Agenda Overview
Key to Types of Sessions and Length
| Breakout Session | Technical session delivered by product group personnel, often focused on one Technical Expertise. |
| Networking Event | Optional gathering, typically in the evening, and typically offered by product group or Community Program Manager. |
| Product Group Evening Event | Held before the Attendee Party on Wednesday evening, it is a casual event with drinks and food, giving an opportunity to meet and talk with product group personnel from Technical Expertise. |
| Side Session | Optional session held on Sunday or Thursday and either product, program or community focused. |
Activities by Day
Sunday, February 17 – Pre-Summit- Registration at Hyatt Regency Bellevue Hotel (08:00-21:00)
- Side Sessions (09:00-19:00)
- MVP Showcase (16:00-19:00)
- Hotel Subsidy
Monday, February 18 – Day 1
- Breakfast at hotels
- Registration at both the Hyatt Regency Bellevue Hotel and Commons Mixer Building on Microsoft Campus (07:00-21:00)
- Breakout Sessions* (morning)
- Lunch
- Breakout Sessions* (afternoon)
- Welcome Reception at Hyatt Regency Bellevue Hotel (19:00-21:00)
- Hotel Subsidy
Tuesday, February 19 – Day 2
- Breakfast at hotels
- Breakout Sessions* (morning)
- Lunch
- Breakout Sessions* (afternoon)
- Free Evening (your PG may sponsor a Networking Event)
- Hotel Subsidy
Wednesday, February 20 – Day 3
- Breakfast at hotels
- Breakout Sessions* (morning)
- Lunch
- Breakout Sessions* (afternoon)
- PG Evening Event & Attendee Party at CenturyLink Field in Seattle
- Hotel Subsidy
Thursday, February 21 – Day 4
- Breakfast at hotels
- Side Sessions
- No Hotel Subsidy
Note that the agenda is subject to change.
*These sessions may be limited by Expertise.
Technical Sessions
As is customary for previous MVP Summits, we design the content plan based on the timing of Microsoft products and technology releases and by considering the needs of MVPs. Product or technology roadmaps vary greatly. Consequently, at the time of the MVP Summit, content availability and community feedback are more relevant for some products or technologies versus others.
Content is delivered via deep technical breakout sessions as well as highly interactive breakout sessions where attendees evaluate plans or share community feedback. Breakout sessions are aligned to the MVP award program areas of expertise. Many sessions will be exclusive to specific expertise areas, while others will be open more broadly.
Below is the current status of our Technical Expertise Coverage list which is subject to change.
Key to Coverage
| Yes | Two days' worth of content for expertise |
| Limited | A few sessions for expertise, but invited to alternate expertises as well |
| Alternate Only | Nothing for expertise, but invited to alternate expertises |
| No | Nothing for expertise, and likely very few alternative expertise options |
| Pending | Product group is still evaluating extent of session coverage for expertise |
Expertise Coverage
Technical Expertise |
Coverage |
| Access | Limited |
| App-V | Yes |
| ASP.NET/IIS | Yes |
| Bing Maps Development | Yes |
| Client App Dev | Alternate Only |
| Cluster | Yes |
| Commerce Server | No |
| Consumer Security | Limited |
| Data Platform Development | No |
| Developer Security | Yes |
| Device Application Development | Yes |
| Directory Services | Yes |
| Dynamics AX | Yes |
| Dynamics CRM | Yes |
| Dynamics GP | No |
| Dynamics NAV | No |
| Enterprise Security | Limited |
| Excel | Limited |
| Exchange Server | Yes |
| Expression Blend | Yes |
| Expression Web | No |
| File System Storage | Yes |
| Forefront | No |
| Forefront Identity Manager | Limited |
| Games for Windows | Limited |
| Group Policy | Alternate Only |
| Hardware Interaction Design and Development | Alternate Only |
| Help | No |
| InfoPath | Alternate Only |
| Internet Explorer | Yes |
| Kinect for Windows | Yes |
| Lync | No |
| Macintosh | No |
| Management Infrastructure | No |
| Microsoft Integration | Yes |
| Office System | Alternate Only |
| Office365 | Yes |
| OneNote | Limited |
| Outlook | Limited |
| PowerPoint | Yes |
| PowerShell | Yes |
| Project | Yes |
| Publisher | No |
| Remote Desktop Services | Yes |
| Setup & Deployment | Limited |
| SharePoint Server | Yes |
| SharePoint Workspace | Alternate Only |
| Silverlight | Alternate Only |
