Still Dreaming of Dreamforce

They’ve done it again. Salesforce has pulled off another year of Dreamforce – four days of networking, innovation, education, parties and giving back.

Marching onto the pavement of Howard St., we saw more than just the Dreamforce Plaza… It was a Dream Park! It was as if we were walking past the gates of California Adventures or the spectacle of a State Fair. The streets were filled with chatter, business cards, bright lights and smart devices.

Months in advance, rumors spread like wildfire about what Salesforce would announce, who would be performing at Dreamfest and what would be the most interesting stunt. Salesforce delivered on all fronts.

In case you missed it, here are our top 10 highlights from Dreamforce 2015:

1. This year, Salesforce collected and donated 1,006,225 books. Talk about the largest book drive in the history of book drives.

2. Among one of the major announcements was Salesforce’s follow-up of 2014’s RelatedIQ with SalesforceIQ CRM solution—both for Small Business and Sales Cloud. Although Salesforce already has a CRM called Sales Cloud that integrates with over a thousand third-party software applications, SalesforceIQ for Small Business is an “out-of-the-box” CRM that automatically tracks and analyzes day-to-day business interactions with potential and existing customers.

Who the heck cares? Well this new advance in technology means making quicker connections and eliminating the pain salespeople endure while going back and forth analyzing emails.

3. Female executives hit the stage! Speakers Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company and Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, joined Gayle King for a candid discussion on women in the workplace and in leadership roles.

4. One of the keynotes quickly became a trending topic on social networks. Led by Parker Harris, co-founder of Salesforce, better known as the “Lightning Man,” and dozens of others came onto the stage in blue with stunning leotards and stage props that symbolized the mighty “Lighting” and “Thunder” platforms Salesforce now offers.

Parker demoed the ladder platforms and, more specifically, the new IoT cloud service, which augments the existing partnership with Microsoft. For the industry, this news was demonstrative of Microsoft and Salesforce, two former-CRM archrivals, putting their differences aside to integrate Microsoft’s Office Delve, Office Graph, Skype for Business and OneNote products directly into Salesforce.

5. Right next door to our office at Pier 70 on Wednesday evening was none other than the annual Dreamfest. This year featured performances from Gary Clark Jr., The Killers and the Foo Fighters.

6. Stevie Wonder opened for Marc Benioff, and it doesn’t get much better than that! The singer/song writer put on quite the show, playing his classics from the 70’s, and even changing the lyrics of his famous hit, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” to “Dreamforce is the sunshine of my life.”

7. Dreamboat was the newest Celebrity (Infinity) to reside in our cold San Francisco Bay waters; it housed over 1,100 Dreamforce attendees and guests. Towering over the buildings, the extravagant cruise ship was easy to spot along the Embarcadero.

8. Salesforce announced a significant partnership with AthenaHealth. Together, the companies are working together to create the WISDOM study, a new approach that will completely revolutionize breast cancer research and treatment. According to Laura Esserman, a world-renowned breast cancer surgeon and oncologist, the WISDOM study will use Salesforce to assist in analyzing whether annual mammograms or a more personalized approach to breast cancer screening is more effective.

9. As an SF-based company, we love seeing our sports teams represented! Bob Myers, general manager, and Rick Welts, president and CEO, of the Golden State Warriors (#DubNation) discussed their Strength in Numbers strategy and what they look for in building a championship-caliber team. Larry Baer, president and CEO of the San Francisco Giants (#SFGiants), discussed the team’s culture of success that led to three World Series titles in the past five years. NBD.

10. The Cloud Expo was not only a highlight because of the 400+ exhibitors drawing attendees to their booths to sit in on demos and sessions, have their badges scanned and to receive company swag (though exciting), but because of the 11 BOCA clients that were part of that number! Highlights include Birst, Clarizen, Druva, Hoopla, Jitterbit, Livefyre, NewVoiceMedia, Seismic, The TAS Group, Velocify and Vlocity.

