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8 I-CONNECT007 I REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2021 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE by John Mitchell, IPC PRESIDENT AND CEO IPC APEX EXPO 2021 was an event to remember. For the first time in 20 years, we did not have the opportunity to physi- cally gather as an industry at IPC's flagship event. However, with the electronics industry being as innovative and resilient as ever, the event was a success in this different modal- ity, and attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and staff responded well to the change. And why wouldn't they? e electronics industry is defined by change! As part of that change, we offered new ways for attendees to get the most out of their virtual experience, including the three-track techni- cal program, more professional development courses than we've ever provided, and most importantly, on-demand access to content until June 13. For the first time, all professional development courses offered both live and on- demand are applicable toward continuing edu- cation points for MIT recertification. If I am being totally transparent, we had some concerns about online meeting burn-out aer a year of having "normal" face to face meetings limited by the pandemic. We wondered, "Have people just been spending too much time in front of their screens to do it for another week?" I am pleased with our team's response to this concern—we adjusted the availability of the conference to fit a broader timeline by giv- ing people the opportunity to have access for 90 days aer the show! And the industry has responded. In some ways, this feature of providing the recordings for 90 days made APEX EXPO an even better value than the live, in-person event. At the live event, you are limited in the sessions you can attend, but with the recordings, you The Place to Learn, Connect, and Collaborate