Dallas Ohana Newsletter - March 1st

As we step into a new month, I want to take a moment to reflect on the collective achievements and connections that continue to define this community. Your dedication, ingenuity, and support have been instrumental in fostering an environment where collaboration and growth thrive.

?? Volunteer Opportunity! - TDigital StandUp Weekend 2025

• Dates: February 28th - March 2nd | Location: Richardson

• Details: Thanawalla Digital is proud to sponsor a standup for the DFW Alliance of Technology and Women (DFW*ATW), a vital non-profit organization committed to supporting the holistic education and professional journey for girls, women, and allies in technology while increasing the number of women in leadership.
• We invite you to join us on February 28th, March 1st, and/or March 2nd for a whirlwind weekend as we implement a Salesforce org for this deserving organization. This is a unique opportunity to come together, share expertise, and enjoy great food, prizes, and engaging conversations with a diverse group of passionate professionals.
• To learn more and get involved visit: t.digital/dfwatw

?? Mastering Snowflake as an Individual Learner, Partner, or Startup

• Date: March 1st, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
• Location: Richardson | Future Events
• Details: Join us on March 1st (Saturday) from 12:00–2:00 pm at UT Dallas for the DFW Snowflake User Group event, “Mastering Snowflake as an Individual Learner, Partner, or Startup.” In this session, Snowflake Data Superhero and O'Reilly author Joyce Avila will guide you through the essential learning resources, certifications, and community programs available to help you grow your skills and leverage Snowflake effectively.
• Speaker: Joyce Avila
• Organizers: Joyce Avila and Aran Sakzenian

?? Nonprofit Community Group Meeting with Dallas Flow Wizards

• Date: March 11th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
• Location: Plano | Event Link
• Details: Join Dallas Flow Wizards, Nana and Marshall along with NPUG Leaders Carly and Barb to talk about Release Planning Best Practices.?We'll also review some of the?recent features / enhancements in Salesforce from the Winter and Spring Releases.?We invite everyone to share what some of your favorite enhancements have been in the recent salesforce releases.??
• Speakers: Nana Gregg , Marshall King , Carly Caraway , Barb Dietz
• Group Leaders: Barb Dietz and Carly Caraway

?? Breaking Barriers: Aligning Business & Data Teams for Data Sharing Adoption

• Date: March 13th, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Location: Fort Worth | Event Link
• Details: Join us in person as we hear from Aran Sakzenian, a Principal Solution Engineer at Snowflake, and Aritra Saha , a Data Engineering and Analytics Manager at American Airlines.? Aran will give a brief introduction describing some of the Snowflake technical features utilized in the use case and then Aritra will share her personal story of aligning business and data teams for data sharing adoption.??

Aritra's presentation describes the approach taken to simplify data collaboration between business and data teams.? The team leveraged Snowflake's external table format's direct access to shared data, in its original location, rather than burdening teams with additional technical overhead.? This method enabled seamless data sharing without requiring users to master complete ETL processes or load data into a new platform.??Using Snowflake external tables fostered easier adoption, reduced friction, and faster realization of value.

• Why Attend?

Upskill: In an era where data is becoming increasingly valuable, knowing how to leverage powerful technologies like Snowflake is crucial. This session could be a stepping stone to help propel your career forward.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals and industry experts. Exchange ideas, share experiences, and build relationships that could lead to future collaborations or career opportunities.

Discover relevant details of a real-world use case Snowflake implementation.? It's? one thing to read about technology, but it's another to learn how others are using it in practice.

• Speakers: Aran Sakzenian and Aritra Saha
• Organizers: Joyce Avila and Aran Sakzenian

?? Agentforce Use Cases and Networking event

• Date: March 15th, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
• Location: Frisco | Event Link
• Details: ???? Exciting Invitation! ????

Hello Salesforce Enthusiasts!

You are cordially invited to our vibrant "Agentforce Use Case Overview" session! ?? Let's gather, brainstorm, and craft valuable use cases together to revolutionize our workflows. Alongside, we’ll explore and discuss our ambitious Salesforce certification goals for 2025, including opportunities for free certifications that you can leverage! ????

