SWUGN Lifetime Achievement Awards

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The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to former user group leaders or SWUGN Committee members that have shown outstanding service to the SolidWorks Community for an extended period of time.  Two new names grace the SWUGN Lifetime Achievement plaque following SolidWorks World 2009.

Gerald Davis
The fact that Gerald missed the announcement of the award is a testament to his passion for sharing his knowledge with SolidWorks users – Gerald was dutifully preparing for his SolidWorks World presentation.  I caught up with him after the general session, and his reaction was just what I expected, two fist pumps in the air and a big smile.

Gerald's earned several honors during his involvement with SWUGN and the Colorado SolidWorks User Group.  COSUG was the first ever recipient of the User Group of the Year, last year Gerald took home the Group Leader of the Year award.  You'll also find Gerald at various events, sharing his knowledge of SolidWorks, sheet metal, and manufacturing at user group meeting, SWUGN Technical Summits, and of course, SolidWorks World.  Congratulations Gerald, a very well-deserved honor.

Dan Bertschi
Dan's easy going personality sometimes hides his true passion for the SolidWorks Community.  Dan quietly put together an outstanding user group in the Northeast Ohio SolidWorks User Group, is a regular contributor to the SolidWorks Discussion forums, and now even writes a blog!

I remember a particular meeting I attended with Dan and his group.  More than 100 attendees, SolidWorks CEO Jeff Ray, and the best plant tour I've ever attended.  With that many people, planning and executing the meeting had to be hard.  But when I arrived, there was Dan, cool as a cucumber, warmly welcoming everyone.

I remember when Dan told me he was turning over the leadership of his group.  He assured me that he was not going away entirely, just letting someone else share in some of the fun.  Dan continues to be very involved in the SolidWorks Community, and I look forward to having him around for a long time to come.

The Lifetime Achievement Award isn't handed out lightly, only the very best will see their names on the plaque.  This year we added two of them.

Richard Doyle

Richard Doyle

My official title is Senior User Advocacy & SolidWorks User Groups - but most people just call me "The User Group Guy". I've been a SolidWorks user since 1997, and was one of the founding members of the SWUGN Committee. Since starting the Central Texas SolidWorks User Group in 1999, my career path has led me to DS SolidWorks and a dream job supporting the SolidWorks User Group Network worldwide.
Richard Doyle

@https://twitter.com/swugn

Richard Doyle