?? Dallas Ohana Newsletter - February 15th Edition

Navigating through February, a month already bustling with engagement and learning opportunities, brings exciting news for our vibrant community. Are you aware of the three new events added to our February calendar?? If not, being subscribed to this biweekly newsletter means you're always in the loop with the latest developments and can't miss events within our #DallasOhana.

Heartfelt gratitude is extended to each individual contributing to our community's growth. Your dedication to volunteering, leading, and sharing knowledge makes our community flourish.

Special recognition goes to the Leaders, Hosts, Organizers, and Speakers involved in the newly announced and ongoing events. Your efforts drive our community's growth, providing enriching experiences that impact many lives.

?? Upcoming Events in February

?? February Lunch Meeting: Spring Release + Events

• Date: Feb 16, 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
• Location: Dallas | RSVP: Event Link
• Speaker: Lucas Garza
• Overview: On February 16th, we will have a meeting to reconnect, help each other (Admins helping Admins), and discuss Salesforce events.
• Group Leaders: Josh Monson and Lucas Garza

?? Nonprofit and Dallas Flow Wizards Community Meeting

• Date: Feb 22, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
• Location: Addison | RSVP: Event Link
• Speakers: Barb Dietz , Carly Caraway , Nana Gregg , Marshall King
• Overview: Spring 24 Release is here!? Let's talk about some of the new features and functionality.? We'll also share some flow examples and ask that you bring along a flow example that you may be able to share with the group.??We'll provide the chips and salsa - you bring the Flows!

?????? February 2024 - Dallas WiT - Salesforce Spring (Release) Fling

• Date: Feb 27, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
• Location: Addison | RSVP: Event Link
• Speakers: Abi Claus, Laura S. Adler, Kelly Wood
• Overview: Join us for a fun evening with your fellow Salesforce Women in Tech. Abi, Kelly, and Laura will present their favorite features of the Spring Release.? Bring your favorite release feature to share! As always, the first round is on us.

??? Dallas Salesforce Devs at The SF Tower with the Dallas Snowflake Group

• Date: Feb 28, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Location: Dallas Salesforce Tower | RSVP: Event Link
• Speakers: Danielle Larregui , Joyce Avila , Paul McCollum, UXMC , Sarah Thanawalla , Moyez Thanawalla, Salesforce MVP , Aran Sakzenian
• Details: Our first trip to the tower, we are partnering with the local Snowflake user group to collaborate and discuss our respective ecosystems and the prospects of the new year. Local leaders will share insight on the project and hopefully get a tower tour. Refreshments and giveaways!?

?? Customer-First: Architecting Your Salesforce Ecosystem

• Date: Feb 28, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
• Location: Plano | RSVP: Event Link
• Speaker: Akash Bhandari
• Overview: Join us as we dive into the heart of customer-centricity within the Salesforce ecosystem. This session, led by esteemed Salesforce Solution Architect Akash Bhandari, will explore innovative strategies to build and nurture a Salesforce environment that places the customer at the core of every business decision.
• Group Leader: Swayam Chouksey

?? Events Beyond February

??Summer of Salesforce is Returning!! ??

• When?: Applications are opening in March with a Kickoff in May
• What?: Use your Salesforce Superpowers to support a local Dallas non-profit pro bono over the summer. More details to come!!

?? Volunteer Opportunity! - Center for Children and Families | 2024 Standup Weekend

• Date: March 1 - March 3; come for a few hours or stay the whole weekend!
• Location: The University of Texas at Dallas | Sign up to volunteer: t.digital/ccf
• Details: Join us in significantly impacting the Center for Children and Families (CCF) Salesforce Standup Weekend.
• We're looking for passionate volunteers to join two key teams!:
• Implementation Team: Work hands-on to implement a custom Salesforce solution for CCF. This team will focus on setting up profiles, customizing security, enabling campaigns, and implementing client tracking and integrations. | Team Leads: Jeff Martin , Lawrence Reid, CBAP, DTM, PMP, CSM , Shawnee Scesney , Paul McCollum, UXMC , Kimberly P. , Navaid Hussain
• Caring Committee: Be the heart of the event! Assist with check-in, guest escorting, event decoration, refreshments, and overall bringing cheer and care to the teams and guests.
• ?? Friday, March 1st 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM:

1. ????? Book Signing Event: Join us for a book signing with ?? J Jodi Hrbek ?? D Don Robins ?? S Sarah Thanawalla , and more!!
2. Community Meet-and-Greet: A chance to connect with local Salesforce community groups, including The Dallas Developers Group, The Dallas Women in Tech Group, The Frisco Women in Tech Group, and The Frisco Admin Group. Expect giveaways, discussions on upcoming presentations, and friendly faces!

