We are honored to have been named (again) by Seattle Business Magazine as the best company to work for in Washington State in 2022. This is a testament to the amazing team of professionals we have built over the years, our people-first approach to the consulting industry, and our ongoing dedication to providing resources and support for our consultants. But when we take a look around our industry and those of our clients, the reality of what makes a great workplace has dramatically changed in the last three years. Spurred by the pandemic, many more employees are working from home some or all days of the week - so the definition of a “best workplace” is changing too. With this transition to remote or hybrid style work, we believe it is important to examine and evolve what we as a firm can and should do to remain a preferred place to work in our industry. Below are some practices and tactics we have deployed to ensure we remain a high-quality employer, supporting our employees and further creating a community, no matter where we may do our jobs. Benefits and Support From Home to Office At RedCloud, nearly 50% of our employees now work outside of our home office region in Bellevue, Washington. These remote employees are thriving, delivering top-notch results to clients while enjoying the flexibility to live where they want. We believe that providing a personal touch - even though it may be from afar - can go a long way to keeping a team engaged and feeling that sense of belonging we all strive for. Here’s a quick list of our home-to-office benefits: Personal touch - small gifts, personal notes, and/or coffee gift cards to our remote teams from account managers and company leadership. Top-notch technology—We invest in the best technology (laptops, headphones, mics, etc.) to ensure a seamless work experience. Regular communications with our HQ team - ongoing virtual meetings with account managers and that “open door” policy (even if there is no door!) Unlimited referral bonuses are available for referring candidates and project opportunities. We recognize the value in great people bringing in great people, no matter where in the country they live! How do we stay “great” in today’s remote reality? We believe a people-first mentality is key to ensuring employee confidence, trust, and satisfaction at every engagement. Part of that is providing onboarding and "Triple Touch" ongoing project support. Our account managers are active communicators, ready to support our team from afar or across town. We also strive to offer exceptional experiences for our exceptional employees, including a wealth of professional development opportunities to benefit each person and the team. Training is offered across many disciplines, and opportunities to learn from peers during RedCloud's enrichment programs, mentoring, and social events (remote and in-person) are provided throughout the year. Lastly, giving back to the communities where we live and work is at the heart of our company culture – it’s part of RedCloud’s DNA. Each year, our team gives back to our community partners at local organizations RedCloud has long-standing relationships with. While our community efforts are focused on Seattle-area nonprofit partners, we continue to seek ways these partnerships can extend to other parts of the country and invite our consultants to support with their talent and time, no matter their geography! Join us - either remotely or in person - and find out why RedCloud continues to strive to be a “great place to work.”

It’s been over a year since Chris Munson joined RedCloud as part of our Denny Mountain Media acquisition in January 2022. While Chris may have joined us during a busy transition period, he quickly settled into his role at RedCloud and became a vital member of our team. Read on to learn more about Chris, what he had to say about his colleagues, and more. We’re grateful to have you on our team, Chris! Briefly describe your role and how long you've been at RedCloud I joined RedCloud one year ago via the Denny Mountain Media acquisition. What was it like to join RedCloud (onboarding process)? During onboarding, I had a long talk with one of RedCloud’s Managing Partners, Brett Clifton, and was really impressed. He listened to my concerns and thoughtfully answered all my questions, which really helped me feel comfortable with my transition to the RedCloud team. The entire process went very smoothly.   Given your background and other experiences, what stands out to you with RedCloud? The people I work with at RedCloud are my favorite thing! From my account manager Kelly Hallissey to Don Kenoyer, Emiliya Wazeri, and Ashley Powell, who I work with daily, everyone is extremely professional and skillful at their job. I honestly feel very fortunate to be a part of such a talented team. Where do you see the future of consulting or the future of RedCloud? RedCloud has so many positives that position it well for future success, from its high-quality employees and the way they collaborate closely with clients to the company's commitments to transparency, environmental sustainability, and charity. I also think that RedCloud's strong roots in the Pacific Northwest are a real advantage in building relationships with local businesses and organizations. I think all these things continue to make RedCloud a company that clients trust and would want to work with. Name one piece of technology you couldn’t live without and why? After staring at screens for work and entertainment all day long, I would have to say...my electric guitar! It really helps me to clear my head and relax when I pick it up and play for a few minutes. What are you looking forward to the most this year with RedCloud? I love my job and the people I work with, so I continue everything that I've experienced with RedCloud to date!

