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Hi, I am Barret

Barret

A little bit of my mind, crafted with code at Barret Codes

I wear many hats. Father, husband, Microsoft MVP, developer, Azure Solutions Architect, gamer, blogger, speaker, teacher, mentor, model railroader, Buckeyes fan, and more. I’ve been blessed greatly by this industry, and so this site is one way I try to give a little bit back. When I can find the time, I add a bit of my coding knowledge and experience to share with whoever might find it of worth.

Microsoft MVP
AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals
C#
Power Automate
JavaScript
SQL
Azure
Angular
Awesomeness

Engage With Me

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Mentoring

If you are a student or someone in a different career field and looking to move into software development, I am happy to provide what time I can spare to speak with you 1 on 1 and provide what guidance or insight I can. You can schedule time with me on my Calendly.

    Saturday, January 1, 2000 | 1 minute Read
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    Speaking Engagements

    Looking for someone speak on your podcast, video, user group, conference, or company? Here’s a few of my current sessions. Contact me to set up a time.

      Saturday, January 1, 2000 | 1 minute Read
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      My Creative Side

      Not everything is about tech. I’ve got a creative side too… Sometimes. Take a look if you want something other than tech. My Creative Side

        Saturday, January 1, 2000 | 1 minute Read

        Recent Posts

        Disapproving gorilla
        CodeMash 2026

        Got to attend CodeMash 2026 last week. Thought I’d share a few of my thoughts about CodeMash and conferences in general in this post-pandemic world.

        Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | 7 minutes Read
        Computer code on a screen
        SQL Safe Habits

        Messing around with a production database can be dangerous, but sometimes it’s necessary. A few safe habits can go a long way to protecting your data, your applications, and your company.

        Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | 9 minutes Read
        Image of a bool of goals with columns for less and more
        2026 - Setting Goals For The Year

        New year, new me, new goals, right?

        Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 5 minutes Read
        AI generated image: A 2025 calendar in a dumpster and everything is on fire.
        2025 - The Year in Review

        Here’s my 2025 year in review

        Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | 5 minutes Read
        An elf working in IT writing code. He's not having a good day
        C# Advent 2025 - Extension Members

        You’ve been able to create extension methods for C# types for a long time. With C# 14, extensions get a whole new look and feel. And, some new functionality as well.

        Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 5 minutes Read
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        Power Automate Connectors - Encodian Excel

        Taking a look at the Excel connector from Encodian and what it offers above and beyond the built-in Excel connector that Microsoft provides for the Power Platform and Logic Apps.

        Friday, December 5, 2025 | 1 minute Read

        Podcasts

        I've been on a few podcasts and shows over the years as an MVP. Here's a few of them you can check out on the interwebs.

        Finding a Job in This Tough Job Market w/Barret Blake MS MVP & Architect

        MVPbuzzChat with Barret Blake

        Tech interviews - Best practices from an Engineering Manager

        Smart Cherrys Thoughts

        From Model Railroads to Azure Architect - Barret Blake's Journey and the Future of AI

        S1E90 - The Tech Sharmit Podcast - Expert Talks (TTSP)

        Rockin’ The Code World with dotNetDave ft. Barret Blake Ep. 77