Now an official Microsoft Springboard Technical Expert Panel (STEP) member - and in a new MVP group - Windows Systems and Performance

I was out of town for most of February (3 out of 4 weeks in Seattle, WA or Redmond, WA) with little down time to work on my outside-of-work projects.

On a somewhat related note, I'm now an official Microsoft Springboard Technical Expert Panel (STEP) member. Over 200 people applied, so I'm honored to be one of the chosen. It greatly increases my chances of presenting at TechEd this year too.

I have switched Microsoft MVP groups, due to a creation of a brand new MVP group. I had been originally a "Windows Shell/User" MVP way back when, which was later renamed to "Windows Desktop Experience". Historically, I tend to be all over the map with the product groups and products I focus on. This has resulted in nominations/secondary competencies of Forefront and Office Communications Server.

With that said, I was invited to join the Windows Systems and Performance group, which is focused on my favorite aspect of Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 - Performance! I'll have some good articles on XPerf coming up pretty soon. We're a much smaller group (around 8 of us) compared to the Desktop Experience group.

My primary job focus is more unified communications (Exchange and Office Communications Server) related lately, so you will most likely see more content in those areas in the upcoming months, to go along with the STEP, Windows Systems and Performance and Windows 7 content.