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60 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2024 looking to grow in technical knowledge or build out another area of interest, be sure to have your business cards in hand and get ready to mingle. Standards Development Last but not least, I think the most important part about attending the conference is partic- ipating in standards committee meetings. IPC sets the standards for all things PCB, and your company's voice needs to be heard. From IPC- J-STD-001 to IPC-610, participating in stan- dards committee meetings will set the tone for the latest tech- nologies and help grow the development of technolo- gies that may not even be on the market yet. Participat- ing in committees, even those that my work does not directly align with, have been incredibly use- ful in expanding my technical expertise. I can learn about top- ics from manufacturing tolerances to chemi- cal bare boards. Meanwhile, I can also contrib- ute my thoughts and ideas on changing docu- ments, even while being a first-year engineer. Conclusion For a young engineer like me, IPC APEX EXPO is a candy factory full of powerful net- working opportunities and a vast technical rep- ertoire. It is a place that encourages technical and professional growth. e experiences I have gained there have helped in my own decisions about my career. So, if 2024 is a year of growth for you, attending IPC APEX EXPO 2024 should be number one on your bucket list. SMT007 Hannah Grace is a process engineer at Texas Instruments and in the IPC Emerging Engi- neer Program. To read past columns, click here. Technical Conference Aer attending IPC APEX EXPO the past two years, one of my favorite parts is attend- ing a variety of presentations in the Technical Conference and the Professional Development Courses. ey have enough to satisfy anyone's career development needs. My favorite course from last year was on RF antenna design. e presenter gave real-life examples and theory to help design and use your very own antenna. I le the presentation inspired to do some inde- pendent study, and I designed several of my own antennas based on the theory I learned from this professional course. Attending the technical paper reviews has helped broaden my awareness of the electronics industry and helped me grasp where the industry is focused con- cerning new technology. is year, you can expect to see tracks from design to manufacturability, and I'm really excited to learn from the technical track about emerging technologies. Networking Opportunities Did you know IPC APEX EXPO is more than just grasping technical knowledge? It may be the place where you find your compa- ny's next technical expert or maybe you'll meet a mentor to help propel your professional career forward. Networking is one of the big- gest opportunities you'll have there. To help with networking, IPC hosts several events that bring together companies, technical present- ers, and experts in their specified fields. Other opportunities include a newcomers network- ing reception, women in electronics recep- tion, and chatting with poster presenters and people on the show floor. Aer all that hard work, you will definitely want to cool down at the ice cream social. Companies from all over the world, even Lockheed Martin, NASA, and Apple, will be in attendance. Whether you're IPC sets the standards for all things PCB, and your company's voice needs to be heard.