Crystal Ahrens is a visionary technology executive and dynamic thought leader, bringing over 18 years of expertise in solutions architecture, ERP implementation, and technology leadership. She currently serves as the Vice President of Solution Delivery and System Architecture at HEICO Companies, where she is at the forefront of delivering innovative business solutions and leading large-scale organizational transformations. Crystal’s career is defined by her ability to bridge the gap between technology and business goals across industries such as manufacturing, oil and gas, banking, and construction. Crystal’s path into the technology world was inspired early on by her mother’s career as a project manager, influencing her to pursue a hands-on foundation in development and project management. This foundation laid the groundwork for her rise into leadership roles, where she has consistently demonstrated a knack for building and managing complex enterprise solutions. Her professional experience includes impactful roles at industry-leading organizations like Microsoft, Kodak Alaris, and 110 Consulting before joining HEICO Companies, where she has held key positions including Director of Systems Architecture and Solutions Architect. At HEICO Companies, Crystal leads global solution implementations with a sharp focus on D365FO. She drives cross-functional strategic projects from deployment to continuous improvement, ensuring seamless systems integration, robust business intelligence, and impactful change management initiatives. Crystal’s leadership is rooted in her ability to align cutting-edge technology with business strategies, ultimately delivering measurable outcomes that transform enterprises. Crystal’s career is more than a collection of accomplishments; it’s a testament to her passion for leveraging technology as a tool for improvement and innovation. She is renowned not only for her technical acumen but also for her ability to inspire and enable teams, foster collaboration, and champion a future-focused organizational mindset. Her track record of delivering value-driven solutions, combined with her commitment to empowering others, makes Crystal a compelling voice in the technology and leadership space. Whether leading an implementation or guiding businesses through digital transformation, Crystal brings clarity, strategy, and vision to every initiative.

Belinda Allen is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for the Data Platform (Power BI.)  She is also a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Speaker, and the Co-Author of 2 books on Business Intelligence and Microsoft Dynamics GP.   Belinda focuses on Microsoft Fabric, but is still working with the Microsoft Power Platform, happily wearing the title #CitizenDeveloper. Being the Director of Enablement for iLink Digital, Belinda daily focuses on her personal mission statement, “To Improve the Lives and Success of my customers and partners.”

AJ is a business leader and a recognized veteran of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central community, bringing nearly two decades of experience as a trusted advisor to businesses seeking to maximize their ERP investments. As a seven-year Microsoft MVP, AJ is passionate about sharing his knowledge with the community and has spoken at over 40 global industry events. Through his workshops, conference sessions and many online contributions, AJ has built a reputation for translating complex technical concepts into practical solutions for the Microsoft community.

For over 20 years, Amber Bell has helped thousands of people go from being GP Users to GP Superheroes! No matter the industry, it comes down to helping the people that get data in (training/process improvement) and the people who want to analyze the data (training/reports). In 2016, she founded Training Dynamo LLC with the goal to make training fun and effective. She has spoken at numerous User Group events, locally and nationally. She also authored two GP Manuals, pre-recorded training, and offer free tips on her website & YouTube.

VP of Technology

Past experience - Over 275+ NAV/BC Implementations in Manufacturers, Supply Chain (WMS), Food and Beverage, Retail, Service, Oil and Gas, Chemical, Industrial Equip., Rental/Service, and Home Goods - Over 16 years as an Accountant in a variety of positions (VP of Finance, Director of Finance, Audit Manager, Controller, and Director Operations) - Extensive knowledge and implementation over 30 NAV/BC ISV APPs Awards - 2-time Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) - NAVUG/BC All-Star - 4-time NAVUG/BC Granite Award recipient - DUG Guardian Award recipient Professional - IMA/CMA – Member 1988 - AICPA – Member 1985 - APICS – Member 2004 - DCI Summit – Programming Committee (2012 – Present, Chair (2016-2018), Board of Advisor (2013-2015 and 2021-Present) - Dynamics User Group (DUG) – NAV/BC Forum Moderator, Dynamicscon Content Committee - Directions NA – Content/Marketing Committee (2018-Present) Certifications - MCP – MB-800 - Dynamics Credentialed Professional - Microsoft Certified Professional

Chris Cognetta is the Chief Technology and Innovation officer and co-founder for congruentX. Chris is based in Tampa, Florida. Chris is a passionate, hands on, servant leader with over 25 years of various industry experience, across many different technology platforms and architectures. Chris is a 12x time Microsoft MVP, has an infrastructure, cloud & application architecture background and has been implementing Dynamics CRM/D365 implementations globally since its inception in 2002. Chris is an AI Pioneer and is using AI to help users change the way they interact with Business Applications. Chris is an active community member, Azure & CRMUG Medic Founder and sits on the D365/CRMUG Programming Board. Chris is a frequent speaker at D365/CRM/Azure, Tampa and Orlando Code Camps and Summit NA User Group conferences.

