In this episode, Karl and Taylor engage in a lively conversation with Brian Gonzales, a graphic designer, web developer and founder of Solver Collective. 

Brian shares his origin story, detailing his transition from Drupal to Shopify and his passion for building a Shopify developer community in Portland. He discusses the pivotal moments in his career, including his passion for retail and the importance of in-person connections. 

Brian emphasizes the need for technical engagement within the Shopify community and outlines his efforts to revive a dormant group, focusing on creating value through participation and collaboration.

Takeaways

- Brian is a graphic designer and web developer from Portland.
- Brian founded an agency called Solver Collective.
- He transitioned from Drupal development to Shopify in 2018.
- He emphasizes the importance of community in the Shopify space.
- In-person connections are vital for building strong networks.
- Community building requires clear messaging and purpose.
- Building a community takes time and persistence. 
- Navigating brand guidelines can be challenging but necessary.
- Community events foster connections and knowledge sharing.
- Personal connections enhance professional networking.
- Swag can be a fun way to engage community members.
- Creating a fun atmosphere at events can enhance participation.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Early Morning Energy
02:57 Parenting and Work-Life Balance
06:01 Basecamp and Project Management Tools
08:59 Guest Introduction: Brian Gonzales
12:01 Brian's Superhero Origin Story
15:01 Transitioning to Shopify Development
18:51 The Journey Begins: From Fear to Opportunity
25:09 Navigating Career Choices: The Temptation of the Porn Industry
30:32 Building Community: The Importance of In-Person Connections
37:24 Reviving a Dormant Group: The Birth of a New Community
43:18 Fostering Technical Engagement: A Focus on Developers
49:46 Creating Value: Engaging the Community through Participation
50:05 The Quest for Swag and Community Engagement
52:16 Navigating Shopify Collaborations
56:30 Building Community Connections
01:01:01 Change Log Insights and Updates
01:05:03 Personal Picks and Recommendations

Find Brian Online
- Solver Collective: https://solvercollective.com/
- PDX Shopify Website: https://shopify.pdxmeetup.com/
- PDX Shopify Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/pdx-shopify-meetup/

Dev Changelog
- Support added for $app in product queries by metafield: https://shopify.dev/changelog/support-added-for-app-namespaces-in-product-queries-by-metafield
- InventoryItem Queryable and Updatable with Products Scopes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/inventoryitem-queryable-and-updatable-with-products-scopes
- Apps will be reviewed for necessary scopes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/apps-will-be-reviewed-for-necessary-scopes
- shop.metaobjects is now just metaobjects in liquid: https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopmetaobjects-is-now-just-metaobjects-in-liquid
- [Action Required] New Catalog APIs: https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-catalog-apis
- [Deprecation] Payout statuses In Transit and Scheduled have been merged: https://shopify.dev/changelog/payout-statuses-in-transit-and-scheduled-have-been-merged

Picks of the Week
(Karl) Banana Chips! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096EVMTE
(Taylor) Buckeye Express Carwash
(Brian) - Polyphia: https://polyphia.com/