back-to-back webinars focused on R and predictive analytics.

http://www.sqlpass.org/bamarathon/2016/december/Schedule.aspx

Join us on January 11, 2017 in Chicago!

Immerse in a full day of intense learning guided by expert speakers. Connect with like-minded business analytics professionals. Walk away with real-world analytics knowledge that you can use immediately!

http://passbaday.com/2017/chicago/Home.aspx

PASS Business Analytics VC December Meeting–R; One Ring to Rule Them All

The next PASS Business Analytics Virtual Chapter meeting will be next month on Wednesday, December 7.  We welcome Microsoft Data Platform MVP Leila Etaati who will be going over the use of R and the new capabilities provided with R Server and in SQL Server 2016.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

December 7 – R; One Ring to Rule them All

Session Abstract –

R is one of the most popular and powerful analytics languages. That helps data scientists to prepare data, predict data and visualize it. Microsoft offers several deployment options to bring next-generation advanced analytics to your business. Microsoft R Server delivers R-based analytics to where your data lives. In this session, first basic concepts of machine learning will be discussed. Then, a demo of how to use R for data cleaning, visualization, and prediction will be presented. Subsequently, an introduction to using R server and R in SQL Server 2016 will be shown. Finally, a brief introduction on how to use Azure ML and Power BI with R will be presented.

Speaker Bio –

Leila is a PhD, mentor, speaker, and Senior Consultant. She spoke in some important SQL server conference such as PASS Summit, PASS BA, 24 Hours of PASS, SQL Rally and Microsoft ignite New Zealand. She has over 10 years’ experience working with SQL server. She was involved in many large-scale projects for big sized companies as SQL server and BI consultant. She worked in Industries including banking financial, power and utility, manufacturing. Leila is PhD of Information System department, University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is a lecturer of BI and Machine Learning courses.

–> REGISTER NOW <–

Also, make sure you check out some of the other exciting events coming up:

The world of data and analytics is rapidly changing, and we’re pleased to offer the Business Analytics (BA) Marathon for data professionals looking to use data to make better business decisions. This edition features six back-to-back webinars focused on R and predictive analytics.

http://www.sqlpass.org/bamarathon/2016/december/Schedule.aspx

Join us on January 11, 2017 in Chicago!

Immerse in a full day of intense learning guided by expert speakers. Connect with like-minded business analytics professionals. Walk away with real-world analytics knowledge that you can use immediately!

http://passbaday.com/2017/chicago/Home.aspx