Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1496178
50 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2023 Those must have been fun times. As you move on, what advice do you have for the industry? Wettermann: Make sure that you stay up on technology because everything has an IP address at this point, and electronics is just exploding in so many fields we haven't even thought of yet. The average automobile has over 100 CPUs on board. Take a look at non-traditional places for electronics: cycling clothing which will monitor my heart, blood pressure, and muscle strain, for example. We will have electronics embedded in all sorts of things. Your column and your business have been so valuable to the industry. It's not going away, is it? Wettermann: Our business is actually scaling up. A family-run financial group from the Chicago area with a lot of operating experience, bought the business. Nash Bell is my successor, and he has many experts available in marketing, finance, and machining to help. There are a lot of contacts that the company brings. They will move BEST to the next level; they've adopted a well-known entrepreneur operating system for monitoring and moving companies forward. Nash, it's great to meet you. How will you fill the vacuum that Bob leaves behind? Nash Bell: It's exciting right now, especially with Bob staying on board for bit, so I can learn under his wing. He has accumulated so much knowledge over the years. The circuit board space is still somewhat new to me and it's nice to have as many resources around as possible. My background is in healthcare; I was a physical therapist, opening and managing various clinics around the country, so I have quite a bit of managerial experience. It's been a steep learning curve over the last couple of months to get my bearings in this space. This team has unbelievable people doing the rework and repair. We have excellent, well- seasoned trainers who know exactly what they're doing. Bob assembled a fantastic team. BEST will continue to run while we determine new directions. What's your agenda for the first year? Bell: We want to put in some internal processes, making our in-house data rock solid. We want our people in positions where they can be as successful as possible. We've worked really hard at finding additional workers. I know that's something that has been a struggle over the past few years, especially since the pandemic. The industry is always changing, so we will be keeping our eyes open for opportunities. Are there other avenues that we can pursue if we find something that fits our skill set? Our goal is to have a strong foundation in understanding where BEST fits before we take off in any new, different directions. We want to make well- educated, well-researched decisions before changing too much too soon. Will you be carrying the column forward? Bell: It won't be me, but I know the value of our column, and we have some writers in mind. Bob and Nash, thank you so much. It was a delight. Wettermann: Thanks again for all the years, and all the "best" to you. SMT007 Nash Bell