There may not have been actual clouds, thunder or lightning during this year’s Dreamforce, but there was plenty in the digital and virtual atmosphere. Check out our photos below and thank you Salesforce for throwing yet another amazing event. We can’t wait for next year!

Perspective: From the Valley Fire to Silicon Valley

Everyone stop for a second and consider what’s happening around us. In the San Francisco Bay Area alone, Dreamforce is underway, Oracle and Adobe had their earnings calls and the anticipated iPhone 6s is projected to beat sales records.

While we’re in the Silicon Valley hustling and bustling…looking for the next tech unicorn, what’s happening with the rest of the world…with the rest of California…or even just two hours away?

The Valley fire, joining the Butte fire, is taking Northern California by storm. The source, to be confirmed, started in Cobb on Saturday afternoon. The smoke quickly expanded and hovered like clouds before a large downpour of rain, confusing many residents. Quickly, the dry grassland (thank you climate change and global warming) was engulfed by the flames. Steered by heavy winds, the flames were directed straight toward Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake.

Then, the evacuation process began. In a rural area with limited cell service, alerts were not triggered. Notifications were issued publicly online, people were rushing the streets shouting and calling loved ones, telling family, friends and neighbors to evacuate.

With construction on Mt. St. Helena (one of two routes to exit the mountain), it was clear traffic was going to be a nightmare. Many turned around in an effort to recollect additional belongings and find their pets, while others sat in panic and waited out the traffic.

Residents escaped to evacuation shelters across Calistoga, Clearlake and Kelseyville. Others stayed with close friends or family members.

The hardest part of the entire process is the waiting game. Waiting to find out if your house fell victim to the flames, or if by some miracle, it was missed. Of course the waiting game reignites each morning, in the case the flames took a new course overnight. Those with cable and Internet access scan the web, social networks and television networks for updates. Scrolling through photos and videos available for any sign their home is still there.

One by one, Facebook status updates and GoFundMe pages have been popping up left and right, supporting families that had lost their homes and everything in it. While the essentials are replaceable, many things are not. Those impacted are now haunted by the happy memories that were so easily burned away.

As of Wednesday evening, 70,200 acres were burned with only 35 percent contained, 585 homes destroyed, four firefighters had second-degree burns and one civilian fatality.

At BOCA, this reminds us to take a step back and to think about how lucky we are to have what we have, be where we are and to give when we can. This post was written, because the fire impacted not only our fellow California residents, but our very own friends and families. We do not take it lightly and want to do everything we can to help.

Please stand with us and give back to those who need us. Let’s unite as a city, county, state and country to donate what we can and rebuild when this is all over, whether it’s through awareness or physical donations.

All types of donations are being accepted and volunteer opportunities are available for disaster recovery efforts through American Red Cross. Families impacted are accepting monetary donations at their individual GoFundMe pages.

BOCA Is in Great Shape to Serve Health and Wellness Clients

I always had a soft spot for what I call “health and wellness.” That written, when starting my career at Blanc & Otus (B&O), I was trained in business-to-business (B2B) corporate communications – truly deep tech such as application servers, databases, embedded systems and programming languages to business applications such as CRM, marketing solutions and the like. For BOCA to expand in the health and wellness arena, I realized I needed to bring in a health and wellness professional that would be 100-percent dedicated to that sector. 

Today I’m proud to announce the addition of Karin Bauer, our newest vice president that has a 100-percent healthcare background. Karin has handled PR for big brands such as Roche Molecular Systems and established agencies within the health sector like MSL Group. During her career, Karin has worked closely with a broad range of companies within the overall healthcare umbrella – including biotech, health tech and pharmaceuticals. We are very excited she joined our team.

We are also happy to announce that we hired several new employees with deep health and wellness experience. Specifically, I would also like to call out Jim Barillo, our new senior director, working out of Austin, Texas.

