Rafa’s Journey to the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame: Community at the Core

Last week, Salesforce inducted Rafa Hernandez into the MVP Hall of Fame. This milestone is reserved for a small group of contributors who have embodied the spirit of the MVP program for five years in a row. To put it in perspective, fewer than 200 MVPs are selected globally each year. Even fewer go on to earn Hall of Fame status.

We couldn’t be more proud. But we’re not surprised. Rafa’s journey is rooted in generosity, leadership, and deep platform expertise. His work has left a lasting imprint not just on the Salesforce ecosystem, but on Saltbox Mgmt as a whole.

What It Means to Be an MVP (and Then a Hall of Famer)

MVPs are nominated by their peers—people whose careers, projects, or lives have been shaped by their help. Nominees must give back consistently and selflessly, whether by hosting community events, mentoring others, or sharing their platform knowledge openly. This isn’t a one-time badge. Each MVP is reviewed yearly to ensure they are still actively helping others rise.

To become a Hall of Famer, that level of support needs to happen for five straight years. The Hall of Fame selection process is led by the Salesforce Trailhead team, with support from past Hall of Fame recipients. Together, they evaluate your long-term impact and decide whether you’ve built a legacy worth recognizing. Once you’re in, you don’t reapply. You are considered an MVP for life.

Rafa’s Impact: A Full-Circle Moment

For Rafa, this recognition is deeply personal. Much of his impact stems from the program he leads in Mexico, where he has spent years mentoring students and connecting them to meaningful careers in tech. Saltbox Mgmt has proudly partnered with him in that work—from supporting classroom teaching to helping nonprofits build capacity.

Rafa may be the face of the program, but it has always been a team effort. Juan, Shane, and Freddy have all stepped in as instructors. It’s hard to name everyone who has contributed, but several others have played a key role. Edgar Cambranes has been a longtime supporter at UADY. Angela Mahoney, a fellow Hall of Fame MVP, was one of the earliest champions of the program. Larry Latimer has also contributed as a teacher. From within the Saltbox team, Emma has shared her skills as an instructor, and Rafa’s partner, Montserra Bustamante, has taught as well.

Together, this community has helped build a program grounded in shared mentorship and sustainable impact. It’s a win for the students, the nonprofits they support, and the broader Salesforce ecosystem.

Bringing the MVP Spirit to Merida

Rafa’s leadership shows up in the day-to-day moments too. Earlier this year, he organized a creative and community-focused “Nerd Olympics” at our Merida office. The event featured game stations, a potluck, prizes, and a raffle. It brought people together through curiosity, fun, and connection—all core to how Rafa leads.

Why It Matters

The Salesforce MVP program is more than a title. It is recognition of people who make the platform and the people around it better. Rafa continues to do just that, whether he’s running a classroom, supporting a client, or mentoring a teammate.

We’re lucky to call him a colleague, a partner, and a friend. And we’re grateful that the broader community sees in him what we’ve known all along: when Rafa shows up, people learn, grow, and thrive.