vSpecialist is not an accreditation, certification, award, recognition program or anything like that.
vSpecialist was an EMC job title. The title came up when EMC Technical Pre-Sales realized that, in general, their people could speak very well to storage and, in particular, to the EMC product line, but, while many could speak about VMware, most didn't have the experience and/or training to speak to it in technical depth.
Recognizing a need to fill this "expertise gap" EMC asked Chad Sakac to put together a team. Chad created the vSpecialst team. They acted as subject-matter experts on VMware and vSpecialists were assigned to particular sales team to provide specialized technical pre-sales support.
"vSpecialist" does not equal "vExpert" (although several of the vSpecialists are vExperts...). vSpecialist is an EMC job title that only part. vExpert is a VMware program for recognizing members of the VMware community for their contributions during the previous year. There is no requirement that a vExpert be a VMware employee. For more details on the vExpert program read VMware's page on the program here on their online community.
A vSpecialist Story
When the team first formed, there were only a few of them (the overall team later grew to over 200 worldwide). With the first trade shows the team would be attending coming up, they decided they wanted a way to stand out and be recognized - make the vSpecialists easy to find so folks knew who at EMC World could answer their VMware questions. The team designed a shirt that became known as the "vSpecialist Jersey".
The look of the jersey was designed after the look of the uniforms that NASCAR pit crews wear. The vSpecialist team worked like those pit crews, coming together to accomplish great things as a team in sudden bursts of energy, getting a lot done in short periods of time.
The black and blue jerseys really stood out at conferences and became a real "badge of honor" for the vSpecialists who still wear them with pride. Jerseys were never just handed out. You needed to work for EMC and have the word "vSpecialist" in your job title to get one.
Several team members have told me stories of people at trade shows offering as much as $200 cash to buy the jersey from them. None were ever willing to sell theirs.
vSpecialist Trivia
To my knowledge, only 3 people (all EMC employees) who did not have the job title "vSpecialist" were ever given jerseys and made Honorary vSpecialists. They are the only non-vSpecialists who were allowed to present in public wearing the uniform.
I am sure the EMC'ers will give you the definitive answer but basically it is an an EMC assigned role/designation to resources that drive the integration between EMC and VMware. I am not sure if this role is purely pre-sales/technical marketing there may well be delivery resources...
What do you have to do be one, I gather you need to be an expert in one/more of the EMC integration points/domains with VMware product suite and be an expert in VMware core product suite. what do I mean expert? Extensive experience in Architecting/Designing/Implementing solutions.
Wouldn't mind seeing the offical job spec and prereqs.
As far as I know it's a VMware title. A community appreciation award which is valid for a year. A vSpecialist 2012 has proven to be a valuable member of "the community" in 2011 and gets the title for 2012. After that he can be nominated again for the following year.
It's much like the currently running "EMC Elect" actually. If you know of any people who atrtibuted to the community by posting valuable articles, responses to questions on ECN, twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, whatever... you're probably EMC Elect material.
vExpert as well as Microsoft MVP is comparable with that.
It is definitely not a VMware title (vExpert covers that off as you said). It is an EMC job role where specifically they work on EMC integration points with VMware and not a community designation. Just go to the link above, Tommy Trodgen is a Sr vSpecialist for example. There are global teams of them around the world. Although I only know of 1 in Ireland...
Rob, Tommy is on the EMC Elect board i think, so you should ping him :-)
EMC Elect is a really welcome addtion to the EMC community and one to rival vExperts ;-) Anyone reading this get your vote in !!
And just one more full day to get nominations in for anyone to receive the EMC Elect '13 designation. I know Rob, Roy and I have all been involved in nominating already and there must be others out there.
Don't stop yet... there will be time to rest after the 15th :-)
Anyhow, IMO any vExpert or vSpecialist would be the right person to answer your query or his journey to vSpecialist or vExperts. I have approached the best person I know and I am eager to read his journey in this virtual world!
To my knowledge, only 3 people (all EMC employees) who did not have the job title "vSpecialist" were ever given jerseys and made Honorary vSpecialists. They are the only non-vSpecialists who were allowed to present in public wearing the uniform.
I'm curious now. You asked for it by mentioning that there are 3 special people, now tell us who they are
DaveHenry1
121 Posts
2
December 13th, 2012 18:00
First let's address what it is NOT.
vSpecialist is not an accreditation, certification, award, recognition program or anything like that.
vSpecialist was an EMC job title. The title came up when EMC Technical Pre-Sales realized that, in general, their people could speak very well to storage and, in particular, to the EMC product line, but, while many could speak about VMware, most didn't have the experience and/or training to speak to it in technical depth.
Recognizing a need to fill this "expertise gap" EMC asked Chad Sakac to put together a team. Chad created the vSpecialst team. They acted as subject-matter experts on VMware and vSpecialists were assigned to particular sales team to provide specialized technical pre-sales support.
"vSpecialist" does not equal "vExpert" (although several of the vSpecialists are vExperts...). vSpecialist is an EMC job title that only part. vExpert is a VMware program for recognizing members of the VMware community for their contributions during the previous year. There is no requirement that a vExpert be a VMware employee. For more details on the vExpert program read VMware's page on the program here on their online community.
A vSpecialist Story
When the team first formed, there were only a few of them (the overall team later grew to over 200 worldwide). With the first trade shows the team would be attending coming up, they decided they wanted a way to stand out and be recognized - make the vSpecialists easy to find so folks knew who at EMC World could answer their VMware questions. The team designed a shirt that became known as the "vSpecialist Jersey".
The look of the jersey was designed after the look of the uniforms that NASCAR pit crews wear. The vSpecialist team worked like those pit crews, coming together to accomplish great things as a team in sudden bursts of energy, getting a lot done in short periods of time.
