Salesforce MVP’s Picks for Dreamforce 2013 -Kathy Lueckeman

Kathy Lueckeman,
Senior Director of CRM and Graduate Admissions,
Wayne State Univeristy

1. Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m the Senior Director of CRM and Graduate Admissions Director at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. (though I live about 45 miles north of Detroit on a little lake in a bedroom community). We launched Salesforce in 2011 and our 200+ users primarily use it for recruitment, retention (customer service) and communications.

2. How many times have you been to Dreamforce? – 2

3. What is your Best Overall Advice to First Timers?

My best advice is to register as soon as registration goes live and build your agenda as soon as the agenda builder goes live.

Since both of those have passed, my best advice is “don’t be shy.” Get to know the people in your sessions. Spend some time talking to folks as you walk to sessions or to the keynotes. Introduce yourself to MVPs, speakers and partners. Take a moment to introduce the people you know to the people you just met. It only takes one Dreamforce to start building your community.

4. Complete this sentence…If I could only go to 1 thing at Dreamforce it would be?

… the Higher Education Kickoff on Monday at 10:30 a.m. You’ll get a chance to hear from the leaders of Salesforce.org, get a great overview of success stories from many schools and rub elbows with other higher ed users. It will be a great preview of the sessions to come.

5. List your top 10 session picks

Building and Fostering Campus Communities
Increasing Student Recruitment and Admissions Efficiency
Delivering Exceptional Student Service
Innovative Solutions For Transforming into a Social Campus
Listen, Learn & Engage: A Social Media Platform for Student Engagement
Integrating Your System of Engagement With Your Systems of Record
Birds-of-a-Feather: Higher Education Institutions
Formula Ninjas
Answers Live (several sessions offered, including two nonprofit sessions)
Email Automation for Higher Education

6. Besides Sessions, give people other advice on things you would not miss, how and why?

The practical HOT sessions are always popular — and everyone needs to go to the Cloud Expo. How else will you get an Apprio tshirt?!?

However, I would recommend leaving time in the agenda to go to the Hilton Union Square’s Ballroom. That’s where you will find the Foundation Zone, where you can meet other higher ed and nonprofit users and leaders in the field. I’ll definitely be there, and you may run into Yale’s Colleen Whalen, WGU’s Niel Nickolaisen, Northeastern’s Nick Zinser, Algonquin’s Doug Wotherspoon or a host of other higher ed rock stars.

In the same area is the Success Community Zone, where you can interact with MVPs. You might even get a chance to meet Steve Mo, himself, or Button Click Admin’s Mike Gerholdt or the Geraldine Gray, the Girly Geek!

7. What parties are you planning on going to?

I usually skip the evening parties in favor of work, but this year I’m signed up for everything! I’m definitely going to the Gala this year and I think the AppBash, the ACF Solutions Higher Ed Reception and the Nonprofit Engagement Party look awesome. It’s going to be a busy week!