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Community_Q125

IPC International Community magazine an association member publication

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IPC COMMUNITY 50 WINTER 2025 "My part of the white paper examined DRCs and 'single-source of truth,' which was a very interest- ing topic to review in the PCB pro- cess," John says. "Our council meet- ings also discuss different stan- dards, and we are each involved in a committee or subcommittee sur- rounding those standards. We have many projects in the works." John says it's satisfying to be at the forefront of PCB designers' efforts, particularly at a time when so many are retiring and leaving a significant gap in the workforce. His professional role and the courses he teaches are helping to meet those needs. "We're continuing to develop and train the next generation," he says. "I am working with several other universities to help them set up their curriculum and begin training more students. This whole area of PCB design was an afterthought for the longest time, and now it's catching on, so we need to train the next generation. We can't just leave it and hope they'll pick it up some- where down the road." While others are looking to retire and move on from their careers, John says he's just warming up. "I'm 63, and people ask me, 'Oh, so when are you retiring?' Hey, I have no intention of retiring. There's just so much good stuff that's happening in our industry, and it's exciting to be a part of it." What John does for fun As much as John values his roles at Palomar College and IPC, he also seeks opportunities to unplug from the world. He enjoys hiking, camp- ing, and traveling with his wife. In addition, he is a musician. One of his favorite trips was a 10-day, 150-mile hike across northern Spain on the Camino del San- tiago. "It was just a fantastic trip," he says. "It was a pilgrimage for my wife and me, and we're actu- ally talking about doing it again. I'm usually doing stuff that unplugs me from my phone, email, etc. Another favorite spot is Sedona, Arizona. We love to hike around there. "I'm trying to keep a balance in my life," he says. "It seems to help me a lot with clarity of the mis- sion, and things I'm involved in. It's important to take care of yourself and be good to yourself. I find that a lot of people are their own worst enemies." What are the top characteristics of a good designer? "Be a good problem solver and have a creative mindset," John says. "I find that this is why many PCB designers are artists. PCB design really is art, so when you have someone who can look at some- thing and solve it mentally—not just if it's correct, but does it solve a problem? You give one sche- matic to 10 people, and guess what happens? You will probably get 10 different PCB designs. This is something I really try to imbue with my students: Always keep in touch with your creative side. Another trait is the ability to be a thinker, some- one who will think outside the box, and not con- strain yourself with only doing things one way. For example, I enjoy doing puzzles, and PCB design is just one giant puzzle."

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