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26 The PCB Design Magazine • December 2015 Ferrari: Its official birth was in 1992. Dieter and I were making the rounds doing design-related workshops at that time, and spreading the word. Chapters started forming at a tre- mendous rate. We were up to 29 chapters within several months. What is interesting to note is that a group of Atlanta designers had been meeting together for about a year un- der the leadership of Fred Pescitelli, at Phoenix Designs. They met to learn from each other, learn about new technologies, etc. Sounds fa- miliar doesn't it? They listened to what we of- fered, voted, and Atlanta became the first offi- cial chapter of the IPC Designers Council. No matter where I traveled, the local de- signers basically said the same things. One that comes to mind was in Atlanta. One of the well- known designers, when asked the how he felt designers were viewed, indicated that the atti- tude was that designers were "pond scum." We can certainly laugh at his colorful description, but I received similar answers no matter where I traveled. Shaughnessy: What are the biggest changes you've seen at the dc in the past 24 years? Ferrari: There are fewer registered chapters in the U.S., whereas we have seen a much larger growth internationally. However, we have re- cently witnessed a few new chapters starting up. We are also seeing more and more engineers tak- ing the certification courses. I recently taught a class that consisted of over 90% engineers. In addition, we see a growth of new, younger de- signers taking the courses. Two reasons may be attributed to these observations. The first is that technology has become more sophisticated, and engineers are being asked to move further into the layout end of the development cycle. The second is that the average age of the designer keeps climbing up, resulting in much larger num - bers getting ready for retirement. Companies are finally waking up to the fact that they will be losing a significant part of their product development team, better known as the PCB designer. Shaughnessy: What do you think are the biggest benefits that the design- ers council offers designers, and the industry? Ferrari: This answer is three-fold. The first is exposure to industry standards, which includes many important processes that are af- fected by design. Let's face it, with today's tech- nologies, the designer cannot ignore what his design may do to the fabrication, assembly and test segments. The second is obtaining a professional cre- dential that has international recognition. The third is building a network of experts that one may call on when faced with a new or difficult design issue. Shaughnessy: What's exciting about the dc today? Ferrari: In the certification program, we see many new design challenges facing the de- signer. These are worldwide challenges that cre- ate new horizons. In other words, I see plenty of growth for those who are coming into the field, as well as those who have been around for a while. As chairman for several IPC design- related standards, I look for a path into the standards for these challenges, and ultimately into the designer certification courses. For me, I have to mention all the designers I have met and helped in one way or another. To see them grow and be successful is amazing. Shaughnessy: Why should someone consider join- ing the dc? Ferrari: Technology does not wait for designers to catch up. It moves forward and designers need a venue that enables them to keep up with these technology changes through education and networking. Being involved in a local Design- ers Council chapter may provide the catalyst for their employers to allow them to attend various conferences and help expand their knowledge. Shaughnessy: thanks, gary. Ferrari: Thank you. PCBDESIGN IPC DESIGNERS CoUNCIL VIEWPoINT: GARY FERRARI feature interview