Summit 2024 Preview: Bringing the Dynamics mindset to San Antonio

(Editor's Note: MSDW is the media sponsor of Community Summit North America 2024.)

Coming to Summit North America every year is such a great investment of my time and resources. I’m grateful to my company, GraVoc, for also recognizing the impact this event has on me and our team, and for supporting my continued involvement. This year in San Antonio will be no different. I'm typically on a headstrong mission to meet ISVs, network deeply with colleagues and peers, learn the latest features and functionality directly from Microsoft, broaden my knowledge attending educational sessions, and help infuse "the Dynamics mindset" in others within our community by participating on a few panels and leading my own deep-dive sessions for both Dynamics GP and Business Central.  Let's break it all down! 

With two of my own presentations lined up, in addition to duties moderating or joining "Ask the Experts" panels, I am expecting a busy Summit 2024. Then, of course, I enjoy volunteering time at the medic booths helping users 1:1 with their issues, questions, and problems in the GP or BC applications. 

My 2024 Sessions 

My Business Central session this year is on Tuesday afternoon and it is a really fun one called "How to Accelerate your Power BI Reporting Capability with Business Central." This is one of a select group of deep-dive, 90-min sessions at Summit 2024. We cover a lot of concepts, tricks, tips, and techniques for helping users advance or enhance their reporting skills with BC. The last half of the session explores the Power BI Telemetry App for Business Central, and how and why I rely on its reporting every day to support our customers and developers.  Last year this was a very popular session, and presenting a new version this year will allow me to demonstrate how the app has evolved. 

My Dynamics GP session is on Wednesday afternoon, and is also a special deep-dive, 90-minute interactive presentation called "Power BI Reports You Need for Your Dynamics GP Users." Every year this gets more popular, and Dynamics Communities flagged this as a 'must-have' for the GP audience this year, so I am delighted to get the chance to do it again. Anyone who uses or supports GP should attend because we cover dozens of examples of real Power BI reports for GP. I will share a collection of my favorite reports with attendees for free to take home and plug into their own GP environment to get started using Power BI with minimal friction. 

Panelist Participation 

Each year the "Ask-the-Experts" or track-specific panels attract lots of attendees, and I'm taking part in two this year!

For Business Central, on Monday afternoon, I'm delighted to be participating in the "New to BC – Roundtable for Your Challenges" session with Shawn Dorward (MVP), Jessie Sanger-Picard, and Geralynn Robison.  They all know their stuff, so come get your questions answered. This happens to be the third 90-min session I am taking part in at Summit this year, but who's counting?! In this session we manage all the rapid-fire questions. In the past we have heard from new users looking for clarity about BC as they transition from another ERP or accounting system. Some people attend to talk through other questions or ideas on their mind about BC. No matter the topic, you’re sure to learn something in this engaging format that has become a favorite for many users. 

For more than two decades I've been a Dynamics GP system administrator and I have a passion for ensuring the GP systems I support run really well. John Kirsch, one of the best in the business, will join me in leading a lively discussion about GP system administration. We will be tackling any questions that the audience can bring. Upgrades? Service packs? Network configuration? SQL Server? Windows? Report Writer?  Bring it on! 

Tech Medic Desk 

Summit has a neat tradition that I look forward to being a part of every year called the Tech Medics. I've worn the white lab coat a few times at the GP Medic booth, and it's fun to be able to meet GP users of every kind, and then help research or explain a tough issue they brought to the event and need resolved.  I've even kept in touch with a few I've helped over the years, and I see many of them returning to Summit each year.   

This year I'm book-ending my visit to Summit in San Antonio at the Tech Medic booths. Bring your questions and look for me Monday morning at the GP Medic booth, and at the BC Medic booth for the very last shift on Thursday.     

Education & Learning 

I recently started my own blog, The Dynamics Mindset, where I am offering a variety of deep-dive explorations on Dynamics GP, BC, and Power BI topics that align with themes we are sure to hear at Summit NA. For example, I am working on a multi-part series targeted at GP users called "Let's Compare" where I explain why BC is not GP in the cloud, and what to do about it, step by step. The idea is to inform and help the GP community understand and embrace their move to the cloud. 

I have presented dozens of conference sessions over the years and was even recognized as a Summit Legend last year for my contributions. When I’m not presenting, at an event, you will find me sitting in the front row of other people's presentations because there is so much to learn. 

To me, it’s a data-driven decision: the more sessions I go to, the more I get to know, and the more I can do, in a better or more efficient way. The sheer volume of sessions available this year is incredible – over 600! The experts selected this year to present are diverse, helpful, and want you to take something that you can use.