Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1493016
70 I-CONNECT007 I REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2023 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE just a circuit, that's boring. It's a couple of copper traces going from here to there. But if you look at what it will be doing, that's where the excitement is, for sure. I've been in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and I was able to point to something and say, "I have boards in this, and I have boards in that." That's a pretty cool thing. What advice would you give to someone new in this industry? I would say to make the investment of time and effort to be active and get involved, espe- cially for the younger folks. Network with those around you and make those connections. You will learn from them, and you will become a better engineer, designer, technician, whatever. You will be better because of that, and you'll also slowly real- ize that you have suddenly built yourself a whole host of experts around the world who can help you out when you need it. You can say, "Hey, I don't under- stand this. I'm having this prob- lem. Have you ever seen this?" Everybody wants to help. Those connections will be a big part of making you successful. Your boss just wants you to solve the problem, and you will have a network of problem-solvers to call on. That's a big thing to me. Beyond that, you also just learn a lot. You become bet- ter at what you're doing, and in the end, it helps you get ready for whatever the next step in your career will be. You gain new skills, get a larger network, and those things are really valuable to you and to the company you work for. As a committee chair, you learn a lot about being a team leader or manager. That's a great point. You must learn how to do that, too. When you're in these meet- ings, you're not the boss; you're not signing paychecks for anybody in the room. They're all volunteers, so that means your sphere of influence is a little different, and it's not by edict that you get things done. It's by consen- sus—working together and having a common goal. If you can get consensus and make it be everybody else's objective to get it done, then you're better off anyhow. It is a great part of learning to be a good manager. Part of this award is a scholarship to a school or university of your choice. Have you chosen one? I chose the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering as the recipient. That's where I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees. It's a huge land-grant college here in Minnesota. It's had a huge impact on many companies that have spun out of it over the years: 3M, Medtronic, and others. Many folks have roots there and the school continues evolving with technology and the world around them. I understand every engineering student now gets 30 meters of 3D printing material every semester to do something with, which is a neat concept. On the electronics side, students compete in national and world competitions with their solar-powered car. They won a rocket team event, and they have an electric racing vehicle. There is a lot to get involved in beyond the classroom. The school is engaging students and outside organizations quite a bit, so I want to help encourage that, and maybe help someone in a small way toward their educa- tion at the University of Minnesota. That's great. Congratulations again, thanks for your time. S&T Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award 70 I-CONNECT007 I REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2023 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE