vExperts 2021 in BeLux : a dynamic community sharing knowledge

In spring 2018, we (Kim, Stijn and Tom), decided that we wanted to launch initiatives to help double the number of vExperts in Belgium in 2 years time. This was our launch blog, released on June 5th 2018, just before VMUGBE that year, where we officially kicked off : https://vmusketeers.com/2018/06/05/vexpert-increasing-the-number-of-vexperts-in-belgium-and-luxembourg/

In summer 2020, together with the dynamically growing local vCommunity, we achieved our goal, with the number of vExperts being increased from 12 in 2018, to 29 in summer 2020. But that was no reason to stop, was it? ??

However, in spring 2020, Corona kicked in and caused the cancellation of dozens of events. Knowing that quite a few of the vExperts earn their vExpert stars by delivering presentations and live demoes during such events, we knew that this might have a significant effect on the program. So we tried to inspire and motivate existing and candidate vExperts to use alternative methods of interacting with the community. First of all, a lot of online vBeers sessions were organized, where we stayed in touch. We are Belgians after all, aren’t we? Next to that, more podcasts were released (check out the vSuperheroes podcast), as well as video material, like this session where Stijn and Tom are motivating the community to enroll for the first ever online vmugbe in October 2020 + attend the session about the vExpert program .

This week, the vExperts for 2021 have been announced, and we are very happy to confirm that, in despite of the difficult year 2020, there are now again not less than 29 vExperts in Belgium (and 3 in Luxemburg). This is an amazing result!

A lot of them have interesting blogposts, where they write about their experiences, demoes, lab environments, and many more. We would like to do them honor in highlighting the links to you, our readers.

We tried to categorize them in order to give you some guidance :

Powershell

This man, this legend, has rightfully earned his own category with his infamous ‘My Powershell Ramblings’ blog :

Luc Dekens                          lucd.info

Cloud Management and Automation 

Kristof Asaert                    vkasaert.wordpress.com/

Kim Bottu                          vmusketeers.com/

José Cavalheri                   vra4u.com   

Alain Geenrits                   bitstream.geenrits.net

Micha?l Van de gaer        vra4u.com   

Stijn Vermoesen               blog.stijnvermoesen.be

Datacenter Virtualization, Hybrid Cloud, SDN

Sandra Bertrand               https://mysticmarvin.eu

Gilles Chekroun               gilles.cloud

Niels Engelen                     foonet.be

Jens Herremans                cloud-duo.com

Stijn Maes                           https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/smaes/detail/recent-activity/shares/  

Harold Preyers                   blog.vconsultants.be

Sven Vanasch                     https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/svenvanasch/detail/recent-activity/shares/

Gert Van Gorp                   https://v-consult.be

Jurgen Van de Perre        https://www.vmware1.be

Maarten Van Driessen   brisk-it.net

Frederick Verduyct          the vSuperheroes podcast

Filip Verloy                          Filipv.net

Digital Workspace

Maarten Caus                    maartencaus.be

Timothy Dewolf                 vblog-dewolf.be/

Jens Herremans                cloud-duo.com

Jan Hosselaer                     janhos.be

Stijn Maes                           https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/smaes/detail/recent-activity/shares/  

Michiel Peene                    itpro.peene.be

Frederiek Vanhoornick   the vSuperheroes podcast

VMware vExpert Program, vCommunity and VMUGBE

Kim Bottu                          vmusketeers.com/

Stijn Depril                          VMusketeers.com

Erik Schils                           www.vmug.be

Tom Vallons                       https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/tomvallons/detail/recent-activity/shares/

If you want to connect with other vExperts worldwide, make sure to check the vExpert Directory here : https://vexpert.vmware.com/directory

We would like to end this blog with 3 calls to action :

1. Make sure to reach out to your fellow vExperts in the community (online, vBeers, VMUGBE, …) 

2. Motivate the people in your network, who are as passionate about virtualization technologies as you are, to start sharing information and prepare themselves to apply for vExpert in the next round

3. Lead by example, and share your knowledge and experiences in blogs, vlogs, podcasts, presentations, lightboard sessions, videos, …

Looking forward seeing you on one of the upcoming vCommunity gatherings!

Kim Bottu (vExpert PRO and vExpert 6*), Stijn Depril (vExpert PRO and vExpert 4*) and Tom Vallons (vExpert 4*)