Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1093246
MARCH 2019 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 35 Shaughnessy: Especially in pharmaceutical because people are living forever now. Teta: Exactly. I think that's something that a lot of people in this industry need to get better at is going to job fairs and trying to recruit younger talent. Obviously, it takes longer to train some - body, and it's a negative that you don't get somebody with experience, but you'll get some- body who will be around for a long time. Shaughnessy: So, you're a chemical engineer by education. Do you find yourself doing any EE or ME stuff? Teta: I do a little bit of electrical and a lot of mechanical. My title at Insulectro is field appli- cation engineer, but it's a lot of common sense, working through issues, and engineering from the logical standpoint. When I see a problem, I backtrack and try to find the solution. Under- standing the whole process from the starting material to the end use has been helpful for finding solutions. Shaughnessy: What's your favorite thing about your job? Teta: One of the things I've been focusing on at Insulectro is Isola laminates as well as the DuPont flex materials. I'm not only working with the PCB fabricators but also the OEMs on the design side, trying to understand what their end use is and working between the OEMs as well as the fabrication shops. Insulectro has this program called ACT, which stands for "Accom- plish Change Together." We want to work with the fabricators and OEMs and make sure we're recommending the right materials that will be good for their end use. I most enjoy going out and giving presentations and teaching people about these materials that they might have not been aware of. Shaughnessy: And you have your CID+ certifi- cation, which is good. Teta: When I first started with Insulectro, they wanted me to go ahead and get all of the extra education and the training. They've been fan- tastic with that. I received my CID certifica- tion a year ago, and I recently received the CID+. Obviously, it's the Certified Interconnect Designer program, but it's more about DFM, etc. I meet designers who know so little about the manufacturing process, and I try to work with them to enlighten them; it's not like you hit an "easy" button and a board spits out. Shaughnessy: Who was your CID instructor? Teta: Gary Ferrari for both courses. Shaughnessy: He's a great instructor. Teta: I think everybody is aware that we need younger people in this industry. I know Insulec- tro is, but as I said earlier, it's harder to attract them and let them know what the industry is about and what they could be doing. Insulectro recruits both superstars and future superstars. We just hired another guy out in the San Jose area who's probably four or five years out of school. A lot of companies are trying to attract younger employees. We're getting there. Shaughnessy: Have you visited any board shops? Teta: I cover the whole East Coast, so I've been to just about every shop there—at least 50 of them. I've been to a lot. Shaughnessy: Fantastic. Most of my readers are designers, and if they've been to a board shop, I meet designers who know so little about the manufacturing process, and I try to work with them to enlighten them; it's not like you hit an "easy" button and a board spits out.