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JULY 2021 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 67 and bad, passing on knowledge while inspir- ing others, or to be inspired by others. at's PCEA at our core. e PCEA vision is unfolding as our indi- vidual chapter activities gain momentum and our chapter growth flourishes. As new mem- bers continue to join the PCEA collective daily, along with our sponsorships and affili- ations, the PCEA synergy is spreading as we envisioned. It's truly amazing to see the posi- tive energy through true collaboration in each chapter, and each member. Now that we are coming out of the pandemic darkness and COVID-19 restrictions loosen (if not going away), we are finally getting back to in-person interactions, and without those face masks. I think our hands have aged faster than the rest of our body due to the constant wash- ing and sanitizing. Industry trade shows and conferences are coming back to life with a few of them already having taken place with much success. Yahoo and thank God. Because we are back to in-person interac- tions, the second half of this year will be awe- some regarding industry events such as Design- Con 2021, SMTA international, PCB Carolina 2021, and PCB West 2021, to name a few. I simply cannot wait to attend my first industry face-to-face conference or trade show. It is so long overdue, in my opinion. When I speak with other industry friends and colleagues who have already attend a live industry event in person, I am amused to see that they are filled with excitement and a kind of "happy confer- ence euphoria," yet exhausted from being out of conference "shape." So, I look forward to the hustle and bustle of traversing through crowded airports and congested rental car parking lots or even tak- ing Ubers and taxis just to get to my first live conference. I simply cannot wait; it's similar to when we were kids just a few days before Christmas morning. e excitement is build- ing inside me, that's for sure. You can also be assured you will see a PCEA presence at many of these conference and trade shows one way or another. Whether greeting visitors at a con- ference booth on the showroom floor, or at an informal meeting with other fellow members, PCEA will be there. So, look for us, join in on the conversations, and integrate as you see fit. We would love to engage and interact with you face-to-face. As always, if you have anything to do with printed circuit engineering, I highly recom- mend you get involved with and join the PCEA collective—your percentage of long-term pro- fessional development increases significantly. Refer to our column and the PCEA website to stay up to date on up-and-coming indus- try events. ere are many free webinars out there, so take advantage of these opportuni- ties. Visit us at pce-a.org. I wish health and safety to you and your fam- ily. Best of success to all as 2021 unfolds. Warmest Regards, —Steph Chapter Activity by Scott McCurdy PCEA-Orange County Chapter President e PCEA-Orange County Chapter in southern Cali- fornia held a virtual "Lunch 'n Learn" event on May 19. Hosted by EMA Design Automation, Senior Field Applications Engineer Orlen Bates gave an educational presentation on "Designing for RF—Tips and Tricks from the PCB Pros." e topic of RF design must have struck a chord, as this meeting drew an audience of 98 printed circuit professionals, making it one of the largest events in our chapter his- tory. Orlen's many decades of manufacturing and design experience fueled his talk and the images and examples he presented provided a valuable learning opportunity of the best prac- tices and how to avoid design pitfalls to those in the audience. ere was also a lengthy ques- tion and answer period at the end which added Scott McCurdy