Becoming Salesforce CTA #231, Teaching, and Giving Back to the Community
Proud to be a guide in the Salesforce ecosystem.
It’s been an amazing journey that has led me to where I am in the Salesforce ecosystem. Looking back, I can see how my life’s experiences build upon one another. In 2006 I started working with Salesforce, the same time that I took the leap to build my own consulting company.
I’ve been programming computers since I was young, I started having paid coding projects while I was in High School and then at College (UCSD). After graduating, I found that I loved using technology to help different businesses of all types. I’ve programmed in many different platforms, including DBase, FoxPro, Java, Forte, .NET C# and now Salesforce.
My entry into Salesforce was through leveraging my custom development expertise and building integrations and custom logic. In my early years on the platform, there were only SControls, but then Apex and Visualforce became available for coding. And now we have more advanced capabilities such as LWCs, Flows, and more.
In 2017, After 10+ years on the Platform, I became a Certified Technical Architect, CTA (CTA #231), this was a very tough mountain to climb, and there were many who helped me on my journey.
After attaining this, I had the honor of being asked by Salesforce to help teach in the Architect Program. I have been teaching Developers and Architects in Classes & Bootcamps (Dreamforce and TDX).
As I approach 6 years being a Salesforce CTA, I see how much it has changed me. Having the deep knowledge and experience with the Platform has enabled me to do an even better job with customers, solving tough problems and designing elegant and scalable solutions. However, what I enjoy the most is teaching, sharing, and giving back to the Salesforce Community.
Teaching has always been a part of my life. As a Martial Artist, I attained the rank of 5th Degree Master Instructor in Tang Soo Do, and even owned a Martial Arts Studio at one point in my life. Moreover, because of my love for SCUBA Diving, I became a Certified PADI Open Water Dive Instructor. These experiences have enabled me to carry over my love instructing others into teaching and mentoring in the Salesforce ecosystem.
It is very enriching when I meet another architect or CTA and they say, “You taught my Bootcamp, and helped me on my Journey to CTA”, that is the best reward. This feels like having helped someone to their own “Black Belt”.
And for an even wider impact, when I find that I can share a solution or way of looking at something complex to a group of Configurators and Developers, and they feel that the technology is understandable, I feel that I am helping an even wider audience of students who are on their own journeys.
I have a passion for learning and filling my brain, and I find it fulfilling to share that knowledge and way of “seeing” it with others. I plan to continue to look for ways to give back, teach, and pay it forward.
You can find me routinely leading the Phoenix Architect Community Group, coaching and mentoring Architects on their Journey at Bootcamps or Salesforce courses, and once a year, as co-founder, helping host Cactusforce, https://www.cactusforce.com/, a Salesforce community conference.
I’m really excited to launch this site https://www.stevetecharc.com/. I’ll be posting blogs, videos, and content that I hope will help others.
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