The Route

Kelly Dack

The PCEA’s kickoff event was a massive success.

This month I review the virtual PCEA grand opening, which took place in July and featured guest presenter and PCEA educational committee member Rick Hartley. Next, in our “Letter from the Chairman,” Steph Chavez writes of his satisfaction with our recent open house and talks about another event in which he and vice chairman Mike Creeden participated, hosted by our affiliate organization, the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA). Coming next month, I check in with the PCEA education committee and look at the PCEA’s role in education. What do our education committee leaders have in store? I had an opportunity to hear from them and will highlight some of their ideas and plans for learning and curricula in the coming months.

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Kelly Dack

The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) talks with Rick Hartley.

This month, I spoke with Rick Hartley about his presentation for the PCEA’s grand opening webinar on Jul. 14. Next, PCEA Chairman Steph Chavez shares a timely message on how our time working from home is a serious matter, and how letting our guard down could be a mistake.

Again, PCEA chapters are in transition, and due to social distancing requirements, no face-to-face meetings have taken place to date, but a lot of virtual activity is happening. I also share our most updated list of professional development opportunities and events, which we hope you find useful.

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Kelly Dack

The PCEA and SMTA find common ground.

This month, I share updates on the PCEA website and reports on some inspiring collaboration taking place between the PCEA and a well-known industry organization that appears to have a high potential for synergy for all engaged.

I’m always happy to mention that PCEA Chairman Steph Chavez has prepared a message as well, where he provides an overview of his take on adapting to the new normal by doing more with less.

Last, we are not able to provide any reports on local chapter activities due to continued social distancing requirements. However, we will share our most updated list of professional development opportunities and events, which we hope you might find useful. As always, stay tuned for more updates.

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Read more: An Expectation of Collaboration

Despite the pandemic, our new website is about to be unveiled.

This month, I’ll share updates on the progress the PCEA staff is making toward establishing a web presence and report on what the PCEA is preparing in support of the PCB engineering community.

Although PCEA chapter activities have been limited because of restrictions due to Covid-19, PCEA Chairman Steph Chavez offers his perspective on the challenges of staying connected without using traditional means. Last, I share our most updated list of professional development and event opportunities, although some may be affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. Stay tuned for more updates.

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Kelly Dack

An update on the PCEA direction, plus highlights of the Silicon Valley chapter.

In my debut as author of this column, I provide updates on the direction and leadership of the PCEA, and Stephen Chavez shares his first “message from the chairman.” In addition, Bob McCreight, president of the Silicon Valley chapter, discusses their “lunch and learn” event held in February. Last, we share our updated list of professional development and event opportunities, although some may be affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. Stay tuned for more updates.

To continue reading, please log in or register using the link in the upper right corner of the page.


In my debut as author of this column, I provide updates on the direction and leadership of the PCEA, and Stephen Chavez shares his first “message from the chairman.”

In addition, Bob McCreight, president of the Silicon Valley Chapter, discusses their “lunch and learn” event held in February. Last, we share our updated list of professional development and event opportunities, although some may be affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. Stay tuned for more updates.

PCEA Updates

Over the past few months, our writer for “The Digital Route” column, Stephen Chavez, was unanimously elected chairman by our newly formed executive board at the PCEA. Steph graciously accepted, and the PCEA is delighted to be part of a vibrant, highly skilled team of PCB industry folks now led by an experienced, young and newly minted chairman. Steph has demonstrated a zeal for helping the electronics industry and is surely capable of leading us successfully into the next decade (FIGURE 1).

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