More than ever, BOCA is armed and ready to work with new and established leaders in this exciting market.

To better learn about Karin, I personally interviewed her so she could tell her story and share why she joined the BOCA family.

Kathleen Shanahan

Founder, BOCA

Karin Bauer, Vice President, Client Service
Healthcare

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in Healthcare PR?

I’ve worked in healthcare PR for more than 15 years because of the opportunity it offers to help people make better choices about how to live healthier lives, and because I love geeking out over new, breakthrough medical treatments, technologies and services that have the potential to improve healthcare for everyone.

If there is one constant in healthcare, it is that healthcare is constantly changing. This is as true now as it was back in the 90’s when I was doing medical research and discovered two drugs to treat cancer. As those discoveries progressed through clinical testing, new and better treatments for colon and breast cancer were introduced that prolonged countless lives and set new treatment standards.

Watching the healthcare landscape change then, as an in-house PR executive and as a PR agency VP, was no less significant or interesting than the rapid, groundbreaking changes we are all experiencing now due the advancement of health technology, the Affordable Care Act in the U.S. and similar influences on a global scale.

As medicine continues to migrate from being paper-based to tablet- and accessory-based and powered by the cloud, the “point-of-care moment” (the moment that a patient actually receives care from a health professional), will continue to evolve and rapidly change.

This is exciting, because we will get to see better technology, research and development solutions that can improve healthcare for us all. It’s gratifying to help people understand the value of these new developments so they can make better choices about improving their wellbeing and that of their families and friends.

What are your plans with BOCA and Healthcare PR?

BOCA’s strong cadre of clients, incredibly talented team and deeply ingrained ethical culture, make it the perfect communications partner for healthcare companies. Looking to advance awareness and appreciation for solutions that are making people’s lives better and healthier is at the root of this unique moment in time for us.

It’s also refreshing to be part of a company that lives its own values by encouraging healthy lifestyles among its employees. I love that our staff values healthcare highly enough to engage in friendly competition among one another to get on new healthcare accounts!

Have you worked in crisis communications with your past healthcare clients?

I’ve seen my fair share of crises and thankfully managed through them with positive outcomes. These included manufacturing plant chemical spills, fires, product recalls, layoffs and traditional and social media backlashes about new medical solutions. Those solutions required medical and consumer re-education to balance appreciation for how and when new healthcare technologies should be used.

Why did you come to BOCA?

I joined BOCA to work with its incredible team of people. Public Relations is a highly competitive industry. Everyone wants top mind and market share, and it’s our job to deliver that for our clients. With our closely-knit, intelligent and friendly team BOCA makes delivering those wins more meaningful and more fun.

Celebrating the Wisdom of Dads This Father’s Day

Last year, BOCA shared valuable wisdom from our mothers in honor of Mother’s Day. Now it’s time to celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday with a few treasured gems our fathers have given us over the years. We’ve collected some of our father’s quotes and advice on everything from the importance of family to backpacking tips, getting out of your comfort zone, how to discover your true character and more.

From our BOCA family to yours -- Happy Father's Day -- and a heartfelt thank you to all the fathers out there.

  

“Do what you want to do, not what other people say you should do.”

“Don’t listen to me.”

“Don’t take any wooden nickels.”

--Ben Marrone

"Try new things--as many as you can.”

“What's the worst that can happen?”

“If it doesn't work out, you can try something new.”

“Never stop exploring."

--Colette Des Georges

As a child, when people would ask me who my hero was, I would always tell them my father. Ask me again today and the answer would be the same. He taught me so much about compassion and integrity that they are traits that, to this day, I value the most.

--Joel Jamora

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." (Inspired by Oscar Wilde)

--Alivia Snyder

"Who you are when no one is looking is your true character." That's something my dad always told me that has stuck with me not only in looking at myself and who I am, but also in others and their actions. Your true character really does shine in your actions that no one else sees except God. 