The black and blue jerseys really stood out at conferences and became a real "badge of honor" for the vSpecialists who still wear them with pride. Jerseys were never just handed out. You needed to work for EMC and have the word "vSpecialist" in your job title to get one.
Several team members have told me stories of people at trade shows offering as much as $200 cash to buy the jersey from them. None were ever willing to sell theirs.
vSpecialist Trivia
To my knowledge, only 3 people (all EMC employees) who did not have the job title "vSpecialist" were ever given jerseys and made Honorary vSpecialists. They are the only non-vSpecialists who were allowed to present in public wearing the uniform.
vforde
67 Posts
0
November 30th, 2011 04:00
Hi,
I am sure the EMC'ers will give you the definitive answer but basically it is an an EMC assigned role/designation to resources that drive the integration between EMC and VMware. I am not sure if this role is purely pre-sales/technical marketing there may well be delivery resources...
But don't listen to me read it from one of the horses mouth's http://vtexan.com/2011/04/07/what-is-a-vspecialist/
What do you have to do be one, I gather you need to be an expert in one/more of the EMC integration points/domains with VMware product suite and be an expert in VMware core product suite. what do I mean expert? Extensive experience in Architecting/Designing/Implementing solutions.
Wouldn't mind seeing the offical job spec and prereqs.
Regards,
Victor
RRR
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December 13th, 2012 03:00
As far as I know it's a VMware title. A community appreciation award which is valid for a year. A vSpecialist 2012 has proven to be a valuable member of "the community" in 2011 and gets the title for 2012. After that he can be nominated again for the following year.
It's much like the currently running "EMC Elect" actually. If you know of any people who atrtibuted to the community by posting valuable articles, responses to questions on ECN, twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, whatever... you're probably EMC Elect material.
vExpert as well as Microsoft MVP is comparable with that.
vforde
67 Posts
0
December 13th, 2012 03:00
It is definitely not a VMware title (vExpert covers that off as you said). It is an EMC job role where specifically they work on EMC integration points with VMware and not a community designation. Just go to the link above, Tommy Trodgen is a Sr vSpecialist for example. There are global teams of them around the world. Although I only know of 1 in Ireland...
Rob, Tommy is on the EMC Elect board i think, so you should ping him :-)
EMC Elect is a really welcome addtion to the EMC community and one to rival vExperts ;-) Anyone reading this get your vote in !!
RRR
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December 13th, 2012 06:00
Very good! Let's just see who gets this title!
RRR
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December 13th, 2012 06:00
vSpecialist, vExpert.... everything with a v sounds like VMware to me. You are right. The vSpecialist is EMC indeed.
And yes, I know Tommy is in the Elect Founders team as am I, but things that can be discussed in public will be discussed in public.
teovmy
211 Posts
0
December 13th, 2012 12:00
I agreement with vforde. It's an EMC job. Nothing more.
vforde
67 Posts
0
December 13th, 2012 13:00
I might just squeeze a few more in and make it a bakers dozen !!
Allen Ward
2.1K Posts
1
December 13th, 2012 13:00
And just one more full day to get nominations in for anyone to receive the EMC Elect '13 designation. I know Rob, Roy and I have all been involved in nominating already and there must be others out there.
Don't stop yet... there will be time to rest after the 15th :-)
AnkitMehta
1.4K Posts
0
December 13th, 2012 17:00
There, http://bit.ly/VFbBPs just like Rob mentioned things that can be discussed in public will be discussed in public.
Matt has shared these awesome stats on his blog last evening!
Have a look, I <3ed this post more than #HFOBD!
![](https://ip1.i.lithium.com/cb2282bcef31d63c48d6bcc62bd46a513d8c6e27/68747470733a2f2f766a61756a35383534392e692e6c69746869756d2e636f6d2f636f6d6d756e6974792f732f6c656761637966732f6f6e6c696e652f64656c6c656d632f656d6f7469636f6e732f77696e6b2e706e67)
AnkitMehta
1.4K Posts
0
December 13th, 2012 17:00
Anyhow, IMO any vExpert or vSpecialist would be the right person to answer your query or his journey to vSpecialist or vExperts. I have approached the best person I know and I am eager to read his journey in this virtual world!![](https://prod-care-community-cdn.sprinklr.com/community/687062f5-603c-4f5f-ab9d-31aa7cacb376/ReVSpecialist-651a6c14-4b36-431a-9644-48b5671a4a87-1355239948)
AnkitMehta
1.4K Posts
0
December 13th, 2012 18:00
Thank you Dave Henry!![](https://prod-care-community-cdn.sprinklr.com/community/687062f5-603c-4f5f-ab9d-31aa7cacb376/ReVSpecialist-16fbd296-5ac2-4ec0-baa9-ab8b1d642056-1355239948)
RRR
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December 14th, 2012 03:00
You;re doing a great job Victor! Keep those nominations coming!!![](https://prod-care-community-cdn.sprinklr.com/community/687062f5-603c-4f5f-ab9d-31aa7cacb376/ReVSpecialist-414da799-6ef2-4a69-ba3a-9d396d97febd-1355239948)
RRR
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December 14th, 2012 03:00
I'm curious now. You asked for it by mentioning that there are 3 special people, now tell us who they are![](https://prod-care-community-cdn.sprinklr.com/community/687062f5-603c-4f5f-ab9d-31aa7cacb376/ReVSpecialist-8cfc8f30-1d83-453b-9fbe-01f34df2fe9c-1355239948)
DaveHenry1
121 Posts
0
December 14th, 2012 05:00
The three people to have been honored in this way are: