BizTalk Integration Summit 2013 (USA) – BizTalk is Alive & Well!

Just enjoyed an awesome experience at the BizTalk Integration Summit in Seattle with my esteemed colleagues Bill Chesnut and Dean Robertson! Not only did I have the opportunity to meet most of the top BizTalk experts in the world for the first time (including Sandro Pereira, Tord Glad Nordalh, Steef-Jan Wiggers, Saravana Kumar, Richard Seroter, Kent Weare, Michael Stephenson, Stephen Thomas, Jon Fancey and others), but we were there to hear Scott Guthrie personally announce the General Availability of Windows Azure BizTalk Services (WABS) just minutes before the news went public:

We also saw some of the future plans for BizTalk Server and WABS, including regular 2-year release cycles for BTS and plans to add BPM functionality an enhanced adapter framework to WABS, as well as participating in deep-dive sessions into Service Bus and the EAI and EDI capabilities of WABS. Additionally there were some “real world” implementation stories by Sam Vanhoutte from Codit and others, showing how effective hybrid architectures can be for delivering affordable, scalable solutions. Finally, we had a opportunity to offer some input into the prioritisation of new features being added to BizTalk Services.

Also, Bill Chesnut and I had the opportunity to personally receive this beautiful award from BizTalk360 founder Saravana Kumar for helping to deliver their awesome product to some of our clients:

Of course, we did take some time out for some food as well… Here’s a photo by Dean Robertson of the TeamMexia contingent enjoying some delicious King Crab legs at the Fisherman’s Restaurant on Pier 57:

A big, huge thanks to my employer Mexia Consulting for sending me there!