Boyer & Associates is growing its CRM practice yet again with the addition of a director of product management. Mike Virnig is a natural-born, tech-savvy consultant with more than 20 years of software experience between ERP and CRM solutions.
His dad is a systems engineer for the Minneapolis VA Medical Center so a career in technology just seemed natural to Virnig. “I’ve always been around computers. l like to problem solve,” he said.
Virnig started his career in 2000 monitoring the help desk at Open Systems in Shakopee, Minn. He soon became a consultant and spent the next 8 years honing his ERP consulting skills. After losing two jobs due to downsizing, he switched gears in 2011 to Microsoft CRM consulting at Minneapolis-based PowerObjects.
During his 9 years at PowerObjects, he helped start a subscription-based support program for the company’s CRM clients. By the time he left he was the manager of a team of 15, working with and selling the software as well as mentoring and training his team.
“One client … used every piece of CRM that was available so it really forced me to learn the whole application and what it could do,” Virnig said. The more he’s worked with the solution, the more he’s been impressed with Microsoft’s continued investment in furthering the software’s capabilities.
After leaving PowerObjects, he spent 6 months working as a marketing analyst at Colder Products Company but quickly decided he missed consulting. When Virnig learned of a new opening at Boyer & Associates, he applied.
With his unique background in both ERP and CRM, Virnig is a perfect fit for the Boyer & Associates’ team. While he enjoys aspects of both software solutions, he prefers the CRM world and its flexibility to modify the software to fit a company’s processes.
“ERP is completely different from CRM. I’d say (ERP is) a lot more stressful. It’s somebody’s books versus somebody’s sales process,” he said.
For now, Virnig is focused on providing support and consulting expertise to Boyer’s CRM and Power Platform clients. As the practice grows, he plans to take a larger role in managing the company’s recently started subscription delivery model for its CRM and Power Platform clients.
“The big thing I’m excited about is actually getting back to working with the app,” he said. Instead of managing a team, he’s getting involved in the actual configurations himself.
Virnig lives in Roseville, Minn. with his fiancée Kristie and their two dogs. They had planned to marry last year but postponed their wedding when the pandemic hit.
When he’s not working, Virnig enjoys fishing, riding his motorcycle and working on home improvement projects. With more spare time at home last year, he built a full bar in his basement, complete with multiple TVs to watch football. As a Vikings fan engaged to a Packers fan, he put his problem-solving skills to practice and determined multiple TVs would let them each watch their preferred game in peace.
