About Us

Board of Directors

Count on extraordinary vision.

IDEA is proud to have a Board that shares a common vision with our Management Team—to anticipate and deliver innovative B2B eCommerce solutions and services that help companies from diverse backgrounds compete, thrive, and profit in an increasingly competitive global economy.

­

Board Officers | Voting Directors | Non-Voting Directors

Board Officers

  • President Robert Gaylord President and CEO, IDEA Brigadier ­General Robert Gaylord (retired) has been president and CEO of IDEA since December 2007. For the first time since the inception of IDEA, Gaylord and the B­oard of Directors rigorously analyzed IDEA's value and purpose in the channel. full bio
  • Chairman Larry Stern President and CEO, Standard Electric Supply Co. (WI) The IDEA Board of Directors elected Larry Stern, president and CEO of Standard Electric Supply Co. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the IDEA Chairman of the Board for 2011-2012. He previously served on the Board as the Vice Chair from 2010-2011 and Treasurer from 2008-2010. full bio
  • Vice Chair Stephen Sokolow Chairman of the Board Of Directors, Leviton Manufacturing Company Stephen B. Sokolow is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Leviton, a position he has held since 2007. Prior to being named to Board Chairman, Sokolow served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and as Executive Vice President for Leviton. full bio
  • Treasurer John Burke President, COO, Kirby Risk Electrical Supply John Burke is President, COO of Kirby Risk Electrical Supply, a Midwest distributor of electrical products and services with 38 locations in Indiana, Central and Southern Illinois and Northwest Ohio.
    full bio
  • Secretary Valerie Jones Vice-President of Customer Service and Inside Sales, OSRAM SYLVANIA Valerie Jones, Vice-President of Customer Service and Inside Sales at OSRAM SYLVANIA, is responsible for centralized Customer Service and Inside Sales for General Illumination supporting the central selling organization for US and Canada: Trade, Retail, OEM/Special Markets, Special Lighting, and Sylvania Lighting Services (US).
    full bio

Voting Directors

Non-Voting Directors

  • Tom Naber, President and CEO, NAED
  • Evan Gaddis, President and CEO, NEMA

Need more info?

Call us: 866.479.0484

Honoring our roots

See how IDEA got started and learn about some of the victories we've had along the way.

IDEA In Your World

See how our solutions drive efficiencies for wholesale manufacturers, wholesale distributors, retail suppliers, and wholesale manufacturers' reps.