Dynamics Profile: Microsoft MVP Scales New Heights with Dynamics CRM

Daryl LaBar, a Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution architect at Indianapolis-based Allegient LLC, likes setting long-term goals.

And recently he achieved two very lofty ones - climbing 7,800 feet to reach the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado earlier this summer, and being named Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP for the first time in July. LaBar is the first Allegient employee to receive the MVP award.

LaBar explains that he set both goals long before he accomplished them and only then with the support and encouragement of those around him - his wife in the case of Pikes Peak and his family, his employer and the entire CRM community in the case of his MVP award.

In fact, LaBar says that the execs at Allegient understand the value in allowing employees to spend time doing things that aren't directly client-related.

Because he's not asked or expected to consistently work 50 or more hours per week, LaBar says he has the time he needs to contribute to the Dynamics CRM community. Additionally, Allegient paid for him to attend conferences, such as ExtremeCRM, where he met other CRM MVPs who encouraged and supported him as well.

A C# and .Net developer, LaBar specializes in Dynamics CRM SDK integrations with external systems and front-end websites with Dynamics CRM serving as the backend.

"I started out as a .Net developer, and when I got hired on at [Allegient], they put me on a CRM project and that's how I got started with CRM," he says. "Primarily, my job consists of development work within Dynamics CRM," ...