IT/Dev Connections 2014 Speaker Highlight: Kent Agerlund

Part of an ongoing series, we're highlighting the excellent speakers selected by the community to present phenomenal and extremely valuable content at IT/Dev Connections 2014.

Today's speaker highlight is Kent Agerlund

Kent works as a consultant; author, trainer and event speaker specializing in System Center Solutions at Coretech. Kent frequently speaks at conferences like TechEd, MMS and is the main author of Mastering Configuration Manager 2012 training and the books Mastering Configuration Manager 2012 and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Mastering the Fundamentals. He is also actively involved in communities like TechNet forums, local user groups, and is awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for his work with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager. On stage Kent is known for mixing “Real World” scenarios into his presentation with lots of demos.

 Speaker's IT/Dev Connection workshop and session:

Full-Day Workshop: Using System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager in the Real World: Notes from the Field

Join Johan Arwidmark and Kent Agerlund, two of the world's foremost System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager experts, in a dazzling seminar on how to use Configuration Manager 2012 R2 in the real world. Learn about the changes in Configuration Manager 2012 R2, how to build a Configuration Manager 2012 R2 infrastructure, and how to manage Microsoft and non-Microsoft devices. Learn how to deploy applications and updates, as well as how to deploy and manage Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. Learn how to integrate Configuration Manager 2012 R2 with Windows Intune for mobile device management. Kent and Johan share their notes from the field, as well as their tips and tricks for making systems management using Configuration Manager 2012 R2 even better. If you're working with Configuration Manager 2012 R2, or thinking about moving to Configuration Manager 2012 R2, you can't afford to miss this seminar.

Configuration Manager 2012: In-Depth Site Review

Have you ever experienced sluggish Configuration Manager administrator console performance or collections taking forever to refresh? Join MVPs Steve Thompson and Kent Agerlund as they walk through a Configuration Manager site review to determine why so many Configuration Manager installations don't perform as well as they should. This session is packed with tip and tricks, SQL secrets, and PowerShell scripts that can help you optimize your environment.

Recently, we asked Kent to give us a little information about himself. Here's what he shared:

WITPRO: Give us a brief introduction to yourself.

Kent: Work as a consultant; author, trainer and event speaker specializing in System Center Solutions at Coretech. I frequently speaks at conferences like TechEd, MMS (rip) and is the main author of Mastering Configuration Manager 2012 training and the books Mastering Configuration Manager 2012 and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Mastering the Fundamentals. I’m also very actively involved in communities like TechNet forums, local user groups, and awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for my work with Microsoft Enterprise Client Management. When not working, I enjoy running, biking and spending as much time with my family as possible.

WITPRO: Describe the sessions you are presenting and why you feel the topic is important.

Kent: I have two sessions, first one is a full day pre-conference on how you should install and manage System Center 2012 R2 Configuration in the real world. This is a shared session where I have the privilege of being on stage with Johan Arwidmark. The session will be packed with custom solutions, best practices and scripts that Johan and I have been using in several of our projects.

Second session is title “A Configuration Manager site review” and will focus on some of all the issues I have found in customer environments over the years. Working as a consultant, I have done many ConfigMgr site review in effort to help customers optimizing their sites and internal processes.

WITPRO: What should attendees expect to be able to take away from your sessions?

Kent: From both sessions they key take away will be information on how ConfigMgr should be managed. That they will mix with a lot of custom tools and scripts that attendees can go back home and use to optimize their environment.

WITPRO: What is your primary reason to be excited about IT/Dev Connections?

Kent: I had the pleasure of attending last year as speaker and the event is a real community event. I love the fact that there is so much time to interact with the attendees and other speakers.

WITPRO: What is the one key technology you believe is changing IT right now?

Kent: No doubt in my mind that this is the year of the cloud. In my company we are getting more and more Windows Azure. Service Management Automation and Windows Azure Pack is also hot, and I’m confident that will be the new “hot stuff” in the IT department in 2015.

WITPRO: Do you think Satya Nadella can rebuild Microsoft into a Cloud powerhouse?

Kent: I think that Microsoft has the potential to achieve most of their goals. The question should be, is the world ready to be managed purely from the Cloud? If not, is it a wise decision as a software vendor to put all your eggs in the cloud basket? 

WITPRO: To get to know the real you, give us one thing about yourself you believe will be of most interest to attendees.

Kent: I love people and being among people. I really believe that the key to success for all us is the synergy we generate when collaborating and sharing. Also love running and use the 30-90 minutes it takes to let my mind wanders out in the blue.

IT/Dev Connections runs from September 15 – 19, at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. IT/Dev Connections has been designed specifically for IT.

And, there's still time to register!  Here's some important resources to check out:

Registration

Windows, System Center, and Cloud Sessions

Travel and Lodging Information

Full Speaker List

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