Key Insights
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Specialist: Sunrise Technologies is a global technology consulting firm that implements Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP, CRM, and business intelligence solutions for consumer brands, retailers, and manufacturers across North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Fast Tracks for New Grads: The firm's Fast Tracks college program takes undergraduates to senior consultant status in two years, with an 81% retention rate among program participants.
- Competitive Total Compensation: Entry-level consultants typically earn in the low-to-mid six figures, with total packages that include meaningful annual bonuses and a 100% employer-funded SEP-IRA.
Sunrise Technologies is a global technology consulting firm that specializes in implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 enterprise resource planning (ERP), CRM, and business intelligence solutions for consumer brands, retailers, and manufacturers. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Sunrise Technologies has grown from a one-man operation into an award-winning Microsoft partner with over 300 employees across three continents. The firm works exclusively with Microsoft cloud solutions, which means consultants build deep expertise in a focused technology stack rather than spreading thin across dozens of platforms. Clients include globally recognized brands such as Vera Bradley, 5.11 Tactical, Fila, Hooker Furniture, and Outdoor Research.
Sunrise holds a rare distinction: it has appeared on the Triad Business Journal's Fast 50 list of the fastest-growing companies in the region for 18 consecutive years. This kind of sustained growth reflects both the firm's execution and the expanding demand for digital transformation across retail and manufacturing. For candidates interested in technology consulting, Sunrise offers a structured path to meaningful client work, rapid advancement, and strong compensation.
Firm Key Stats
| Website | sunrise.co |
| Headquarters | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA |
| Employees | 300+ |
| Offices | North America, Europe (Switzerland, Netherlands), Asia (China) |
| Founder and President | John Pence |
| Annual Revenue | Privately held, not publicly disclosed |
Sunrise Technologies Careers
A career at Sunrise Technologies means working on real technology implementations for recognizable consumer brands from day one. The firm is privately held and founder-led, which creates a different environment than you'd find at a large publicly traded IT services company. Employees consistently point to direct access to executive leadership, a strong culture of transparency, and meaningful work as key reasons they stay. If you want visibility and ownership early in your career, this is the kind of environment where you can get it.
The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance at no charge. Unique perks for consultants include company-funded airline club membership, TSA PreCheck, a corporate credit card, and a company laptop and phone. Sunrise also pays annual bonuses, has matched employee charitable donations up to $1,000 per year, and sponsors a company-wide annual trip for all employees and a guest.
The consulting role involves regular client travel, typically Monday through Thursday every other week, with remote work from home when not at client sites. The flexibility to live anywhere in the continental U.S. with convenient airport access is a meaningful benefit for candidates who value location independence. You can review current opportunities on the Sunrise Technologies Careers page.
Sunrise Technologies Internship
Sunrise Technologies does not run a traditional summer internship program in the way that large strategy firms do. Instead, the firm focuses its college recruiting efforts on full-time hiring through its Fast Tracks Program, which is structured as a two-year rotational development program for new graduates. This program functions as an extended onboarding and mentorship track that moves candidates from entry level to senior consultant status within two years.
The firm actively recruits at a defined set of target universities and participates in campus recruiting events and job fairs. Students interested in Sunrise Technologies should connect early with the recruiting team through their school's career center or job platform. The college-to-hire pipeline is the primary entry point for undergraduate candidates, and the recruiting timeline typically follows the academic calendar with fall and spring recruiting cycles.
Sunrise Technologies Jobs
Sunrise Technologies typically hires for three categories of full-time consultant roles at the college level: Technical Consultant, Functional Consultant, and Pre-Sales Consultant. Technical Consultant roles target computer science, information technology, and information systems majors. Functional Consultant roles are built for candidates with backgrounds in accounting, supply chain, operations, and logistics. Pre-Sales roles attract supply chain, accounting, and business majors.
Beyond entry-level roles, the firm also recruits experienced professionals for senior consultant, architect, and director-level positions. For the most current open roles at Sunrise Technologies and similar firms, visit the MC Job Board.
Practice Areas
Sunrise Technologies focuses exclusively on Microsoft cloud solutions, which means its practice areas are defined by the Microsoft Dynamics 365 technology stack and related services. The firm does not offer general management consulting or strategy advisory services.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation (ERP and CRM)
- Digital Transformation and AI/Copilot Integration
- Business Intelligence and Power BI
- Custom Development and Extensions
- 24x7 Global Support Services
- Cloud Migration Services
- Training and Adoption Support
- Power Platform and Azure Solutions
Industries
Sunrise Technologies targets a defined set of consumer-facing industries where Microsoft Dynamics 365 delivers strong value. The firm has accumulated significant industry-specific intellectual property and pre-built solutions for these verticals over more than 30 years in business.