COO

Community Summit Legend 2024, calling out Manufacturing expertise and industry contributions. AllStar 2022. TechFluent Mentor and Coach. Volunteer Mentor and Coach for TechFluent.org Dynamics User Group Leader for Pacific Northwest. Educator for Master Planning Summit Academy 2023, 2024, 2025. ​Frequent speaker at annual National events and local User Groups (PNW, Portland, Dallas/Houston, Indy).. 20 years with Axapta, D365 SCM with a focus on all things Manufacturing.

As a BC/NAV Consultant | MVP | MCT | MCP with 30 years of experience in Dynamics NAV and Business Central (BC), I specialize in empowering companies to get the most out of their ERP systems. Combining deep practical knowledge with an accounting, consulting, and development background, I bring a unique skill set rarely found in a technically oriented individual. My Expertise: Bridging the gap between business needs and system capabilities, Blueprinting user requirements vs. BC’s out-of-the-box functionality, Assisting analysts in configuring BC to align with business processes, Developing custom solutions to meet user-specific needs and Project management to ensure successful implementations. I take a hands-on, structured approach to BC implementations—whether helping businesses optimize configurations, assisting developers in building tailored solutions, or managing projects to stay on time and on budget. My goal is to deliver a system that works for you—efficient, scalable, and built for success.

Robb is a 27-year veteran of the Navision, NAV, and BC world. He is a Microsoft MVP, an MCT, MCP, and a nonpracticing CPA. He has spoken at Convergence, Directions NA, Directions EMEA, Days of Knowledge, and multiple User Group Conferences. Robb is a subject matter expert in Relationship Management, Fixed Assets, Projects, Service Management, Payroll, and Sustainability. He's taught Academy Classes for Fixed Assets, Service Management, and Projects.

Meet Jo deRuiter — a true pro when it comes to Microsoft Dynamics. With nearly three decades of hands-on experience in Dynamics ERP (and 30 years total working with accounting systems), Jo knows this space inside and out. Starting out in accounts payable, Jo worked their way up through the ranks to become a Controller, then CFO, and now leads the charge as CEO and Director of Business Applications at Aisling Dynamics Business Solutions, a proud Microsoft Partner. Jo’s background in accounting has been the foundation of a career built on both strategy and systems smarts. Outside of work, Jo gives back by volunteering with several Atlanta-area universities, helping accounting departments understand what systems knowledge students need — and how to measure success. Jo’s also a rockstar trainer. They’ve taught Dynamics GP and Business Central all over the U.S., winning awards along the way. Their training lineup includes ERP Administration, helping teams get the most out of their Dynamics setup. Known as a passionate user advocate, Jo blends deep technical know-how with a real understanding of what users need — always focused on helping people get the most value from their Dynamics investment. Jo’s contributions to the Dynamics community haven’t gone unnoticed. They’ve been named a Dynamic Communities Legend, an All-Star, and are a two-time Granite Award winner. Bottom line: Jo’s not just part of the Dynamics world — they’ve helped shape it.

Shawn Dorward (Vice President at sa.global) is a business and technology professional focusing on efficiencies and maximizing the return on projects and technology investments. Shawn proudly serves the Dynamics Community and can often be found presenting at community events around the US and online. He regularly shares his tips and experiences via his personal blog site, LifeHacks365.com. LifeHacks365.com provides tips and tricks for Dynamics 365 products, such as Dynamics GP & Business Central (BC), as well as Office 365 products, such as Excel & Outlook.

VP of Microsoft Practice at Caf2Code LLC

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Escalation Engineer with 20+ years of experience supporting the Microsoft Dynamics GP product, yes, I'm old! My primary focus is on the delivery of business solutions for customers and partners with an in-depth understanding around Human Resources and Payroll. My passion is helping customers solve complex problems to make their business a success.

