USENIX Community

Over the years, I've had many opportunities to work with the USENIX organization and its members. As an editor for Sys Admin magazine, I attended some of the LISA events, which our publication helped sponsor. Several of our former Sys Admin authors are familiar faces at USENIX events, including Peter Baer Galvin and Amy Rich.

Later, when I moved to Linux New Media and its publications, including Linux Pro Magazine and Admin magazine, my relationship with the USENIX group grew. Linux New Media also sponsors USENIX events, and I got to attend several more LISA conferences over the years.

In short, I'm a big fan of the USENIX organization and look forward to attending LISA every year.

Last month, the stars aligned and USENIX offered me the community manager position, which I immediately accepted. My personal values and goals align well with what I've experienced at LISA events and with the USENIX community over the years:

• Practical: The USENIX community is a practical lot, and LISA offers an ideal combination of learning, networking, and fun. I've always been able to justify attending LISA, despite my busy work and personal schedule. Even in years when I needed to cut back on travel, LISA stayed on my list of 'must attend' events. When it comes to events, I think of LISA like comfort food — other events might be flashier, but I always leave LISA satisfied, planning to go back for more learning, networking, and fun the next year.
• Reliable: Anyone who has attended a USENIX event like LISA knows that the caliber of speakers and sessions is consistently top-notch. If you're an Admin — or doing any systems administration, for that matter — LISA speakers and attendees are the people who you'll want to meet and learn from.
• Diverse: A nice mix of people attends USENIX events. USENIX has a written policy on discrimination and sexual harassment. Expect to feel welcome at any USENIX event, and if you don't, please let us know.

I'm excited to be a part of the USENIX community, and I'm already making my plans for attending LISA'11 next month in Boston. Let me know if this will be your first LISA conference, or drop me a note if you have suggestions for USENIX, its events, and the USENIX community.

See you in December!