- Retail (omni-channel and e-commerce)
- Manufacturing
- Distribution and Logistics
- Consumer Products and Consumer Packaged Goods
- Apparel, Fashion, and Footwear
- Home Furnishings and Furniture
- Nonprofit
Sunrise Technologies Locations
Sunrise Technologies is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and operates regional offices and deployment centers globally. Consultants are based throughout the continental United States and work remotely when not traveling to client sites.
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina (global headquarters)
- Locarno, Switzerland (Sunrise Europe)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (Sunrise Europe)
- Xi'an, China (Sunrise Asia)
For a full list of office locations and regional contact details, visit the Sunrise Technologies about page.
Career Path
Sunrise Technologies does not operate a formal "up or out" policy. The career trajectory for most consultants moves from Consultant to Senior Consultant to Senior Technical Architect or Director-level roles, with advancement tied to performance, client impact, and growing expertise in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem. The firm's Fast Tracks Program structures the first two years of a new consultant's development with quarterly check-ins, corresponding raise opportunities, and mentorship from senior consultants.
For candidates entering through the Fast Tracks Program, the expected path is to reach senior consultant status within two years. Beyond that, advancement opportunities exist in technical consulting, functional consulting, pre-sales, and leadership tracks. The fact that 37% of all current U.S. employees grew their careers through the Fast Tracks Program signals that the firm invests in internal promotion rather than relying heavily on external hiring.
Exit Opportunities
Sunrise Technologies builds consultants with deep Microsoft Dynamics 365 expertise and hands-on experience running ERP implementations for mid-market consumer brands. These are skills that transfer well in the broader Microsoft partner ecosystem and beyond.
Common exit paths for Sunrise Technologies consultants include:
- Microsoft Dynamics consulting roles at other Microsoft partners
- In-house ERP and IT leadership roles at consumer brands, retailers, and manufacturers
- Project management and technology leadership positions at clients
- Independent consulting in the Microsoft Dynamics space
- Director and VP-level technology roles in the retail and consumer goods sectors
Notable Alumni
Sunrise Technologies is a relatively compact, founder-led firm, which means senior leaders tend to have deep tenure. Notable figures associated with the firm include:
- Rod Pruett - VP of Consulting, Sunrise Technologies
- Alexander Copeland - Director of Consulting, Sunrise Technologies (Carnegie Mellon alumnus)
- Jason Wolf - Sr. Director of Consulting, Sunrise Technologies
Target Schools
Sunrise Technologies focuses its college recruiting on a defined set of schools, primarily in the Southeast and Mountain West regions, with programs in computer science, information systems, accounting, supply chain, and business. Candidates from these schools can apply through their campus career platforms.
- Brigham Young University (BYU)
- Georgia Tech
- NC State University
- Appalachian State University
- Virginia Tech
- Wake Forest University
Candidates from schools not on this list are encouraged to reach out directly to the Sunrise recruiting team. The firm is open to strong candidates from other programs, particularly those with technical or supply chain backgrounds.
Diversity Programs
Sunrise Technologies does not currently publicize a formal named diversity recruitment program on its website. The firm's college recruiting is primarily focused on undergraduate hiring through its Fast Tracks Program. Candidates interested in diversity and inclusion initiatives at Sunrise are encouraged to reach out directly to the HR team at [email protected] for current information. The firm has publicly acknowledged that broadening its diversity of backgrounds is an area of ongoing focus.
Sunrise Technologies Culture
Sunrise Technologies is built around three core values: honesty, work hard, and be nice. These are not just words on a wall. The founder, John Pence, instilled them at the company's start in 1994, and they are consistently cited by employees as the reason the culture holds together across a geographically distributed team. The firm operates with a high degree of transparency, including open quarterly reviews that share both performance feedback and business direction with all employees.
The team is tight-knit by design. Sunrise invests in bringing people together, both at its Winston-Salem headquarters and on the road. The company hosts an annual bonus celebration where every employee is acknowledged by name, and it sponsors an annual company-wide trip for all employees and a guest. Remote employees are deliberately included in these events rather than left behind.
The consulting lifestyle at Sunrise involves real client travel, which is a factor candidates should weigh carefully. The typical model is Monday through Thursday on-site at client locations every other week, with the remainder of the time working remotely from home. The firm supports this lifestyle with travel perks like airline club memberships and TSA PreCheck, but the travel commitment is real and consistent.
