Have you ever needed both the "Assign To" and an app/table for internal team members?

I need to use the "Assign To" field type to benefit from the "My Work" section and permissions/teams.
Also, I need the same people in a table/app to measure their work, link to jobs, let them log their time, and do whatever SS lets us do.

I had to use automation to assign one and let the other get assigned (based on their email).
That's where I felt it would be awesome to be able to use the "Assign-To" functionality to contacts living in an app, or somehow have them connected/synced.

Who came across this question and how did you handle it?