--Natalie Wolfrom

  

My father, George, is a doctor and an avid backpacker, so he sent his daughters out into the adult world with four things: a toolkit, an amply supplied first aid kit (fit to do open heart surgery in the wild), and a survival pack (which included a laminated checklist of the contents, which makes re-stocking super easy) AND an understanding that we should be well-equipped in our lives to care not only for ourselves but also the people around us. My dad is someone whom many people turn to for love, support and guidance. He is the smartest man I know, yet also one of the most caring and approachable, so his wisdom and kindness are not lost on us. Rather, he actively makes the world a better place by being in it. I hope to raise my little man to do the same.

--Ashley Breinlinger

I have learned many things from my father, but if I were to choose the top four things, they would be hard work, education, honesty and the importance of family. My father always used to tell me "you are who you surround yourself with." So I take pride in stating I'm surrounded by a huge group of loving, supportive and intelligent friends and family that have helped to shape the human I am today. 

--Sammy Totah

“Choose your words carefully and think before you speak. You’ll never get the chance to take back words once they are spoken.”

--Becky Quinlan

6 Tech Events We’re Excited About This Summer

Photo  By Rob Young from United Kingdom (Moscone Center, San Francisco) Licensed under [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Summer is almost upon us at BOCA! For many, that means taking a well-deserved vacation, but we’re also excited to get out to several hot tech events. Without further ado, here’s what we have on our list for the summer:

Tech in Motion

Date: Thursday June 4th, at 6:00pm

Location: Geekdom San Francisco by Rackspace

620 Folsom St #100, San Francisco

The monthly Tech in Motion event brings many different tech professionals from various industries together. Not only do you meet different people at each event, but the venue and the theme change every month. For instance, past themes included VR, successful women in tech, tech education and more. All events are free, and you don’t have to be in a specific tech industry like engineering to attend. Check out the Meetup page for more details on this refreshingly unique tech event.

Uncharted Minds

Date: Wednesday July 8th, at 6:00pm

Location: General Assembly

225 Bush Street 5th Floor, San Francisco

Uncharted Minds is a leadership series that invites prominent tech industry professionals to discuss their strategies and successes in front of a live audience. Past themes included Bitcoin growth, a debate about the future of wearables and innovation in food startups. Like Tech in Motion, it’s a recurring event with new meetups typically scheduled on a bimonthly basis. Although it’s a paid event, you’ll learn a lot and have the opportunity to interact with tech experts.

MobileBeat

Date: July 13th and 14th 8:00 am-6:45 pm

Location: Hilton Union Square

333 O’ Farrell St, San Francisco

VentureBeat, a popular publication for tech aficionados, also provides a comprehensive tech conference lineup throughout the year. We’re most excited for MobileBeat though, which takes place in July. MobileBeat focuses not only on the growing role of the smartphone, but also how companies who don’t adapt to mobile risk being left behind. MobileBeat includes dozens of industry speakers discussing current tech trends, and with thousands of attendees it’s a great place to network.

Google I/O  and WWDC15

Date: May 28th-29th and June 8th- June 12th from 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Location: Moscone Center West

747 Howard St, San Francisco

The tech giants Google and Apple have a profound effect on the rest of the industry. That’s why we’re excited to see what new products and announcements make headlines at Google I/O and WWDC15. Will VR continue to be a big focus for Google? Is the Apple Watch a failure? No matter the outcome these two conferences will provide us with a taste of each tech giant’s future strategy and how new technological breakthroughs will impact our lives. Even if you can’t attend, remember you can read all the breaking news stories and watch select live panels online.

Our Palo Alto 2030 The Summit

Date: Saturday, May 30th, 2015 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Location: Mitchell Park Community Center 3700 
Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are already futuristic cities. However, it’s exciting to imagine what life will be like here 15 years from now. That’s the focus of Palo Alto 2030 The Summit, a free event open to the public. If you’re interested in sharing your vision for the future and how to solve current tech problems then let your voice be heard on May 30th, 2015.

