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10 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2026 F E AT U R E I N T E RV I E W BY N O L A N J O H N S O N , I - C O N N ECT 0 07 N olan Johnson interviews Joe Schneider, vice president of U.S. and Canada for the Global Electronics Association, about trends in the North American electronics indus- try. Joe discusses the surge in U.S. data center demand, the Association's work on AI standards, and strategic focus on aerospace and defense. The conversation addresses workforce develop- ment and capacity challenges, highlighting the Association's commitment to supporting member growth and knowledge acquisition in 2026. Nolan Johnson: Yours is a new role that did not exist before. You represent our first customer-fac- ing program, direction overview, and oversight for North America. How did this come about? Joe Schneider: Before it was renamed Global Electronics Association, IPC was growing inter- nationally, creating regional leaders in Southeast Asia, China, and Europe. It was thought, "Hey, we still need to have a region lead for North America, where we came from, to make sure we're addressing the needs and wants of our members here locally in this region." NORTH AMERICAN ELECTRONICS Growth and Challenges WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW