I make databases go faster.
I’ve been working with databases since the late 1990s. I got my start in hotels & restaurants, and then realized no matter how far you go in hospitality, you’re still working weekends and holidays. I wanted to have weekends & holidays off with my family, plus make more money, so I switched over to tech, and eventually specialized in databases. As it turned out, I still worked weekends & holidays, but … at least I made more money.
Some of the things I’ve built include:
- PollGab – for streamers to run easy Q&A sessions.
- Smart Postgres – helping developers get up to speed faster.
- Brent Ozar Unlimited, a tiny company that does online services, training, and consulting to help fix slow SQL Servers.
- sp_Blitz and the First Responder Kit – an open source toolkit to help you manage SQL Server
- SQL ConstantCare® – clear, personal advice emailed daily
- My YouTube and Twitch channels – where I live stream as I code, write training, and rehearse it
I love teaching, travel, and laughing.
I work to live, not the other way around, so I try to take as much personal time off as I can. I think of it as rehearsing for retirement, hahaha. In my spare time, I have a great time seeing the world. You can keep up with my travels on my Instagram feed.
I live in Las Vegas.
I grew up all over the Midwest US: Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee – and then spent my high school years in Michigan. I got tired of the cold, so when it came time for college, I raced down to Houston, Texas. After that, in the hospitality industry, I kept moving around to work with hotels across Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, and more. I’m very comfortable moving around and discovering new places.
I’ve always felt like a Californian at heart. I’m laid back, and I think California prioritizes things that are important to me, too. And you can’t beat the SoCal weather. However, the high property prices and taxes pushed me out to Las Vegas for now.
My current car collection includes a Ferrari 328 GTS, a 1964 Porsche 356 SC, a Porsche 356 Speedster replica, and a heavily modified VW Type 3 Squareback with a Porsche 914 engine.
If you want to stay in touch, I’m @BrentO on Instagram and @BrentOzar on TikTok.