The DUG Young Professionals group is helping people begin careers in Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform and AI.
USTPay account executive Cole Krucke and colleague Erika Boccuti helped organize the group to simplify the Microsoft business applications ecosystem for newcomers. Its first meeting, held July 24, focused on decoding the Dynamics 365 product landscape.
The kickoff drew 27 attendees, according to the group’s Meetup page. Its organizers describe the community as a place for Microsoft Partners, customers, ISVs and professionals to exchange ideas, learn and build stronger networks.
Krucke told PartnerTalks he entered the channel without experience in ERP or payments. He had previously worked in software recruiting and hybrid-work consulting before joining USTPay, an accounts receivable ISV for Dynamics 365 Business Central.
“I didn’t know ERP when I came into this channel,” Krucke said. “So now we have these events, we have these groups where we can just explain everything pretty easily in a laid-back format.”
DUG Young Professionals group tackles the entry barrier
Dynamics conferences bring together established Partner executives, consultants, developers and ISV leaders who may have worked together for decades. Krucke said that can be intimidating to newcomers, since they must learn the products while also building the relationships that make the channel work.
Krucke experienced both sides when USTPay brought him to Community Summit during his interview process.
“The biggest thing I took away from it is the community is so relationship-driven,” he said. “And that’s what I wanted from the very start.”
He said mentors were willing to offer advice and help him navigate the ecosystem. However, walking into a conference without a network can still intimidate younger attendees. Repeated attendance helped Krucke recognize familiar faces, understand the terminology and become more comfortable.
The group aims to accelerate that process. Its sessions are designed for younger professionals, although attendance is open to anyone who wants a simpler introduction to Dynamics 365, Power Platform and AI.
“We’re making Microsoft easy here,” Krucke said.
Building a stronger Dynamics career pipeline
The initiative arrives as Microsoft Partners continue looking for new consultants and business applications professionals. PartnerTalks reported on TechFluent’s plan to build its first Business Central training cohort around Partner hiring demand.
Training can teach product skills. Community groups can help new professionals understand where those skills fit, meet prospective mentors and learn how Partners, ISVs and customers work together.
Krucke said the range of possible careers surprised him after he entered ERP. That breadth can become an advantage once newcomers understand the channel’s structure.
“You can go a lot of ways in this channel, which I think is really cool,” he said.
The group gives newcomers a place to decode the technology, build relationships and see where they could fit. For a channel built on experience and personal networks, a clearer first step could determine whether the next generation enters Dynamics or never discovers it.