Sunrise Technologies History
Sunrise Technologies was founded in 1994 by John Pence, who left his role as CIO of the Champion Athletic division of Sara Lee (now Hanesbrands) to start the firm. Having struggled firsthand to find consultants who truly understood the apparel, footwear, and textile industries, he built Sunrise with the explicit goal of doing a few things extremely well rather than being mediocre at many things. The company launched from his dining room table in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The firm's technology focus shifted significantly in 2003 when Sunrise participated in Microsoft's "Project Green" initiative, which previewed the ERP system that would eventually become Microsoft Dynamics 365. Sunrise recognized the long-term value of the platform and joined the Microsoft Partner Network as an exclusive Dynamics AX reseller. That bet has compounded over 30 years into a leading position in the Microsoft partner ecosystem.
Sunrise has since grown to offices across North America, Europe, and Asia, serving a global client base of consumer brands and retailers. The firm has been recognized as a Microsoft Partner of the Year finalist multiple times, was named a Top 20 VAR by both Accounting Today and Bob Scott, and has appeared on the Triad Business Journal's Fast 50 list for 18 consecutive years. In 2024, Sunrise celebrated its 30th year in business.
Sunrise Technologies Interview
The Sunrise Technologies interview process is behavioral and experience-based. The firm does not use case interviews of the type common at strategy consulting firms. Instead, the focus is on understanding who you are as a person, how you've handled past situations, and whether your values align with the firm's core principles of honesty, hard work, and kindness. Candidates who have gone through the process consistently describe it as thorough but not adversarial.
If you are applying to technology consulting firms broadly and want to sharpen your interviewing skills, Management Consulted's Black Belt program provides deep coaching on behavioral interview preparation and general consulting interview skills, drawing on the expertise of former MBB coaches who have helped 15,000+ candidates land offers.
Sample interview questions reported by Sunrise Technologies candidates include:
- Tell me about yourself and your background.
- Why did you choose your major, and how does it apply to consulting?
- What drew you to Sunrise Technologies specifically?
- Describe a difficult situation you've faced and how you resolved it.
- What are your core values, and how do you live them day to day?
- How do you manage stress in a demanding work environment?
- Where do you see your career in five years?
The culture fit component of the interview carries significant weight. The founder, John Pence, personally meets with all potential full-time hires to assess alignment with the firm's values. That is a direct signal of how seriously the firm takes culture as a hiring criterion.
Firm Interview Process
The Sunrise Technologies interview process typically runs two to four weeks from initial application to offer. The first stage is a phone screen with a member of the recruiting team, focused on resume review, background questions, and a realistic preview of what the consultant lifestyle looks like. Candidates who clear the phone screen are invited to an in-person or virtual multi-round interview day.
The on-site interview includes sessions with HR leadership, current consultants or team members, and a final meeting with the President and Founder, John Pence. The questions are primarily behavioral, drawing on your resume and past experience. The overall difficulty rating is moderate, and most candidates describe the experience as professional and transparent, with clear communication at each step.
Sunrise Technologies Salary
Sunrise Technologies offers a competitive compensation package for the technology consulting space, with total comp structured around a strong base salary, a significant annual bonus, and an industry-standout 100% employer-funded SEP-IRA retirement contribution. The bonus component is meaningful and is celebrated company-wide each year.
Based on available market data, entry-level consultants at Sunrise Technologies typically earn between $65,000 and $85,000 in base salary, with total compensation rising meaningfully when bonuses and retirement contributions are factored in. Senior Consultants generally earn base salaries in the range of $110,000 to $140,000, with total compensation packages frequently exceeding that. Senior Technical Architects and Director-level roles can earn $150,000 or more in base compensation.
For a comprehensive view of consulting salaries across hundreds of firms at all levels, see the current MC Consulting Salaries Report. It covers base salary, bonus structures, and total compensation benchmarks across the full spectrum of consulting firm types.
Conclusion
Sunrise Technologies is a focused, founder-led technology consulting firm that has built a strong niche as a global Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner for consumer brands, retailers, and manufacturers. With 30-plus years of operating history, a track record of sustained growth, and a culture built around genuine values rather than corporate talking points, Sunrise offers a compelling option for candidates interested in technology consulting and ERP implementation.
The firm is not a fit for everyone. It requires a real commitment to client travel, deep specialization in the Microsoft technology stack, and alignment with a tight-knit, values-driven culture. But for candidates who want meaningful client exposure early in their career, a clear path to advancement, strong total compensation, and the chance to work with globally recognized brands, Sunrise Technologies is worth a close look.
If you're preparing for consulting interviews more broadly, start with the MC Case Interview Guide and visit the MC Job Board to explore open roles at Sunrise and other top firms.