Honoring Digital Innovators: Ed Heon

Ed Heon

The world of product data management has been shaped by visionaries who saw the future before the industry did. As part of IDEA’s Digital Innovators series, we’re honoring the unsung heroes who pioneered data standardization, synchronization, and syndication, transforming how distributors and manufacturers do business. Today, we recognize Ed Heon, a trailblazer whose work has…

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IDEA Names Patrick Knight as New President to Drive Strategic Growth and Market Expansion

Arlington, VA, January 7, 2025 – The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Knight as President, effective January 6, 2025, reporting to current CEO David Oldfather. Patrick Knight joins IDEA with significant experience in driving transformative growth and operational excellence. Throughout his career, Patrick has been instrumental…

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Get to Know HDM Subject Matter Expert Yogesh Gaikwad

Name: Yogesh Gaikwad Company: nVent Title: Product Data Syndication Specialist Years in the electrical industry: 3+ Years at current company: 1+ What inspired you to pursue a career in the electrical industry, and how did you get started? It all began in 2021 when I received an offer from one of the largest and oldest…

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IDEA Learning Portal 2024 Year in Review

Throughout 2024, we’ve enhanced the IDEA Learning Portal to provide you with an exceptional learning experience. These updates are designed to help you use the IDEA Connector more efficiently and effortlessly. Here’s what’s new: Powerful Tools and Resources Expanded Learning Content Tailored Learning Paths Additional Opportunities These exciting enhancements make learning more engaging and personalized,…

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LightsAmerica Joins IDEA Connector℠ Platform to Expand Industry Reach & Elevate Customer Experiences

New partnership adds decorative lighting fixtures and design solutions to the IDEA Connector ℠  platform. Arlington, VA, October 29, 2024 – IDEA, the industry’s leading technology provider of functional lighting and electrical product data, is excited to announce a new partnership with LightsAmerica, a top e-catalog solution for decorative lighting fixtures and design. Through this…

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Get to Know HDM Subject Matter Experts Arun Venkatesh and Shilpi Bhadoria

Names: Arun Venkatesh, Senior Product Data Specialist, and Shilpi Bhadoria, Business Process Analyst Company: Rockwell Automation Years in the electrical industry: Arun – 13 years & Shilpi – 10 years Years at current company: Arun – 5 years & Shilpi – 10 years What inspired you to pursue a career in the electrical industry, and…

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What Contractors Really Need: A Straight-Talk Perspective

How Accurate Information Fuels Efficiency in Construction By Jim Johnson, President & CEO, NEMRA Recently, I shared about what contractors really need to stay on track at eBiz 2023. In an industry where deadlines are fixed, let’s dive into why getting accurate, real-time information from the start is vital for the success of construction projects—and…

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Get to Know HDM Subject Matter Expert Chris Ziegelmann

Name: Chris Ziegelmann Company: Border States Title: Digital Product Content Manager Years in the electrical industry: 17 Years at current company: 17 What inspired you to pursue a career in the electrical industry, and how did you get started? I started my career through an internship with Border States and once I earned my degree,…

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Get to Know HDM Subject Matter Expert Dave Gatto

Name: Dave Gatto Company: Westinghouse Lighting Title: Director of Quality Control and Compliance Years in the electrical industry: 33 Years at current company: 33 The Harmonized Data Model (HDM) is a single data model supported by NAED and NEMA that unifies multiple product data standards in IDEA Connector to support several syndication formats. We would…

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