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The Power of Community to Lead Change

Key Takeaways from Dreamin’ In Color 2023

Dreamin’ in Color 2023 may have come to an end, but the energy continues to pulse across the community of both existing colleagues and newly connected professionals who attended. The conference for current and aspiring Black Salesforce professionals is intended to empower, inspire, and encourage attendees to support one another on their professional and personal journeys. Held at the Raleigh Convention Center the weekend before Juneteenth, Dreamin’ In Color united participants from across the country, spanning multiple industries, professional backgrounds, and career stages.

Attain Partners was thrilled to attend and support the event as the Inspiration Lounge sponsor, fostering an atmosphere of engagement and a shared sense of connection. Through activities including our community artboard installation, conference goers shared their thoughts in writing, as either outward encouragement to the viewer, or as a reflection of their own feelings. The seven artboards focused on personal and professional experiences of Candor, Courage, Community, Excellence, Inspiration, Legacy, and Representation. The result was a crowd-sourced collection of affirmations and wisdom that were raffled off to seven lucky attendees who will receive the unique souvenirs of this second-ever Dreamin’ In Color conference.

Dreamin’ In Color wasn’t just a professional conference—it was a compilation of memorable moments to lift each other up and build connections. Attendees grabbed handfuls of colorful “inspiration” buttons from the Lounge to share with one another—small tokens of appreciation for an inspiring word or action to recognize how we may often give back to others without realizing we’ve done so. As we continue the conversations, our new connections and expanded networks are the true takeaways.

The night of the Harlem Renaissance Gala, the Attain Partners team was particularly proud to be recognized as one of four nominees for the “Doing the Work” award. The honor recognizes our commitment to “walking the talk,” fostering an environment where Black employees feel welcomed, supported, and championed. While another incredible organization took the award home, we won an impactful vote of confidence in our daily efforts and activities to create a workplace in which all team members feel valued, included, and empowered to do great work and share ideas. We continue to nurture these efforts and are excited to formally launch our internal IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship) program to further support our employees’ unique experiences and perspectives, enabling us to create and deliver the best service to our diverse clients.

Whether current Salesforce professionals looking to fill their cup, individuals entering—or re-entering—the workforce and looking for a way to start, or people desiring more information about expanding their skills through the Salesforce ecosystem, the practical, technical, institutional, and emotional knowledge sharing that occurred in Raleigh was invaluable—and more importantly, actionable. We’ll see you in 2024, Dream Team!

Our incredible team of onsite professionals—Pamela Fitch, Catherine Sylvester, Jenifer Parker, and Kora Rea-Alexander—had this to share about their own powerful experiences:


Pamela Fitch
Associate Business Development Director

I was ready for great things at my second Dreamin’ In Color after attending the inaugural conference last year in Raleigh. For me, Dreamin’ In Color is all about connection—connection and leading change.

As a first-time experience for many—sharing a room with more than one other Salesforce professional of color, or listening to a panel full of Salesforce professionals who look, sound, and have the same challenges as they do—it’s really a life-giving professional event. Dreamin’ In Color has created a community like no other.

So, I was proud that Attain Partners was able to create a space, the Inspiration Lounge, where people could connect, host meet-ups (shout out to the Atlanta SF Group), share ideas, interact with an art installation, inspire one another, have resumes reviewed, enjoy refreshments, and simply relax.

Every session, lunch, dinner, and BRUNCH … was highlighted by people who have been “Doing The Work” to expand opportunities for people of color in the ecosystem. I was amazed by the sheer number of leaders and allies who came sharing their unique perspectives and ideas that will inform our work at Attain Partners as we hire and inspire our own workforce, and actively seek to make the world a better and more inclusive space.

Catherine Sylvester
Specialist Leader

Dreamin’ In Color was the first of many. My first time attending the conference as well as the first time I have ever been in a space with so many Black Salesforce professionals. Keeping with the gala theme, I felt a new Renaissance in the Salesforce ecosystem—a new discovery. I rediscovered my “why” by giving my role model an Attain Partners “You Inspire Me” pin, meeting new Salesforce professionals, understanding what representation means for them, and finding the motivation to leave a legacy where we have a space that inspires us all in the work we do each day.

Jenifer Parker
Human Resources and DE&I Professional

Dreamin’ In Color was a wonderful experience and a true testament to the power of community. The conference was very intentional, with sessions catering to attendees’ needs—from networking to developing skills within Salesforce to encouragement and advice on career growth. The Renaissance Award Ceremony was inspiring—the keynote speaker uplifted everyone with a truly motivating talk about discovering and walking in your purpose. Additionally, it was incredible to hear about the work being done to support Black professionals throughout the Salesforce ecosystem by the award recipients. 

