IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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John Hauschild, managing director of TCLAD in Prescott, Wisconsin, has participated in multiple advocacy activities with help from the Global Elec- tronics Association. "We have made good connec- tions with most of our congressional representatives," he says. "We need support from Congress to invest in the future of the PCB supply chain and the associated job and manufacturing footprint, to ensure businesses can grow and support next-generation needs for the U.S. defense and commercial sectors to remain at or ahead of our global competition." When Steve was ready to meet with Sen. Johnson's office, Rich helped make the introductions and let Steve guide the conversation. "We make sure our members are fully prepared for any engagement with policymakers," Rich says, intending to make the pro- cess as easy and effective as possible. "I shared my concerns with Rich regarding the decline of PCB fabrication in the U.S., and he armed us with data to discuss during our meeting," Steve says. "Everything we discussed felt more like a part- nership than politics. We felt confident that our con- cerns were well received." More than just the talking points, the most signifi- cant story is how the issues at hand affect your busi- ness, says Stephanie Austin, director of marketing at Zentech, who attended a February 2025 meeting with state representatives from Texas, Illinois, and Maryland regarding the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, asking them to support funding for the Defense Production Act and tax incentives for busi- nesses to buy American-made PCBs and PCBAs. "As member companies of the Global Electronics Association, we tell the most authentic story of how government policies affect our business," she says. "Together, our voices amplify the industry's needs, challenges, and potential for improvement. Without an active presence in Washington, our industry risks being underrepresented, overlooked, or underfunded." How do you know whether a meeting with mem- bers of Congress will help your business? TCLAD, a thermal management solution provider, had ini- tiated a strategy in 2024 to better understand the prime contractor customers in the D&A market, and its customers in the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy. —John Hauschild "We have made good connections with most of our congressional representatives." —Steve Lechtenberg "Everything we dis- cussed felt more like a partnership than poli- tics. We felt confident that our concerns were well received." —Stephanie Austin "Rest assured, being well-versed in these topics is not a prerequisite for participating." —David Raby "Congress needs to understand what we do, how they can help us, or just get out of our way." C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E 3 0 S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 ▲ G O V E R N M E N T R E L AT I O N S