Shift Diverse Business Solutions got its start in 1979 in San Diego, California, when cofounders Sherry Shafiei and Sydney Furbush spotted a gap in support for firms working in the regulated utility sector. What began as a small advisory outfit has grown into a national network that helps prime contractors and subcontractors win work, refine proposals, and forge the right connections.
Today, Shift DBS offers a suite of services designed to turn decades of industry knowhow into real results: deep-dive RFP analysis, hands-on proposal coaching, capability statement reviews, and targeted networking events. Members pay an annual subscription fee for access to exclusive training, peer introductions, and supplier promotions.
During our in-depth interview with Sherry and Sydney, they opened up about the operational hurdles they faced and how Glue Up’s unified platform delivered measurable gains.
Here’s a closer look at their journey.
Overcoming Fragmented Systems to Eliminate Manual Bottlenecks
Before upgrading to our AI-powered event management software, Shift DBS managed member records, event registrations, email campaigns, and community updates across separate tools. Although they didn’t name the specific platforms, it was evident they weren't happy with slow processes, data discrepancies, and frustrated attendees.
Data fragmentation across the member value chain forced their team to export spreadsheets, reconcile attendance by hand, and maintain paper-based check-in lists.
Selecting A Single Platform to Unify CRM, Events, & Community
Shift DBS evaluated multiple solutions but chose Glue Up for its end-to-end functionality. So, naturally, one of the most important questions we asked was what made them pull the trigger.
Sherry and Sydney highlighted four core Glue Up features that directly addressed their biggest pain points:
Integrated CRM with deal tracking and interaction logging
Configurable event management templates with sponsor/logo fields and speaker profiles
A LinkedIn‑style community feed for member announcements and supplier promotions
A white‑label mobile app for branded check‑in and on‑the‑go engagement.
Executing A Phased Rollout to Safeguard Member Experience
Transitioning to any new solution can be challenging, especially when you’re already juggling several platforms and battling software bloat. Shift DBS knew that a big-bang launch could leave staff scrambling, so they took a more strategic, proactive approach:
During a quieter quarter, the team imported 80% of contacts and member records via Excel templates and then manually mapped the remaining entries to match Glue Up’s data structure.
Next, they built event templates to reflect Shift DBS’s branding, uploading sponsor logos, defining session metadata, and adding speaker profiles, so every event page looked polished immediately upon launch.
Over five live sessions, staff worked directly with Glue Up experts to master CRM setup, event management workflows, and community publishing.
Delivering Rapid Impact: Streamlined Check-In & Enriched Engagement
Another question we ask clients is about measurable impact: what changed once they went live, and what quantifiable benefits did they see—time saved, revenue gains, errors reduced? For Shift DBS, the results spoke for themselves.
Immediately after go-live, the team witnessed dramatic improvements, backed by dedicated Glue Up assistance every step of the way:
50% Faster Check-In
By replacing paper lists with the mobile-app badge scanner, staff cut attendee wait times in half—transforming a manual, error-prone process into a swift, digital check-in.
Centralized Member Hub
Rather than hunting through scattered emails, members now access event details, post updates, and view sponsor promotions in a single, scrollable feed, minimizing data silos and ensuring no announcement goes unnoticed.
Consistent Virtual and In-Person Workflows
Shift DBS standardized on one set of templates and data-capture fields for both webinars and onsite workshops, saving hours on event setup and providing unified reporting across formats.
White-Label Mobile App Delivered Branded Experiences
To reinforce their identity and unlock additional revenue streams, Shift DBS opted for Glue Up’s white-label app, complete with custom logos, colors, and templates.
“We can have clients actually use our platform through the Glue Up infrastructure and streamline revenue through that process by just leveraging our white-label app and customized templates.” — Sydney Furbush
If you’re already on Glue Up and want to upgrade your member experience with a white‑label app, contact our team to build your custom solution.
Ensuring Long-Term Partnership Through Dedicated Support
At the end of our interview, both cofounders stressed that Glue Up’s responsive service sealed the deal for them. Sydney explained how their first interaction set the tone:
“Mervin (our demo rep) understood the system very well. He walked us through the app on both web and mobile, answered our questions, and followed up until everything worked in our environment.”
Meanwhile, Sherry highlighted the ongoing support they rely on:
“Even when bugs cropped up in our white-label app, Ethan jumped in, admitted what he didn’t know, then came back with fixes, showing us there’s always someone ready to solve our challenges.”
These commitments to expertise and rapid resolution give Shift DBS confidence in a true partnership, one built to evolve as their needs grow.
Get Start with a Unified Platform
Thousands of organizations still juggle disjointed point solutions, wasting time and staff energy. Shift DBS’s strategic move to Glue Up consolidated disparate systems into one cohesive platform to streamline operations, elevate member engagement, and unlock new growth possibilities.
You too can achieve the same results—book a demo today and tell us about your challenges so we can tailor a solution that fits.
