Jim Steiner’s journey in the IT world began in software development, where he led a team writing applications for Army MASH units. His career evolved into database administration in 1998 when he became the sole DBA for La Quinta Inns, overseeing 302 hotels. With nearly two decades working in Hosting, he has managed over 10,000 SQL instances across 30 data centers worldwide. His expertise in performance tuning and high-availability solutions made him a well-respected leader in the field.

Joining Main Street Technical Services in August 2023, Jim quickly made an impact. Within his first week, he took over as the lead DBA for a key client, successfully executing a long-planned migration that had been in the works for over 18 months. His ability to fine-tune SQL performance and eliminate database bottlenecks has transformed client operations, with one team reporting the best performance they’ve ever seen.

Jim Steiner: Safeguarding Systems & Leading Mission-Critical Projects

Jim currently supports seven clients, serving as the primary DBA for three and the secondary for four others. His day-to-day responsibilities include performance tuning, backup and recovery solutions, and designing high-availability database architectures. His problem-solving skills were put to the test when one of Main Street’s clients faced a ransomware attack affecting 40 database servers. Thanks to Jim and his team’s expertise, they restored all databases up to the point of the attack—without any data loss.

Commitment to Growth & Knowledge Sharing

Jim is a lifelong learner and mentor. He ran the San Antonio PASS SQL Server user group for 11 years and continues to stay ahead of industry trends by following MSSQLTips, Brent Ozar, and SQLSkills.com. Currently pursuing his Azure DP-300 certification, he’s expanding his cloud expertise to better serve clients.

Beyond Life as a Sr. DBA

Outside of work, Jim enjoys traveling with his family, exploring new beaches, and staying active in weightlifting—a passion he’s had since he was 12. He’s also a big fan of live music and keeps busy attending his youngest child’s soccer and basketball games.

Looking Ahead

In the future, Jim sees himself continuing to mentor other DBAs and stepping into a leadership role. His passion for database optimization, team collaboration, and customer success makes him a valued member of the Main Street Technical Services team. Thanks for everything you do, Jim!