Awards | Associations

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

I am honored to have been awarded and re-awarded a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional since 2006 in Consumer Security.

"The Microsoft MVP Award recognizes exceptional technical community leaders from around the world who voluntarily share their high quality, real world expertise with others. Microsoft MVPs are a highly select group of experts representing technology's best and brightest who share a deep commitment to community and a willingness to help others. Worldwide, there are over 100 million participants in technical communities; of these participants, there are fewer than 4,000 active Microsoft MVPs.

At Microsoft, we believe that technical communities enhance people's lives and the industry's success by providing users with the opportunity to have conversations about technology that catalyze change and innovation. Technical communities help users adopt new technologies more quickly and more effectively. Also, they help Microsoft product developers understand the "pulse" of our users and better meet our customers' needs. As the most active, expert participants in technical communities, MVPs are recognized and awarded for their inspirational commitment to technical communities.
In order to receive the Microsoft MVP Award, MVP nominees undergo a rigorous review process. Technical community members, current MVPs, and Microsoft personnel may nominate candidates. A panel that includes MVP team members and product group teams evaluate each nominee's technical expertise and voluntary community contributions for the past year. The panel considers the quality, quantity, and level of impact of the MVP nominee's contributions. Active MVPs receive the same level of scrutiny as other candidates each year."

Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

I have been a member of ASAP since its formation in 2004 and serve as Secretary, ASAP Admin Council.

"ASAP stands for the Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals™.

ASAP started out as a small band of security support sites under siege, but has expanded rapidly to include the "Best of the Best" the Internet Security Community has to offer.

ASAP is made up of internet security oriented website and forum owners, administrators, and staff, as well as individuals, companies, and various organizations also dedicated to providing security related support to computer end users.

ASAP is a joint effort dedicated to assisting end users with as seamless a process as possible by using methods such as cross-referrals, multiple product support services, easy information access, and cross referencing with verification.

ASAP's goals are:

• To ensure a high standard and quality of security support no matter where you seek help.
• To recommend in an equal and fair manner products available to keep your computer clean and safe, regardless of pricing.
• To ensure that end users are not affected by so called "product wars" and unfair marketing tactics, which have plagued several industries in recent years.

ASAP ensures that quality support and assistance will be freely available - knock one of the support networks out and another will pick it up immediately. In addition, pooled resources permit the ability to provide support redundancy, thereby adding an additional layer of protection against Internet based threats.

If you see the ASAP logo or banner used by a website, bulletin board, or individual, you can be assured that you're getting the best support and assistance possible. ASAP members have varying fields of expertise: some ASAP members provide assistance with anti-virus software, firewalls, computer hardware issues, security updates, phishing, etc., while others provide log analysis and specialized malware removal. The combined efforts of all ASAP members are dedicated to providing free security-related support to computer end users.

ASAP is a non-profit, volunteer network."

United Network of Instructors and Trained Eliminators

I am proud to be a member of UNITE, which provides a valuable venue for communication within the security community.

"UNITE stands for:

• Unified
• Network of
• Instructors and
• Trained
• Eliminators

If you are being helped by a member of UNITE, you can be assured that you are receiving help from a well trained malware fighter who has the support of hundreds of the industry's best experts.

UNITE members are people from all walks of life who have taken the time to graduate from at least one of the big online training institutions, or have comparable experience. Each institution runs completely independently, but each has one goal in mind: the safe and successful removal of malware from every victim's computer.

To become a member of UNITE, contact a current UNITE member for information."