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SWUG Spotlight: Central Texas SOLIDWORKS User Group


Supporting the SOLIDWORKS Community

With the support of our resellers, customers and partners, we have attended SWUG meetings, provided sponsorship and helped group leaders to find presenters with interesting presentations since 2015.

Over the years we have supported lots of group meetings by attending as SOLIDWORKS users ourselves, presenting on a technical topic or providing prizes and giveaways.

We love being a part of the SOLIDWORKS community and working with an amazing network of users.

As part of our role in the community, we wanted to put a spotlight on just some of the user groups across this network and showcase their dedication.

Join us as we shine a spotlight on SOLIDWORKS user groups and their leaders.


SWUG Spotlight

This week we are putting a spotlight on Central Texas SWUG

User Group: Texas Central SWUG

Group Leader:

President: Steve Calvert
Vice President: Michael Sparling

When was your group established? September 1999

Why did you choose to become a user group leader? It’s fun to talk with others who enjoy working with the software and learning along the way so the next step for me was to take over the group from the retiring President.

What is your goal as a user group leader? I really want to show all the local users how each of us learn and use the tool.  It is fascinating to see all the different methods people use to design with the software.

Who inspires you? Many of the power users from around the SOLIDWORKS World.  I’ve always enjoyed watching people like Toby Schnaars or Mark Schneider move through SOLIDWORKS, with so much grace and speed.  It’s kind of funny mentioning these two guys because i’ve never met Mark before and I’m setting here watching Too Tall Toby’s Model Monday Love where he’s talking with Mark about past SOLIDWORKS history.

What is your fondest memory of your group? My first meeting as President.  I was nervous. My fondest memory was receiving the Meetup of the Year award at 3DEXPERIENCE World for our Hockey and SOLIDWORKS User Group meeting.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in starting a user group? It’s a lot of fun meeting new and interesting people who have the same passion as we do and getting in front of these people and teaching and showing others all the neat ways to make your model work better.

What’s the best piece of advice you have been given? Never stop learning, there’s always another method in which your part can be modelled.

How can people learn more about your group? Attending one of our meetings is the best way to interface and learn more about the group.


Follow Central Texas SWUG for the latest information on meetings and more

Central Texas SWUG


Would you like your user group to be featured?

If you are a SWUG leader and would like your user group to be featured in this series – get in touch!

Please email Heather Hasz at heatherhasz@driveworks.co.uk