NAVUG Forum 2013 Opening - Highlights & Photos

NAVUG Forum 2013 is officially underway in beautiful Tampa, FL! With a crowd of 370 Dynamics NAV users and Partners, Sherry Linares (NAVUG Program Director) kicked things off with a warm welcome and a THANK YOU to the community for attending, for participating in NAVUG throughout the year, and for helping grow our community by 23% this year.

If you're not here in Tampa....here's what you missed...

Marc Allman, NAVUG Chairman, shared his personal story about how he came to know NAVUG, starting back at Forum 2011 in Las Vegas.  He encouraged attendees to follow his lead and get 'out of your comfort zone' - he started as a quiet observer and quickly realized he gained so much more by getting involved.  2 years later, he's our awesome Board Chairman - we're glad you stepped outside your comfort zone, Marc! We also got to hear a few words from our former Chairman Lee Weiner - thanks, Lee, for joining us here in Tampa!
                       

Microsoft's Brett Johnson (Technology Adoption Manager for Dynamics NAV) walked us through some of the great capabilities of Dynamics NAV 2013 R2, and shared what's coming down the pike on the Dynamics NAV roadmap for the years ahead - some very cool stuff!

We heard from some awesome Dynamics NAV users and NAVUG Members - TalkingRain, Seventh Generation, and Group O - about the success they've had using Dynamics NAV and participating in NAVUG.  They're all presenting sessions this week - check them out!  

NAVUG Board Member and superstar volunteer, presenter, and contributor Kerry Rosvold had some great advice for attendees to get the most value from NAVUG Forum - 1. Don't skip anything (sessions, lunches, Expo, social hours) 2. ENGAGE in sessions, ask questions, and join the discussions 3. Get out of your comfort zone - attend sessions in a variety of tracks and talk to folks that have different roles, and 4. Take notes that you can share with your teammates when you get home!

This morning's session wrapped up with the ever-popular Speed Networking! This fast-paced 'get to know you' activity gave attendees an opportunity to meet several of their fellow attendees in a short time and learn 'just enough' about them - name, role, organization, industry, my objectives for being here.  Attendees here in Tampa will take those brief introductions and expand on them throughout the week as they network and learn alongside other like-minded Dynamics NAV users.

Thank you to our NAVUG Forum 2013 sponsors! Your contributions make this event possible and we could not do it without you! Special thanks to our Premier Sponsors - Data Masons, Lanham Associates, and Sologlobe.