The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) announces the retirement of Barbara Prince, Manager, Data Quality and Distributor Services. Prince retires after five years with IDEA and 45 years within the electrical channel. She will continue to work as an IDEA consultant with a dedicated focus on IDEA’s Data Certification Program and related data quality initiatives.
“Barbara has been a key member of the IDEA team for the last five years, bringing with her a deep understanding of the electrical channel and the relationship between manufacturers and distributors,” said Mike Wentz, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, IDEA. “Most recently, she has played an integral role in the development of the Data Certification Program, and we certainly would not have been able to successfully launch the program without her.”
Prince joined IDEA as a Data Quality Analyst, working with manufacturers to load and maintain their data in the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW). She then transitioned to the management of IDEA’s Industry Data Exchange (IDX) for a year and a half, before moving back to the IDW to oversee the IDW Data Quality team.
Prior to her time with IDEA, Prince began her career in the electrical industry working with Mau-Sherwood Supply, a small industrial distributor in Cleveland, before moving to Carlon/Lamson & Sessions. During her 35 years with Carlon/Lamson & Sessions, Prince supported the company in a number of roles, including data entry, programming, total quality, and electronic data interchange (EDI). There, she was also responsible for implementing and supporting the company’s IDW data. When Thomas & Betts later acquired Lamson, Prince helped with integration and IDW data support efforts. Throughout her career, Prince participated on various industry standards committees to develop EDI standards, packaging guidelines, and bar code guidelines, emphasizing the need for standards in the IDW and in the channel.
“From early on in my career, I’ve understood the IDW from a manufacturer’s perspective, appreciating the effort it takes to keep the data current and the value that results from doing so,” said Prince. “During my time with IDEA, I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to help develop the Data Certification Program, and I look forward to continuing to ensure its success.”
Ten manufacturers have already achieved at least 95 percent compliance within the Data Certification Program, and nearly 140 have committed to achieving 100 percent compliance for their items in the IDW by October 1.
Following Prince’s retirement, Sherri Thorne has now taken over management of the IDW Data Management Specialist and IDW Data Quality Specialist teams as IDW Manager, Client Services.
