Boyer & Associates welcomes Patrick Coale to the Boyer team as a Power Platform/CRM consultant.
Coale graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Houston. He got a job with a Texas-based Microsoft ERP partner, but soon found himself on the CRM side instead when the company’s client work shifted.
“(CRM is) really flexible,” Coale said. “You don’t have to follow accounting principles, and there’s a lot more leeway on how you can build out customizations.”
That flexibility is a key aspect of Microsoft software. The tech giant’s ever-evolving platform continues to improve how consultants and customers work. The latest AI features embedded in the platform especially intrigue Coale. He got his first hands-on experience as an end user with Microsoft Copilot when he started with Boyer.
“It’s cool to see the AI stuff coming into play,” he said. So far Coale likes the meeting recaps best. The ability to have AI summarize a meeting, pinpoint key conversation points and create action items “takes probably 90 percent of the workload off you,” he said.
Coale noted that IT continues to get more intertwined with daily aspects of life. Working in the industry gives him a better understanding of the world as a whole.
“We build tools. That’s essentially what we’re doing. IT is a tool to help make your life easier, and it’s fun building those things out,” he said.
The chance to help clients configure software to fit their unique needs and therefore improve processes and productivity is one reason Coale enjoys consulting.
“Being on the consulting side you get to see things done so many different ways because you work with so many different clients, and they all do things differently,” he added.
When Coale’s previous employer shifted its focus from SMB clients to enterprise projects, the workstream shifted to longer engagements with multiple phases. That meant he no longer got to experience complete end-to-end implementations or implement new pieces. He felt limited in his skillset and wanted to get back into the SMB area, where he could work with multiple clients and see more projects completed.
“I wanted to get back to a smaller partner that would allow me to grow and wear multiple hats and do what it takes to get (the job) done … That’s what really drew me to Boyer,” he said.
During his first week at Boyer as a CRM consultant, Coale had already started working on two client projects, giving him the variety he craved. He’s also getting his first taste of working within the nonprofit industry.
“I think this is going to be a good fit,” he said. “It’s just exciting, and I think I can help drive and hopefully improve the process.”
A love for process optimization is why Coale got into the software world in the first place, he said.
“I like problem solving and learning processes and enhancing and improving processes,” he said. “Being in consulting allows you to grow that muscle.”
“We build tools. That’s essentially what we’re doing. IT is a tool to help make your life easier, and it’s fun building those things out.”
Patrick Coale, new Power Platform/CRM consultant
In addition to working as a CRM consultant, Coale served for two years on the board of directors for a local Municipal Utility District (MUD). In Texas, a planned community gets a bond and creates a temporary MUD board that oversees the completion of sewers and other utilities for the development.
The volunteer position involves a lot of administrative work and conversations with local builders and other vendors to get the community established. Once the initial project is completed, the homeowners then vote in permanent board members from within the community.
“It was eye-opening to see the inner working of how bonds work,” Coale said. “It’s a whole other language that you learn to be a part of.”
Coale lives just north of Houston and married his college sweetheart, Cassandra. Together they have a daughter, Penelope, who turns 2 in July. “Being a dad is absolutely amazing,” Coale said.
When he’s not working or volunteering, he loves spending time with his family and grilling on his new Big Green Egg. He recently picked up pickleball and enjoys DIY projects around the house.
“I like doing stuff around the house. … I’m pretty hands on. I know how to work tools,” he said.