?? Exciting Weekend Events:

1. Stump the Chump - Saturday, March 2nd 12:00 PM: Challenge Salesforce MVPs Rebecca Lammers , Don Robins , and Gaurav Kheterpal with your toughest Salesforce questions.
2. Minutes with Moyez - Saturday, March 2nd 3:30 PM: Gain insights from Moyez Thanawalla, Salesforce MVP on transitioning from student to professional to business owner.
3. The Center for Children and Families Dinner - Saturday, March 2nd 6:00 PM: Hear about the impactful work CCF does for families and children.
4. Soft Skilz - Sunday, March 3rd 12:00 PM: Learn essential soft skills with Rob OBrien, CSM to ace your interviews and impress hiring managers.

?? Salesforce Saturday of North Dallas Monthly Meetup

• Date: March 2nd, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Location: Plano | RSVP: Event Link
• Group Leader: Ishrat Bhatti MPH
• Overview: Grab your laptop and join our cozy Saturday get-togethers, where learning Salesforce and Trailhead becomes a group adventure! It's a warm, welcoming space where you can chat, share, and connect with fellow Salesforce enthusiasts from all walks of life.

?? We Dreamin' & Collaboration Summit

• Date: April 9th - Apr 11th
• Location: Irving Convention Center | Tickets: We Dreamin' Save 30% today with code “Dreamin30” ?????? - Based on the speaker list, I think this will sell out, so if you're on the fence, do not delay!!
• We Dreamin' Speakers: Danielle Larregui, Joy Shutters-Helbing, Scott Luikart, Katy Rudd, Stephan Chandler-Garcia, Paul McCollum, UXMC, Joyce Avila, ?? Warren Walters, ?????? Nadina D. Lisbon, M.S., Salesforce CTA ???, Chris Zullo, Abi Claus, Wade Lovell, Eric Crew, Noorez Khamis (Microsoft MVP), Hillary Fenton, Reynaldo Magdael, Christopher Stowell, Lawrence Reid, CBAP, DTM, PMP, CSM, Christopher Faria, Jennifer Olson, Andy Meadows, Shankar Narayanan, Elaine Botha, Stanton Coville, Khero Witey, Moyez Thanawalla, Salesforce MVP, David Giller, Jacob Catalano, Arjun Baradwaj, Jitendra Zaa, Nana Gregg, Marshall King, Vandana Nayak, Mike Hatch, Ian Gotts, Nate Nielsen
• Overview: Three full days (sessions & workshops) of incredible Salesforce content for admins, users, and developers, including Data Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Flows, Snowflake, MuleSoft, AI, and much more, along with our legendary attendee appreciation event, daily chances to win big prizes, and tons of awesome swag. Includes workshop admission on April 9th, along with all meals, expo hall access, refreshments, and social events.
• Event Directors: Mark Rackley , Eric Shupps , Paul McCollum, UXMC

?? ICYMI - February Highlights

?? New Year, New Goals: How to Strategize Your Salesforce Career

• Location: Frisco
• The Organizing Team: Ishrat Bhatti MPH , Jessica Banke , Ayub K. , Kimberly P. , Jaishree Sharma , Pallavi Sutrave , Shwetha Kunchinadka
• Recording: The event, featuring Megan Tuano from Accenture Federal Services , underscored the need for professionals to broaden their skill sets beyond a single tool. Highlighting the significance of being well-rounded in tech, Megan shared invaluable strategies for navigating the Salesforce landscape, personal branding, and career advancement through certifications. This session was not just about learning; it fostered vibrant networking and setting ambitious goals for attendees. A recording is available for those who missed it, ensuring no one is left behind in this journey toward professional growth.

?? D CEO Women Leading STEM Forum

• Location: Dallas
• Featured Panelists: Kelly Wood , Majaliwa Bass , Marissa Horne , Jennifer Makins , Dr. Linda Abraham Silver
• Recap: The D CEO Women Leading STEM Forum panel included Kelly Wood, our Dallas WIT Trailblazer Community Group co-leader, offered powerful insights into advancing women in STEM. The panel discussed the importance of STEM education that organizations like Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science support. This event was a crucial platform for learning and empowerment in the STEM landscape, inspiring attendees and fostering meaningful conversations on a more inclusive and empowering future for girls and women in STEM.

?? A Call to Our Dallas Community

??Have any February or March events or volunteer opportunities escaped our radar? Your insights matter! If something is happening in our Dallas Ohana that we haven't covered, please share it with us. Your contributions help ensure our community stays well-informed and connected.

?? For Our Global and Virtual Community Members

Can't make it to the Dallas in-person events? No worries! The Trailblazer Community Group Website is an excellent resource for finding both virtual and in-person events globally.