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New TUG Chair, Della Coffelt:
‘Power of the Many’ Defines the Value of TUG

By Mitchell Beer

May 28, 2024 11:57 pm EDT

After years of industry leadership, most recently as vice-chair of TheUserGroup.org, Della Coffelt still brings the value of TUG and the annual TUG Connects conference down to the power of the many compared to the small voice of one.

“One of the biggest advantages of being a member is that we can all join together, have a voice, and have influence with Infor,” says Coffelt, CIO of Distributors Corporation of America in Memphis, TN. “Many of us are small or medium-sized distributors. But because of TUG, we have a voice to be able to influence and help guide Infor, and a voice they listen to.”

That impact is multiplied by meeting face to face at TUG Connects, she adds. “It’s one thing to be able to put in a request, socialize it, and explain it to Infor. But being able to actually sit down with Infor executives at the conference is huge because we have their undivided attention.”

The conference is also an unparalleled learning moment, an opportunity to get beyond the basics of the new technologies and options that continue to reshape the industry. “We get to learn the new features that are available,” she says. “But when we can talk to other distributors and share how other people are using it, that opens doors and creates ideas we would never have thought about. To me, it’s that networking and asking questions and talking to people. That’s where I learn so much.”

Coffelt cites the development of the Coleman platform, now known as Infor Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a moment when distributors’ feedback made a difference—for the user community, and for the company. “Through that whole project, I felt like Infor really, really listened to all of us, and we’ve seen some real changes,” she says. Price optimization is another area where users are leading the charge and helping Infor develop a tool “that is going to help us”.

Infor was also responding to its discussions with the TUG Board when it agreed to identify a liaison between the network groups and Infor. While the the details are still being worked out, it is a positive indicator as to the importance of the relationship to both sides.

“At the network level, they’re often focused on very specific topics,” she explains. “So to have that one ear at Infor is a real advantage. It will help streamline projects and move them faster.”

Coffelt is also taking part in Women in Distribution, a regular feature at TUG Connects aimed at helping women in the industry build their own professional networks and empower their work. “Distribution is still a male-dominated industry,” she says. “So especially for the younger women coming in, it’s daunting. Women in Distribution gives them a forum and support to ask questions, get articles to read, share their stories, and build trust,” which she stressed is the key to anything else going on in a company.