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32 SMT007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2022 Feature Article by Julia Gumminger IPC INTERNATIONAL IPC APEX EXPO 2023 will offer a refreshed Professional Development Course program. is year's conference includes something for everyone, including informative courses cater- ing to technical managers ready to level up their careers. irty-six courses will be offered on Sunday, Jan. 22 and Monday, Jan. 23. Attendees will find both updated con- tent from veteran instructors and innovative courses from new instructors. e diversity of educational content includes courses that focus on understanding and applying IPC standards; Factory of the Future technologies; quality and reliability; and a legal boot camp. Participants in these courses will gain new knowledge and real-world skills that will equip them to rapidly respond to changing demands for new tech- nologies, materials, and processes. As engineers progress in their careers and become the next generation of leaders in their companies, business and legal skills will likely become part of their job descriptions. IPC approached Allen Anderson and his colleague, Patrick Sebesta from F&B Law Firm P.C., with Next-level Professional Development a request for a course designed for engineers who have worked in the technical career track and now find themselves in management over- seeing contracts and risk management issues. "Customer Contract and Legal Boot Camp for Engineering Professionals" is a brand-new course, custom-designed for IPC's audience. "Whether you are a technical professional in an OEM, an EMS provider, a PCB, a cable or wire harness manufacturer, or any other elec- tronics industry supplier, understanding key contractual provisions and associated legal ramifications is critical to every team mem- ber's role in negotiating and executing effec- tive customer contracts," Anderson says. "is added dimension to a technical background helps enhance a manager's—and thereby the company's—ability to obtain and execute equi- table agreements with commensurate risk for return, avoid significant compliance and risk pitfalls, and protect company assets and intel- lectual property." Dr. Mo Abuali, CEO of IoTco, will be teach- ing another course meant to fill a gap in profes-