Current Board (2023)

Board Chair
Christopher Kramer
Christopher is a Principal DBA at Digi-Key Electronics focusing on engineering and administration of our Snowflake, SQL Server, MongoDB, and SingleStore (MemSQL) on-premises and cloud-based database environments. This includes server maintenance, developer and end user support, database backups, query tuning, and troubleshooting software and hardware problems. He’s constantly learning new technological changes in the data platform space.
Director of Events (SQLSaturday)
George Bryant
George has decades of experience in the Data and technology industry and is an active member of the community across the US and Europe. In recent years George has focused on and worked primarily in the Azure cloud in collaboration with Microsoft and their partners, specializing in architecture, data engineering and Power BI.


Treasurer / Secretary
Mark T. Mazzitello
Mark is a Sr. Database Engineer at Virtual Radiologic (“vRad”), a 24×7 high-volume medical imaging practice with over 120 SQL Server instances, where he does administration and server performance DBA tasks as well as coding in T-SQL, PowerShell, and C#. Mark has a BS degree in Computer Science and a MS in Software Engineering, with a focus on relational data modeling.
Director of Communications
Kristyna Hughes
Kristyna Hughes is a senior data & analytics consultant at 3Cloud. My experience includes implementing and managing enterprise-level Power BI instance, training teams on reporting best practices, and building templates for scalable analytics.


Director of Technology
Riley Major
Riley Major is an Enterprise Architect based in the Twin Cities, MN metro area who enjoys collaborating with business leaders to design and build technical solutions. He’s been programming and designing databases since he was a kid and doing so professionally for 20 years. He has a special place in his heart for T-SQL in SQL Server and loves to share that enthusiasm.
Director of Program Development
Eric Zierdt
Eric has been working with Databases for over 20 years in various roles, currently serving as a Database Architect. Eric has been a member of PASSMN since 2009 and has served on the board of directors for several years. Eric enjoys speaking at SQLSaturdays in the region and sharing his knowledge with others.


Director of Corporate Development (Sponsors)
Sarita Garg
Sarita has been working 18+ years with SQL Server and SQL Server Data Warehouse. Experienced in MPP architecture working with Microsoft PDW/APS Data Warehouse, SQL Server, and AWS. Providing Solution, Design, & Delivery of infrastructure built to migrate, upgrade, and integrate legacy and Merger & Acquisition systems into private and public cloud. Passionate about learning, implementing new and emerging technologies, promoting education and women in technology.
Past Board Members
Year | Chair | Speakers | Treasurer | Sponsors | Tech | Events | Communications |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Chris Kramer | Imran Burki | Mark Mazzitello | Kristyna Hughes | Riley Major | Eric Zierdt | Sarita Garg |
2021 | Chris Kramer | Imran Burki | Mark Mazzitello | Eric Zierdt | Riley Major | Sarita Garg | |
2020 | Chris Kramer | Imran Burki | Mark Mazzitello | Eric Zierdt | Riley Major | Andrew Vahey | Sarita Garg |
2019 | Eric Zierdt | Joshuha Owen | Sarita Garg | Chris Kramer | Riley Major | Dan English | |
2018 | Riley Major | (Vacant) | Joshuha Owen | Chris Kramer | Dan English | Cecil Spivey | |
2017 | Jim Dorame | Jim Horn | Cecil Spivey | Chris Kramer | Eric Zierdt | Riley Major | |
2016 | Paul Timmerman | Jim Dorame | Cecil Spivey | Eric Zierdt | Riley Major | Jim Horn | |
2015 | Rick Krueger | Dave Valentine | Paul Timmerman | Jim Dorame | Riley Major | Jennifer Classen | |
2014 | Mike Donnelly | Tracy McKibben | Will Weber | Jennifer Classen | Shirley Morillo | Rick Krueger | |
2013 | Paul Timmerman | Mike Donnelly | Joshuha Owen | Will Weber | Shirley Morillo | Bill Preachuk | |
2012 | Steve Hughes | Tim Plas | Joshuha Owen | Bill Preachuk | Andy Lohan | Paul Timmerman |
Officer Role Details
Each board member is elected to a two year term. During that term, the board member typically assumes one or more of our officer roles.
Board Chair (President)
- The Chair will preside over the meetings of the Executive Board.
- Responsible for the overall planning of the organization; organizes, directs, oversees and evaluates performance to strategic plan and objectives.
- Responsible for leadership succession planning, including nominations, the election process, and the smooth transition of the Executive Board.
- Assigns ad hoc responsibilities to members of the Executive Board and ensures that position responsibilities and assigned duties are carried out on a timely basis. The Board Chair shall perform duties of other elected Officers in the event of their absence or inability to complete their duties.
Secretary
- The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee.
- The Secretary shall file any document required by any statute, federal or state, in collaboration with the organization’s legal counsel.
Director of Finance / Treasurer
- The Treasurer shall have care and custody of monies belonging to Corporation and shall be responsible for such monies or securities of the organization.
- The Treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, all financial records belonging to Corporation.
- The Treasurer shall prepare (or cause to prepare) a proposed annual budget as well as present the budget and a report of the financial condition of the Corporation to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting, and will, from time to time, make such other financial reports to the Board of Directors as it may require.
- The Treasurer shall also prepare (or cause to prepare) the annual Form 990, annual audit (if required), and other annual financial reports.
Director of Program Development (Speakers)
- The Director of Program Development shall provide strategic leadership in program development, which offers personal and professional development to members and prospective members.
- Schedules and coordinate presentations and presenters for the regular meetings.
- Coordinates with the Executive Board to determine the content of future meetings.
- Works with the Director of Membership to determine specific expertise from within the chapter or group, identify potential external presenters, and identify vendors for presentations.
- Identifys potential social-gathering events outside the recurring monthly meetings. Organize catering of the monthly meetings.
Director of Corporate Development (Sponsors)
- The Director of Corporate Development communicates with local dealers and vendors on special offers and support of the group with its various programs and projects.
- Serves as the liaison between the corporation and Microsoft Data Platform vendors on the strategy and execution of outreach programs.
- Schedules and coordinates sponsorship for regular meetings and special events hosted by the corporation.
Director of Technology
- The Director of Technology provides strategic direction for the PASSMN Web site (redesign; enhancements, functionality; new product development; relationship building with third parties).
- Supports strategy and implementation of board programs via IT infrastructure.
- Interfaces with other board members to identify Web needs specific to their areas; facilitates delivery of those needs based on priority and budget.
- Monitors critical dates and ensures appropriate content gets posted/updated on time. Reviews Web site regularly; monitors to see if new information is being posted (makes sure the Web site stays “fresh”).
- Periodically checks functionality (page loading, navigation, and valid links). Checks Web statistics.
- Supports special projects as determined and assigned by the board of directors.
Director of Events (SQLSaturday)
- The Director of Events is responsible for planning and executing all facets of the annual SQLSaturday event. SQLSaturdays are free, one day training events open to all Microsoft Data Professionals. The Minnesota event brings together over 400 database professionals from not only Minnesota and the upper Midwest, but throughout the country.
- The Director of Events sets the budget for the event and works with the Executive Board to ensure that funds will be available to meet the budget needs.
- The Director of Events works with the Executive Board to recruit volunteers to run the event and speakers to speak at the event.
Director of Membership and Communications
- The Director of Membership and Communications shall be responsible for the corporation’s social media presence, as well as communications to the voting membership of meeting details and special communications as directed by the Executive Board.
- The Director of Membership and Communications shall be responsible for maintaining lists of Members and their status.
- The Director of Communications is responsible for recruiting new members, retaining existing members, and organizing regular industry networking events/opportunities.