IDEAL Prepares for the Future

Some people changes, and National Championship updates, from IDEAL:

Doug Sanford promoted to SVP and GM

Chairman and CEO Jim James has announced that the Board of Directors for the family-owned company has promoted Doug Sanford to Senior Vice President and General Manager of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. Sanford was Group President for IDEAL Electrical for the past three years. Under his leadership, IDEAL Electrical significantly grew both its tool and wire termination businesses, and spearheaded the development and optimization of the IDEAL National Championship.

Sanford will report to Jim James and, eventually, recently announced CEO Steve Henn. Sanford will be responsible for the strategic leadership and operational efficiencies of the IDEAL (non-lighting) businesses that include: Anderson Power Products (APP), Casella, CMD, Enatel, IDEAL Electrical, Pratt Reed, SK Tools & Western Forge. 

“Doug is a proven leader,” said James. “He sees the big picture, manages complex market dynamics, complex product development, operating and distributing issues and does it all in a way that energizes and galvanizes his team. Doug is an extraordinary executive who has earned both the board’s and the family’s confidence.”

Burkhardt to Lead Largest Business Unit, its NA Operations and Data Comm

James also announced Jeffrey Burkhardt has been promoted to Group President, IDEAL Electrical, Canada, Latin America & DataComm. Burkhardt will report to Sanford. He will be responsible for the P&L of the businesses and will work with their leadership teams to deliver sustained growth and innovation with an end-user focus.

Burkhardt led the company’s expansion into advanced technologies and built a larger, more diverse presence in Europe. “He knows the markets that are important to our future,” James affirmed, “and has a keen understanding of how to create significant growth from emerging technologies and markets.” 

Burkhardt previously led APP power connectors used in the vehicle, telecom, medical and energy industries; Casella noise, dust and vibration monitors for the global construction market; CMD integrated power and technology solutions for offices; DataComm/T&M electrical test and measurement solutions for the telecom and IT markets; and IDEAL Europe.

2019 IDEAL National Championship – Annual Competition to Determine the Industry’s Top Electricians to Exceed 100,000 Competitors

Heading into the final weeks of Qualifying Round events, participation in the 2019 IDEAL National Championship is surging. “We expect more than 100,000 competitors in this year’s competition. As of August 31, registrations are up 88 percent over the same eight-month period in 2018,” said James. “Yet, the more remarkable data point is the 122 percent jump in participation year-over-year through August. It’s one thing to register. It’s another to show up and compete. This shows how seriously electricians, contractors and schools are taking the IDEAL National Championship now.”

James and his team conceived and developed the IDEAL National Championship four years ago. Each year the competition has grown in scale and participation. This year, competitors from China and Australia will join their fellow brother and sister sparkies from the United States and Canada. The team competitions have also slightly changed this year, going from three person teams to two person teams. Additionally, with the new Contractor Challenge and School Challenge, there are new incentives for teams to participate.

The top Professional and Student/Apprentice from each state/territory, the top five Contractor Challenge and School Challenge teams of 2 from the U.S., and the top Contractor and School Challenge team from Canada will advance to Championship Weekend, November 7 – 9 in Orlando, Florida.

James Retires

And the above follows Jim James’ announcement that he was retiring in January with a new leader, Steve Hein, coming in from ITW.

Jim James, Chairman and CEO of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. has announced he will retire on January 31, 2020. Steve Henn, a Group President from Illinois Tool Works (ITW) will succeed Jim as CEO on September 23, 2019. As long planned, Meghan Juday, a fourth generation family executive, will become the Chairman of the 103-year old family company on February 1, 2020 when James retires.

James announced his decision to the family and Board of Directors over two years ago.  “I believe that after 11 years or so, it’s time others get an opportunity to make their mark on the organization,” said James. “I want to thank Dave Juday (preceding Chairman), Meghan Juday and the rest of the family for their trust, confidence and continual support over the years. I love the family. It has been an honor and privilege to work for them. They’ve made me feel like family.”

The New CEO

“Steve Henn is a great fit for the organization,” said Chris Baldwin, Chairman of the Succession Committee. “He’s consistently produced revenue and profit growth in dynamic, challenging and changing markets.”

Henn joins IDEAL from Illinois Tool Works where he was Group President, Industrial Equipment & Plastics, the largest Platform within the $2.0B Specialty Products Segment.  The Platform comprised 6 Divisions with more than 3,000 employees operating more than 30 facilities serving multiple markets in 15 countries. Prior to that Steve built a roughly $600 million business and became Group President of ITW’s Global Packaging Solutions Platform.

His experience running a diversified global business serving a multitude of industries has prepared him to lead a company like IDEAL. Baldwin noted that Henn also brings the company proven expertise in global management, acquisitions and integrations, innovation, high performance team development, and manufacturing.

IDEAL Poised for Sustained Growth, Innovation and Expansion

“All of us are going to miss Jim’s vision, brilliance and energy,” said Meghan Juday. “Over these last 11 years, Jim has transformed the company.” She noted IDEAL has grown substantially under his direction, not just getting larger as a company, but also becoming a more sophisticated company. “He is a friend and mentor as well as a visionary business partner.”

Juday shared the family and Board of Directors’ appreciation for James’ many accomplishments. He reinforced IDEAL’s strong financial position along with the company’s culture and founding principles. He supported the family’s initiative to maintain perpetual ownership of the company, and side by side with the family, worked to accomplish this important milestone for the family and the business. He set the foundation for platform-changing acquisitions such as CMD, Enatel and Cree Lighting.

“This expanded our global footprint while also diversifying the business and accelerating the development and delivery of category changing innovations. Jim focused IDEAL’s operating divisions on the end users of our products and services. He also drove the development and deployment of our digital transformation and emerging e-commerce capabilities to enhance relationships with our customers. His many accomplishments have us well positioned for the future,” continued Juday.

“We‘ll miss Jim, but fortunately he has strengthened IDEAL and our businesses are set for continued success and growth.”

Family Stewardship at IDEAL

Juday stressed that IDEAL INDUSTRIES will remain family owned. “We’re built for long-term success. We see things in generations not just quarters.” She explained the company will continue to invest in training and development, innovation and in acquiring companies that “complement our core businesses and provide us significant positions in growing global markets.”

A couple of thoughts …

• Feedback from some who have met Meghan Juday is that they were very impressed with her and her connection to the electrical industry. Active family continuity in a business is critical to maintaining the culture.
• Jim further “professionalized” the business and took IDEAL to another level. Doug becoming SVP provides continuity in determining the direction of their recent acquisition of Cree, which many are waiting to see what the direction will be (and are hoping).
• Coming from ITW, it can be assumed that Steve is a focused, process / financially-oriented individual. It would also not be surprising to see more IDEAL acquisitions as that historically has been a foundation of ITW but, as with ITW and IDEAL has shown, those acquisitions do not have to be “core” electrical industry companies. Getting involved in lighting was a surprise.

Congrats to Jim on his retirement and to Doug and Steve on their new roles.