Sr. Director, Strategy

As a passionate advocate for digital transformation and community-driven innovation, I’ve spent my career helping organizations unlock the full potential of their business applications—especially within the Microsoft ecosystem. With a strong foundation in partner engagement, go-to-market strategy, and community building, I’ve had the privilege of leading and working alongside some of the most forward-thinking teams in the space. My time at Dynamic Communities has been pivotal—leading initiatives that connect thousands of users, partners, and MVPs across the Microsoft AI Business Solutions communities. I'm experiencing how being an advocate to a powerful community can be in driving adoption, innovation, and real business outcomes. Today, I continue to champion that mission—collaborating with Microsoft partners, ISVs, and customers to elevate their stories, scale their impact, and build stronger connections across the ecosystem. Whether it’s launching a new solution, hosting a community event, or co-creating content that educates and inspires, I’m all in on helping people and platforms grow—together

Hello, my name is Elif Item. I am the CEO of Item by Item (IBI). After consulting on Dynamics 365 for over twelve years, I founded IBI in 2017 to provide user-centric Dynamics 365 training. During my years as a consultant, I worked with many companies that struggled to train their users effectively. Inflexible, generic, and costly training often led to poor user adoption and jeopardized system deployments. Everyone recognized the importance of training but lacked the time, resources, and budget to do it right. Frustrated by these challenges, I made it my mission to transform how users learn Dynamics 365. Today, we are proud to offer the largest user-focused online training platform for Dynamics 365, helping businesses worldwide drive adoption and success. Thousands of users across industries have trained on our platform, gaining practical, role-based knowledge. In addition to online training, we provide custom course development and hybrid training solutions tailored to each organization’s needs.

Director, Power Platform Solutions

Kylie Kiser is a Power Platform enthusiast who has been working with Microsoft technologies for over 10 years. She is passionate about the community and shows this through blogging, presenting, and hosting events. Kylie is a Solution Architect at RSM Canada, specializing in large enterprise projects for Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. She is also a Microsoft Business Applications MVP! Based in Canada, Kylie plays a key role in advancing RSM Canada's practice, helping organizations harness the power of AI Builder and low-code artificial intelligence to drive innovation and efficiency.

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Mary Lanham, COO of Lanham Associates, is also Managing Partner of Absolute Value, and a partner in Lanham Services, LLC. A seasoned technology executive with a decades-long career leading high-performing sales teams at Fortune 500 companies, forging strategic alliances, and driving operational excellence— Mary now serves as COO at Lanham, where she brings deep expertise and vision to fuel the company’s continued growth. As a long-time supporter of the Business Central/NAV/ Navision partner community, she organized, launched, and managed the Directions conferences from 2005 through 2010, and has also received numerous Women in Technology awards from the Atlanta chapter. In 2023, she and her partner, Dale Lanham, were recognized by the Business Central community for their long-time contributions, and given the coveted Legends Award.

More than 25 years of Accounting and Dynamics GP Implementation, Installation, Upgrade, Training and Support Experience Familiar with each of the past 20+ releases of Dynamics GP Completed well over 350+ upgrades / installations / implementations Author – Management Reporter for MS Dynamics GP (Accolade Publications) Power BI Change Agent at our own company and with our customers Developed Dynamics GP Dashboards:

• Security Analyzer
• Bad Data Detector
• What’s New
• Power Payroll
• System Administrator

Managing Business Central Cloud Migrations, implementations, customizations, reporting Product Manager Bullhorn-to-GP and Bullhorn–to-Business Central Connectors and AP/AR Automation

As an trainer and consultant and an experienced Corporate Controller with a specialty in Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central, my passion is to help companies get more out of the ERP software they already own. I excel communicating within the finance team and across departments to build strong and mutually beneficial working relationships. I enjoy digging into the details to solve problems but can also envision, plan and work towards long term strategic goals. As a seasoned accounting professional, I have experience in finance, global accounting, international business practices, business management, ERP implementations, internal audit, tax and mergers and acquisitions.

Bob McAdam is Head of Strategic Partnerships at Denmark-based Tasklet, the premier mobile warehouse management solutions provider for BC/NAV as well as FSC/AX. Prior to this role, Bob spent over 25 years as a Dynamics GP subject matter expert and community leader in multiple partner & customer organizations. He resides in the Tampa Bay area where Tasklet's US office is located.

