Most of you know I’m pretty very well connected into Microsoft. Mostly because it’s been my playground for the last few decades. I’ve been an MVP since 2003, and Regional Directory since 2011, and my company is an Approved Vendor with Microsoft that gives me corpnet access. I’m on email list after list, and have access to too much NDA information. I’m grateful to be considered a trusted resource from Corporate Vice Presidents, to Product Managers, to Regional Offices etc.

Ya, ya, so what’s the point?

Well, I was thinking …. with all the access I have into Microsoft, who are the most helpful people (to me)? It turns out the same group of folks that are out in the field working with you (named “The Audience”) are the same group of folks that I find most helpful. Their official title is Evangelist, but you can think of them as the kick ass Concierge you met at the last 5 star resort you saw on TV. You know the staff member that knows everyone, and will stop at no end to find you that special over night dry cleaner? That role … is the role that Evangelist play at Microsoft as the inward facing representatives to Microsoft.

So with all the over 100,000 people employed at Microsoft, if you don’t know your Developer Evangelist for Microsoft that serves your area and expertise, you should. Ask someone, find them, hunt them down, email them, Tweet them, Facebook friend them, and get to know them on a first name basis.

In no particular order, these are the four most helpful people I know in Microsoft. If you ask me a (Microsoft) question that I don’t know, 90% of the time, one of these folks is going to be my go-to email.

Call it smoke, call it gratitude, call it whatever you want. I call it public thank you.

So …

• Daniel Egan ( [email protected] )
• Michael Palermo ( [email protected] )
• Bruno Terkaly ( [email protected] )
• Ricardo Villalobos ( [email protected] )

Thank you! You all make my life easier, and are always willing to research, help, introduce, correct, and guide me towards the solutions I’m looking for.