Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1433652
78 SMT007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2021 Feature Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team Teresa Rowe, senior director for assembly and standards technology at IPC, updates us on standards committee work: processes, key standards in process, teleconferencing, and in- ternational participation. All this work leads up to the standards committee sessions at IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego. Nolan Johnson: Teresa, thanks for joining us to talk about IPC committee work. As we're coming out of change to processes and com- munication styles, thanks to the pandemic ef- fect, what are you most excited about regard- ing committee work? Teresa Rowe: Interesting question. ank you. First and foremost, getting back together with people, being able to meet face-to-face is at the top of my list. We had an opportunity at Sum- merCom, but with travel restraints, we didn't have as many people as we typically would see. I'm also excited to get my dress shoes out again and use them while walking around APEX EXPO. It's quite the workout when you think about all the things that happen and all the places you have to be. Johnson: Yes. I think a lot of us have missed the human connection professionally and person- ally. I think you're right. Rowe: Even turning your video on (on a good hair day) just isn't the same as having people in the same room, seeing their expressions and reactions, and seeing them all together at one time interacting. You don't see that on a phone call, so that will be fun. Johnson: So, there's been a phrase attached to committee work: committee by Zoom. We're all experiencing that in our daily lives, of course. I'm curious to find out from you how that's affecting IPC committee work. How has that changed? Rowe: e process itself hasn't changed, but we find that groups are meeting a lot more fre- quently and we're getting things done in a dif- ferent cadence than we did before. I think back to some of the action items that get assigned; normally we would assign an action item, give IPC Standards Committees: Thoughts on a Changing Landscape