What started as a personal project to empower local kids with access to education and technology, has left a lasting impression on the Seattle-area community at large. Rick Rizzs, lead voice of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners, isn’t just an American sports broadcaster. He is a local legend and icon in the community, for his commitment to giving back to those in need - including our long-time community partnership with Rick to provide educational opportunities and supplies to local area youth. Join us as we get to know more about Rick’s nearly three decade long commitment as the founder of Toys for Kids  and their work with the RedCloud team.  What is the mission of Toys for Kids and what types of programs do you run?  The core mission of Toys for Kids to make sure that Christmas shows up for thousands of homeless and underserved children throughout the state of Washington. As the homeless situation in our community continues to grow year after year, so does the need. We want to make sure that Santa Claus shows up for these children.  We have a number of great programs throughout the year. Christmas in July at Seattle Mariners’s T-Mobile Park where we bring over 350 kids to see a Mariners game.  Our annual “Back to School Backpack” program in August The TfK Gala in November where we not only raise money to purchase toys for the children, but also for the Dave Henderson scholarship program where we award $5,000 scholarships to high school seniors. Can you tell us why you started Toys for Kids?  We started Toys for Kids saw a great need in our community among the homeless population, especially with children. I’ll never forget it. [Former Seattle Mariner] Dave Henderson and I were at a local bar in Pioneer Square one night towards the end of the 1995 baseball season. We happened to catch a story playing on the TV that said there were 8,316 homeless people in King County (at least that they could count). We wondered how many of those are children? Neither of us knew. I suggested we get together with some Seattle Mariners players who are active in the community, form our own charity and go seek out these children - and that’s what we did.  Dave and I, with the help of Seattle Mariners players Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Dan Wilson, Julio Cruz, Aaron Sele, John Olerud, Bill Haselman, John Moses, Matt Sinatro, Jeff Nelson, Jamie Moyer, and Omar Vizquel to form Toys for Kids. In our first year we raised $18,000 and were able to support three hundred children from the Broadview Women's Shelter, First Avenue Service and Harborview Medical Center, the latter of which held a Christmas party for homeless children.  Fast forward to today, at our most recent end of year gala we raised almost $1 million, purchasing brand new toys for over 17,0000 homeless and underserved children in and around King County. We also work with more than thirty-six homeless organizations to make sure Christmas shows up for these kids.  And those since retired Seattle Mariners? They still help out with our mission to help homeless kids to this day. What are you most proud of that the Toys for Kids charity has accomplished today? I am proud that: Toys for Kids has a clear vision to help homeless children during the holiday season. We are able to make that happen with the help of so many incredible donors who are willing to provide resources and the many volunteers who donate their time, making all of this come to fruition. We have been able to grow the charity each and every year to fulfill this need and make an impact not only in our community, but those around the state as well.  Seattle Mariners players willingly volunteer their time to hand out toys at the holiday parties.  Our Executive Director, Heather Jones, and her family take care of planning and executing the TfK Gala in November. Their hardwork and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. I’m proud of so many things, but I’m especially proud of the passion that each and everyone of us have to help these children and their mothers during the holiday season. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they get a toy - it lets them know that there’s hope for a better future. That’s why we do what we do. Tell us a bit more about Toys for Kids’s relationship with RedCloud came to be? One of the best things that has ever happened to Toys for Kids has been the relationship with Brett Alston and RedCloud! Heather Jones, had previously worked with Brett through another organization and we are so happy and fortunate to have RedCloud as such an important partner and part of our Toys for Kids family. It’s hard to explain the impact that Brett and RedCloud has had on Toys for Kids or how much they have helped us throughout the year, but, I’ll try. Brett, his wife Wendy and their children along with their neighborhood friends help children in need to get ready for another school season by putting together hundreds of backpacks with school supplies.  RedCloud not only helped purchase multiple tablets, headphonesfor the Broadview Women's Shelter, but also helped install Wi-Fi so they could use this new technology (particularly important during the pandemic’s remote learning)in their hundred-year-old building in downtown Seattle.  Brett and RedCloud are all in with everything we do. Brett is a member of our Board of Directors and is at the forefront, bringing in new ideas and a vision to guide us in our growth over the years.  