Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1493016
REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2023 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 129 bullish on this industry. Many managers said their companies are expanding this year and that their biggest problem is finding new talent. Last year, many attendees expressed concerns about the supply chain, but I found that supply chain topics rarely came up in conversation this year. In fact, a few execu- tives I spoke with characterized their visit as a shopping trip: looking for companies to buy or locations to set up that perfect greenfield facility. No one mentioned the recent tech layoffs or 8% inflation. Our I-Connect007 booth was jammed all week, often with the industry's top authors and instructors. I conducted Real Time with… IPC video interviews with technologists and managers from across the industry, and I don't think I screwed up a single video inter- view this time. In the past, I've sometimes mispronounced names or titles, especially if it's something like "Global OEM Product Marketing Manager." Not this year—maybe something in the dry air or just finally having enough experience? Seeing the STEM students was a high point of the show for me. High school kids from the San Diego area participating in IPC's STEM program were all over the show floor for two days, asking exhibitors questions and taking photos. It's nice to see all these fresh, young faces, especially when many of us are starting to resemble Wilford Brimley. Let's hear it for Charlene Gunter du Plessis and the IPC Edu- cation Foundation; some of these students will be running this industry in a few decades. Next year, IPC APEX EXPO moves to Anaheim. I hope to see you all there. S&T Andy Shaughnessy is managing editor of Design007 Magazine and co-managing editor of PCB007 Magazine.