IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546580
28 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2026 B uilding an industry community takes more than a good idea. It takes persistence, participation, and, perhaps most importantly, a willingness to speak up. Pietro Vergine, co-owner of Leading Edge and the first CID+ trainer in Italy, has spent years help- ing establish the IPC Designers Council Italy (IDCI) and participating in IPC international standards devel- opment. Pietro has become an advocate for greater knowledge sharing and a stronger European voice in PCB design. At the heart of it all is a simple idea: Give designers a place to connect, freely exchange knowl- edge, and make their voices heard. Marcy LaRont: Pietro, it's nice to meet you. How did you first get connected with the Global Electronics Association? Pietro Vergine: When my partner, Nigel Woolaway, and I started Leading Edge in 2005, we proposed a European-level innovative solution for the electronics design domain at both the IC and PCB levels. That was our expertise, having worked at both Mentor Graphics (now Siemens EDA) and Synopsys. As we began, we reconnected with both companies to collaborate and teach classes on their behalf in the European market. That is how Leading Edge began. Building Community, Sharing Knowledge for Designers in Italy BY M A RCY L A RO N T, I - C O N N ECT 0 07 F O C U S O N E U RO P E