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56 The PCB Design Magazine • July 2017 _____________________________________ Mark Wolfe John Deere Electronic Solutions An interesting participant at IMPACT was Mark Wolfe, director of supply management with John Deere Electronic Solutions. We spoke briefly Wednesday morning before things got started. Patty Goldman: It's nice to meet you, Mark. We're starting the second full day of IMPACT, and I thought it would be good to get your per- spective. First, you told me yesterday that the majority of your business is for John Deere, but you also assemble for other companies as well. Mark Wolfe: Correct. Most of our business is for John Deere. We do have a component that's ex- ternal and commercial with other OEMs with similar needs to John Deere, but are non-com- peting. They give us the opportunity to keep our competitiveness outside of being a captive supplier. Goldman: So how did you feel about Monday night and yesterday? Has this been helpful to you? Wolfe: It's been helpful. I've enjoyed it. I think it's been refreshing. I haven't been here the last few years, but certainly there was an undertone of largely positive change that was coming out of the different meetings and discussions we've had so far. There seemed to be less rhetoric. I guess time will tell if the actions follow through on things, but from the attitude of the people we met with, it was quite positive overall. Goldman: The attitude was very positive. What did you hope to learn or gain from coming here? Wolfe: I hoped to be a little more connected to where our new leadership for the country is headed, but at the same time I'm a long-stand- ing IPC member and participant. So it's also as much as anything to support the efforts of IPC and all of the members. Goldman: As far as you're concerned, that worked out this time. Wolfe: Yes, I believe so. Goldman: Good to hear. Thanks for your thoughts. Wolfe: Thank you very much. PCBDESIGN _____________________________________ Fern Abrams IPC I wanted to get the inside story on the meet- ing with EPA that occurred Tuesday afternoon and who better to talk with than IPC's Fern Abrams. I was able to chat with her Wednesday morning. Patty Goldman: Fern, as director of regulatory affairs for IPC, you are deeply involved with IMPACT, on the environmental end of things, especially. Tell me about yesterday. Fern Abrams: We had a meeting with EPA Ad- ministrator Scott Pruitt, and his Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Byron Brown. I think I would speak accurately for everyone if I say it was an excellent meeting. I heard one of our attendees say that it was our best meeting of the day—but I'm biased. Goldman: Well, the fact that you spoke with the top person there says a whole lot. Abrams: In a career of almost 20 years working in environmental policy, this is the third EPA IMPACT Interviews Mark Wolfe