Without Brett and RedCloud we would not be where we are today as far as making an impact with these homeless and underserved children in our community. RedCloud has been truly a blessing for our Toys for Kids charity and thousands of kids. Can you tell us specifically about the high school scholarship program that RedCloud supports?  One of the best programs Toys for Kids has is the Dave Henderson Scholarship Award.  Many years ago, Dave and I talked about doing something more with the funds we raised for Toys for Kids during our annual gala. One thing we talked about was creating a scholarship for a high school senior who could use some financial help with higher education. Shortly after Dave’s passing eight years ago, we started the scholarship award to honor him. In our first year we awarded one recipient, in comparison 2022 where we awarded ten scholarships!  RedCloud is a vital part of our Dave Henderson Scholarship Award program. As a sponsor they donate an additional $5,000 to the fund to make sure a high school senior has a chance to jumpstart his or her college education with the scholarship. Additionally, Brett is actively involved in - choosing an award winner from the hundreds of essays submitted by high school seniors throughout Washington. But that’s not all. Brett also shows up at the high school of the winner he selected to personally present the award to them. We receive an absolutely amazing response from the award winner, the children in their classroom and the school.  How many games will the Mariners win this season?  I guarantee you the Mariners will win every game each, scoring more runs than the other team and you can take that to the bank. Honestly though, last year was an amazing season for the Mariners and our fans. We got to the playoffs for the first time since 2001!  We were also one of the youngest teams in the AL league. With that core group of players along with the others on the roster and the team that our Director of Baseball Operations, Jerry Dipoto, has put together, I feel very confident that the Mariners will get back to the playoffs again this season. In 2023 our goal is to get to the World Series and win it. I believe in my heart we have the team, the organization, and the fanbase to make that happen. Any final thoughts? I also want to thank you for taking the time to chat with me about Brett Alston, RedCloud and what they have meant to Toys for Kids down through the years. The Mariners have a bright future and so does our Toys for Kids charity because of people like Brett Alston and RedCloud. We are truly blessed and can’t thank him and RedCloud enough. Thank you.

Happy New Year from the RedCloud team! After enjoying some well-deserved down time to recharge and reconnect with family and friends over the holiday season, our RedCloud team is charging out of the gates in 2023, ready to build on the success of 2022 and continue the evolution of our firm as opportunities abound for our consultants. Read on for our top highlights of 2022 and what's ahead in 2023... ​ Opportunities from "New Normal" 2022 was a unique year in the growth of RedCloud, driven by the changing landscape of “back to work” in everyone’s post-pandemic life. Our consultants and corporate team adjusted to the new normal, increasing face time with clients and each other, but also demonstrating how effective the new hybrid work style can be in the right situations. We’re enjoying the myriad of developments that have arisen from the pandemic, ranging from a renewed importance on time face to face, to the vast opportunities for our people and firm provided by hiring talented consultants and serving clients in many new geographies reachable in today’s new “remote” work landscape. ​ Some of the top highlights of 2022 for RedCloud included: We expanded into 18 new states across the country, putting RedCloud operating in 25 states, with more than half of our workforce now outside of our home in Washington State. RedCloud was recently named one of Seattle Business magazine’s Washington’s Best Companies to Work for in 2022, a tribute to our people-first approach and the culture our team has developed here. Supporting that geographic expansion, we invested heavily in the infrastructure of our firm, which enabled us to grow now and in the future. For the 5th straight year, we provided a high school student with a scholarship to attend college in partnership with our friends at Toys for Kids. Exciting for our consultants, we added a range of new Fortune 500 clients across retail and technology including some of America’s largest brands. A substantial foundation of our growth came in thanks to our burgeoning Business Intelligence practice, which provides actionable insights into our clients’ most critical data - which in 2022 included providing technical leadership support to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft maintenance program. According to the Chinese horoscope, the Year of the Rabbit (2023) should be a lucky year for everyone, and accordingly our sights are set high on accomplishing great things for our clients, our team, and the communities in which we live and work. We look forward to continuing to write the RedCloud story along the way - join us for the journey ahead! ​ Happy new year and all the best in 2023!