But wait, there's more! Enjoy a selection of delightful breakfast treats ???? as we engage in these productive discussions. Let’s fuel our minds and bodies for a morning of creativity and learning.

Additionally, in the spirit of giving back, please bring any gently used towels, as well as kitten or puppy food to donate to the Collin County Animal Shelter ????. Let’s make a positive impact together!

Looking forward to a morning of innovation, collaboration, and community support with all of you. Let’s make this a transformative and fulfilling experience!

• Warmest regards, Christina Moren Frisco, Texas WIT Community Group Leader
• Group Leader: Christina Moren

?? Data for Breakfast - Dallas

• Date: March 25th | Cost: ??
• Location: Plano | Event Link
• Details: TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH DATA

AN EVENT SERIES FOR DATA PROFESSIONALS

Enjoy a morning filled with inspiration, insights and breakfast, where you’ll learn how to accelerate analytics and unlock AI and apps innovation — all on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, a global network where you can mobilize your data with near-unlimited scale, concurrency and performance.

DISCOVER HOW THE SNOWFLAKE PLATFORM ALLOWS YOU TO:

• Activate all your data assets — across data lakehouses, data mesh, and data warehouses — whether data is shared in real time, in open formats or from third parties
• Eliminate business disruptions with built-in disaster recovery, and granular, consistent data security and governance functionalities
• Connect internal teams, external partners and customers through trusted access and distribution of live, ready-to-query data and apps
• Deliver advanced data processing with built-in AI/ML capabilities and democratize business intelligence with user-friendly interfaces
• Get access to easy, efficient and trusted AI/ML to rapidly build and deploy AI models and applications
• Save time and money with no need for setup or manual administration, all on a fully managed platform with cost-efficient, automatic performance improvements

INTRODUCTION TO THE SNOWFLAKE AI DATA CLOUD

Elevate your analytics and AI with a step-by-step training seminar on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. Get a hands-on introduction to the platform and learn how to unify, integrate, share and activate previously siloed data with virtually unlimited scalability and concurrency — all for better, faster insights.

Who should attend:

• ?? Individuals with limited experience using Snowflake who want to get started and accelerate their knowledge of the AI Data Cloud.

Course highlights:

• Snowflake AI Data Cloud Overview: Set up, navigate Snowflake and see Snowflake Notebooks in action
• Secure Data Sharing: Learn to maximize access and distribution of live, ready-to-query data
• Integrate AI in Snowflake: Get an introduction to Snowflake Cortex AI and see how it can bring generative AI to your data

?? Events Beyond March ?? TBA ??

? ICYMI - February Highlights

?? Are You a Solo Admin? You Shouldn’t Be!

• Recap: The "Are you a Solo Admin? You Shouldn't Be!" session offered an honest and impactful discussion about the challenges faced by solo Salesforce admins. Participants explored practical strategies to address burnout, secure necessary resources, and shift leadership’s perspective on Salesforce as a high-value investment requiring proper support. The session provided actionable insights to help solo admins advocate for additional staffing and create sustainable workflows. It was a valuable opportunity to learn how to protect personal well-being while driving long-term success for their organizations.
• Speaker: Abi Claus
• Group Leaders: Laura S. Adler , Abi Claus , Kelly Wood

?? Setting Up and Using Data Factories and Sandbox Data Seeding

• Recap: Paul McCollum, UXMC recently led a dynamic group-learning session on Data Factory patterns and sandbox seeding. The session provided a clear and practical understanding of these topics, breaking down complex concepts into approachable insights. A key highlight was seeing non-coders actively engage and walk away conversant in the subject, showcasing the value of collaborative learning. It was a great example of knowledge sharing that empowered everyone to grow their skills.
• Speaker: Paul McCollum, UXMC
• Group Leader: Paul McCollum, UXMC

?? A Call to Our Dallas Community

??Did we miss any winter or spring events or volunteer opportunities in our Dallas Ohana? We value your insights! If we've overlooked anything, please let us know. Your input keeps our community 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 and Snowflake User Group Website are an excellent resource for finding both virtual and in-person events globally.