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52 The PCB Design Magazine • July 2017 of business, particularly in Washington, DC. I think it's just always going to be slow change. I'm hopeful that it can be faster than it has been, but even if everybody were to figure everything out in the next week with the budget—we're still in a stub-period with this—I don't know if it's a continuing resolution or whatever this thing is that we're at, but we don't have a full budget yet. Even if everything were to be fig- ured out, by the time that funding and every- thing flows down to the component level in our supply chain, I don't look for anything to hap- pen very soon. Goldman: Quickly on another subject, I keep hearing about the shortage of copper; is that hitting you, and are you watching it? Whiteside: The shortage of copper foil for PCB laminate is something that is affecting the in- dustry globally, but much more so in Asia as I understand it. If it endures longer term I would look for the domestic impacts to become more severe. Goldman: Thanks for your time, Shane. Whiteside: Yes, thank you. I appreciate the op- portunity to speak with you. PCBDESIGN _____________________________________ Dave Raby STI Electronics After dinner concluded and we were return- ing to the hotel, I spoke with Dave Raby, presi- dent and CEO of STI Electronics. Patty Goldman: Dave, it's good to see you again. How was your day at IMPACT? Dave Raby: Today has been great. I didn't know what to expect, judging from the ongoing news coverage of how horrible things are in D.C. and all that. But we found a whole different attitude: People were happy to see us! They wanted to know what they could do for us. They were receptive to ideas. They wanted input. Goldman: And it wasn't a forced thing. They were genuinely interested, though of course nothing happens overnight, as they said. Raby: That is true, and we'll see what the results are. Nothing we said today is going to change a law tomorrow, but I felt good about the people we visited and those who spoke with us. Goldman: Me too. We started out with Con- gressman Bill Johnson (R-OH) last night, a champion for our industry. He makes you feel good about your country and that things are not so bad in Congress as we hear. Raby: Yes. I like him. Goldman: Does anyone in particular stand out for you today? Raby: They were all impressive, they really were. It was great to meet with Scott Pruitt who is the administrator of the EPA and a member of Presi- dent Trump's cabinet. We also met with Daris Meeks who is Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Domestic Policy for Vice Presi- dent Pence. It was hard not be overwhelmed by those offices and all of the surroundings. Personally, I was most impressed by Alexan- der Gray who is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Pol- icy. He had a true understanding of our indus- try and the issues we face and was committed to finding solutions. He understood how a supply chain and business works. I had not experienced that before or least not from someone who could articulate their understanding. He had an appre- ciation for every step along the way and was in- terested in how the government could help or IMPACT Interviews Dave Raby