Meet Sydney, a valued senior associate on our team who recently returned to RedCloud after completing her internship in 2021. With a degree from Seattle University and previous RedCloud experience, she’s already off to a great start, her consulting expertise already at a high level. As an avid fan of vinyl records, Sydney enjoys spending her free time listening to music. Briefly describe your role and how long you've been at RedCloud I am a privacy consultant working with Microsoft's IDEAs team to ensure that data transfers between Microsoft Teams follow their data handling standards and national and global laws. I have been working with the privacy team for just over four months. However, I interned at RedCloud for a year, from 2020-2021. So happy to be back! What was it like to join RedCloud (onboarding process)? Rejoining RedCloud was a very exciting time for me. My communication with Scott Ekman, John Schmid, and Emily Barber during the onboarding process was prompt. It showed they truly cared about me not only as an employee but recent college undergraduate as well. When I went to the office to pick up my supplies, I was warmly welcomed by Brett Alston, Brett Clifton, and other account managers I worked with during my internship. I cannot thank RedCloud enough for the welcome back! Given your background and other experiences, what stands out to you with RedCloud? RedCloud's dedication to their employees' success and happiness, not only with projects but interpersonal growth, is something I deeply admire and appreciate. A fundamental value of RedCloud is giving back to the community in any capacity, which is rare. I was lucky enough to work with the team on service projects during my internship, and that experience made me extremely proud to be working at RedCloud.  What originally drew you to RedCloud? Regardless of the department, the entire team is always available to support employees with any task. RedCloud wants its employees to thrive in their respective industries and navigate the world post the COVID-19 pandemic. The creation of their mentorship program has allowed me to work with people from different parts of the business and develop skills that help make me a better employee, well-rounded consultant, and human being.  Where do you see the future of consulting or the future of RedCloud? RedCloud's expansion of the Business Intelligence and Solutions team, led by Benny Swedberg, put the company in a position to help clients with projects other firms may not have the resources to help with. The team continuously provides industry knowledge and updates through Lunch and Learns, which allows our consultants to provide clients with unique and valuable tools. Name one piece of technology you couldn’t live without and why? I would find it nearly impossible to give up my record player (and vinyl collection). I have not gone a day without listening to music in years! Music is deeply important to me as it connects people worldwide regardless of location, language, and life experience. Music can help teach compassion and understanding and convey feelings otherwise challenging to describe. I have not gone a day without listening to music in years! What are you looking forward to the most this year with RedCloud? I look forward to expanding my knowledge of the privacy industry as I begin my new role. Privacy is a space that is constantly changing due to new laws and regulations but also developing technologies and outside threats to it. The world is now running on data, and protecting that data for users worldwide is of the utmost importance.

