IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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IPC COMMUNITY 24 WINTER 2025 This was just one of many experiences I've had with mentorship programs—both on the giving and receiving ends. In my personal life, I have logged more than 1,200 hours working with more than 110 students in my local Michigan STEM community, and I very much anticipated opportu- nities to be a mentor for IPC. In early 2024, I became a mentor for AJ Arriaga, a process engineer for a printed circuit board fabrication manufacturer. We got to know one another at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. We were able to share our networks and expand each oth- er's experience of the show. Being from different regions in the electronics value chain allows us to cross-collaborate and discuss each other's paradigms in the industry. AJ's contributions are on the functional circuit device and more upstream from my materials. My materials are generally applied after circuits are assembled to protect them from the negatives of environmental impact. The interaction between what each of us designs is, however, critical to the overall reliability of the assembly. Having the opportunity to create a mindshare on these inter- actions can only further benefit the knowledge of IPC. My expectation for being a mentor: Unlike teaching or presenting, being a mentor is a two- way interaction. As a mentor, you can be both a student and a teacher while networking with peers of similar interests. I find more value in this type of interaction than just presenting a body of work because you can broaden your industry knowledge beyond your area of focus. The IPC Emerging Engineer Program encour- ages attendance at several networking events and provides dedicated resources for the suc- cess of the program. AJ and I will engage in the mentorship program for three years. I feel that's enough time to see the broad range of activities, build a solid network, and ultimately help AJ start contributing within the IPC community for early career professionals. Brian's story: When I joined IPC, my men- tor introduced me to leaders within my area of focus and immediately connected me to the next generations of specifications. He helped me form friendships that have lasted throughout the years. I have enjoyed the cross-industry collabo- ration and lively debate on topics. I recall planning to attend my first IPC APEX EXPO, and my mentor had planned to meet me in San Diego. We would be arriving from different regions of the Northeast, and as luck would have it, there was a significant snowstorm. With minimal delays, I made it to the warm weather of California; unfortunately, my mentor's flights were canceled, and he had no chance of traveling for several days, leaving me at the conference and show without knowing anyone. Initially, I felt somewhat like a fish out of water, but my mentor put me in direct contact with key committee leaders. Everyone within the IPC community was so welcoming. One key leader spent considerable time connecting me with all the committees most important to electronics protective materials and engaged me in several networking events. We still work together, and their mentorship was quite similar to what is now the Emerging Engineer Program.