IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E 1 2 S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 Integral to Growth ACE is involved in community outreach in the Cal- ifornia area, focusing on STEM and FIRST Robot- ics. "We bring in groups of young folks, walk them through the facility, and teach them about circuit boards and how they are made," he says. James also focuses on celebrating his employees. "We do a lot of employee events where the employ- ees' families get together," he says. "One of my favorites is a barbecue in the back area, where the managers and supervisors cook and wait tables and treat the employees like we're all at a cool restau- rant where we serve them." James has been integral to ACE's growth and expansion for decades and shows no sign of slow- ing down. He remembers his early years with great affection. "I was referred to Accurate Circuit Engineering as a process engineer," he says. "But during multiple interviews, they decided that I'd be better off run- ning production. When I arrived, ACE was a small, 20-person show; no one knew who ACE was. It was a company just waiting to blossom. I thought, 'Wow, there's such potential,' and I was given some free rein to help us grow." Since then, he has stayed true to the mission: a desire to manufacture prototypes. "We can run boards faster than anybody because we don't do production," James says. "We've had companies ask us to do production. I've politely declined because I believe that, when you try to be something different than your forte, you start to dilute that skill. One can be master of few or simply good at many." He credits the founders of ACE with instilling fam- ily values that still shape the company culture. "I liked how the founders believed in family and gen- eral values," James says. "I knew I would fit right in when I realized that ACE is filled with good people doing something they love." On the rare days when he's not working, James takes hikes with his dog and enjoys going to movies in the theater, "when I can leave my phone in my car." A frequent trade show attendee, he enjoys meeting attendees who share his enthusiasm for the industry. "Thankfully," James says, "I am very pas- sionate about what I do." We treat our team as family, because we want them invested in the company. We want them to be empowered and to have the passion that we have. —James Hofer ▲ M E M B E R P R O F I L E