This is just a small sample of the tech events we’re excited about this summer. Hopefully you can make it to at least one of these for the opportunity to learn something new and meet interesting people while you enjoy your summer.

BOCA Tips for Working From Home

Photo: by "San Francisco DSC09797". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://bit.ly/1zK850B

Working from home means no commute and ample time for breakfast, but it can be hard to remain motivated and productive. Here are some tips to help you fight distractions and stay on task.

Keep Your Morning Routine

Sure you could sleep in, but if you want to stay focused, it’s better to keep your morning schedule. Rituals like showering, making coffee and putting on your work clothes all help jumpstart your day. A later start makes it harder to stay focused, and you’re more likely to procrastinate.

Work a Little Earlier Than Usual

If you normally begin work at 9 a.m., try starting at your usual commute time. Your workday will be less stressful and during the later hours you can focus on winding down and prepare for tomorrow.

Make Your Schedule More Specific

At work, your manager enforces your schedule, so it’s easier to stay focused. The opposite is true at home where you’re the one calling the shots. It’s easy to lose track of time, take too many breaks or focus on a single task for too long. So to stay on schedule, make your schedule more specific and map out each hour of your day, detailing specifically what you want to accomplish during that time.

Find Your Best and Worst Hours

Although many people are most productive in the morning, you may not be. That’s okay, too. If your job doesn’t require you to work directly with other people’s schedules, find your own most productive periods and make the most of them. If you’re not sure what your peak hours are, then it’s a good idea to use a weekly log and take notes about how you feel during different time periods. Always try to work when you are at your best.

Create a Habit Loop

Often just getting a project started is the hardest part. To trick yourself into working efficiently, create a habit loop. Eventually, managing tasks quickly becomes routine. The most effective pattern is to introduce a cue, a routine and a reward.

For example, you might cue yourself by brewing coffee or tea. Next, your routine is to go to your desk and start working on something. Finally, your reward is enjoying your beverage while you start your work for the day. Finding a routine that perpetuates good habits is an easy way to keep a positive momentum going throughout your day.

Create a Workday Playlist

The right music can help you stay focused and on task. For mindless tasks like creating data entry or compiling reports, pick music that keeps your energized. Podcasts and audiobooks are another option that can teach you something new while you work.

For tasks that require more focused attention, it’s best to choose something without vocals and a steady beat to keep you from getting distracted. Everyone processes music differently, so experiment and find out what works for you.

Prevent Distractions

Anything that disrupts your workflow interferes with your productivity, so it's good idea to plan ahead. Is there something in your surroundings that habitually distracts you? It might be worth investing in some noise canceling headphones or going elsewhere to work instead.

Identify the things that get you off track and actively limit them. Visiting Facebook every five minutes? Block it. Getting bothered by texts from friends? Put your phone away. You can always revisit these things during breaks, just make sure it’s a deliberate decision instead of a habit.

Change Your Scenery

Fight off the  boredom of being in the same old environment. Find places you don’t typically go in your day-to-day so you can establish a new space specifically for you to work in.

Working effectively without an office doesn’t have to be hard if you take the necessary steps to remain productive. Test our tips out and see for yourself.

How to Make the Most Out of Your Commute

Photo: By lpcmidst0128 (Flickr: ETI #7118) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://bit.ly/1dNKLWe

Working in San Francisco means plentiful fun distractions and the thrill of working in a thriving tech hub. However, getting in and out of the city isn’t always pleasant. Even if you live and work in the city you can face long commutes, especially at peak hours. So how do you make the most of your commute and avoid going into the office stressed out or dreading the trip back home? Depending on how you normally commute into the city, there are several options to consider.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TIPS

Take The Route Less Traveled

As Mark Twain said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.” This truth of this saying is definitely evident for public transportation. Most people take the most common bus route or take BART, but if you do some research online you’ll find that not all public transportation routes are created equal. A certain bus may take a bit longer, but the benefit is worth it if you don’t have to transfer and there’s always an open seat. Do some research and see if you’ve been neglecting other routes that are more convenient or comfortable.

