If you check this blog with any degree of regularity, then you know that I’ve been relatively quiet for the last couple of months. I haven’t really posted anything new in some time, my tweets have been fewer in number (not that I’m a generator of high traffic on Twitter anyway), and I’ve generally been laying low. This is due in part to writing for the upcoming SharePoint 2010 Disaster Recovery Guide, but writing isn’t really the largest reason I’ve been “sparse” as of late.
For a few months now, I’ve been in a state of transition with regard to both my career and my employer. Now that all of the discussions are over, the details have been finalized, and I’m on my way to Houston for a week, I’m excited to announce that I’ve joined Idera as their Product Manager for SharePoint Products! The press release with some additional details can be found at this link.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the name, Idera is a software company that is based out of Houston, Texas. Idera makes tools for SharePoint, SQL Server, and PowerShell. In my new role with them, I’ll be part of the team that is working to craft the next generation of Idera’s backup and restore tools. This excites me on so many levels!
I’ve actually had a relationship with Idera for the better part of a year now, and it has been nothing but positive. John Ferringer (my DR Guide co-author) and I wrote a SharePoint 2007 Disaster Recovery Overview whitepaper for Idera, and we also presented a webcast on SharePoint Disaster Recovery Essential Guidelines through Idera. On top of that, I was part of an “Ask the Experts” session at the SharePoint Conference 2009 that Idera sponsored, and I am also a member of Idera’s Technical Advisory Board for SharePoint Products. When I had determined that I’d be moving on from my previous employer and mentioned my situation to Idera, elements in the SharePoint universe actually seemed to align in my favor for once.
Given the degree to which many of my “extracurricular” activities (that is, writing and speaking) have focused on disaster recovery and the SharePoint platform, I think the new position is going to be a great fit. The match-up is wonderful in a number of ways:
- Though I worked with SharePoint as a consultant with my previous company, I was always one step removed from the platform. With Idera, I’ll be working on products that specifically target SharePoint – a big win in my book.
- About a year and a half ago, I made it a goal to get more involved in the SharePoint community. I wanted to participate more, give back some of what I had gotten, and host of other things. I see this position as a great way to continue those efforts in a way that helps both me and the company I work for.
- When it comes to SharePoint, I’ve always had one foot in the development world and one foot in the infrastructure/IT pro world. Most of the development work I’ve done for SharePoint has focused on core plumbing, interop with other systems, performance improvement, and general tools. I’d be hard-pressed to find a better fit in this regard than Idera!
Though Idera is headquartered in Houston, I’ll still be staying in Cincinnati. I will be in Texas all week, though, to meet with my team, discuss strategies, and get myself “into the game,” so to speak.
If you see me around at a conference, SharePoint Saturday event, or anywhere else, please stop me and let me know what you think of Idera’s products. Make sure you share your thoughts on what you think should be done to make them better, too. From now on, I’ll be in a unique position to do something with the feedback!
Additional Reading and References
- Social Networking: Twitter
- Book: SharePoint 2010 Disaster Recovery Guide
- Announcement: Sean McDonough joins Idera
- Companies: Idera
- People: John Ferringer
- Whitepaper: Protect your SharePoint Content: An Overview of SharePoint 2007 Disaster Recovery
- Webcast: SharePoint 2007 Disaster Recovery Essential Guidelines
- Event: SPC 2009 “Ask the Experts” Session
- Announcement: Idera’s SharePoint Technical Advisory Board
Congratulations Sean.
tk
Best of luck, Sean! Hope to see you again soon. Maybe we can get you to visit Evansville sometime???
Todd, Rob: thank you both very much! I think it’s going to be a solid fit and a great experience. Rob, I think a trip to your corner of Indiana could certainly be worked out. I simply need to get over the “book hump” first :-)
Congratulations, Sean!
This sounds like a really great opportunity for you, and I know that Idera is getting a great resource. Of the talented people with whom I have had the privilege of working, I can honestly say that none of them has brought the combination of both breadth and depth that you bring to the table. As a result, you’re an immensely valuable resource to any team.
Once again, congratulations!
Thanks for both the congratulations and the kind words, Paul :-)
Sean, this serves as just another form of “Congratulations” from me. I think this is one of the best things that could happen for you and your career, and I’m very excited for you. Congratulations!
Thank you, John. I really appreciate it!