Leveraging success in the creation, automation, and analysis of data, our Digital Solutions team is now proudly providing technical leadership support to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft maintenance program. Through the project, RedCloud is building technical capabilities to improve fleet readiness of two different helicopter fleets flown by the U.S. Marine Corps initially, with the plan to expand across additional areas in the future. ​ RedCloud is partnering to develop predictive analytics and reporting capabilities for the DoD fleet maintenance and part replacement, with the goal of improving the availability of the right equipment at the right time, increasing aircraft readiness, and improving planning efficiency. Our BS&I team is working with the DoD department, which conducts maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the U.S. Navy aircraft, engines, components, and support equipment in various locations around the world. ​ “Working with a combination of data scientists and DoD maintenance subject matter experts, we’ll deliver a predictive analytics capability and interactive dashboard,” said Scott Ekman, RedCloud Account Manager. “Our team is proud to be able to utilize expertise and custom applications we’ve developed and are applying in the private sector to add value to such an important mission by the U.S. Marines.” Each year the DoD overhauls and repairs nearly 1,000 U.S. Navy and Marine aircraft, thousands of engines, and several hundred thousand components valued at approximately $4 billion. RedCloud expects this capability will be leveraged across a wide range of operations, producing significant time and cost benefits for multiple branches of the DoD.

As part of our broader community program , we’re proud to give back to one Washington State high school student every year by awarding a $5,000 scholarship to a student who exemplifies high standards and commitment to their community.  Now in its 5th year, our annual RedCloud Consulting/Dave “Hendu” Henderson Educational Scholarship was recently awarded in partnership, as always, with our good friends at Toys For Kids .  Scholarship awardee Desmond Good Bird-Pease, along with Nancy Henderson - wife of Dave Henderson, Brett Alston - Managing Partner of RedCloud, Trent Henderson - son of Dave Henderson, and Seattle Mariners Broadcaster Rick Rizzs. Join us in celebrating this year’s recipient, Desmond Good Bird-Pease , from On Track Academy High School in Spokane, Washington. Our Managing Partner Brett Alston represented the RedCloud team to present the (surprise!) scholarship award at Desmond’s school with  Toys for Kids  Founder, legendary Seattle Mariners broadcaster, and dear friend of RedCloud, Rick Rizzs. Desmond was selected by RedCloud’s scholarship committee for the story he shared of overcoming great adversity in life, moving beyond the negativity in his life to choose a path of compassion and kindness towards others. Desmond plans to continue his studies after high school in pursuit of a career in nursing.   “I have built strength that others never wanted or believed in me to have. I realize that my dreams have become greatly potent. My strength and my smile give me the ability to reach my goals.” - Desmond, 2022 Scholarship Awardee. We wish Desmond all the best on his continuing education journey and cannot wait to see what he becomes and all that he achieves.  ​ We’re honored to be involved for years in our partnership with Rick Rizzs and Toys for Kids, providing Back to School Backpacks , holiday toys, and our annual scholarship. A big thank you to Rick for leading the way and rallying this circle of supporters together to better the lives of children across the state!  See more on the award and hear from Desmond and Rick in this KREM Spokane News Story .

Recently, we sat down with three key members of RedCloud's finance team: Jonathan Avedovech, Financial Controller; Aaron Mabbott, Accounting Associate; and Julia Thompson, Financial Manager of Payroll and Accounts Payable. We delve into their roles, onboarding experiences, and what drew them to RedCloud. From discussing the exceptional people they work with to highlighting the company's vision and leadership, these finance professionals provide unique insights. Briefly describe your role and how long you've been at RedCloud JA: I’m the Financial Controller, and I joined the team only 2 months ago (6/30/22) AM: I joined RedCloud consulting in May of 2022.  I am currently part of the accounting team and work mostly with accounts receivable.  