I’ve talked before about how the sponsors help make Spousetivities happen by offsetting some of the expense of the events and keeping costs as low as possible. While I (and the Spousetivities participants) appreciate the Global Gold sponsors, there are a bunch of other sponsors that also make Spousetivities happen.
Being an owner of a small business in Spousetivities, I can appreciate the challenge of supporting the community but doing so in a way that is consistent with the financial health of the business. This is why I feel it’s really important to provide a “shout out” to some of the smaller companies that support Spousetivities. These may not be big names that you see and hear all over the conference, but they support Spousetivities in so many ways.
For many years, The Virtualization Practice (TVP) has supported Spousetivities. This support comes in financial contributions as well as volunteer support. Specifically, Ed Haletky’s wife, Romy, has personally gotten involved and helped in the planning of the events for the last two years. Romy graciously led a couple of the tours at the 2014 activities. Sponsors that add this sort of personal touch are valuable because they help “crank it up a notch.” If you are looking for a company to meet your business needs, TVP is worth a look. Make sure to drop an e-mail or comment thanking them for their support of community activities like Spousetivities.
Next up is another small company that you may not know. Thinware (whose product is vBackup) is another faithful startup supporting Spousetivities for several years. Thinware is another company with a personal involvement in Spousetivities—Thinware’s owner, Jeremy Brown, introduced his wife Natalee to Spousetivities several years ago. She’s been instrumental in keeping the activities running smoothly over the years. Natalee routinely helps research activities, reviews some of the gift bag items, and leads the tours when I am not available. If you have a company on a budget with backup needs, please take the time to check out vBackup by Thinware. Also, I’m sure they’d appreciate it if you could drop them a note thanking them for their faithfulness in supporting Spousetivities over the years and for being a part of the community. Right now, Thinware is also offering a discount on their solution to those who participate in or those who follow Spousetivities. Enter “Coupon Code: Spousetivities-VMworldUS2015” when you purchase any of their solutions and a 25% discount will be applied when you are invoiced. Just another way Thinware is showing its support for Spousetivities and those who support Spousetivities by participating, sponsoring, and even just spreading the word to help it grow and stay visible.
Finally, let me introduce you to a relatively new startup in the community. Ravello Systems is making a name for themselves in the industry with some very interesting technology. At the same time, they are setting the tone for what it looks like to be a part of the community, not just another company in the IT world. For the first year, Ravello has come on as a sponsor of Spousetivities and is looking forward to being welcomed into the community. Please make sure to stop by their booth in the Solutions Exchange for more information on their solutions. Shruti and the rest of the Ravello Systems team will take excellent care of you. While you are there, thank them for their support and welcome them to the community. If you aren’t going to make it to VMworld. Drop them a message or even a tweet and let them know you appreciate their community support.
Support for Spousetivities also comes from Arkin Networks, another relative newcomer to the VMware community. We appreciate their willingness to support the community by offering some cool giveaway items for Spousetivities participants.
If you haven’t had the chance to register yet, please visit the Spousetivities registration page today. Events will sell out, so don’t wait!
On behalf of Spousetivities (and all the participants): thank you to all these companies!
