Greater Boston User Group

The Greater Boston/Eastern Massachusetts Area Deltek Advantage User Group, by Doris Cahill, CPA and President of DMC Accounting + Technology, Ltd, Originally Published in Deltek Quarterly Newsletter

Started in 1989, a user group, then known as Harper & Shuman consisted of a handful of software users. These users were interested in meeting and interacting with their software counterparts in order to gain a better understanding of their software application.

The group consisted of under a dozen users in the early days. Word spread quickly, however, that users now had a forum to meet and a place that provided focused input toward software changes.

In 1998, we became part of the Deltek family and the Deltek Advantage user Group. This group assisted all our users through the change over to Windows and the year 2000 transition.

The original format for meetings exists to this day. Meetings are held at host firms every 6-8 weeks, except in the summer time. Meeting topics are generated from input at the prior meeting and guest speakers are recruited on a volunteer basis. Volunteers are typically excited to get a call from us and usually share their knowledge enthusiastically. The user group comes at no cost to the user. The philosophy behind this is to encourage users to join meetings of interest of interest to them, in order to share ideas.

As a result of this forum, the group has, over time grown exponentially from its early start. We mail to approximately 420 users in the East Coast area and are actively recruiting new members. Each firm may have multiple members ensuring we cover as many levels to one single organization, as is needed. A typical meeting has 20-30 users present.

Top topics over the past 11 years have included: Access Tool Kit, Cash Collections, Year End, Upgrading to SQL, Wish List, Billing, Employee Benefits, Cash Basis Reporting, CRM, MWRA, Conference Feedback and the list goes on and on.

We always welcome calls and emails from active or new users. Hope to see you at our next meeting.

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