| Small Business Server | Yes |
| Software Distribution | Alternate Only |
| SQL Azure | No |
| SQL Server | Yes |
| System Center Cloud and Datacenter Management | Yes |
| System Center Configuration Manager | Yes |
| Virtual Machine | Yes |
| Visio | Yes |
| Visual Basic | Yes |
| Visual C# | Yes |
| Visual C++ | Yes |
| Visual F# | Yes |
| Visual Studio ALM | Yes |
| VSTO | Alternate Only |
| Windows Azure | Yes |
| Windows Consumer Apps | Limited |
| Windows Embedded | Yes |
| Windows Entertainment and Connected Home | Limited |
| Windows Expert - Consumer | Limited |
| Windows Expert - IT Pro | Yes |
| Windows Home Server | Yes |
| Windows Phone Consumer | Limited |
| Windows Phone Development | Yes |
| Windows Touch & Tablet PC | Limited |
| Word | Limited |
| Xbox | Yes |
| XNA/DirectX | Alternate Only |
Pre & Post Summit Activities
Make the most of your MVP Global Summit experience by participating in pre-summit and/or post-summit activities.
For 2013 we know of several additional events that you could schedule as part of your MVP Summit itinerary - see below for all the details but also do not forget to check here for other postings.
Description
The unemployment rate in Washington State as of November 2012 was 7.9%. You can help! On Saturday, February 16th, the Saturday before the MVP Summit, GeekGive is organizing volunteers to work with Northwest Harvest in the Seattle Area. Join MVPs from around the world in this unique opportunity to give back to the community, network with your peers, and enjoy the Seattle area a bit more.
Description
Consumer Camp is an initiative designed to help consumers get the most of Microsoft devices and services, as well as Microsoft partner technologies. Consumer Camp offers public events/workshops, online content, and social connections to resources and people. For this event, we welcome all MVPs arriving early for MVP Summit to come engage with consumers, answer questions, collect feedback and showcase the knowledge and expertise that has resulted in MVP recognition.
Description
Join us for this very special event that will showcase 20 select MVPs and their impact on communities around the world. In this expo-type setting, each MVP will host a booth to demonstrate their work and speak with their peers. Many Microsoft Teams will be there too, including:
Description
Come join Joseph Guadagno, and other MVPs for drinks and food as we get you acclimated to the Microsoft Global MVP Summit. Find out what you can and can not expect from the event and meet a few people in the process. This event is being brought to you by: Southeast Valley .NET User Group, Telerik, and O'Reilly. Note: This event is for Microsoft MVPs attending the Microsoft Global MVP Summit for the first time.
Description
Mike Halsey, Author and Microsoft MVP invites you to his first Seattle Geek Meet. On his first visit to the USA, the author of several books including "Beginning Windows 8", "Troubleshoot and Optimise Windows 8 Inside Out" and the best-selling "Windows 8: Out of the Box", Mike is arranging special giveaways for the night! The event is open to MVPs and geeks alike, and is strictly a social occasion where you can meet interesting people, make new friends, have some drinks and win prizes :)
Description
Spring is back! Our 7th Annual SMB Nation Spring Conference theme is V3, and all courses are designed to help you keep ahead of the game with the latest shift to virtualization. Our three Vs are:
For 2013 we know of several additional events that you could schedule as part of your MVP Summit itinerary - see below for all the details but also do not forget to check here for other postings.
Northwest Harvest Sponsored by GeekGive
| Date | Saturday, February 16 |
| Time | 11:45 – 19:00 |
| Location | Kent, Washington (just south of Seattle) |
| Hotel | MVPs/RDs are responsible to pay for their own accommodations |
| Admission | No cost |
| Registration | Visit this link |
Description
The unemployment rate in Washington State as of November 2012 was 7.9%. You can help! On Saturday, February 16th, the Saturday before the MVP Summit, GeekGive is organizing volunteers to work with Northwest Harvest in the Seattle Area. Join MVPs from around the world in this unique opportunity to give back to the community, network with your peers, and enjoy the Seattle area a bit more.
