ACE DIrector Duties / Fun

I am very proud of being an ACE Director but sometimes I wonder if we look to others like an elitist group of speakers just having fun. So I thought I would share my last few weeks as an ACE Director during a couple of user group conferences, ASCEND and KSCOPE. 

The ACE program, in my words, is an advocate program run by Oracle recognising those with Oracle knowledge that share it.

The official description - "It recognizes, rewards, and promotes technical experts and community leaders for their amazing contributions to the Oracle community".

There are currently three levels which recognise the varying contributions to the community, which can be blogging (technical), Articles, webinars and presentations, books etc. ACEs are also recognised for their contributions creating the community, user group leaders etc. Your contribution is reviewed each year. 

I am an ACE Director, the top level which requires a constant flow of sharing, it cannot be crammed in to get over the requirements line. The number of ACE Directors is just under 100 but varies as people come and go, often by going to work for Oracle itself. You can see who is in the program here.

One benefit at ACE Director is some funding towards attending events. There are strict rules and it doesn't cover all the costs but much appreciated. My attendance at ASCEND was partially funded by the program. They also sponsored some at KSCOPE but as I am on the board and they rightly exclude sponsorship for board members.

At most conferences there is an ACE dinner, for all ACES, and at ASCEND we left the resort and a big thanks to Jen Nicholson who runs the program for Oracle and Connor McDonald who is responsible for the group photos on this post.

AT KSCOPE we stayed on site, and had a great evening.

Sometimes we also have ACE Adventures, a fun outing where there are a number of ACEs attending. At ASCEND conference our ACE Adventure was to the Kennedy Space Centre. I was hoping it would be more than a theme park and didn't really know what to expect, and I was surprised at how interesting I found it. The area I enjoyed most was the area remembering astronauts who have died. For each one there was a display of things important to them, not just their space program credentials. Very human.

Then we did the Shuttle Launch Simulator, and I didn't want to do it. I hate rides, but with gritted teeth I got into it. It was pointed out to me that there were children under 10 on it so it couldn't be too bad, and that made me realise i was being daft. Actually it wasn't too bad, a bit like a flight in economy with a child kicking the back of your seat the entire time!

These social events are fun, but they are also a chance to discus what we are up to and innovation in Oracle technology dinners. There is no fluff, these are experts, I can ask people questions in other areas without feeling stupid and they ask me application questions.

When the event also has Oracle Product Managers, the ACE Program try to arrange an ACE only briefing, no marketing, deep technical and open questions. KSCOPE which attracts more Product Managers than any other conference is an obvious place to have these.

Where possible there is an ACE session at events, the opportunity to encourage new people to join the program. I wasn't officially on the panel at ASCEND but attended to support and found myself upfront sharing my thoughts. Jen Nicholson who runs the program, attended both events so was able to talk to so many people who are interested.

At KSCOPE there was an Oracle area in the exhibition hall and included an ACE lounge where people could come and chat to ACES on duty about the program and see how they can get involved. I had several conversations with people who want to support the community this way. One gentleman took his photograph at an ACE poster which he says he will share when he reaches his ambition and gets into the program, it is seen as valuable. ACEs are expected to recruit others, look out for those they think are contributing and encourage them to look at applying. ODTUG has recently launched our ACE Alliance to support those wanting to join, but also help those who want to move through the levels. 

Two ACE members who have benefiting from ODTUG are Sarah Dow and Lydia Maksoud and here they are celebrating their recent promotion to ACE Pro at the KSCOPE special event.

Obviously I need to keep up the contributions, the speaking which I love, so in between the fun, I had many presentations to deliver and at KSCOPE with my other board members busy behind the scenes. No rest for the wicked!

If you have any questions on the program, look at the information available and feel free to reach out.