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SWUG Spotlight: Connecticut SWUG


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 Connecticut SWUG

User Group: Connecticut SWUG

Group Leader: Paul Parise, Steve Bukowsky, Ed Poole (Group Leader Emeritus)

When was your group established? 2009

Why did you choose to become a user group leader? I wanted to give back. I started attending SWUG meetings in about 2002. I could not believe the quality of the technical content and the event planning, especially by volunteer group leaders. I learned a lot about SOLIDWORKS and also made many SOLIDWORKS acquaintances.

What is your goal as a user group leader?  At this point I feel that we are facing two challenges: 1) Restarting in-person meetings after the pandemic, and 2) Evolving the User Group Experience to adapt to the evolution of the 3D experience as the focus moves from the desktop to the cloud.

Who inspires you? Elon Musk

What is your fondest memory of your group? Paper Airplane contests at the New England Air Museum, after CMNC-SWUG Meetings.  Also, Women in Engineering presentations at ConnSWUG-MastCam meeting.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in starting a user group? Find a couple of good people to assist you.  Stay in contact with resource people at Dassault.


What’s the best piece of advice you have been given? Stay focused

How can people learn more about your group? We are restarting in-person meetings with a special event at UConn in October.  Plan to come to that meeting!


Follow ConnSWUG for the latest information on meetings and more

Connecticut SWUG


Upcoming Events 

ConnSWUG is Back!

ConnSWUG will be hosting its first in-person meeting since 2019 on Thursday, October 13, 2022 at UConn IPB.

To kick off the meeting, the group welcomes Sal Lama, R&D Director at SOLIDWORKS to present an overview of What’s new in SOLIDWORKS to help everyone get back up to speed.

The event will be held at UConn’s Innovation Partnership Building (IPB) in Storrs, CT.

Find out more and sign up to join here.


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