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IPC COMMUNITY 54 SUMMER 2024 asm that drive her to participate in this indus- try-leading event year after year. Christina, thank you for joining me today. To kick things off, tell me about your current role at Honeywell and how you knew you wanted to enter the electronics industry. Christina Rutherford: I'm an advanced hard- ware engineer in materials engineering, focusing on manufacturing cables and hardware design. Originally, I didn't know I wanted to enter the electronics industry. Seven years ago, and with a degree in chemistry, a friend encouraged me to apply for a job in material and process engineer- ing at an electronics site within Honeywell. Thank you for sharing your story. Now, let's shift our attention to IPC APEX EXPO. What initially drew you to this premier electronics industry event? When I first started my career, I noticed sev- eral of my coworkers were attending APEX EXPO. They always came back to the office excited about what they had learned and those they met. I discovered that my company sup- ports standards development, which intrigued me. I became more excited to actively contrib- ute to the industry. I now contribute to several hands-on test methods for IPC standards. Christina, you are also deeply involved in various IPC standards committees. Could you please share more about your roles and the benefits you've experienced? Currently, I co-chair IPC-A-620 Space, and am the vice-chair for IPC-5262 for polymer- ics. I support over 20 committees, includ- ing IPC-J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, IPC-A-620, IPC-A-630, and conformal coating. Being part of committees is invaluable. I have a more comprehensive view of the industry, connect with industry experts, and con- tribute to standards to improve processes, which I enjoy the most. Managing committees sounds challeng- ing. What are some of the challenges you face, both in leading and participating in committees? Leading involves crowd management, ensur- ing that discussions flow smoothly, and main- taining a pace of progress. As a committee mem- ber, it's important to find balance. What contri- butions do you want to make? How do you align your contributions with your company's inter- ests and with what the industry needs? Distrac- tions, like multitasking with your everyday job, can definitely happen during meetings, so stay- ing focused is key. You are also a mentor for the IPC Emerging Engineer Program. What prompted you to take on a mentorship role? Initially, I didn't qualify for the mentorship position due to the seven-year experience requirement. However, during my third year of Emerging Engineer experience, I was at risk of not completing my passport (part of the program). I offered to mentor all the student emerging engi- neers as a compromise to finish the program myself. I would sit next to them during meetings and explain concepts. I found it rewarding to mentor these students. Now, I mentor six indi- viduals: three student emerging engineers and three early-career emerging engineers, one of