SMYRNA, GA – UP Media Group and Printed Circuit Design & Fab are pleased to announce that Gary Kipp of Intel (Hillsboro, OR) was inducted into the PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame at PCB West 2008.   There were four contestants in the 2008 PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame contest. Kipp was announced as the winner after an intense two-day competition that began Sunday, Sept. 14.

The contest consists of an actual board design, a written exam and personal interviews. The board design counts for 50% of the grade. Contestants are given a list of parts, data sheets to build these parts, a sample of the BOM and netlist they will receive on site, and the board outline approximately 10 days before the contest begins. They are also given a list of deliverables to set up output files ahead of time. The goal is to have a completed and manufacturable board at the end of the contest. The written exam counts for 35% of the grade and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. Personal interviews are conducted by a panel of three judges, who are often previous Top Gun Hall of Fame inductees, and the interviews make up 15% of the grade.

A 15-year veteran of the PCB design industry and a Cadence software user, Kipp received his honor and awards plaque during a ceremony held Tuesday on the exhibit floor during the Opening Night Reception. He also will receive a coveted Top Gun-style leather flight jacket.
 
Of his win, Kipp said, "Entering the Top Gun contest takes a lot of confidence in your design ability. The competition is fierce. In the end, it comes down to your training, experience and dedication to complete the project. Winning is the icing on the cake."

Jean Stout, a PCB designer III with International Game Technology (Reno, NV), served as the Top Gun technical coordinator. She was responsible for all technical aspects of the contest, sending out all files prior to the contest and answering all questions regarding layout, fabrication and assembly.

Valor Computerized Systems provided DFM reviews for all of the Top Gun contest designs.

The other contestants included: Bob Griffith, Hughes Circuits (San Marcos, CA); Bob McCreight, CADParts & Consulting (Campbell, CA); and Carl Schattke, Intel (Campbell, CA).

The judges and graders included: Charlie Capers, Trilogy Circuits (Richardson, TX); 2007 PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame Inductee Randy Holt, Optimum Design Associates (Pleasanton, CA); and 1999 PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame Inductee Tom Stout, Optimum Design Associates (Pleasanton, CA).

"We believe that PCB engineers and designers deserve the recognition that this contest provides. Anyone who enters this contest and puts their PCB design skill set and knowledge in competition with their peers is to be commended,” said Pete Waddell, president of UP Media Group Inc. “Since we cannot directly influence their salary or other compensation, we want to direct a spotlight on the talents of these individuals whenever possible. The PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame is one event that helps us do this."

For more information about PCB Top Gun, visit www.pcbwest.com/topgun.