JT: I joined Redcloud last February. I manage payroll, accounts payable and sometimes I dabble in other finance stuff.    What was it like to join RedCloud (onboarding process) ? JA: Are you kidding me?  The people are great!  Smart, quick, fun, and kind!  The interviews were casual and comfortable while maintaining a professional stance that fostered 2-way informative communication.  AM:I really enjoyed the onboarding process at RedCloud.  Brett Clifton made sure I was given the support and training I needed to succeed.  I came from a very different work environment, and I certainly felt welcomed and encouraged through every step of the onboarding process. JT: There was a lot to take in (and still is), but there is also a lot of support. Brett & Brett & Emily are always available to answer questions (even the dumb ones, of which I’m sure there have been many). Given your background and other experiences, what stands out to you with RedCloud? JA: Again, it’s about the people.  It’s always about the people.  There’s an unspoken pride of working for Brett and Brett.  There’s a great balance of emotional maturity, professionalism, intelligence, and fun.  The immense respect everyone shows for each other is both overt and covert.  AM: I am really impressed with the vision and leadership at RedCloud consulting.  Every process is thought out. Every client receives consistent and reliable treatment.  In an industry where you need to stand out to be noticed, RedCloud does that by building relationships with their employees and clients. JT: The people! Everyone is super friendly and welcoming. I also love the flexibility in work locations. What originally drew you to RedCloud ? JA: Glassdoor said it all. AM: A friend referred me to RedCloud consulting after hearing that my previous company was closing their doors. He worked with the RedCloud finance team in the past and gave them rave reviews.  He thought I would be a good fit for an open accounting position, and I am very grateful that he pointed me in RedCloud’s direction. JT: Having worked in this industry since 2007, I’ve read some good things about them. I spent a few years quietly spying on them to see if they had an opening that I could fill. I was totally shocked when Brett Clifton contacted me out of the blue to see if I’d be interested in this role. Where do you see the future of consulting or the future of RedCloud? JA: I think the more clients (people as opposed to businesses) hear through word of mouth on how great our consulting services are in terms of not only getting the jobs done on time and well, but also showcasing our fostering great relationships with other people, then there’s no question this company will continue to grow and expand. AM: I see only opportunities when it comes to consulting and RedCloud.  The Seattle area is known for their tech industries and RedCloud is a company that is always recruiting and retaining top talent.  RedCloud has the leadership and reputation in the tech industries to remain a top player in the consulting world for many years to come. JT: Consulting is a huge industry that is only going to get bigger due to the constant movement of technology and the need for companies to modernize their systems. RedCloud will continue to grow because they hire top talent and treat them like family.   Name one piece of technology you couldn’t live without and why? JA: Phone (being connected to my daughters), Laptop, TV, Microwave, Alarm Clock, Dishwasher, Vacuum Cleaner, Car, any 737’s that’s not the Max – I’m so glad we’re in the 21 st  century!  AM: I am one of those people who could leave a lot of technology behind.  I certainly don’t hate technology and think it is useful for completing my job, but I believe a majority of life should still happen face-to-face.  The piece of technology that I find the most useful is my multiple monitor screens.  As an accountant, I am constantly checking numbers against two sources to make sure they balance.  Having the information side-by-side saves a lot of time and effort. JT: Electricity. Because, duh. What are you looking forward to the most this year with RedCloud? JA: Improved reporting by me and attending the Holiday Party! AM: I am looking forward to new experiences, gaining business knowledge and creating great memories along the way! JT: Since I’m still fairly new, I am really looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the systems that we have in place from an internal operations standpoint. I also can’t wait to meet everyone outside of email.

