Time for a Change (not April Fools)
Hello to all my friends in the Microsoft Dynamics GP Community.
You have probably heard that Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, recently announced that Microsoft will be shedding 18,000 employees, a total of about 14% of its total work force.
Well, on the 19th of September 2014, I was asked to come into the office for a teleconference meeting with my Sydney based manager. As this was the first time in thirteen and half years I have been specifically asked to go into the office for a meeting (I usually work from my home office), I knew something was up.
My team had been shrinking over the last few years. So, it was not a surprise to be told that support for Asia Pacific for the Microsoft Dynamics GP product was now going to be handled out of the Fargo office and that my role as Escalation Engineer in Asia Pacific was no longer required.
A few year's ago I wrote an April Fool's Day post which was designed to make people believe I was leaving Microsoft. Well, this time it is true and today is my last day. The Microsoft era of my career, which started on 16th May 2001, finishes today on the 17th October 2014.
Instead of writing it all again, I am including the career history from previous article:
As many of you know I have been involved with the Great Plains world since 1994 and Dynamics v2.0. The company I was with at the time, Sequel Technology, actually looked at version 1.0, but decided not to get involved with the initial release. I learnt Dexterity v2.04 in Melbourne, Australia when Kevin Kidder made his first international trip and conducted the first Dexterity Fundamentals class outside of Fargo (quite a long way outside).
I spent a total of five years as a Director of Sequel Technology, a time which includes highlights as presenting Cross Dictionary Dexterity Development techniques at the 1998 Great Plains World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC), and winning the 1997 Great Plains Technical Innovation Award for Named Printers (which was later sold to Great Plains and is now part of core code).
In 1999, I made a very hard decision to leave Sequel Technology and created my own business, Winthrop Dexterity Consultants. I decided to focus on development of products and custom development and to no longer be directly involved with sales and implementation. My concerns were unfounded as the business was a great success, with achievements such as developing most of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) implementation for Australia while on contract to Great Plains Australia, and developing the Omni Tools and Omni Price products, which were later sold (Omni Security and Omni Field Security to Microsoft and the rest of the modules a few years later to Rockton Software).
In 2001, in conjunction with the sale of what became Advanced Security and Field Level Security, I joined Microsoft. Initially, I continued to maintain the Advanced Security, Field Level Security and Business Activity Statement (Australian GST) code, but these were later handed over to dedicated development teams. My role in Microsoft has shifted from a development focus, to a consulting focus and now to a support focus. All the time, I have continued to leverage my development background to provide better results for the teams I have worked with. This can be seen with the "pet projects" I have been involved in such as the Developing for Dynamics GP blog, Menus for Visual Studio Tools and the Support Debugging Tool.
Now before anyone gets upset, I want to point out that I knew that this day would come someday. It just happened a little sooner than I expected, but I was ready for a change. Development is my first love and I was already thinking about new possibilities. Staying within Microsoft and living in Perth, it was not possible to find a new role related to Microsoft Dynamics GP, so I decided to create my own role outside of Microsoft.
I am pleased to announce that I will be restarting the consulting business I had before joining Microsoft. Winthrop Dexterity Consultants will be reborn as Winthrop Development Consultants.
Winthrop Development Consultants (www.winthropdc.com) will offer independent Microsoft Dynamics GP development skills (consulting, development and training) to the ISVs, partners and customers of the Dynamics GP community. It will also allow me to work on other development projects which have been waiting patiently in the sidelines.
I have really enjoyed my time at Microsoft but now it is time to move on. However, I am not leaving the Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) community and hope to see many of you at reIMAGINE 2014 in Fargo in November. Please make sure you find me to say "Hi" and to discuss how I can assist you.
As this will be my last post on the Developing for Dynamics GP Blog, I will continue blogging at https://winthropdc.com/blog.
David
PS: My email address will be the same as before: david at winthropdc dot com.
Comments
Anonymous
October 16, 2014
All the best with the next leg of your career. I look forward to working with you :)Anonymous
October 16, 2014
Best wishes in this next phase of your career. You have been a prominent voice in the Dynamics community. Glad to hear you will still be around!Anonymous
October 16, 2014
Best wishes Dave I am sure you will do well back to your original roots. Good luck!Anonymous
October 16, 2014
David -- Often when I am feeling beaten down by all the changes, a quick visit to winthropdc dot com and the beloved palettes brings back the days when we were all a part of a wonderful customer-oriented community. So glad to see that the palettes still remain today, excited to read about the next round of amazing things you bring to us, and I look forward to seeing at reIMAGINE!Anonymous
October 16, 2014
Hi Lisa While I am creating a new site for Winthrop Development Consultants, I wanted to keep the old site for the parent company accessible (but cleaned up and updated a little). A little bit of nostalgia. DavidAnonymous
October 16, 2014
Hi Dave, I will see you in Fargo at reimagine. The good news: we're presenting together. The bad news: we don't have much time, lol! Good luck and looking forward to work with you buddy.Anonymous
October 16, 2014
David, I remember the days when I started blogging on GP. Your comment on one of my posts gave me that instant inspiration and brought me into GP community. That was a kind of reassurance to me that GP is meant stay. Recent strategies of Microsoft is not that assuring, though. And then this one. I believe, it's good this way. You can now do what you WANT to, rather just what you have to. All the best.Anonymous
October 16, 2014
Dave thank you for your help in the Dynamics family through and through! Good Luck!Anonymous
October 16, 2014
You are the inspiration for so many developers. Happy Blossom Life Dave!!Anonymous
October 16, 2014
David, This has come to me as one of the most shocking news this year. For me, you represent a considerable asset for Dynamics GP specifically and Microsoft generally. Your contribution to the community will have an endless echo that will never come to an end. Although, this end is the beginning of a new promising journey, Winthrop :) Wish you the best of luck,Anonymous
October 16, 2014
Wow David this is surprising. I can remember using your tools prior to going to Microsoft and after. I wish you the best!Anonymous
October 19, 2014
David, You have been a great inspiration to all the Dex developer around the globe and sure you would continue to inspire. Best wishes & good luck on new journey.Anonymous
October 21, 2014
Hi David, best wishes and good luck in your new/old endeavor. See you at reimagine.Anonymous
October 21, 2014
another chapter, another height. all the very best.Anonymous
October 22, 2014
I am sad for Microsoft but happy as a customer!Anonymous
October 22, 2014
Thank you and good luck!Anonymous
October 23, 2014
Article by Linda Rosencrance at MSDynamicsWorld msdynamicsworld.com/.../dynamics-gp-veteran-david-musgrave-leaves-microsoft-re-launches-private-consultancyAnonymous
October 23, 2014
Best wishes in your upcoming endeavor! Looking forward to see you at reimagine!!Anonymous
November 07, 2014
Sorry to hear this. Glad to hear you have the other job already lined up though, and especially glad you're remaining in the GP dev community. I'll be subscribing to your new blog now!Anonymous
November 25, 2014
Blog post from Mahmoud M. AlSaadi at Dynamics GP Essentials mahmoudsaadi.blogspot.com.au/.../david-musgrave-has-left-microsoft-new.htmlAnonymous
November 27, 2014
I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to meet and work with you, David! Please know that you are an inspiration to all of the support engineers you've mentored. Your articles have always been there to help and guide us. With this, we never really forget you and are always reminded of your greatness! All the best!