Hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper

Hey there, JDE Connection listeners! We’re back with Part II of our conversation with the incredible Ward Quarles, longtime JD Edwards leader who continues to be a walking encyclopedia of JDE history. This episode is packed with stories and insights that give you a deep appreciation for what makes JD Edwards not just a product, but a lasting community and culture.

JD Edwards: Built on Customer Collaboration

One of the strongest themes is the way JD Edwards was built—with the customer, for the customer. Ward shared how developers didn’t just sit behind desks; they went onsite, sat side-by-side with users, and walked through business processes in person. Those interactions led to immediate brainstorming and design sessions, followed by rapid implementation, testing, and deployment. That cycle of direct customer feedback driving product evolution became the heartbeat of JD Edwards development.

Flexibility Through Data Dictionary and CASE Tools

Ward dug deeper into JD Edwards’ architectural roots, explaining how the data dictionary served as the foundation for flexibility and extensibility. JD Edwards anticipated the need for adaptability early on—long before low-code/no-code was a buzzword.

• Need currencies in six-decimal precision? Done.
• Different regional formats? Covered.
• Tailored field behavior by user? Absolutely.

It was all possible because the system was designed with personalization in mind. Paired with the CASE (Computer-Assisted Software Engineering) tool, JD Edwards delivered self-documenting, run-time-configurable applications way ahead of their time.

JD Edwards College: Learning from the Best

We also got a look into the origins of internal training at JD Edwards—JDE College. When Ward first joined, there was no formal onboarding. Instead, it was a cassette tape and an RPG programming manual. But as the company grew, so did the need for structured training. JDE College brought in seasoned employees to teach new hires about Financials vs. Payroll, Manufacturing, Procurement, Sales, and Logistics.
It was hands-on learning, taught by people who lived and breathed the product every day.

Expanding Globally: From Tulsa to Tokyo

Ward also shared how JD Edwards grew from its Denver roots into a global company. Starting with oil and gas clients in places like Tulsa and expanding into markets like the UK, Singapore, and Tokyo, JD Edwards followed a “send your best people” model—placing trusted leaders in new geographies to replicate the company’s culture and quality abroad.

This global reach pushed the product to support dozens of languages, currencies, and regional requirements—ensuring JDE was truly ready for multinational organizations.

Culture, Camaraderie, and… Love?

And of course, it wouldn’t be a proper episode without some heartwarming stories. Ward shared:

• Tasting room visits with brewery customers in Toronto.
• Water-ski sessions with IT managers in North Carolina.
• JD Edwards holiday parties where Ed McVaney dressed up as Santa for employees’ kids.
• Family vacations where his kids made sandcastles with the children of another JDE family—purely by chance.
• And yes, a love story made possible by a JD Edwards travel routine and flight upgrades!

Giving Back and Looking Ahead

Ward closed the episode by reflecting on how JD Edwards’ founders gave back to the community. From Ed McVaney’s Valor High School to Bob Newman’s Performing Arts Center at DU, their success translated into meaningful contributions. Today, we still see their legacy in both the product strategy and the community focus that JD Edwards maintains.

Midwesternism of the Day

Keeping with the spirit of working hard and having fun along the way, we end this week talking about Wells, Dells, and Bells, where they brew Midwest politeness in a can!

Join the Conversation

Got a story about your early days with JD Edwards? We’d love to hear it! Email us at thejdeconnection@questoraclecommunity.org.

Until next time, let’s keep learning, sharing, and—most importantly—laughing together. Toodles!

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Quest Oracle Community is where you learn. Ask questions, find answers, swap stories and connect to other JD Edwards customers and product experts in the JD Edwards Community, where you can also check out what’s happening in the Business Analyst SIG.