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With the launch of the new Google Cloud Community, we felt nostalgic. It was time to reflect and highlight some of the best memories from the history of the Community.
The first Google Cloud Community was actually created way back in 2013, when it was called Google Enterprise Connect and, since that time, there have been a few iterations:
GEC (Google Enterprise Connect) -> GWC (Google for Work Community) -> GCC (Google Cloud Connect) -> CCC Cloud Connect Community) -> and now GCC (Google Cloud Community). (Are we missing any: comment below!)
As you can see over the years, the community adapted and changed along with the business. But three things have been missing as of late, which we will emphasize in the new experience:
- A community dedicated to Google Cloud discussions
- A learning community supporting learners through their journey
- Broad Googler participation in community conversations.
Some of you have been around since the beginning, others have joined us at a later point in our journey. We asked our current Community Advisory Forum members and Googlers about some of their top memories from GEC until today.
The Community is supposed to be a place in which you can learn from each other, connect with others, and have fun. Let’s see how previous versions of the Community have helped create that experience.
Learn
A lot of you probably joined the Community because you needed assistance with an issue that you were experiencing, or because you wanted to learn from product experts.
CAF member Ian Crew shared the following memory about learning with the Community:
“I remember learning that it is indeed possible to add custom icons to the app switcher "waffle" in Google Workspace, through a rather convoluted process, and working with the community to refine a set of instructions about how to do it most simply/most efficiently. (Unfortunately now lost a couple of platform changes ago.)
I remember finding out about what was then called the "Google Apps Certified Administrator" exam (now the Google Cloud Professional Collaboration Engineer certification), what I needed to know to pass it, and somehow even earning/winning/getting a code to take it for free (maybe by showing up to an in-person meetup?)”
Connect
If you are looking to connect with other Google product users, the Community is the place to be. Some of you have connected right on the platform, others have met in person at one of our events.
Let's take a look at this GEC screenshot with one of our current CAF program members, KAM:
Let’s hear some of the memories that our Community Advisory Forum members have shared.
CAF member Ron Jarrell remembers his first DC Tech Talk:
“I first met anyone in person at the DC Tech Talk at the Google office, where I met at least KAM [Kevin McGrail] and Luis Vargas for the first time, after initially having been invited to be a rising star. I think I met one other top contributor that day. Also met a bunch of familiar email addresses! That was all organized on the board at the time, in part by Google, and in part by some board members who coordinated most of the work inviting people and such.”
This is what KAM himself had to say:
“Well I was part of the original 1:1 customer briefings for the Google Workspace nee Apps roadmap. Over time, it evolved into a Quarterly Strategy conference call with a few customers. Then it became the Premier Customer Network (PCN) with pcn@googleapps.com and "PCN Announcements and Visibility Notices."
Then in September 2013, the Google Enterprise Connect was launched:
"This PCN Group will soon be retired.
As of October 1st, it is being replaced with Google Enterprise Connect:
https://connect.googleenterprise.com"
The rest is history!
It's been quite a journey over the past decade. I'm excited to see the continued evolution.”
Ian Crew vividly described the following:
- “The tech talk at Berkeley (a couple of photos attached). There was also a wrap-up post about it posted at https://www.cloudconnectcommunity.com/ccc/ls/community/na-g-suite-tech-talks/post/4839642507771904, but I don't seem to have access to that forum anymore.
- The "Meetup @ Googleplex" in Sunnyvale (Tech Corners) in early December 2016. Yes, it was the Bay Area, but most of the event was in a tent. I still remember Lauren Gallegos walking around in a woolen cap and gloves, and still having her lips turn blue. At that event, we also:
- got a preview of what has become Team Drives (and sort of piled on the PM for that project about why it hadn't been released yet!)
- Were in a discussion about what would be needed to create an enterprise offering for Google Voice, even though they were really careful not to commit to actually releasing any of it, and were just doing requirements gathering.
- All of the various meetups, either standalone at the Googleplex, or in Berkeley, or at the various conferences were definitely great opportunities to meet face-to-face with people I'd formed relationships with online. For example, and his son attended the meetup in Berkeley.
- I remember collaborating with the team from Seagate (Rosemary Arce in particular) to press Google on a number of feature ideas/fixes. It was great to get confirmation that our concerns were often shared more generally, outside of our industry vertical (Higher Education).”
Check out some of his photos:
CAF member Brian Kim posted this:
“I had to search in my inbox for cloudconnect.goog. Haven't met anyone in person, but got to know a few of the members well through other communities (reddit, slack, google group, etc.) looking forward to climbing up the digital leaderboard. (I am a sucker for gamification). if i could trade in my Reddit karma, i would.”
We love to hear it, Brian. Speaking of gamification...
Fun
In addition to being a great place to learn and connect, we also want you to have fun in the Community. That is why we are launching this new Community with a new badge and rank system that makes it enjoyable to participate. We’ve also always made it a point to highlight notable Community members.
Dominik, another CAF member, posted this fond memory. Congrats, Dominik!
“I remember in the community before the current CCC one of my posts got featured in manually curated weekly community roundup emails.”
Googler Lauren Gallegos had her own fun story to share:
“During our large global meetup in 2017 at tech corners we had a party on the first night and ended up getting our TCs [Top Contributors] to sing karaoke with the team. I can't remember the song but it was so much fun.”
- Lauren Gallegos, Android Security Assurance Program
Do you remember any of the things mentioned? Did you ever meet someone in person a long time after you met in the community? Were there any notable things you learned from the community? What are some of your favorite memories from the old TechTalks?
Share your memories below!