SoftGrid Administration: Through a Partnership with AXIS Technology, LLC , Joe Lurie, our Senior Consultant, has completed working as a SoftGrid Administrator at a "large financial firm based in Boston."  As part of his duties, he assistedg with Sequencing, troubleshooting, writing policies and SOP's (Standard Operating Procedures).

SQLSoft: Through a Partenrship with SQLSoft, Inc, Joe will be working on development and modification of courses for Microsoft Learning in technologies like MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimaization Pack).

getVIRTUALnow Launch: Microsoft is releasing Hyper-V, App-V, SCVMM and several other products.  To celebrate these releases, and to showcase the products, a Launch even was held in Seattle on September 8, 2008.  Joe Lurie was selected as the SME for the App-V (formerly SoftGrid) hands-on-labs, as well as several other labs.

Microsoft Learning: Through Grandmasters, Inc.Joe has been selected as a Lead Item Writer for a new exam soon to be released on Windows Vista and Office 2007 deployment.

 Tech Ed 2008: Tech Ed is one of Microsoft's Premier conferences.  Each year HynesITe, Inc is chosen to run the event from a "learning" stand-point.  At this event, which will number over 12,000 in attendence, Microsoft will showcase thier new technologies through hands-on-labs, Chalk-talk sessions, Ask-the-experts areas, Instructor-led-labs, and so on.  Through a "partnership" with HynesITe, Inc, we will be leading the Technical Learning Guides in the Hands-on-lab area, hosting Instructor Led Labs, more coaching sessions and so on...  For more info on Tech Ed 2008, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2008/default.mspx

Syngress Press:  JARATech has been asked to provide two chapters in the upcoming exam prep book for 70-647 MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator

MDOP course for Microsoft Learning: Microsoft Learning is currently creating a course to teach MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack).  We have been hired to review the course for Technical Accuracy. 

MDOP exam for Microsoft Learning: We have also been hired to author several of the exam questions.  These questions will include all of the tools within MDOP, including SoftGrid, Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM) and Advanced Inventory Service (AIS).

Tech Ready 6: This is a Microsoft-Employee-Only event where Microsoft employees from all over the world get together to learn about the new products coming out.  We are honored to have been chosen to assist in the Hands-on-labs, Instructor-led-labs, Study Hall, and Ask the Experts area...UPDATE:  Thanks to Joe from JARATech Consulting, Susan from CTE Solutions, Neil from nbnet.nb.ca, Brian from CitiGroup, Shannon, Chrys and Karen from HynesITe, Inc, Microsoft employees took a total of 1700 exams during this event, and had a pass rate of over 67%.  Prior to the Study Hall and Coaching Sessions, this event typically launched 1200 exams and had a pass rate of 50%.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Launch events:  To celebrate the release of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008, Microsoft held a virtual launch that lasted for 24 hours!  JARATech was chosen to deliver three of these vitrual launch webcasts.  For more information on these virtual launch events, or to participate in a real-live launch event at a city near you, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/heroeshappenhere/events/default.mspx