Bonnie Bauder is a Technology Engineer for the South Dakota State Government.
What is your life like outside of VMUG and VMware?
I have a 10 year old daughter and a 9 year old son that keep us pretty busy most of the year with piano, hockey, soccer, and football. I also love traveling, camping, reading, and cooking.
Tell us a little about your background with VMware.
I’ve been in IT for 20 years, starting in desktop support. When I started in my current position 10 years ago, I was introduced to virtualization. We had five virtual servers running on Microsoft Virtual Server. The concept of virtualization was fascinating to me, and I was tasked with finding the best product to use. I ran a comparison of VMware, Hyper-V, and XenServer and there was no doubt that VMware was the clear leader. Like most customers, we started the journey with server consolidation, and now own the suite of products that comprise our private cloud.
How did you get involved in VMUG?
I first heard about VMUG through one of our resellers who was sponsoring a meeting in Minnesota. I did a bit of research and thought it would be a great opportunity to connect with other customers, so I started the South Dakota VMUG chapter in 2011. The networking experience was amazing, and I wanted to get involved any way I could, so I volunteered to be on committees and eventually was asked to be on the board.
Why is VMUG Important to You? How has VMUG helped you to Accelerate Your Success?
The VMUG community has helped me greatly in my career. I have met some wonderful people who are always willing to help when I have questions or give me their opinion on a product we are researching. It has also helped me to develop leadership skills that have gotten me to the position I am in.
What do you hope to achieve as a VMUG Board Member?
My goal as a board member is to foster the community spirit that drew me to VMUG in the first place. I want to help create a structure that allows leaders to be engaged and successful so they can continue to grow the member base and expand the knowledge sharing.
What advice would you give to VMUG members?
Get involved! Whether it be asking a question at your local meeting, leading a local chapter, volunteering on a committee, or becoming a member of the board, it is the members that make VMUG such a great community to be a part of!
How should other VMUG members contact you?
- Find me at a VMUG Event!
- Email me: [email protected]
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Twitter: @bonniebauder
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