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. The conversation explores the challenges and successes of fostering local meetups, navigating Shopify's support and sponsorship, and the importance of creating a technically focused communityTakeaways- 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.TimestampsFind 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-mergedPicks of the Week(Karl) Banana Chips! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096EVMTE(Taylor) Buckeye Express Carwash(Brian) - Polyphia: https://polyphia.com/Signup for Liquid Weekly NewsletterDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this delivered right to your inbox each week - ⁠https://liquidweekly.com/