ARLINGTON, VA – The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) recently announced a new leadership appointment for the organization.
IDEA’s Board of Directors has named Paul Molitor, of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), as Chief Executive Officer and President of IDEA, effective December 15th.
“We are excited to have someone of Paul’s background lead IDEA at this critical juncture,” said interim CEO and IDEA Board member Chris Curtis, who led the executive search committee. “The committee and I know that both manufacturers and distributors will benefit from his presence.” The search committee consisted of four IDEA Board members: Curtis (Schneider Electric), Jack Carlson (Southwire Company), Wes Smith (Mayer Electric Supply), and David Rosenstein (Connexion Electric Supply).
Molitor has held several positions with NEMA, including his most recent role as Assistant Vice President, Strategy and Policy. His tenure with NEMA has been highlighted by his leadership in establishing technical standards for the Smart Grid. Molitor also has a rich history of technology and business experience in both large and small company settings.
The IDEA Board has also promoted Mike Wentz, of IDEA, to the role of Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, effective immediately. Wentz has been with IDEA for nearly five years, serving most recently as Vice President, Operations. He has a deep history in the information services space, and in working with distribution, offering more than 30 years of electrical industry and technology provider experience.
“IDEA has an aggressive agenda to enrich the data field standard and dramatically increase the level of data quality in the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW), enabling distribution to confidently use the IDW in all their digital applications to drive growth and reduce cost,” said Curtis. “The Board thinks the combination of Paul and Mike will put IDEA on the most solid leadership footing since its inception. We know they will bring value to the entire electrical industry, and to the IDEA employees, and we believe that both Paul and Mike will lead IDEA to realize its vision of becoming the preferred source of high-quality manufacturer data, delivered efficiently and cost effectively.”
About IDEA
The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) is the official technology service provider and eBusiness standards body of the electrical industry. IDEA was founded in 1998 through a partnership rooted in the collective leadership of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) members. Their applications also bring value to vertical markets such as industrial, retail, and consumer-packaged goods. IDEA is headquartered in Arlington, VA (idea4industry.com).