-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
IPC APEX EXPO From a College Student’s Perspective
March 8, 2022 | Hannah Nelson, Valparaiso UniversityEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
My name is Hannah Nelson, and I am currently a junior electrical engineering major at Valparaiso University. I was given the honor and privilege to attend the IPC APEX EXPO as the new student director on the IPC Board of Directors. The student director position is used as a voice on the board for all IPC student chapters. It is a way to bridge the barrier between the educational system and the electronics industry and bring students toward the Factory of the Future. By attending APEX EXPO, I was given the opportunity to expand my knowledge regarding the needs of students who are heading into the industry.
The experience I was given through APEX EXPO was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I met several individuals from around the globe, from China to France to Canada. I found it incredible to connect with people around the world through one common denominator, electronics standards. Being surrounded with such a diverse range of individuals has not only given me the opportunity to connect and learn more about the industry, but also become an essential part of the Factory of the Future.
I was able to attend professional development and technical courses and participate in the voting process for committee meetings. I even had the opportunity to get outside my comfort zone and talk to people working for companies such as NASA, Honeywell, and Lockheed Martin. This semester, I started taking Dale Carnegie, and one of the most important things he says is to listen to others more than talking about yourself. I took that principle into action, and it helped me feel comfortable talking to different CEOs, learning the secrets to their success in the industry. I was even given the opportunity to sit at the front table looking out to the audience of the awards ceremony and be recognized as the student director on the board of directors for IPC. As a college junior, at first it felt intimidating (and it still partially is), but I feel like this place and these people are where I am meant to be. The best feeling of all is that the environment at APEX EXPO felt like a home away from home. Now I know that I can make a change in the way education is viewed in the industry, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
While at APEX EXPO, I was given so many new opportunities to expand my own horizons. I was given a mentor, Jason Keeping, who gave me several opportunities to expand my network and help me learn more about what goes into the industry. He encouraged me to attend events that were meant specifically for networking, such as Trivia Networking Night and the ice cream social on the show floor. I also attended the Women in Electronics networking event. This event gave me the opportunity to connect with several other strong women in the industry and learn that I was not alone—they are or have experienced similar issues in their own careers. I was even given the opportunity to attend the STEM education event, where I taught high school seniors how to solder. At this event, I was able to give my own experience in the industry and saw the excitement in their eyes. Through these events I learned that I want to help encourage more women not only in college but as young as middle school to get involved in the STEM field.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2022 Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
AIM to Highlight NC259FPA Ultrafine No Clean Solder Paste at SMTA Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum
04/18/2024 | AIMAIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming SMTA Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum taking place on May 7 at the Four Points by Sheraton | Milwaukee Airport, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Hentec/RPS Publishes an Essential Guide to Selective Soldering Processing Tech Paper
04/17/2024 | Hentec Industries/RPS AutomationHentec Industries/RPS Automation, a leading manufacturer of selective soldering, lead tinning and solderability test equipment, announces that it has published a technical paper describing the critical process parameters that need to be optimized to ensure optimal results and guarantee the utmost in end-product quality.
Empowering Electronics Assembly: Introducing ALPHA Innolot MXE Alloy
04/16/2024 | MacDermid Alpha Electronics SolutionsIn the rapidly evolving electronics industry, where innovation drives progress, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions is committed to setting a new standard. Today, we are pleased to introduce ALPHA Innolot MXE, a revolutionary alloy meticulously engineered to address the critical needs of enhanced reliability and performance in modern electronic assemblies.
New Book on Low-temperature Soldering Now Available
04/17/2024 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is pleased to announce that The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Low-temperature Soldering, Vol. 2, by subject matter experts at MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, is now available for download.
Inkjet Solder Mask ‘Has Arrived’
04/10/2024 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007I was delighted to be invited to attend an interactive webinar entitled “Solder Mask Coating Made Easy with Additive Manufacturing,” hosted by SUSS MicroTec Netherlands in Eindhoven. The webinar was introduced and moderated by André Bodegom, managing director at Adeon Technologies, and the speakers were Mariana Van Dam, senior product manager PCB imaging solutions at AGFA in Belgium; Ashley Steers, sales manager at Electra Polymers in the UK; and Dr. Luca Gautero, product manager at SUSS MicroTec Netherlands.