The Attain Partners team was able to meet over ninety talented Black Salesforce professionals who visited us in the Inspiration Lounge, and this solidified something for me: there is a lot of diverse talent out there, and those who think otherwise are not looking in the right places. Events like this provide companies with the opportunity to expand our networks and tap into the talent pools of diverse communities.

Kora Rea-Alexander
Talent Acquisition Professional

Dreamin’ In Color was truly inspirational through its collaborative spirit that lead to detailed and meaningful takeaways. The conversations surrounding topics like DEIB, the Salesforce Ecosystem, and Workforce Development created strong connections and an environment of inclusion. Attain Partners was truly Teaming for Speed through education, community engagement, and allyship.

My largest takeaway was being nominated for the ‘Doing the Work’ award, which showcased Attain Partners’ strong commitment to making sure all employees feel welcomed and supported throughout their tenure, especially employees of color. Dreamin’ In Color has provided impactful motivation, key relationships, and strong professional development. I cannot wait to see team Attain Partners there next year.  


Attain Partners – Salesforce Experts

No matter if your organization is beginning its Salesforce journey or 10+ years into development, Attain Partners is here to help you achieve your goals. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you advance your mission by harnessing the power of Salesforce.

To learn more, check out our Salesforce Innovation services, read case studies about our transformative work, and explore blog posts from our Salesforce experts.


About the Authors

Pamela Fitch is an Associate Business Development Director and Philanthropy Director at Attain Partners. Pamela is a familiar face in the philanthropy arena with a career spanning 20+ years helping hundreds of foundations in the ever-evolving field of philanthropy technology. As a champion for change, she has been helping foundations and nonprofits leverage the Salesforce platform for organizational transformation and expansion since 2016. Pamela is known for freely sharing her deep expertise with a thoughtful, consultative, and witty approach to solving every problem. Her approach is always “community-centric,“ whether working as a foundation executive or engaging in business development. Her role at Attain Partners allows Pamela to again apply those skills to the communities she desires to see grow, evolve, and increase their social impact to change the world.

Pamela holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and is an unabashed lover of tennis, rescue pets, and margaritas.

Catherine Sylvester is a Specialist Leader in the Salesforce Innovation Services group at Attain Partners with over 12 years of experience in Salesforce specializing in nonprofits. She is passionate about social justice and equity. At Attain Partners, she has the opportunity to pursue her purpose through technology. Prior to working at Attain Partners, she started her company, Coached by Cathy, to mentor and train underserved communities in Salesforce. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development Student from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning from Harvard Kennedy School.

Jenifer Parker is a Human Resources and DE&I Professional at Attain Partners. With a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Ms. Parker has experience in helping organizations develop their DE&I strategies, leveraging her professional training in Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to working at Attain Partners, Ms. Parker led a corporate DE&I program at a private firm in Alexandria, VA. She holds a professional certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University.

Kora Rea-Alexander is a Talent Acquisition Professional at Attain Partners. Mrs. Rea-Alexander is a trusted talent acquisition consultant to Attain Partners and its portfolio companies, and prides herself on exceptional candidate management. She efficiently collaborates on Attain Partners’ Internship Program where she implements her project management skills. Prior to working at Attain Partners, Mrs. Rea-Alexander was an elementary school educator and brought her passion for education to Attain Partners. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Towson University and is an AIRS Certified Diversity Recruiter. 

Jesse Dean is a Marketing and Communications Manager at Attain Partners. Ms. Dean is an experienced marketer with a focus on branding, graphic design, video, and communications. She is skilled in using existing brands across multiple clients, industries, and organizations, as well as developing new brand standards. With a talent for communicating complex data for multiple audiences through varied mediums, she helps education, nonprofit, and private industry clients make their mark, as well as supporting all Attain Enterprises entities, including Attain Capital Partners and Attain Sports & Entertainment and their affiliated sports teams. In addition to creating and managing the Attain Partners brand, she leads internal communications with a focus on employee engagement and enrichment.

Top Seven Reasons Salesforce Higher Education Director Doug Barrow Chose to Join Attain Partners, US

Top Seven Reasons Salesforce Higher Education Director Doug Barrow Chose to Join Attain Partners

Attain Partners is thrilled to welcome Doug Barrow to lead the growth of our Salesforce practice in Higher Education!

Doug Barrow joined Attain Partners on May 1, 2023, as the new Higher Education Market Lead, Salesforce Practice, Attain Partners. In this role, he will drive the growth of Higher Education for Attain Partners’ Salesforce Practice to help our clients improve student success and advance their missions.

Doug joins Team Attain after an incredible journey at Salesforce and Salesforce.org over the last nine years. He helped lead a small education business from fewer than 30 individuals to more than 500. Doug also supported Salesforce as it grew from a lesser-known CRM for business to the clear technology choice for CRM, digital marketing, analytics, development, and alumni engagement. Today, in large part thanks to Doug’s leadership in building this momentum, over 95% of the nation’s top fundraising institutions select Salesforce and its certified application and consulting partners like UC Innovation and Attain Partners.

