Rob Volk

Rob Volk is a SQL Server DBA in the Metro Atlanta area since 2001. An MCSE, he also moderates and answers the forums on SQLTeam.com. While an old-time cranky DBA, he no longer considers "business intelligence" an oxymoron or "the cloud" as merely atmospheric moisture, and is delightedly dipping his toes into both of these new oceans, and loves to do things in new and and unusual ways.

Sessions for 2026

Creative GitHub Strategies for the Modern Database Professional

Unlock GitHub's hidden potential with Amy Abel and Rob Volk. Move beyond version control and turn the platform into a creative workspace. Learn to handle operational oddities and manage database tasks in ways you never imagined.

DBA Horror Stories and Practical Advice for Surviving Your Worst Day

Hear real production horror stories from Ben Miller, Kellyn Gorman, Rob Volk, and Eric Peterson. Learn to identify red flags and build a good defensive strategy. You may not experience the same incident, but one day, you will recognize the moment.

DeepSQL: How To Discover SQL Server Internals

If you've wondered how SQL Server does what it does, how it works on the inside, and how to figure out where to look for these things, this session will open the door to finding all the treasure under the SQL!

Previous Sessions

Thats So Metadata: Discover Your Database From the Inside

Learn about the metadata features in SQL Server that describe your database and how they can make documentation, tuning, and maintenance much easier.

Tame Your Unruly Data...With Constraints!

Is your data badly behaved and embarrassing you? Are you tired of cleaning up its messes? Constraints can help you straighten out your wayward data and put it on the right path before it gets into too much trouble.

Revenge: The SQL!

Are you a frustrated DBA? Ready to snap? Before you do, come see Revenge: The SQL! and learn a kinder, gentler form of vengeance.

Lego Sets: Relational Building Blocks

Introductory Relational Theory Using Lego Bricks to Model Data and Set Operations