IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1542698
114 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2026 Dan Feinberg: From Ham Radio to Hall of Fame Stories For more than two decades, Dan Feinberg has helped shape PCB007 as a columnist, techni- cal editor, and trusted industry voice. In this inter- view, Dan reflects on a lifetime in electronics—from ham radio and rock bands to PCB innovation, exec- utive leadership, and consulting—revealing the experiences that fueled his career and his endur- ing passion for the industry. Dan, tell us about yourself. Where were you born and raised? Can you share a favorite childhood memory? I was born and raised in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport was a busy Navy Base during World War II, and my father was a doctor there. He was also a Ham Radio operator and got me interested in elec- tronics as a pre-teen. I obtained my Ham Radio license (my call letters are still K1DQS) at the age of 12. I played in a rock band in the late 1950s and early '60s, as well as in a local band at the New- port Jazz Festival one year, which was a great childhood/teen event and memory. Where did you attend college and what did you study? I went to Capitol Institute of Electronics and also Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where I studied electrical engineering. How did you get into this industry specifically? Instead of going home after classes one summer, I took a job and started building my career at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, assembling test elec- tronics devices and making prototype PCBs. (I also played with a rock band in D.C. during that time.) What are some personal milestones that you're proud of? After a few years of working, instead of going back to college, I took a job at Atlantic Research. We needed prototype printed circuits and required them quickly, so we set up a prototype PCB fabri- cation facility, which I ultimately managed. Learning how to make PCBs and understanding the details of using photoresist, as well as the plating and etching processes, started my career in the PCB industry. Q & A BY MARCY LARONT, I-CONNECT007 Columnist: Dan Feinberg Column: Fein Lines Time writing for I-Connect007: Over 20 years Columnist Bio: Daniel (Baer) Feinberg is president and CEO of Fein-Line Associates, Inc., a consulting firm focused on the electronic interconnect (printed wiring board) and assembly industries, and a founding Partner in the Quantum Performance Group, LLC, a market research firm. He is a recipient of the Hall of Fame Award from the Global Electronics Association.