What an Incredible First-Ever VMUG Connect!
The energy, the innovation, the community — the inaugural VMUG Connect in St. Louis was an unforgettable experience! From insightful sessions to spontaneous hallway connections, VMUG members showed up and showed out. Whether you were exploring the future of VMware, networking over drinks, or diving deep into VCF demos — this event had something for everyone.
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A Warm Welcome in St. Louis
We kicked things off Wednesday with an evening to remember at the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten. Between cold drinks, great food, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Clydesdale Stables and Historic Brewhouse, it was the perfect setting to make new connections and catch up with familiar faces.
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Thursday Highlights: Innovation in Action
Thursday morning started strong — literally — with the VMUG Connect vRun, led by Kamloops VMUG Leader Brian Malerby. What better way to power up for a day of learning?
The Opening General Session featured none other than Pablos Holman, who inspired the audience with his take on using technology to drive global impact. Then Frank Denneman delivered a thought-provoking deep dive into AI integration with VMware, and Weiguo He wowed the room with a live demo of VCF 9.0.
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Friday: Connections That Will Last a Lifetime
From engaging hallway chats to vibrant discussions on social media, Friday was all about the power of community. The certification exam room was buzzing with focus and achievement—congrats to everyone who earned their VMware certification onsite! Big thanks to Broadcom for sponsoring free exams for Advantage members and discounts for all VMUG attendees.
The day continued with action-packed sessions:
– VMware{code} NUC Labs
– Ransomware protection with Eddie Lin
– VCF insights from Darryl Shorts
– NSX management strategies with Maarten Van Driessen
And to wrap it all up? A fireside chat between Chris McCain and Broadcom President and CEO, Hock Tan, followed by an impactful customer panel featuring Matt Heldstab, Justin Sider, Marc Crawford, Eric Kubla, and Wil Gonzalez.
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We’re still feeling the buzz from this incredible gathering. Thank you to everyone who made the first VMUG Connect a success — this is just the beginning.
Check out just a few of the community write-ups below on the first ever VMUG Connect!
Daniel Goes Outside | VMUG Connect 2025
Justin Sider, Invoke-Automation | VMUG Connect 2025 Four Takeaways
Daniel Krieger, SDN-Warrior | VMUG Connect Blog
Check out the buzz on x/Twitter
Check out the conversation on LinkedIn
Until next time, VMUG community!
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