Salesforce provides an amazing set of technologies that solve complex needs, but that does not mean the purchasing, planning, and implementation processes need to be complex. I am excited to serve our current and new clients at Attain Partners with a fantastic and growing team.
Doug Barrow
Higher Education Market Lead, Attain Partners

It’s no secret that Doug had many great offers for his next career move. We sat down with Doug to learn more about why he believes Attain Partners is the best company to share his expertise, create impactful solutions for higher education institutions, and grow his career.

Seven Reasons Doug Barrow Joined Attain Partners

  1. Attain Partners was named Salesforce.org’s 2022 Consulting Partner of the Year – Education, has led over 500 higher education projects with a 4.97 star rating, has over 240 Salesforce certifications, and is a certified UC Innovation ascend Implementation Partner.
  2. Founder and CEO Greg Baroni is a renowned technology and consulting leader with a remarkable career highlighted by his recent Lifetime Achievement Award.
  3. Like the early Salesforce.org days, Attain Partners is building a rocket ship and has achieved significant growth over the last two years.
  4. Attain Partners’ executive leaders and partners are all extremely talented.
  5. Attain Partners upholds a deep commitment to fostering a culture that is equitable and benefits all its stakeholders.
  6. Attain Partners possesses a rare mix of technical and domain expertise in advancement, student success, enrollment management, and enterprise CRM
  7. Attain Partners is committed to hiring the most talented individuals highlighted by Jason Hunter’s arrival in March. Jason is an early adopter of Salesforce for advancement and UC Innovation’s ascend product. He was also a founding member of the Salesforce.org Advancement Council. Jason is a higher education innovator and his team’s implementation of UC Innovation’s ascend tool is among the largest and most complex projects making him uniquely qualified to guide project success. “I’m excited to work alongside Jason to help Attain Partners’ clients achieve their advancement goals,” said Doug.

Attain Partners is Your Team for Excellence and Speed

The entire Attain Partners team is excited to welcome Doug to our growing team of experts where he’ll help us drive innovation with our education clients. Together, we’re committed to boldly being the best in championing student success, transforming advancement, and collaborating with institutions to move their missions forward.

Attain Partners – Salesforce Experts

No matter if your organization is beginning its Salesforce journey or 10+ years into development, Attain Partners is here to help you achieve your goals. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you advance your mission by harnessing the power of Salesforce.

To learn more, check out our Salesforce Innovation services, read case studies about our transformative work, and explore blog posts from our Salesforce experts. Read our latest advancement insights here

Learn more – Doug Barrow

Doug Barrow has spent his entire 20+ year career in educational technology in strategy, business development, and advisory services helping others achieve their goals. As a first-generation college graduate, the son of a Headstart teacher, and husband of a high school advanced physics teacher, Doug fiercely believes that Education has the power to positively transform lives. The work of Salesforce and its partners empowers those who power education.

With a front-row seat to the amazing growth of Salesforce.org over the last decade and his creation and leadership of the “Higher Education Industry Advisor” team at Salesforce, Doug provides tremendous insight to help ensure implementation fidelity and digital transformation success.  

Hand holding up magnifying glass above diverse group of small people, US

Student Success Takeaways from Salesforce Education Summit 2023

The Attain Partners Salesforce Innovation Team had a great time seeing everyone and sponsoring the learner success track at the Salesforce Education Summit 2023. Below are key takeaways from our sessions, panels, meetups, and conversations.

Contact us to share your insights from the Summit and learn more about how Attain Partners can help your institution.

It is Possible to Achieve Improved Student Success with Discipline and Speed

We had an incredible, engaged audience for our session, “Student Success at Fordham: A Holistic Approach.” We shared how Attain Partners and Fordham University worked together to better serve Fordham’s diverse student needs and support connectedness with Salesforce Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, and Student Success Hub (SSH).

There was a lot of excitement about how Fordham University prepared for and executed such a successful project in only eight weeks. Once our presentation concluded, we continued the conversation with an extended Q&A session as well as a meet and greet with the Fordham University and Attain Partners teams following.

If you want to learn more about Fordham University’s new solution to support students and foster success, watch the video case study.

Attain Partners and Fordham University Student Success, US

The Education Community is Strong

If education professionals weren’t already convinced, the COVID-19 Pandemic proved just how strong they are. This first Education Summit since 2019 was an enthusiastic reunion of over 1,200 Salesforce Education leaders and visionaries excited to discuss advancement, student success, recruiting and admissions, and the new Education Cloud. It was a joy to connect, network, share ideas, and be reminded of the clients, colleagues, and partners that comprise this rich ecosystem of individuals determined to give students the best.

