See below for our top eight:

1. Put surge protectors and power strips to use. By guarding your electronics from sudden bursts of power, valued items like televisions and computers remain in tact and ensure electrical outlets aren’t overloaded.
2. Make sure all electrical cords are away from water, including bath tubs, sinks and toilets … even spots prone to random spills.
3. Utilize water-resistant protection devices on outdoor outlets to defend against weather and other moisture.
4. Check ventilation on appliances, such as your refrigerator, entertainment unit and computer.
5. As we head into the summer months, review the power load on large air conditioning units. Power overloads could be detrimental to your electrical system.
6. Check all cords on a regular basis.  Make sure they’re out of traffic paths and free of frays and exposed wires.
7. Install tamper-resistant devices at home to protect small fingers. In addition, keep curious children safe by keeping random objects away from your outlets.
8. In honor of Electrical Safety Month, make May your anniversary month for an electrical safety inspection in your home and office to make sure everything is in working order.

What other electrical safety tips/check ups do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

Photo credit: thesignstudio

When it comes to innovation and new ideas, these publications keep us at the top of our game:

• Entrepreneur: From social media and marketing techniques to managing finances and company growth, a lot can be learned from today’s entrepreneurs and startups. Entrepreneur is a great resource for finding these new and fresh ideas. Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

• Forbes: Forbes is one of our go-to resources for keeping up-to-date with the latest business news, leadership techniques and innovative ideas. Plus, we’ve learned a lot of valuable business lessons from the companies, celebrities and business people regularly included in Forbes’ lists. Follow Forbes on Facebook and Twitter.

• Inc: Whether your business is one year old or 100, Inc. is a must-read to stay ahead of business news and trends. We turn to Inc. often for advice on innovation, managing partnerships and excelling in customer service, among other topics. Connect with Inc. on Facebook and Twitter.

Where else do you turn for innovative ideas? Let me know!

Karen has been with Madison for the better part of 35 years, starting as a receptionist in 1977, then moving on to billing and collections. Karen moved to the purchasing department in 2006 and says this is her most rewarding position yet. Here’s a bit more about Karen:

Q: Describe your job in one sentence.
A: I handle the majority of purchasing and transfers that go out to remote warehouses.

Q: What’s the first thing you do every day when you get to work?
A: Get a cup of coffee. Then, I run the purchase order generation to see what needs to be ordered that day.

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment at Madison?
A: Climbing the ladder to the Purchasing Department.  I do not have a purchasing background but my 35 years here at Madison made the transition very easy for me.

Q: What’s one talent you wish you possessed?
A: I’m a behind-the-scenes kind of gal. I’d love to be that person on the podium that does the big speeches, but I just like to do my job and stay hidden.

Q: What’s the best part of living and working in the Cleveland area?
A: If you don’t like the weather, it changes in five minutes.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working at Madison?
A: When I first started in 1977, our building was a really small house. Since then, we’ve moved four times. This company has really grown over the years, and we are so much more functional. I’m proud to have been a part of the growth over the past 35 years.

3 Rules for Building Business Relationships – From providing value to stepping outside your comfort zone, Inc. Magazine shared helpful tips for generating the most value from professional relationships.

Questions posed, discussed during technology panel at NAED National Meeting – Panelists discussed social media, apps, cloud computing and more at this year’s National Meeting. Here’s an overview of key points.

Defining the Differences Between Leadership and Management – Do the skills that make you an effective manager make you an effective leader? Or, does it take something more? Helpful article from Smart Business!

Innovation Roundtable: 2012 Inaugural Event Recap & Looking Ahead (Whitepaper) – This whitepaper provides an overview of topics discussed, ideas formulated and conclusions drawn at the 2012 Innovation Roundtable. Let the discussion begin!

What other interesting articles did you read last month? Send them my way!

Super Rod Ltd., recognized in the industry for their unique range of cable installation products, has won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Export, the UK’s highest accolade for businesses. This is the second year in a row Super Rod has earned this distinction, having received The Queen’s Award for Excellence in Innovation last year. And we couldn’t think of anyone who deserves it more.

When we met the Super Rod team at the 2010 NECA Convention, we immediately took notice of two things. First, the team shared our commitment to innovation – not just for themselves, but for the industry as a whole. Second, they listened to their customers’ problems and, in response, created products that solved them. These are two of the cornerstones to our approach to business, so it didn’t take long to recognize the potential for what our two companies could achieve together.

Two years later, Super Rod continues to impress us with their openness to new ideas and new processes. As a result, both our individual businesses and our partnership continue to grow.

Congratulations to the Super Rod team on this well-earned recognition!

In this spirit of togetherness, 40 forward-thinking manufacturers, distributors, reps, electricians, trade association representatives and media came together on March 21 to reflect on the electrical industry’s current state, existing challenges, emerging technologies and future opportunities. Dubbed the Innovation Roundtable, it quickly became clear that this meeting was just the beginning of a much-needed discussion – a chance to collectively sync up the industry and work together to create a smoother way forward.

We covered a wide range of topics at the Innovation Roundtable. Interestingly, whether the topic centered on partnerships, customer service or industry landscape, the discussions always came back to emerging technologies – namely how social media, mobile opportunities and technology-driven interactions will change the way business gets done.

