From Carla Flores, SHARE Broadcom Liaison

I’ve always said, it’s never been a better time to be on the mainframe. At SHARE Pittsburgh, I could feel the excitement of attendees who are motivated now more than ever to be part of this platform and ecosystem. Since then a lot has been happening. In a historic announcement on October 30, SHARE welcomed Broadcom as a new strategic partner. As SHARE President and Chief Executive Officer Justin Bastin stated in his recent communication to Members and Delegates, this is a mutually beneficial partnership to help drive the future of the community as a whole.

At the same time, I’m equally excited to represent Broadcom as the newly appointed liaison on the SHARE Board of Directors. In this role, I’m committed to sharing the resources of Broadcom to help our community grow and flourish. For those of you who don’t already know me, I’ve been involved with SHARE for over 15 years. I’ve done everything from working the expo area, to presenting, to managing projects, to serving on committees, to now serving as a board member.

My early years with SHARE shaped my views on the goals and ideals of the organization. The defining moment for me was being asked to present a topic about Db2 security. Until that time, I mainly participated in the technical exchanges, so I jumped on the opportunity to present. I recall about 30 attendees for my first presentation, listening intently, asking questions and focusing on getting the most from the session to bring it back home to their shop. That’s when I realized the educational value that SHARE brings to the attendees. I was hooked and wanted to get more involved.

The years that followed focused on building relationships with the many volunteers that make up this great organization. Like any organization, attracting, motivating, and retaining volunteers is crucial. During these years I learned that being volunteer-centric helps. By defining clear roles and responsibilities, the prospect of volunteering doesn’t seem so overwhelming — making it easier to get people involved.

Since then, we’ve done much to improve the volunteer experience. Through the great work of the onboarding committee, SHARE has a team dedicated to the volunteer experience. I thank the support of the board, SHARE staff, and the committee to help volunteers navigate the organization, and how they can best bring what they can to SHARE. In fact, if you aren’t already involved, no time is better than today. What are you waiting for?

I am so enthusiastic about this next chapter, as Broadcom and SHARE embark on a strategic partnership together. I encourage you to reach out to peers at SHARE to see how you can get more involved. I would also encourage you to reach out to me, or chat with me in Fort Worth to discuss what Broadcom can bring to the table in supporting this growing ecosystem. But don’t sit still! Find ways to give back to the community and the ecosystem that has brought you to where you are today.