About the authors

Devin Knight a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and the Training Director at Pragmatic Works. At Pragmatic Works, Devin determines which courses are created, delivered, and updated for customers, including 10+ Power BI courses. This is the seventh SQL Server and Business Intelligence book that he has authored. Devin often speaks at conferences such as PASS Summit, PASS Business Analytics Conference, SQL Saturdays, and Code Camps. He is also a contributing member to several PASS Virtual Chapters. Making his home in Jacksonville, FL, Devin is the Vice President of the local Power BI User Group and SQL Server User Group (JSSUG). His personal blog can be found at Devin Knight's website.

I must give thanks to God; without God in my life, I would not be as blessed as I am daily. Thanks for the amazing team of authors: Brian, Mitchell, and Manuel have put in time after hours away from their families to bring this great book together. To my wife, Erin, and three children, Collin, Justin, and Lana, who were all patient during nights that daddy had to spend writing. Finally, I would like to thank Dirk Kalinowski, the best chess boxing coach a rising star like myself could ask for. I know this will be the year that we earn the heavyweight world champion title.

Brian Knight is the owner and founder of Pragmatic Works, and is a serial entrepreneur, having also started up other companies. Brian is a contributing columnist at several technical magazines. He is the author of 16 technical books. Brian has spoken at conferences such as PASS Summit, SQL Connections, TechEd, SQLSaturdays, and Code Camps. He has received a number of awards from the State of Florida, from both the governor and press, including the Business Ambassador Award (governor) and Top CEO (Jacksonville Magazine). His blog can be found at Pragmatic Works website.

Thanks to everyone who made this book possible. As always, I owe a huge debt to my wife, Jenn, for putting up with my late nights, and to my children, Colton, Liam, Camille, and John, for being so patient with their tired dad who has always overextended himself. Finally, I would like to thank Shawn Trautman, my line dancing instructor. This will be the year that we complete the United Country Western Dance Council's goal of making line dancing a competitive sport worldwide.

Mitchell Pearson has worked for Pragmatic Works for six years as a Business Intelligence Consultant and Training Content manager. Mitchell has experience developing enterprise level BI Solutions using the full suite of products offered by Microsoft (SSRS, SSIS, SSAS, and Power BI). Mitchell is very active in the community presenting at local user groups, SQL Saturday events, PASS virtual chapters and giving free webinars for Pragmatic Works. Mitchell can also be found blogging at Mitchellsql website. Mitchell is also the president of the local Power BI User Group in Jacksonville, Florida. In his spare time Mitchell spends his time with his wife and three kids. For fun Mitchell enjoys playing table top games with friends.

I would like to thank God for the gifts and opportunities afforded me and most of all for sending his son Jesus Christ. I would like to thank my wife and children for their patience and support as I worked on this book. I would also like to thank Brian Knight for the opportunity to learn and grow in the field of Business Intelligence. Finally, I would like to thank Anthony Martin, Dustin Ryan, Bradley Schacht, Devin Knight, Jorge Segarra, and Bradley Ball, each one of these individuals have provided guidance and mentoring through the years and have had a profound impact on my career.

Manuel Quintana is a Training Content Manager at Pragmatic Works. Previously, he was a senior manager working in the hotel industry. He joined the Pragmatic Works team in 2014 with no knowledge in the Business Intelligence space, but now speaks at SQL Saturdays and SQL Server User Groups locally and virtually. He also teaches various BI technologies to many different Fortune 500 companies on behalf of Pragmatic Works. Since 2014, he has called Jacksonville home and before that Orlando, but he was born on the island of Puerto Rico and loves to go back and visit his family. When he isn't working on creating new content for Pragmatic Works, you can probably find him playing board games or watching competitive soccer matches.

Thank you to all my family and friends who support me in all of my endeavors. Special praise must be given to my wife for supporting me during late hours working and some weekends being dedicated to writing this book, without her I wouldn't be the person I am proud of being today. Also, I must say thank you to all my coworkers at Pragmatic Works; each one of them has mentored me in one way or another, and all my success can be traced back to them. I hope to make everyone mentioned here proud of what I have done and what I will achieve.

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