This year, Power Apps has released some amazing features, with even more to come throughout the year. Although September isn’t quite over, there have been some great announcements, and we’ve highlighted our favorites below. Also if you missed the August Power Apps updates, check out the Microsoft blog here .​ Power Fx: Introducing ParseJSON Anyone who has worked with JSON in Power Apps knows this new feature is going to make a huge difference. Originally, when you needed to work with JSON in Power Apps, you either had to write complex formulas or use Power Automate to parse JSON and write data back to Power Apps.  See the documentation here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/power-fx/working-with-json Power Fx: Introducing Named Formulas Many Excel users have been able to learn Power Apps formulas quickly due to Power FX being the language used in Excel. Many features and concepts have been introduced and now another great Excel tool, Name Manager, is coming to Power Apps as Named Formulas.  Named Formulas are defined formulas that remain up-to-date in the App.Formulas property. An easy way to understand them is if you think about Global Variables. For example, if you have global variables set in the OnAppStart property and you want to update them in your app, you would have to use a control or action to update that variable when you need to change the values. With Named Formulas, they can reference table values and control properties and they always remain up-to-date without having to update manually. Some advantages of using Named Formulas The formula’s value is always available.  There is no timing dependency, no App.OnStart that must run first before the value is set, no time in which the formula’s value is incorrect.  Named formulas can refer to each other in any order, so long as they don’t create a circular reference.   The formula’s value is always up to date.  The formula can perform a calculation that is dependent on control properties or database records, and as they change, the formula’s value automatically updates.  You don’t need to update the value as you do with a variable manually.   The formula’s definition is immutable.  The definition in App.Formulas is the single source of truth, and the value can’t be changed somewhere else in the app.  With variables, it is possible that some code unexpectedly changes a value, but this is not possible with named formulas. That doesn’t mean a formula’s value needs to be static – it can change – but only if dependencies change. The formula’s calculation can be deferred.  Because its value it immutable, it can always be calculated when needed, which means it need not actually be calculated until it is actually needed. If the value is never used, the formula need never be calculated.​ For information, see the documentation: https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-fx-introducing-named-formulas/ Creator Kit – Efficiently create performant Fluent UI based Power Apps Initially released in May, the Creator Kit has gotten some great feature updates and now includes 24+ Fluent UI controls and templates for Power Apps makers to create apps faster and with great UX/UI Design.  The Creator Kit can be used for both Model-Driven and Canvas apps.  For information, see the documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/guidance/creator-kit/overview Here are some other top features to take a look at: Automatically create a Power App from a REST API Power Fx: Error handling graduates to preview Power Platform Administration Planning Beyond September, there will be more Power Platform updates and features to come throughout the next few months in the 2022 Release Wave 2 .

Believe it or not, summer has come to an end as children in our community head back to the classroom for the fall. Each school year, the RedCloud team looks forward to partnering with local programs to provide the youth in our community with the necessary tools for a new season of learning. Again this year, we supported our long-term partners at Toys for Kids Seattle by providing funding and some volunteer hands for 62 backpacks. Each trendy backpack was filled with the necessary items for classroom learning, including pens, pencils, crayons, markers, notepads, calculators, and all the materials kids look forward to shopping for during the back-to-school season. Admittedly, we all scratched our heads when we got all the backpacks stuffed and realized we had two calculators left over. (Oops!) A little quality control goes a long way to ensure every child has what they need to succeed. With all 62 backpacks assembled and ready for eager young learners, we dropped them off to students celebrating the graduation of their summer school program - just in time for school to start! Every fall, we look forward to donating backpacks to support TfK’s back-to-school program. We know how exciting it is to shop for back-to-school supplies, yet many families don’t have the privilege of this experience. “Being able to participate in the process was rewarding for our family and a real treat to see both the surprise and joy on the children’s faces at their summer school graduation. This was an outstanding event where the kids have invested in themselves to ensure they are on track academically for the coming school year.” - Brett Alston, Managing Partner

