MVP Profile - Marco Shaw

MarcoShaw Marco is currently an IT system analyst for one of Canada's leading telecommunications companies.  He has been working in the IT industry for over 10 years.  He recently received a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award for his contributions to the Windows PowerShell community.  His personal blog is at https://marcoshaw.blogspot.com, where he covers all kinds of PowerShell related topics.  He is also the Assistant Community Director of the new PowerShell Community site at https://www.powershellcommunity.org.

1. What does being an MVP mean to you?
Being recognized by others as having a solid background of knowledge and experience with a particular Microsoft product.

2. If you could ask Steve Ballmer one question about Microsoft, what would it be?
When Microsoft employees provide an exceptional level of support to the community, what’s the best way to make sure their manager is aware, and have the feedback documented?

3. What do you think the best software ever written was?
I’m particularly fond of PowerShell for obvious reasons.  PowerShell is relatively new and being integrated more and more into Microsoft’s server product line.  Now, PowerShell is part of Microsoft’s Common Engineering Criteria 2009 which provides guidelines for all of Microsoft’s server product line, so we should be seeing more and more PowerShell.

4. If you were the manager of Admin Frameworks, what would you change?
Set a standard for how Windows PowerShell should be supported or integrated into the Microsoft server product line.

5. What are the best features/improvements of Admin Frameworks?
I think the openness of the APIs for this category is great for developers.  Developers can easily extend Windows PowerShell, and also Microsoft Management Console 3.0.

6. What was the last book you read?
Cover to cover?  That would be “Windows PowerShell for Absolute Beginners”.  Although basic, I like to try to read everything out there related to PowerShell to be able to provide my opinion on good books especially for beginners.

7. What music CD do you recommend?
Justin Timberlake’s latest from 2007.

8. What makes you a great MVP?
Demonstrating to others, that I will try to go the extra mile to help them answer a question or solve a problem.  In some cases, I’ll even try to load another software program or setup a new virtual machine to try to help others.

9. What is in your computer bag?
My laptop, a TechNet magazine, and my notebook to write down any MVP related things I might be up to.

10. What is the best thing that has happened since you have become an MVP?
Opportunities to write for MS Press and TechNet magazine.

11. What is your motto?
One should never feel stupid when asking a question.  Unless it was just answered, and one wasn’t paying attention.

12. Who is your hero?
My kids who don’t seem to be afraid of anything and are more than willing to leap over tall buildings, not considering how the landing might be…

13. What does success mean to you?
Helping others, like they’ve helped me, to do things better, more efficiently.