Find the Best Time

Just like discovering a neglected route, picking the perfect time to commute can make all the difference. Review your bus schedule and experiment. For instance, if the 8 a.m. bus feels too crowded, consider taking one at 7:30 or 8:15. Test different times on your trip home too. Lastly, it never hurts to ask your boss if it is okay to shift your hours back or forward if it makes for a more efficient day.

Walk a Few Blocks to Your Main Stop

If you normally go to the bus stop closest to your home, consider walking 10-20 minutes to a bus stop closer to the beginning of the route. This way you can ensure you have a seat and don’t have to stand the whole time.

WHAT TO DO WHILE COMMUTING

Write

A long commute doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you plan ahead, you can start your day early by using your commute time to write. A tablet is your best friend here. You can easily start drafting emails, a writing project, or a to-do list and then have it all sync up on your computer when you get to work. The lack of Wi-Fi on buses also means it’s the perfect place to brainstorm new ideas since you don’t have to worry about the distractions of the Internet.

Listen to Something Informative or Motivating

If you’d rather not write, then listen to some NPR podcasts or audio books to educate yourself while you commute. You could also re-listen to any work meeting or client presentation to refresh your mind. Having a bad day? Listen to some uplifting music, guided meditations or self-affirmation scripts. It may not feel like much at first, but after a few weeks of you’ll find yourself in a much better mood when you arrive at the office.

Read

Staying on top of pop culture and the news is important. Use your commute time to read all the big morning headlines and social media chatter before going into the office. You can also put you research skills to good use and read about topics relevant to your client.

CAR TRAVEL TIPS

Learn to Welcome Red Lights and Traffic Stops

So you hit a red light or construction zone, and traffic has screamed to a halt. There’s no need to join the crowd by getting angry and being negative. Instead, sit back, take a few deep breaths and relax. Just like at work having a few minutes to unwind can make a long commute more manageable.

Take Conference Calls

Meetings take lots of time. So, if your co-workers don’t have to be present, you can easily hook up a Bluetooth device or headset to talk while you drive. The extra time you don’t have to set aside for meetings can dramatically increase your productivity at the office.

Rideshare Services and Carpooling

If you hate public transportation and driving, consider rideshare services like Lyft or Uber or carpool groups. Uber can get expensive, but it’s worth it if you have a more enjoyable commute and use that time to work. Since you’re not the one driving, you can do everything we mentioned before while the driver takes you to work. If rideshare services are breaking your bank account, find some carpool spots. Many are very inexpensive, and some are even free.

BEFORE AND AFTER WORK TIPS

Use Nearby Places to Work

Sometimes changing your schedule is non-negotiable, so use your extra time to jumpstart the day by working at a nearby coffee shop or restaurant. Ditto for the trip back too. It’s often more productive to wait until traffic dies down and plan ahead for tomorrow.

Network

Maybe your early-bird schedule coordinates with that reporter or client CEO you just met. Use the time before work to meet for coffee and discuss goals for the future and build that working relationship. After work, there are many happy hours, meet ups and speaker panel events that begin at 5:30 or 6 p.m. Try these once or twice a week and stay for at least a half hour to meet people and expand your network.

Take a Class

Classes are also a good way to learn something new if you feel that you do enough networking already. Start small and find some area of your life you want to improve and just attend one session each week. The weekly class pays off in the long run because you're building new skills, and it's a good way to get more experience without starting a new job.

A daily commute can be a nightmare, and sometimes it’s unavoidable. However by planning ahead and changing parts of the routine that are under your control, you can make your commute more enjoyable and productive. Consider these ideas and see if you notice a difference.