Consumer Camp
| Date | Saturday, February 16 |
| Time | 17:00 – 19:00 |
| Location | Microsoft Retail Store in Bellevue Square |
| Registration | |
| Cost | Free. This is a public event for consumers and MVPs alike |
Description
Consumer Camp is an initiative designed to help consumers get the most of Microsoft devices and services, as well as Microsoft partner technologies. Consumer Camp offers public events/workshops, online content, and social connections to resources and people. For this event, we welcome all MVPs arriving early for MVP Summit to come engage with consumers, answer questions, collect feedback and showcase the knowledge and expertise that has resulted in MVP recognition.
MVP Showcase @ Summit hosted by The MVP Award Program
| Date | Sunday, February 17 |
| Time | 16:00 – 19:00 |
| Location | The Hyatt Regency Hotel Grand Ballroom in Bellevue (Registration Site) |
| Interested? | Visit this link |
| Questions? | Email for more information |
Description
Join us for this very special event that will showcase 20 select MVPs and their impact on communities around the world. In this expo-type setting, each MVP will host a booth to demonstrate their work and speak with their peers. Many Microsoft Teams will be there too, including:
- The OEM Team, who will host a Windows 8 device bar to show off the latest PCs and phones
- The One Code Team and their One Code Tool, which allows developers to download more than 4,500 code samples from within Visual Studio
- The famous Wheel of Knowledge Trivia prize game will be there to test your technical knowledge in exchange for prizes!
- The Microsoft Research Team, who will update you on their content localization machine translation efforts
- The Microsoft Communities Forums team, who will update you on the latest improvements and get your feedback
- and more!
First Time MVP Event 2013
| Date | Sunday, February 17 |
| Time | 19:00 – 22:00 |
| Location | Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant in Bellevue, Washington |
| Registration | Visit this link |
Description
Come join Joseph Guadagno, and other MVPs for drinks and food as we get you acclimated to the Microsoft Global MVP Summit. Find out what you can and can not expect from the event and meet a few people in the process. This event is being brought to you by: Southeast Valley .NET User Group, Telerik, and O'Reilly. Note: This event is for Microsoft MVPs attending the Microsoft Global MVP Summit for the first time.
Seattle Geek Meet
| Date | Thursday, February 21 |
| Time | 19:00 – 23:00 |
| Location | Nabob Bar in Seattle, Washington |
| Registration | Visit this link |
Description
Mike Halsey, Author and Microsoft MVP invites you to his first Seattle Geek Meet. On his first visit to the USA, the author of several books including "Beginning Windows 8", "Troubleshoot and Optimise Windows 8 Inside Out" and the best-selling "Windows 8: Out of the Box", Mike is arranging special giveaways for the night! The event is open to MVPs and geeks alike, and is strictly a social occasion where you can meet interesting people, make new friends, have some drinks and win prizes :)
SMB Nation 2013 Spring Conference
| NEW Dates | Friday through Sunday – May 3-5, 2013 |
| Location | Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, Washington |
| Hotel | MVPs/RDs will be responsible to pay for their own accommodations |
| Admission | No cost for MVPs or RDs (limited to 350 so don't delay!) $99/day for Microsoft employees |
| More Info | Visit this link or email |
| Registration | Visit this link. If you are an MVP or RD or Microsoft employee, please contact Jenny Hallmark for your code. |
Description
Spring is back! Our 7th Annual SMB Nation Spring Conference theme is V3, and all courses are designed to help you keep ahead of the game with the latest shift to virtualization. Our three Vs are:
- Virtual Desktop/VDI: Join us to master the engineering side of implementing virtual desktop solutions from Microsoft, Citrix and more, all in one intensive weekend!
- Virtualization: Meet with our panel of expert MVPs to learn server-side virtualization best practices
- Value: Attend the well-received Pocket MBA business lectures on how to make money as a virtualization expert, “Cloudie” and MSP. There’s true ROI here!