Deepa Bedi, Principal at Attain Partners and longstanding Education Summit attendee, said the energy of Education Summit 2023 was bigger than ever before, and she is “very fortunate to work with some wonderful institutions doing amazing work.”

Inspiring Conversations Transform Education

Attain Partners held five unique meetups where we had the opportunity to dive deeper into discussions about advancement, executive education, and student success.

In our panel meetup with Boston University, we discussed the March 2023 launch of its new student portal where Attain Partners leveraged design thinking to better meet student needs. Head over to the case study to read all about the Salesforce-based solution we developed and implemented at Boston University.

Attain Partners is proud to be recognized as a Salesforce Summit Partner and the 2022 Salesforce.org Partner of the Year – Education, both of which are a testament to our unparalleled expertise in the ecosystem. We employ the industry’s brightest thinkers and problem-solvers to create, deliver, and implement cost-effective, easy-to-manage, and highly impactful Salesforce solutions for our clients.

It was especially exciting to attend this year’s Education Summit with our newest Salesforce experts, including Jason Hunter, Senior Principal/Technical Advisor. Jason’s extensive experience at universities, including his tenure as CIO of Advancement for the University of Colorado, established immediate connection and understanding between education leaders and the Attain Partners team.

Attain Partners Salesforce Education Summit

The New Salesforce Education Cloud is Game-Changing

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this year’s Salesforce Education Summit is how strong and motivated the education community is. Salesforce unveiled the new Education Cloud and Attain Partners is excited to leverage it as we take our clients to the next level in their digital transformation efforts. “The power at our fingertips will help us better support our clients as they engage with learners and provide a more personalized and unified experience,” said Deepa.

During the Summit, we attended the Education Cloud launch session and connected with Education Cloud Director Chris Clark, members of the product team, and Cloud architects to learn more about the capabilities of the newest Salesforce Cloud. It was evident attendees are excited about the long-awaited, game-changing, and robust features of Education Cloud and the integration of the platform across Salesforce Clouds.

Attain Partners will be working with Salesforce to understand the ins and outs of the new Education Cloud and will reach out to our clients to address questions and uncertainties about the impact, roadmap, and licensing. Sign up for our newsletter to be among the first to receive these important insights about the new Education Cloud.

Enrollment Solutions Empower Long-term Student Success

The 2023 Education Summit was Attain Partners’ formal in-person debut of our work and impact in K-12 Education. Kristi Phillips, Business Development Director at Attain Partners had the pleasure of participating in the panel, “Improving Efficiency, Equity, and Transparency in K-12 Admissions and Enrollment,” featuring K-12 leaders from Houston ISD, Austin ISD, Department of Victoria (AUS) and our client, NOLA Public Schools.

These pioneers and innovators shared firsthand insights around why a centralized and digitally enabled enrollment solution is critical for student and district success. From ensuring all families have access to vital registration information, to protecting your district from cyber-attacks and simply being able to report how many students are on campus today, the Salesforce solutions Attain Partners helps clients build are critical to ensuring no student is left behind.

Kristi shared, “I’m leaving Education Summit with new ideas, deepened relationships, and a double-downed commitment to support the K-12 sector to strategically and thoughtfully move away from antiquated point solutions that silo data and put student information at risk. I look forward to expanding our work in the K-12 sector this year, launching our first enrollment solution on the new Education Cloud and partnering with Salesforce to redefine how K-12 schools and districts invite all stakeholders—students, families, faculty, and staff—into their local communities and set our students up for long-term success.”

Digital Connectedness is Essential for Education

Regardless of whether students attend classes online, in-person, asynchronously, synchronously, or in a hybrid model, the ability to connect is essential for student success and retention. As institutions continue to evolve their digital capabilities, creating intuitive paths for digital connection fosters engagement, community, and dedication to lifelong learning.

We met with institutions brand new to the Salesforce ecosystem and those years into successful projects. We explored how to connect systems for improved efficiency and combine the efforts of multiple campuses into a central system under a single license.

Salesforce-based centralized systems empower institutions to connect admissions, enrollment, and constituents to streamline information and make it easier to connect with and support institution goals. Education leaders expressed their desire to build and improve their systems.

Our Clients are the Best!

We couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to see our clients in person at Education Summit 2023 and take in the culture of Dallas, Texas. We enjoyed inspiring conversations about new and ongoing projects, celebrated successes, feasted in some of Dallas’ best restaurants, and even found time for sightseeing, including a trip to the Historic District with our fabulous Oregon State Team.

Stay tuned for more information about implementing the new Salesforce Education Cloud and opportunities to connect with like-minded education professionals to modernize your institution’s systems for improved student success. If you don’t already receive our newsletter, subscribe here.

Attain Partners Salesforce Education Summit