IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1533344
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS By Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO WITH well over 3,000 members around the world, it would take me about 10 years to visit them all if I could visit one a day (assuming distances and travel were not restricted), yet meeting with the members of the associa- tion and the electronics industry is critical to effectively leading this global electronics association. So, what am I to do? Well, one of the best ways I can manage to be in many places at once is by attending key events worldwide. Obviously, IPC APEX EXPO is a great place for this to happen, but many other events help me meet that need as well. Some of the events I attend fre- quently to interact with the elec- tronics industry include some you are likely familiar with, such as electronica and productronica in Europe, WECC events in Asia, and CES in Las Vegas, which pulls mem- bers from around the globe. There are other events in Malaysia, India, and Taiwan that I also find very valuable. Something that makes this industry great is the community it fosters, and one of the best places to see this community in action is at trade shows. At trade shows, we experience the delight of new innovations while connecting with those we have known for decades (or days) at whichever company they are associated with currently. These important gatherings are not only a boon to associations but to media and press as well. There are many in our industry who only get to experience a trade show through the media, which brings the show to life for those who can- not attend. This is a critical role of the media. TRADE SHOWS A GATEWAY TO THE INDUSTRY IPC COMMUNITY 6 SPRING 2025