This book’s authors, Mike Snyder, Jim Steger, Kara O’Brien, and Brendan Landers, are executives at the Chicago-based consulting firm Sonoma Partners. Sonoma Partners is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner that sells, customizes, and implements Microsoft Dynamics CRM for enterprise and midsize companies throughout the United States. Sonoma Partners has worked exclusively with Microsoft Dynamics CRM since the 1.0 prerelease beta software version. Founded in 2001, Sonoma Partners possesses extensive experience in several industries, including financial services, professional services, health care, and real estate.
Sonoma Partners is unique because of the following reasons:
We are 100 percent focused on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM software product. We do not spread our resources over any other products or services.
We have successfully implemented more than 150 Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployments.
Microsoft awarded Sonoma Partners as the Global Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year in 2003 and 2005. Microsoft recognized Sonoma Partners as one of three finalists for the 2008 Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year award.
More than half of our staff includes application and database developers, allowing our firm to perform very complex Microsoft Dynamics CRM customizations and integrations.
We were named one of 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in Chicago in 2007 and 2008.
We are a member of Microsoft Dynamics Partner Advisory Council.
In addition to the multiple books we’ve written for Microsoft Press, we share our Microsoft Dynamics CRM product knowledge through our e-mail newsletter and online blog. If you’re interested in receiving this information, you can find out more on our Web site at www.sonomapartners.com.
Even though our headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois, we work with customers throughout the United States. If you’re interested in discussing your Microsoft Dynamics CRM system with us, please don’t hesitate to contact us! In addition to working with customers who want to deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM for themselves, we also act as a technology provider for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) looking to develop their solution for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform.
Sometimes people ask us where we got our name. The name Sonoma Partners was inspired by Sonoma County, in the wine-producing region of Northern California. The wineries in Sonoma County are smaller than their more well-known competitors in Napa Valley, but they have a reputation for producing some of the highest quality wines in the world. We think that their smaller size allows the Sonoma winemakers to be more intimately involved with creating the wine. By using this hands-on approach, the Sonoma County wineries can deliver a superior product to their customers...and that’s what we strive to do as well.
Mike Snyder
Mike Snyder is co-founder and principal of Sonoma Partners, a Chicago-based consulting firm that specializes in Microsoft Dynamics CRM implementations. Recognized as one of the industry’s leading Microsoft Dynamics CRM experts, Mike is a member of the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Advisory Council, and he writes a popular blog about Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Before starting Sonoma Partners, Mike led multiple product development teams at Motorola and Fortune Brands. Mike graduated with honors from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management with a Master of Business Administration degree, majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Mike lives in Naperville, Illinois, with his wife and three children. He enjoys ice hockey and playing with his kids in his free time.
Jim Steger
Jim Steger is also a co-founder and principal of Sonoma Partners. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional and has architected multiple award-winning Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployments, including complex enterprise integration projects. He has developed solutions and code for Microsoft Dynamics CRM since the 1.0 beta version.
Before starting Sonoma Partners, Jim designed and led various global software development projects at Motorola and ACCO Office Products. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Northwestern University. He currently lives in Naperville, Illinois, with his wife and two children.
Kara O’Brien
Kara is a senior project director at Sonoma Partners and certified in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Kara has led Microsoft Dynamics implementation projects for not-for-profit organizations as well as companies in the real estate, financial services, and other industries. Prior to Sonoma Partners, Kara worked as a marketing manager at Encyclopedia Britannica and as a software developer at Jones Lang LaSalle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Northwestern University.
Brendan Landers
Brendan is a senior project director at Sonoma Partners and certified in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Brendan has led numerous Microsoft Dynamics implementation projects for companies in the following industries: professional and financial services, education, healthcare, hospitality, and others. Prior to Sonoma Partners, Brendan worked at Information Resources, Inc. as a Director of Quality Assurance and Delivery where he led several data quality and business intelligence initiatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Iowa.