In this article, Yusuf presents a comprehensive selection of tools and resources to streamline your Power App development journey. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, there's something valuable to discover. Our top 10 tools are broken out into four categories: Learning UX/UI Design Prototyping Development #Learning 01 | Udacity Courses If you’re new to Power Apps, Udacity offers a ton of great courses and there’s a free Power Apps course available to help start your Power Apps journey. Access free Udacity Power Apps Courses here #UXUIDesign 02 | Dribbble Get design inspiration from some of the top designers around the world. You can set up a profile and save designs you like and even showcase your design work. 03 | Microsoft Fluent Design System Microsoft apps like SharePoint, Planner, and Teams use the Fluent UI Design System. While Power Apps allows you to design your app any way you want, following the Fluent UI design system will make your apps fit within the design of the suite of Microsoft apps. Learn more about the Fluent UI Design System here 04 | Material.io Color Tool The Materials Color Tool helps you play with color pallets and even lets you check that your theme meets accessibility standards. The tool also gives you a mockup of your colors to get an idea of how they look on an app. Access the Materials Color Tool here 05 | Figma Figma is a browser-based UX design tool that allows you to easily create wireframes, prototypes, design presentations, and much more. There’s even a Power Apps tool kit you can use to import your Figma app prototype into Power Apps with Express Design. Learn more about Figma here Power Apps Figma UI Kit Creating Power Apps from Figma Guide #Development 06 | Mockaroo Data Generator When you need placeholder data in your Power Apps, Mockaroo allows you to generate data easily and can be exported in multiple formats. Learn more about Mockaroo here 07 | Canvas Apps Coding Standard & Guidelines This Microsoft guide for Canvas apps is a great resource to ensure you’re building a great, organized app with optimized performance. Access the Microsoft guide for Canvas apps here 08 | Power Platform Creator Kit Microsoft’s Power Platform Creator Kit has all sorts of amazing reusable components and apps that help you design and build your apps. Learn more about Microsoft’s Power Platform Creator Kit here 09 | HTML Editor When you need to use the HTML control in Power Apps to display data/info, especially if you’re creating a print screen or formatting data to send an email, this tool makes it easy to create what you need and easily export the code. Learn more about Word to HTML here 10 | Loading Spinners Loading spinners are important in your Power Apps, so users know when action is in process. You can use the standard built-in loading spinner or up your design with a ton of downloaded options from loading.io that even allow you to enter your specific colors. Start using loading.io here

Over the past year, Yusuf has become a familiar face on the RedCloud team and our YouTube channel, creating our monthly Business Solutions and Intelligence learning series (check them out, here! ). With an impressive career focusing on Microsoft Power Platform technologies, Yusuf joined our team after years of experience in the consulting industry. Read on to learn more about Yusuf and his role at RedCloud, what attracted him to our team, and hear about some exciting projects he’s currently working on. We appreciate your expertise and dedication to RedCloud and our clients, Yusuf! Briefly describe your role and how long you've been at RedCloud? I’m a Senior Consultant, mainly focusing on Microsoft Power Platform technologies. I develop business solutions for clients to improve productivity and streamline processes with automations, custom business applications, and analytics dashboards. What was it like to join RedCloud (onboarding process)? The team was very welcoming and with streamlined processes and clear documentation, onboarding was a breeze. Benny Swedberg, the team's Practice Lead, always made himself available and constantly checked in to make sure I had everything I needed and with clear direction. I never felt like I was standing around or unsure of what to do, which happens a lot in other companies' onboarding processes. Given your background and other experiences, what stands out to you with RedCloud? I’ve worked at many other consulting agencies and typically they feel like everyone does the same service/type of work or mainly works for one main client. At RedCloud there’s a large variety of projects and client work with a diverse team that has all types of backgrounds and skill sets, so there’s always an opportunity to develop and learn additional skills. RedCloud also provides tons of support and resources for you, as well as treats you with respect and trust that allows you to lead your work without feeling like you’re being micromanaged or not able to make decisions or suggestions. What originally drew you to RedCloud? The team was super welcoming and easy to have discussions with and I really liked that it was a diverse team with people with all types of different experiences and skills. Name one piece of technology you couldn’t live without and why? Obviously my laptop, but more specifically Microsoft Power Platform tools. They allow me to quickly develop business solutions and analytics dashboards, allowing me to work smarter and make data-driven decisions. What are some projects you’re currently working on?  I’m working on a few projects that have a nice variety in the type of work, which keeps my day exciting and not repetitive. For example, I’ve been developing automations for Azure DevOps to reduce the time spent on tedious, time-consuming tasks as well as creating a custom app that gives teams a simplified view of their tasks to fit their process and needs. I’m also working on developing Tableau dashboards and developing custom API connectors for analytics. Lastly, you can find me on our RedCloud YouTube channel  and LinkedIn  with blogs on all things Power Platform and business intelligence. What are you looking forward to the most this year with RedCloud? I’m really excited to see the RedCloud team continue to grow and the new exciting projects coming down the pipeline.