I created this blog because everyone who works with data systems has tips and tricks to share. Admins and developers often encounter problems and find workarounds. This is a place to share those ideas. I was a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist with certification in Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance. My IT specialties include database administration, business intelligence, and medical imaging services. I have designed and developed business solutions with the IBM Cognos and Microsoft SQL Server Business Intelligence platforms since 1999. I retired from the IT industry in 2021.
For more information, follow me on LinkedIn.
Personal Background
At the age of 13, I began teaching ‘grown-ups’ how to use their Commodore 64s and TRS-80 computers. For an extra dollar, I would even fix their Rubik’s Cube. I’ve worked with computers ever since. I received an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma with an emphasis in Computer Sciences and a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University.
About the Company Name
‘Cognitive Information’ came from Cognitive Information Processing Theory, which explains how the brain processes, stores, and retrieves information. These are the same challenges that most businesses face with data: storage, retrieval,l and processing it for humans.
This company was originally named GAMA Health Technology, Inc. GAMA was short for Gamaliel, a Pharisee in the bible, and our initial focus was on healthcare. Our services have diversified, but this company remains consistently devoted to the Lord.
TECHNICAL CERTIFICATIONS & EXAMS
- Epic Cogito Project Manager, Epic, 2020
- Scrum Master Training and Certification, by Mike Cohn, renewed 2019
- Exam 70-458 – Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 2
- Database Administration
- Implementing a Data Warehouse with SQL 2012
Exam 70-466 – Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: - SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
TECHNICAL TRAINING
- 2020 Epic Cogito Project Manager
- 2020 Epic Cogito Fundamentals
- 2019 Corepoint FIHR
- 2018 Corepoint Rev Your Engine, interface engine optimization
- 2017 Microsoft Power BI
- 2016 SQL Saturday, Agile Data Warehouse Development
- 2013 PASS SUMMIT, SQL Server preconference by Itzik Ben Gan
- 2013 Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Business Intelligence
- 2012 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services (SSIS)
- 2012 SQL Rally by Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS)
- 2012 Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Ignite – Administration and Development (MS Partner Training)
- 2011 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services (SSAS)
- 2010 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services (SSRS)
- 2007 Cognos 8 Business Intelligence Administration and Development
- 2000 Data Warehouse Design and Architecture, TDWI, Seattle, WA
TECHNICAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- 2025 Rebranding Your Church
- 2015 BI Basics – Finding Return on Data, PASS SQL Saturday #396, Dallas, TX
- 2015 Kimball’s Not Dead: Modeling Basics, PASS SQL Saturday #396, Dallas, TX
- 2014 BI Basics – Finding Return on Data, PASS SQL Saturday #300, Kansas City, MO
- 2014 ColumnStore Indexes in SQL 2014, PASS SQL Saturday #309, Oklahoma City, OK
- 2014 BI Basics – Finding Return on Data, PASS SQL Saturday #309, Oklahoma City, OK
- 2014 ColumnStore Indexes in SQL 2014, Tulsa TechFest
- 2014 BI Basics – Finding Return on Data, Tulsa TechFest
- 2013 SSIS 2012 Configurations vs. Parameters, PASS SQL Saturday #255, Dallas, TX
- 2013 Intro to SharePoint BI, PASS SQL Saturday #255, Dallas, TX
- 2013 Search Engine Basics, The Alternative Board, Oklahoma City, OK