IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543307
54 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2026 How would you describe the program? To be chosen, you needed one to two years of experience and to be actively involved in the industry. I had been working in front end engineer- ing as a planner for a few years when I applied. Michael had been in the same situation when he went through the program, and now I have grad- uated from the Emerging Engineer program like him. It was a long three years, but I learned more than I ever thought possible. It was a really amaz- ing experience. That's a long time, a big commitment. What was each year like? Yes, it is. Year one was an introduction, dipping our toes in. First-year participants are given a check- list at APEX EXPO, and its focus is on getting you to interact with veterans in the industry. That year was very much about making connections, talking to the chairs and members of the standards devel- opment committees, and connecting with other big names within the Global Electronics Association and the industry. These are leaders and people who are entrenched and knowledgeable about fabrication, assembly, and design. In our second and third years of the program, there is more hands-on practice and it emphasizes learning what is being talked about. Do Emerging Engineers partici- pate in IPC standards committee work? Yes, that is important. For example, I joined the IPC-6012 committee meetings for all three years, and was able to give input. Because Gerry Partida was the committee chair, and we work together at Summit, it was very convenient for me when I had questions. An important part of this program is working with your mentor. Who was your mentor and what was that like for you? My mentor was Symon Franklin, a production engineer at Custom Interconnect Limited in the UK. In my opinion, he was the best mentor I could have gotten. He was super hands-on, and if I had an issue with any of the checklists or tasks I was supposed to do, he helped and guided me to be successful. What I enjoyed most about working with Symon was that he came from assembly. Coming from the fabrication side, I knew little to nothing about assembly, so he was a great resource to tap into. It evolved my understanding of the whole process. If I had an issue or a question and I needed to find an expert, he knew exactly how to guide me. I can't say enough good things about Symon. Looking back, what surprised you or stood out for you about the program? As a younger individual, I was really surprised by how open and willing people in the industry are to talk to you. It's a little daunting at first because you're young and you're surrounded by people who have way more experi- ence and knowledge than it feels like you could ever possibly know. But everyone is just so willing to share information about the industry, talk to you about their experiences, and help you solve problems. Most of us have had good lives being part of this industry. We've made good friends and we're proud of what our compa- nies have done and the things that our industry is a part of. I'm not at all surprised, to be quite honest. It was very surprising for me. I thought I was going into a shark tank, and my experience was actually the opposite. What part of the program did you find most valu- able, especially in light of what you do today? One of the most valuable things I gained from the Emerging Engineer program was a better under- J u l i a n Ve g a