About the awards

"Our purpose behind these awards, as a service to the SQL Server DBA community from Red Gate Software, is to promote understanding and recognition of achievements in the SQL Server DBA profession."
Claire Brooking, DBA tools Brand Manager, Red Gate Software

How to enter

The Exceptional DBA awards are open to all those currently employed as a SQL Server database administrator. Entrants must be 18 years old or over.
No purchase is necessary to be eligible to enter.
Entrants can nominate themselves or they can be nominated by a peer. All entries must be submitted by completing the nomination form online and agreeing to the terms and conditions set out on this page.
Entries must be received by Friday, July 11, 2008 at 00:00 hours (GMT). The awards organizers and the judges accept no responsibility for corrupted or delayed entries.
Employees of Red Gate, SQL Server Central and their family members are not eligible to participate in the awards.
Entries are limited to one per person. Entries for multiple employees from the same company are accepted, but only one entrant from each company (where multiple entries are submitted) can be selected as a finalist.
If the entrant has been nominated by a peer, it is the nominator's responsibility to ensure that the nominee is happy to take part and agrees to the terms and conditions set out on this page for the awards. Red Gate Software accepts no responsibility or liability for disputes that may arise between the nominator and nominee as a result of nominations or entering the awards.

Important dates

Deadline for nominations: Friday, July 11, 2008 at 00:00 hours (GMT).
Finalists announced to SQL Server Central community for voting: Monday, September 1, 2008.
Deadline for votes for winner: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 11:00 hours (GMT).
Winner announced: week commencing September 15, 2008.
Awards ceremony: SQL Server Central Party at the PASS Community Summit, November 2008, Seattle, USA.

Judging the awards

By participating in the awards, entrants, nominators and nominees agree to the terms and conditions set out on this page. Entrants, nominators and nominees also agree to accept the judges' decisions with regards to the finalists as final.
If the finalists selected by the judges after Friday, July 11, 2008 at 00:00 hours (GMT) are unable to be contacted after five days of being selected as finalists, a right is reserved to the judges to select alternative finalists. It is the responsibility of the entrant, nominator and/or nominee to provide correct and up-to-date contact details.
Every entry is required to include a name, telephone number and email address. The judges may use these contact details for further questions about the entrant and nominee at the point of deciding whether to put the entrant forward as a finalist.
Entrants, nominators or nominees may be contacted by the judges to ask for examples of work, such as a sample of server logs.
Five finalists will be submitted to the SQL Server Central community for a final vote to select the winner. The judges reserve the right to hold a tie-break in the event of a draw from the results of the community's voting.

Other terms and conditions

The judges reserve the right to withdraw and discount nominations for the awards if the nominations are deemed to be fraudulent. Neither the judges, nor the sponsors, are obliged to provide reasons for their judgments, or enter into any correspondence with the entrants or nominators.

The winner will receive a full conference pass for the PASS Community Summit 2008 in Seattle. This pass will entitle the winner to the following, as set out by the PASS association:

Welcome Reception - Nov.18

Exhibitor Reception: Nov. 19

Evening Event (TBA): Nov. 20

Continental Breakfast; Coffee Breaks; Lunch - Nov.19 - Nov. 21

General Program Sessions - Nov.19 - Nov. 21

Online Access to all Conference Recordings

Eligibility to purchase the $95 DVD of Conference Proceedings

In addition, the winner will receive four nights (November 17, 18, 19, and 20) of hotel accommodation at The Westin Seattle and $300 to be used towards travel expenses for the PASS conference. The winner is liable for paying for any meals, mini bar or extra charges incurred during the stay. Please note the sponsor organization reserves the right to select an alternative hotel at an equivalent value in Seattle, should The Westin Seattle be unavailable for any reason. The finalists will be notified of any changes and the website will be updated. A license key for a SQL Toolbelt with 36 months' support and upgrades will also be sent to the winner. The awards ceremony will take place during the SQL Server Central party at PASS, where a trophy will be offered to the winner to keep. No cash alternative for any of the prizes will be offered.

In the event that the winner is unable to attend the conference and the prize ceremony, the trophy will be posted to the winner. The winner's conference pass, hotel accommodation and $300 for travel expenses will be offered to the finalist who received the second highest number of votes.
The four finalists not selected to be the winner will each receive a license key for a SQL Toolbelt with 36 months' support and upgrades and a certificate to recognize their achievement.
It is the nominee's sole responsibility to ensure that their nominations for the awards do not violate any law and also do not violate any contract made between the nominee and his or her employer. Red Gate Software and SQL Server Central accept no liability or responsibility for disputes that may arise as a result of a nomination for the awards. If any such disputes arise, Red Gate Software reserves the right to withdraw prizes for the nomination(s) affected and to select an alternative winner for those prizes.

Use of entrants' and nominees' data

In submitting a nomination, you agree to allow a judge to contact you and/or the nominee by telephone or email to ask more detailed questions about the nomination.
You also agree to allow your name and/or the nominee's name to be used in all online and print advertising and press releases related to the Exceptional DBA awards. Please note that contact details of the nominee and entrant will not be published. In addition, you agree to allow a member of the marketing department at Red Gate Software to contact you by telephone or email in case of potential press releases, case studies or testimonials that are relevant to the Exceptional DBA awards.
Entrants' and nominators' names, contact details and responses collected in the nominations will not be passed to third parties.

Sponsor organizations

The Exceptional DBA of the Year awards are hosted by SQL Server Central and sponsored by Red Gate Software. The decisions of the judges in the contest will not be influenced by entrants' affiliations to or connections with Red Gate Software or its products. Any feedback or comments about the awards should consider that the awards are intended to promote understanding and recognition of achievement in the DBA community.
Any questions about the awards can be directed to Claire Brooking at Red Gate Software, St. John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, United Kingdom.