The Nativity School of Worcester received a $200,000 gift from a California foundation run by the family of Worcester native J.D. Power III to establish a scholarship in his name, the school announced Monday.
Known to all as “Dave,” Power grew up in Massachusetts but later moved to California. From an early job as a dealer auditor for Ford’s tractor division, he moved to a market research firm and often worked with auto clients. With his experience, he felt he could start his own research firm.
He founded J.D. Power and Associates in 1968. Its office was Power’s kitchen table, and the “Associates” were his wife Julie and their children. He believed car companies were too busy listening only to what their executives had to say, and ignoring feedback from customers. He planned to collect that feedback on their behalf.