Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541367
12 PCB007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 Reflecting on Milestones In 51 years of service, there have been many mile- stones that I am proud of. These include several patents for equipment and process improvements, a President's Award from the Photo Chemical Machining Institute (PCMI) for services to the indus- try, and the opportunity to travel worldwide to assist in equipment installation and process setup (see accompanying photo). There are two memories that I especially cher- ish, although neither of them is earth-shattering. The first is that my presentation at the Third Printed Circuit World Convention in 1984 was moved to a larger room due to the high demand for seating. That was a definite ego-boost for a young engineer. The other is more recent. When perusing the tech- nical papers in the PCMI Journal last year, I found one by a scientist from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences that cited several of my earlier IPC and PCMI papers. How's that for worldwide fame and recognition? Over those same years, I have heard many predic- tions of the demise of the PCB industry due to tech- nical advances and miniaturization. Somehow, however, there has always been a need for connec- tors to communicate between these wonderful technical advances. We are now doing things in the manufacture of PCBs that were considered impos- sible when I first started, and I expect this trend to continue for a long while. Words of Wisdom I will pass on a bit of wisdom gained over the years from observing successful operations vs. not-so-successful ones: You cannot manufacture high-tech products with minimum-wage workers. Cutting costs by lowering employment standards is a no-win proposition. Easier said than done, I know, but it is still something to consider. What Keeps Me Going Finally, the question I am most often asked lately is: Why are you still doing this? I had planned to retire at age 67 in 2014, but when the time came, it went right past me without my noticing. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the thought of retirement resurfaced. Management asked three of us in the same position (drawing full Social Security while working 40 hours a week) to volunteer for a six-month furlough so they wouldn't have to lay off some of the younger employees. Since one of them was the young fellow I was grooming to take my place, I accepted the furlough. In reality, I thought this was it, but they did call me back at the end of the six months. During that time, I found I still wasn't ready for retirement. This was mostly because all my post- retirement projects started with "Step 1: Clean out the basement"—something akin to the first of Hercu- les' seven labors, to clean the Augean Stables. It was something I feared and dreaded starting. On the other hand, a 40-hour workweek didn't appeal to me either, so we compromised on a 20-hour workweek (7 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thurs- day). It works well for both of us. Chemcut gets the advantage of 50+ years of experience with- out having to pay benefits (I have full retirement benefits from our former owner) in these times of economic insecurity, and I get paid enough so I can maintain my lifestyle without touching my savings (although I did have to forgo purchasing my Ferrari). I am still making a contribution to society, I can pick and choose my projects, and I still enjoy the job. In 50 years, I've never been bored. It doesn't seem as much like work when you don't have to do it. Be that as it may, I intend to keep at it as long as possible. PCB007