MVP Profile - Mitch Tulloch

I know Mitch personally as he was a HUGE help when I started writing.  He is a great mentor, a great friend and a great MVP.  I am glad to have him as the first MVP we are highlighting for 2008.  Chances are you have one of his books on your bookshelf and it is great to see a Canadian IT Pro having such success.

Mitch Tulloch is a well-known industry expert in Windows administration, networking and security. Mitch was lead author for the Windows Vista Resource Kit from Microsoft Press. He is also the author of Introducing Windows Server 2008, the Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking, and the Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security (all three titles from Microsoft Press); IIS 6 Administration (from Osborne/McGraw-Hill); and Windows Server Hacks (from O'Reilly Media). His most recent writing project was acting as Technical Project Lead for the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Resource Kit from Microsoft Press.

Mitch has published almost three hundred articles on the topics of Windows administration, networking, and security on WindowsNetworking.com, WindowsDevCenter.com and other IT pro websites. Mitch also writes a weekly editorial for ITWorld's "Windows in the Enterprise" newsletter and has written articles for numerous other sites including WindowsSecurity.com, the Windows XP Expert Zone, and the Windows Vista Community Site on Microsoft.com. Mitch has also written feature articles for industry magazines such as NetworkWorld, BizTech Magazine, and MCP Magazine, and his articles have been widely syndicated on different sites ranging from ComputerWorld to CNN.

Mitch's other writing activities have included writing technical articles and product roadmaps for Microsoft TechNet; contributing chapters to several popular books on Windows administration written by other authors; and managing online communities where IT professionals meet to share their expertise. Mitch is also a Professor at Jones International University (JIU) where he has developed and taught graduate-level courses in Information Security Management (ISM) for their Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program.

Mitch is involved in his local IT pro user group community in Winnipeg, Canada, and has presented several times on different topics. He frequently gets questions via email from IT pros and end users from around the world and he tries to answer them as he is able. He often publishes his answers as tips on WindowsNetworking.com and ITWorld.com so more can benefit from his expertise.

Before starting his own business in 1998, Mitch worked as a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for Productivity Point. Mitch is currently based in Winnipeg, Canada and in his free time he likes to take walks, watch Bruce Willis movies, and read books by Donald Trump. For more information about Mitch, see his website www.mtit.com. You can also contact him at info@mtit.com with your technical questions about Microsoft platforms and products.

What does being an MVP mean to you?

It’s a great honor and it gives me the chance to tell others what a terrific company Microsoft is—their motto “Our Passion, Your Potential” is inspiring and it truly reflects the great people who work there.

If you could ask Steve Ballmer one question about Microsoft, what would it be?

I’d ask “Hey Steve, how about doing lunch together sometime?”

What do you think the best software ever written was?

Microsoft Windows (all versions) since it’s changed the way our world operates by putting enormous computing power in the hands of individuals. I mean, I can still remember mainframe days as a student when I had to carry a box of punch cards down to the University to run my Fortran programs on the mainframe…

If you were the manager of Windows Server System, what would you change?

Nothing, it’s a great suite of products.

What are the best features/improvements of Windows Server System?

Exchange Server 2007 is awesome—businesses just can’t get enough of it.

What was the last book you read?

Let me check…it was “The Real Deal” by Sandy Weill who created Citigroup. Great book and my second time reading it.

What music CD do you recommend?

Strawberry Moon by Grover Washington, Jr.—one of his best.

What makes you a great MVP?

I like to help people. I’m also friendly and cheerful—something every MVP should strive to be in their interactions with the user community.

What is in your computer bag?

My Motion Computing LE1600 Tablet PC and accessories—great machine and it boosts my productivity tremendously.

What is the best thing that has happened since you have become an MVP?

Having the opportunity to help more people with their technical problems. Becoming an MVP has given me more visibility, and there isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t get several people contacting me out of the blue with their problems.

What is your motto?

Same as Microsoft’s i.e. “Our Passion, Your Potential.” Great motto to build a business around.

Who is your hero?

Donald Trump, Sandy Weill, Steve Ballmer—anyone who has built something big that lasts and benefits others.

What does success mean to you?

Not having to worry about paying tomorrow’s bills!