Every day of the year, there's a holiday celebrating one thing or another. In fact, you probably didn't know that Oct. 22 WAS CAPS LOCK DAY. Whoops. Or, if you're like me, you completely spaced on Oct. 26. It was Mother-in-Law Day. Boy, we'll be hearing about that for the next few months.

A few years ago, some of us in the data management community noted that there was an under-appreciated group that deserved more recognition. That's why we started International Data Stewards Day – a once-a-year celebration of the people who care about, obsess about and fuss with the data that drives your organization.

This year, it's back – and bigger than ever. The theme for the 2014 International Data Stewards Day is that data stewards are the rock stars of your organization. OK, maybe they're not larger-than-life characters who command the stage and play extended guitar solos.

But, if you have a data-driven initiative underway, imagine what life would be without those people who understand data. Who manage data. And who work tirelessly to give you data that is clean, accurate and fit for purpose.

How can you get involved? Here are four easy steps:

1. Think about the data stewards in your organization. Who personifies the term "data steward" the best? Who is the one person you go to when you have a question about the validity of the data or how it's used? As the Data Stewards Day site says, "They don’t need a 'data steward' title. Or a PhD in computer science. As long as they're brilliant, patient, hard-working and an all-around data whiz, they qualify."
2. Nominate them. Go to the nomination form and tell us why the judges should pick them. (Or nominate yourself. Tell your own story. This is your chance to shine).
3. For maximum punch, get others to nominate the same person. Have each nomination cover a different facet of what makes this data steward a great asset to your organization.
4. Kick back, listen to some tunes and wait for the judges to announce the winner. This year, we'll announce the winner at the Data Governance Winter Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on Dec. 9. Stay tuned!

So, let's turn the amps up to 11 and get to work. We all likely know a good data steward. They may not fill up stadiums, but let's give them the recognition they deserve.