Take a look at the whitepaper below for an overview of topics discussed, ideas formulated and conclusions drawn:

Editor’s Note: We’ve also launched a LinkedIn Group to foster ongoing relationships and continue the dialogue. We plan to announce the next in-person Innovation Roundtable meeting in the coming months. Until then, we hope you’ll seek ways to innovate, learn and teach – embracing this collaborative spirit needed to elevate the entire industry to the next level. If you’re interested in participating in a future discussion, contact Marketing Director Rob Fisher for details.

For today’s Follow Friday, here are a few electrical industry-specific groups worth joining:

• Electrical Construction Professionals: This group is for all electrical construction professionals to network, discuss projects, look for employment opportunities, and stay current with industry trends.

• Electrical Wholesalers: This group can be an opportunity for people who work with different electrical distributors/manufacturers to communicate and network with each other all over the country.

• Modern Distribution Management’s Independent Distributor Network: This group is for wholesale distribution executives, manufacturers who need to keep up with key trends in independent distribution channels, managers of distribution companies, executives with supply chain management responsibility and other organizations that serve independent distributors.

• TED Magazine Think Tank: This group is for those interested in communicating about topics affecting the electrical products supply chain.

You can also use LinkedIn Groups to connect with trade associations and publications: NEMRA, IEC, Electrical Contractor and Electrical Trends, to name a few.

Which other electrical industry LinkedIn Groups are worth joining? Let me know!

Photo credit: LinkedIn

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency wants to change that, and drastically so. It seeks to cut the design-to-production cycle to two to four years.

So how are they going to do it? Crowdsourcing.”

Earlier this month, The New York Times shared the Pentagon’s plans to begin crowdsourcing manufacturing, beginning with the design and development of a new, “amphibious” vehicle for the Marines over the next three years. A web portal will be created and used to gather, share and test ideas. Plus, intermittent cash prizes will speed up the collaboration process.

Sound familiar?

The Sparks Innovation Center – our own model for crowdsourced, collaborative product development – has generated more than 134 submissions since launching in 2010. It is the point of origin for six Madison Electric signature products and another seven in the production phase. Not to mention it’s an award-winning industry first that has significantly increased both new product sales and the company’s bottom line.

We can’t place enough emphasis on the value on collaborative efforts, such as crowdsourced product development. Although Madison has been considered an electrical product innovator for many years (it actually started with our founder, Earl Atkinson!), our products had become commodities. The Sparks Innovation Center provided a platform to introduce a new type of “specialty” product. Plus, this approach streamlines the product development process – shortening the idea-to-market timeline.

We’ve said before collaboration is key to moving the electrical industry forward. But maybe it has even more potential than we realized. What are your thoughts?

•••

Do you have the next great industry invention? Or, do you know how to make an existing product better? Click here to share your product idea.

Sparks Innovation Center Resources:

Sparks Innovation Center home page
Download the brochure
Submit an idea

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Photo credit: United States Marine Corps

• Eat Street: Unlimited options and you barely even have to leave the Convention Center to find them. Perfect for your first night in town.

• Hell’s Kitchen: Free live music, happy hour and “damn good food.” Sounds good to us!

• Mill City Museum: Built in the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, visit Mill City Museum to learn about the city’s history and check out a great view of the Mississippi River.

• Prohibition at The Foshay: Voted the best view in Minneapolis! Definitely worth checking out (and enjoying a cocktail while you’re there).

• Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery: Perfect place for dinner and drinks with the team. Plus, print this coupon for a free beer with entrée purchase of $15.00 or more.

• Seven Sushi and Steakhouse: From happy hour specials to all-you-can-eat sushi dinners, this three-level restaurant has an option for everyone.

• Twin Cities Highlights Tours: If you have a few extra hours, this tour highlights historic sites, homes, theaters and landmarks in Minneapolis, St. Paul and all of the neighborhoods in between.

• Walker Art Center: What better way to wind down after the expo than wandering through one of the most celebrated art museums in the country? Even better: free admission on Thursdays from 5-9 pm!

Headed to Minneapolis next week? What else do you recommend checking out? Let me know!

•••

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Photo credit: Enrico Fuente

On that note, we’re dedicating today’s Follow Friday to highlighting a number of outlets we recommend following to stay ahead of the latest technology, social media and marketing trends:

• Mashable: Mashable is the largest independent news source dedicated to covering digital culture, social media and technology. In fact, numerous leading publications have declared Mashable the most influential online news outlet. You can connect with Mashable on Facebook and Twitter (For an even more extensive list of ways to connect, click here).

• TechCrunch: TechCrunch is a leading technology media property that profiles startups, reviews new products and breaks tech news. Plus, TechCrunch plays host to a number of technology columnists and contributors, bringing deep insight from “the heart of the tech community.” You can connect with TechCrunch on Twitter and Facebook.

• Engadget: Engadget is a web magazine that covers everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics. You can connect with Engadget on Facebook and Twitter.

• Gizmodo: Gizmodo is another great outlet for staying on top of new gadgets, technology and trends. Plus, Gizmodo hosts “Open Forums” built up by readers to discuss, debate and investigate content. You can connect with Gizmodo on Facebook and Twitter.

What other outlets do you follow to stay ahead of technology trends? Email me and let me know!