And 2009's Exceptional DBA Awards winner is...

Josef Richberg, DBA at HarperCollins

The judges of the Exceptional DBA Awards and the SQL Server Central community were quickly proved right in their decision to choose Josef Richberg as the Exceptional DBA of 2009, when he subsequently showed extraordinary resilience and determination after being diagnosed with cancer. Read his post-awards interview on Simple-Talk to find out what winning the award means to him, and follow his SQLServerCentral blog to benefit from his database administration knowledge.

Aspiring to become an exceptional DBA yourself?

How to Become an Exceptional DBA (2nd edition)

The awards sponsor, Red Gate Software, offers you the second edition of Brad McGehee's "How to Become an Exceptional DBA" eBook for career guidance and a free trial of the SQL Backup Bundle so you too can find out how third-party tools can help you excel in your career. Download your free resources now.

In addition to community and employer recognition, the Exceptional DBA of 2009 also wins:

- 'Exceptional DBA of 2009' trophy to keep.

- A SQL Toolbelt^™ licence with 36 months' support and upgrades, worth $2,792.

- A full conference pass for the 2009 PASS Community Summit.

- Four nights' hotel accommodation and $300 towards travel expenses for the 2009 PASS Community Summit.

Each of the four remaining finalists wins: a certificate to recognize success and a SQL Toolbelt^™ licence with 36 months' support and upgrades.