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90 The PCB Magazine • December 2015 question, you've got a whole list of people that you can call and talk to, and they'll talk with you and help you figure out your problem. I have made a lot of very good friends through IPC. Michalkiewicz: And it doesn't matter whether they're a competitor or not, it really can be anybody. We all work together. You kind of drop the competition when you're in a room working on something and you all have the same goal in mind. It's just better for the in- dustry. Goldman: Everybody's goal is to better the in- dustry. Michalkiewicz: Like you said, once you've been coming to these meetings for 20 years, you have a very solid network and you can get the answer to just about any question you might have. You always know someone you can ask and if they can't help, they're going to point you to some- one who can. It's just an endless network as far as information. It could be customers, col- leagues, or it could be a position—let's say you lose your job or you're switching careers, you've got plenty of contacts. There really aren't any negatives. Goldman: Yes, definitely. Anything else you would like to add? Michalkiewicz: We're really trying to push to make sure that we have new talent coming up into the chairman positions. We're really trying to strive to make sure that we're getting people who've been involved in IPC or SMTA to come to the meetings, and we'll start to develop peo- ple into the chairs who really want to be a part of that. Goldman: Most likely people who are committee members and "doers" already. Michalkiewicz: Yes, and we want to help them get up to the point that they will become, after five years, a lifetime member of TAEC. We're working with some people trying to target some of our key talent and help them move up into those positions. We want to work with anybody young coming in to get them more involved. Goldman: When I became a chairman, which was a long time ago, one of the big things I learned was how to manage people and meet- ings; because you're managing volunteers and it's like herding cats. You learn how to motivate volunteers and keep everyone working towards the same goal. People have differences, different opinions as to how something should read or how strict a spec should be. So you learn how to bring them together. Michalkiewicz: You do. When I first started as a new chair, I had some good mentors who worked with me in the chairmanship, and right now we're actually putting together a more for- mal training program for the chairs. We had our first session this Sunday where we had a group of chairmen in the room and we talked about some of those techniques that you can use to make your meetings run more smoothly. Now, we're going to have a meeting, or a training ses- sion each time before the standards meetings start. Goldman: And it's not just running a meeting but it is how to get people enthused and moving in the same direction. Michalkiewicz: Right. I mean honestly you can have conflict where people don't agree. You need to get your group to make those decisions based on data, rather than just on input. Goldman: I imagine that carries back to your own job. Michalkiewicz: It definitely does. It makes you a well-rounded leader who can lead meetings at work and gain that experience. Goldman: Thanks so much for your time, Renee. It has been so nice to chat with you about what we both know and love. Michalkiewicz: Yes, it has been nice. Thanks. PCB WORKING FOR THE INDUSTRY: NTS' RENEE MICHALKIEWICZ FeATure inTerview