Mouser's Jaime Plank and April Kilman Named 2025 Strategic Partner of the Year and Supplier Manager of the Year by ODU

DALLAS & FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 5, 2026--

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest semiconductors and electronic components, proudly announces that Jaime Plank, Supplier Management Director, was named 2025 Strategic Partner of the Year by ODU, a valued partner and leading manufacturer of connectivity solutions. Additionally, April Kilman, Supplier Specialist, was named ODU's Supplier Manager of the Year. This marks the third time that April Kilman has won this award from ODU.

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ODU stated execution of strategic initiatives, contribution to key programs, leadership in promoting ODU solutions, along with consistent strong performance, as the metrics for the Strategic Partner of the Year Award. Year-over-year sales growth, inventory management, operational excellence, collaborative engagement, and quality of customer service were the factors used to determine the Supplier Manager of the Year Award.

"Congratulations to Jaime and April on winning these top awards," said Dana Stoica, Director of Marketing and Global Online Distribution at ODU. "They represent Mouser's unwavering dedication to providing outstanding logistics and unparalleled customer service that has firmly established them as a premier channel partner for us. Their invaluable support has significantly fueled demand and driven sales growth for our product portfolio. We are very grateful for this outstanding business relationship and eagerly anticipate the continued success that lies ahead."

Krystal Jackson, Vice President of Supplier Management at Mouser, stated, "Jaime and April's receipt of these prestigious awards from ODU reflects their dedication and professionalism. Notably, April has earned this recognition for the third time. Both individuals exemplify Mouser's commitment to serving customers and business partners with consistent care."

In addition to April Kilman's previous Supplier Manager of the Year Awards, ODU recognized Mouser with the Online Distribution Distributor of the Year Award for 2023. Mouser first partnered with ODU in 2019 and offers over 18,000 ODU products, with almost 1,300 in stock and ready to ship.

To learn more about ODU products available at Mouser, visit https://www.mouser.com/manufacturer/odu/.

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the widest selection of the newest semiconductors, electronic components and industrial automation products. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers' designs, Mouser's website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information.

Engineers can stay abreast of today's exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser's complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser's email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at https://sub.info.mouser.com/subscriber/.

About Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 28 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/.

AboutODU

ODU is a worldwide leader in designing and manufacturing high-performance connector solutions and cable assemblies. ODU advanced connectors ensure a reliable transmission of power, signals, data, and media for a variety of demanding applications, including medical technology, military and security, automotive, industrial electronics, and test and measurement. ODU combines all relevant areas of expertise and key technologies, including design and development, machine tooling and special machine construction, injection, stamping, turning, surface technology, assembly, and cable assembly. In addition to its company headquarters in Mühldorf am Inn (Germany), ODU also has an international production and distribution network throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. The ODU Group sells its products globally through its subsidiaries in Denmark, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, USA, China, and Japan as well as numerous international sales partners.

Trademarks

Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Pictured are April Kilman, Supplier Specialist, and Jaime Plank, Supplier Management Director

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are invoking the war in Iran and the prospect of retaliatory terrorist attacks as they tee up votes Thursday on a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The House already approved a DHS spending bill in January, but it faltered in the Senate as Democrats insisted on changes to immigration enforcement operations following the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis. As a result, funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14.

Republicans are calling on Democrats to reconsider their vote in the wake of the conflict in Iran. Both the House and the Senate are expected to hold votes on the matter.

“The military action in Iran makes it all more urgent and crucial to have a fully funded, fully staffed DHS across all its departments,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

It did not appear the GOP's strategy had changed the position of Democratic lawmakers, though. They said they are prepared to fund most of the agencies at the department, just not Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

“It's the same lousy, rotten bill that does not put any guardrails or constraints on ICE or CBP after federal agents shot American citizens in the street,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Following the longest federal shutdown in the country’s history last year, Congress has completed work on 11 of this year’s 12 appropriations bills. Only the bill for Homeland Security remains outstanding.

Republicans said the timing couldn't be worse for a Homeland Security shutdown. While a large majority of the department's employees are considered essential and continue to work, many will not receive a full paycheck this week.

Republicans said the prospect of an increase in unscheduled absences by the Transportation Security Administration's agents and screeners could lead to longer wait times at the nation's airports. Meanwhile, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has canceled various assessments to determine vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure. And training for first responders conducted through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been canceled.

“Can we not understand America is under siege, now likely to be attacked because radical Islam is under siege, and they’re going to hit back and we’re sitting here looking at each other and not funding DHS?" Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said during a hearing Tuesday featuring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Democrats are seeking several changes at the department include prohibiting ICE enforcement operations at sensitive locations like schools and churches, allowing independent investigations into alleged wrongdoing, requiring warrants to be signed by judges before federal agents can forcibly enter private homes or other nonpublic spaces without consent, and requiring agents to wear identification and remove their masks.

Republicans note that the bill does include a bipartisan provision directing more resources for de-escalation training and $20 million to outfit immigration enforcement agents with body-worn cameras.

The White House and congressional Democrats don't appear to have made significant progress in recent weeks resolving their differences after trading several offers.

“Look, we're still far apart, but we're negotiating and exchanging paper back and forth,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the Republican chairwoman of a panel that oversees homeland security funding, said she’s been talking to Democrats about a possible pathway forward but prospects are unclear.

She and other Republicans are citing last weekend's mass shooting in Austin, Texas, as an example of the dangerous threat environment that's facing Americans following the attack on Iran.

“I think that it is incredibly irresponsible to not fund the agency that is supposed to keep us safe here at home,” Britt said.

Democrats said they are ready to fully fund all the agencies within the department except for ICE and CBP.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, authored a proposal to do that, but it was blocked from consideration. She said Republican leadership was using President Donald Trump's “aimless, costly and illegal war with Iran to force through more funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection without any of the substantial changes that the vast majority of Americans believe those agencies need."

“It is a cynical effort, and it is one that will fail," DeLauro said.

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pauses before taking questions at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. speaks as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)