Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1236528
APRIL 2020 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 17 as many other essential service providers and our infra- structure as possible to help keep hospitals, government agencies, telecom sites, FEMA trailers, quarantine RVs, and other businesses open and the economy moving. This includes major corporations that have had their sup- ply chains decimated as a result of the global pandemic, as well as the essential contractor trying to keep the heat on at a medical facility or nursing home. ICM Controls, a leader in the manufacturing and supply of electronic controls, was classified as an essential ser- vice provider by NY State and granted exemption status; therefore, we are "not subject to the required 100% work- force reduction [mandate]" pursuant to the Governor's revised Executive Order 202.6. The move allows the com- pany of more than 250 employees to remain operational in full support of other essential service providers standing on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19. "We manufacture essential products and controls for multiple companies that are providing other essential medi- cal and telecom equipment being used to combat the spread of COVID-19," said Andy Kadah, president of ICM Controls. Kadah touted the flexibility of ICM Controls' vertical- integrated manufacturing facility and vowed to support ICM Controls Remains Open terms of cases. But what are the real risk fac- tors, and how are we mitigating those? We've seen several different, more famous people in the news saying, "So and so has contracted it." I haven't seen any case where those people have died from it. We're figuring out how to manage it. If we can manage that fear, then we can come back. But if we can't manage that fear, it's just going to slow things down. And my concern, frankly, is fear sells in the larg- er news pieces. If we can't start reporting on here's how to be safe, such as success stories and survival cases, then we're just going to propagate that fear even further, longer. Matties: Do you have any closing thoughts or stories of humanity, if you will, that you want to share? Mitchell: At some point, this is going to touch all of us personally. I have a nephew and a cousin who contracted it, and they've weathered the storm. I joked with them and said, "We need to get your little antibody badge so that you can walk around and everybody can say, 'That person is safe.'" Please don't take my advice as being from a medical professional at all. We're all going to be impacted in some way by this, I imagine. We need to recognize that. In our case, fortunately, no one has been fatal in our organization. I am impressed by and proud of this industry. We are stepping up and helping be part of the solution. People aren't quibbling about, "This is my business or that business," at all. The industry is sharing best practices with each other in trying to help each other. Now, this is not an unusual thing. This has been going on, but in this time of crisis, we've seen it highlighted even more in how the heads of these organizations that build the electron- ics, save lives, make our day to day better and are working together to try to make sure that everyone as an industry is successful so that, in turn, the world can get back to being a safer, happier place. Matties: Those are great thoughts, John. Again, thank you very much for taking the time to help keep our industry well-informed. Mitchell: My pleasure. PCB007