Charlotte McCormick serves as Argano’s Group Business Unit President for Enterprise Technology. Building on her extensive background in executive leadership and technology consulting, Charlotte oversees strategic initiatives for delivering transformative enterprise solutions that drive client success within Argano’s enterprise technology business units. Bringing 20+ years of experience delivering business management solutions for organizations across the globe, Charlotte has a highly collaborative approach to technology consulting and solving complex challenges for clients. Her passion is leading high performing teams with an intense focus on providing value to clients through strategic and innovative implementations that leverage the entire technology ecosystem. Charlotte has experience across various industries with particular depth in manufacturing, distribution, life sciences, and automotive. Prior to joining Argano, Charlotte was Manufacturing Industry Business Leader at DXC Technology, and Executive Vice President at eBECS. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

With over 25 years of experience in Dynamics and having been recognized as a Microsoft MVP 12 times, I am passionate about helping Dynamics business professionals achieve their goals. I offer strategic consulting, coaching, and training services to organizations that are ready to elevate their projects to the next level.

David Musgrave is Managing Director of his own development and consulting business. Based in Perth, Western Australia, Winthrop Development Consultants offers a range of Microsoft Dynamics GP add-on products as well as development, consulting and training services to the ISVs, partners and customers of the Microsoft Dynamics GP community. David is known for his many products including GP Power Tools (previously the Support Debugging Tool), Visual Studio Integration Toolkit (previously Menus for Visual Studio Tools) and the Batch Posting Service Toolkit. David has presented many popular sessions at customer and partner conferences and delivered training around the world. He is active in the Microsoft Dynamics GP community and has contributed to the community and user group forums as well as his Developing for Dynamics GP and Winthrop Development Consultants blogs. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP, a GPUG All Star and a Community Summit Legend.

Heidi is a Vice President at Reenhanced. She is a Microsoft MVP for Business Applications and is passionate about user adoption, out-of-the-box configuration tools, Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform.

Kerry Peters is a recognized thought leader within the Microsoft community and CEO/Co-Founder of New View Strategies (NVS), an organization whose mission is to empower companies to do more with their Business Central ERP solution. Since joining BCUG/NAVUG in 2008, Kerry has served as Academy Instructor, National Advisory Board member, Programming Committee member, Dynamics Credentialed Professionals Council Chair, and frequent conference presenter. She is a 5-time Granite Award winner and was honored by her peers as an “All-Star,” the group’s highest award, in 2015, and a lifetime achievement award of "Legend", in 2022. Every year since 2017, Kerry has been one of a handful of women to receive Microsoft’s global MVP, Business Applications Award.

Director of Customer Success at Fastpath, now part of Delinea

Meenakshi Singh is a NAV/BC evangelist working in the channel since 2004. Meenakshi started her journey as a NAV developer working for an end-user. From there she embarked on the journey to being a consultant for Dynamics NAV product finally settling in as the Director, Enterprise Solutions and team leader for an end-user. She has several successful NAV implementations and upgrades under her belt along with several ISV solutions (add-ons) implementations and different system integrations. Along with ERP implementations, she has led Dynamics CRM implementation and rescued some ERP/CRM implementations. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with peers and fellow NAV/BC experts. Being a part of the NAVBC user community is the best experience where you are not just learning and sharing but becoming part of a community that helps you grow as a professional and help you utilize the system to the fullest.

Frank Vukovits is currently Chief Security Scientist at Fastpath, now part of Delinea. He has over three decades of experience as an auditor and business software professional, and he has held many previous leadership roles in implementation and management of numerous ERP projects. Vukovits is one of the proud founders of the Microsoft Dynamics AX User Group (AXUG) and served as director of programming for AXUG for seven years, as AXUG grew from just an idea to the largest user group in the world dedicated exclusively to Dynamics AX. He was also in corporate IT audit for GTE/Verizon for twelve years and still holds Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) designations. He also passed the CISSP exam back in 2001. He is a frequent speaker at IIA, ISACA, software publishers, and user group conferences.

With over 20 years as a Controller and Consultant, Dave is a proven Dynamics BC|NAV and business professional with broad experience in the planning, architecture, management, and implementation of Microsoft Dynamics Business Central/NAV. Dave is also proficient in the management of operations and finance functions, and the design, development and implementation of accounting and operating business processes and policies.  Dave is a frequent trainer and presenter at various conferences with high approval ratings.