We’d like to remind you to attend Convergence® 2011 Atlanta. This is the Microsoft Dynamics® premier event, bringing customers, partners, Microsoft team members, and industry experts together to share ideas and knowledge. Developed with input from users just like you, this year’s agenda will offer a variety of learning opportunities and formats. More than 400 informative sessions, structured and unstructured networking opportunities, technical assistance, and hands-on labs will help you discover how to get the most value from your Microsoft Dynamics solution. Check out the session catalog for details on titles, abstracts, and assigned time slots.

So what is Microsoft Convergence 2011 and why should I care?

Convergence is a “Microsoft Dynamics event where you can experience first-hand how you can optimize your business and improve your bottom line.  This event serves as the meeting point for the Microsoft Dynamics Customer and Partner business community.”  Convergence is April 10-13, 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

So why should I consider attending you ask?

1. Learn how you can get the most out of your Microsoft Dynamics solution.
2. Network and collaborate with your peers and the product experts from Microsoft.
3. Experience the latest solution innovations, new products and technologies.
4. Gain insights into Microsoft’s corporate direction and understand future plans for your Microsoft Dynamics solution.

Good news! You can still take advantage of the early registration discount! Register before February 21, 2011, for a $300-per-person savings off the regular registration fee!  If you plan on being there, we’d like to know and connect with you at the event.

Register now and save!

Special Group Discount

Register at least three attendees from your organization at the early-registration price or the standard conference rate, and you’ll receive an additional $100 discount for the third and all subsequent registrants. Read discount details on the Convergence website.

Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2011 exclusive attendee offer (U.S. and Canada)

Here’s another incentive for attending Convergence 2011 Atlanta. Effective Monday, April 11, 2011 and available until the end of business day Thursday, May 26, 2011, Microsoft Dynamics ERP existing customers in the U.S. and Canada are eligible for a 20 percent discount when:

• Acquiring additional users
• Acquiring additional modules or granules
• Transitioning between Microsoft Dynamics product lines, editions, or licensing models (LMT)

Find out more about this offer.

We look forward to sharing the Convergence experience with you!

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Pinnacle announces the launch of our newest division, the Pinnacle Training Center.   The Pinnacle Training Center is a state of the art training center, and will offer many courses including Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics, Adobe, Cisco, Citrix, CompTIA, Project Management, VMware, and more.

Technology is ever changing and staying on top of the latest technologies is crucial for you and your employees.  Pinnacle will now be able to help equip your staff with the knowledge related to their responsibilities.

All of our training courses are designed to help your business move forward in this rapidly changing business environment.  We offer a standard instructor-led classroom experience at our facility in a custom tailored state of the art setting.  We also offer our classes on-site and have partnerships across the country to be able to suit your needs wherever and whenever they are needed.

The Training Center officially opens on March 28^th.  Contact our training division today for further information or for course schedule.  They can be reached at (574) 235-8100 x314.

Pinnacle is proud to announce that as of December 2010 we haveattained Microsoft Gold Competencies for both Enterprise Resource Planning and Server Platform Statuses.  These are some of Microsoft’s highest honors for its partners, and we are privileged to have received them. In order to obtain these competencies an organization must meet strict criteria including breadth and depth of technical skill, demonstrated success in deploying solutions in these areas, and high customer satisfaction.  

Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Gold Competency simply means that we are a trusted Microsoft Independent Software Vendor that excels in providing solutions to businesses using Microsoft Dynamics GP.  Pinnacle has a rich history with working with clients on their accounting, payroll and resource management needs.

Microsoft Server Platform Gold Competency shows Pinnacle’s desire to help clients attain the best possible IT infrastructure.  The entire purpose of this competency is to reduce clients IT costs through server virtualization and server consolidation, and also provide more effective disaster recovery.

These competencies are an outward reflection of the work our clients have come to expect from us.  Both of these competencies show Pinnacle’s desire to help you succeed at business while reducing your day to day costs through effective resource management.  We are truly appreciative and will continue to offer quality products and services to our clients.

Since 1995, Rene has been providing computer education (technical and non-technical) solutions to his clients.  These clients span over several different markets including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and financial.  In May 1995, he began his career in computer education with Microsoft Partner, Signal Learning/Productivity Point International (Indiana).  While at Productivity Point, Rene served in multiple positions helping the training center become one of the leading Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers in Indiana.  After nearly 10 years, Rene joined Microsoft Partner, MapleTronics, in January 2005.  He contributed to the growth of the MapleTronics Training Center, over the next 6 years, making it the fastest growing training center in Northern Indiana. In December 2010, Rene joined the Pinnacle Group, a Microsoft Managed Partner, to assist and oversee the launching of their state of the art training center.  Assuming the role of Business Development at Pinnacle, Rene intends to assist Pinnacle to accomplish the following:

• Become the premier provider of computer education solutions and technology services for Pinnacle clients
• Continue to provide the utmost in customer service for all Pinnacle clients
• Build stronger partner relationships with technology leaders such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, CompTIA, and DELL
• Achieve all aspects of the Pinnacle of Success in 2011

Pinnacle welcomes David Dickinson to our staff as our Director of Software Development. David served from 1988 to 1993 as a military analyst in the US Federal Government, focusing on NATO and other European defense issues and serving in overseas positions. Following his return to academia to gain his master’s degree and a two year stint as part of the management team of a Dallas-based power tool distribution company, in 1999 he was recruited by Bosch, a global corporation with 280,000 employees worldwide, to work on process re-engineering in their Power Tools Division. From there he moved into the Bosch corporate organization to take over management of Internet development in North America and eventually Director of all Bosch eCommerce activities in the Americas as well as responsibilities for the Automotive Aftermarket division systems in US.

From 2005-2009 he traveled around the world to introduce the concepts of Service Oriented Architecture and was responsible for the development and implementation of numerous systems based on Service-Oriented principles. He has been recognized as a thought leader in SOA and simultaneously introduced Agile development practices and led efforts to integrate them with SOA application development. Consequently, he was chosen to be chief solutions architect for Bosch’s worldwide software development activities. David served briefly as VP of Technology and Research for GAP, LLC and has recently joined Pinnacle as Director of Custom Software Development.

David has stated that he has clear aspirations for the Development team here are just a few:

• Implementation of Agile methodologies in the Development group
• Introduction of Service-Oriented Architecture
• Extend and enhance GP/CRM products through innovative custom development
• Increase the joy of coding for the whole team
• Serve our customers better each day and remember that “life is short and unforeseen, and is only an opportunity for usefulness.”

We are pleased to have David on board, and are very excited to see what the future holds for our development team.  Welcome David.