Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1355791
84 I-CONNECT007 I REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2021 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE by Happy Holden, I-CONNECT007 is was the first time IPC had a virtual APEX EXPO. It went well, but I missed seeing everyone. On the other hand, all this material being available for 90 days certainly allows it to fit anyone's schedule. I spent all week intently listening to the presentations. Unfortunately, a virtual conference does not allow you to chat in the aisles, visit old friends during breaks, or have a Starbucks together. So, a successful virtual conference is difficult to compare to a live in-person con- ference. To help you take full advantage of the 90 day on-demand availability, I've included sum- mary information for a portion of the program. is is not an exhaustive list, as I had not yet been able to watch them all by the time this went to press. Managers Forum: Managing Challenges in Periods of Transition e show kicked off with a greeting from IPC President and CEO John Mitchell, fol- lowed by Gene Weiner, Hall of Fame council program chair. Gene was his usual "cheery" self as he introduced IPC VP of Global Gov- ernment Relations Chris Mitchell, who spoke on "Seizing the Moment." Chris made several good points: • e PCB industry is not well known to the government compared to semiconductors and prominent electronics products • IPC has done an excellent job as an advocator for electronics manufacturing • COVID-19 has heightened the awareness of our supply chain for electronics manufacturing Happy's Play-by-Play of IPC APEX EXPO