Global Citizenship: Together for a Perfect PCB Solution
Smart Automation: Odd-form Assembly—Dedicated Insertion Equipment Matters
Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India
STI Electronics' Dave Raby Shares His Insights on IMPACT Washington DC 2017
July 24, 2017 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
During the recent IMPACT Washington D.C. 2017 event, I-Connect007 Managing Editor Patty Goldman caught up with Dave Raby, president and CEO of EMS firm STI Electronics, to discuss about the event and their meetings with representatives of the government that came over to hear what the collective electronics manufacturing industry has to say.
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 Congressman 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 President Trump’s cabinet. We also met with Daris Meeks who is Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Domestic Policy for Vice President Pence. It was hard not be overwhelmed by those offices and all of the surroundings.
Personally, I was most impressed by Alexander Gray who is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy. He had a true understanding of our industry 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 appreciation for every step along the way and was interested in how the government could help or stay out of the way. He asked us to email him if we were facing a reduction in force due to a government regulation change. That impressed me.
Goldman: You’ve gone to more of these IMPACT events than I have, but it seems that we’re seeing perhaps a higher level of people within the administrations.
Raby: We are and, continuing with the theme, they really did seem genuinely interested in what we had to say. EPA Administrator Pruitt knew some of what we were talking about but would look to his deputy for help on other issues and ask IPC to send him more information on others. IPC has done a lot of work on environmental issues but this was our first time to get to meet with the Administrator and he seemed genuinely happy to see us and get our input. We were not treated like we were the enemy.
Mr. Meeks was also very welcoming. He was receptive to IPC’s position and stressed his mandate to help us create jobs (everyone we talked with seemed to understand that government does not create jobs) and had a particular interest in high-tech and space which are both near and dear to my heart.
Goldman: I was impressed by Kim Ford, the deputy assistant secretary for Education, and her enthusiasm and interest in what we do and how her department can help.
Raby: Yes, she was great. It was funny. John [Mitchell] was trying to get the meeting started and she was going around the room shaking hands with everybody and introducing herself. She was just bubbling and seemed so excited to be with us. She was in that job during the last administration, but she didn’t come speak to us and we didn’t see her. I may be wrong on this but my impression was she seemed to have been freed to do her job and was very excited at the prospect. She understood what was going on in our industry regarding skills gaps and was quick to say (even being from the U.S. Department of Education) that not everyone needs to go to college. She also recognized that some of that skills gap is a basic education of what is expected from an employee.
Goldman: And as she said, part of it is Johnny coming to work every day.
Raby: Yes. Well, that’s the thing you know. “Do I really have to be there at 8:00 every morning?” “Yeah you do.” I was impressed with everybody we met today. What really stands out in my mind though is their enthusiasm, willingness to listen and genuine interest in finding solutions for our industry.
Goldman: I wonder, the administration has been in office about a hundred days, as they keep telling us. Did these people and departments really change that quickly? Or was it like this before and it was just suppressed?
Raby: I don’t know the answer to that. It would be guessing on my part, because we didn’t meet with these people before. Everyone we met with today seemed to be committed to working with industry to solve the problems we have, and the status quo in many cases is the problem.
Page 1 of 2
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007We may be post-Labor Day, but it is still hot-hot-hot here in the great state of Arizona—much like our news cycles, which have continued to snap, crackle, and pop with eye-raising headlines over this past week. In broader global tech news this week, AI and tariff-type restrictions continues to dominate with NVIDIA raising its voice against U.S. lawmakers pushing chip restrictions, ASML investing in a Dutch AI start-up company to the tune of $1.5 billion, and the UAE joining the ranks of the U.S. and China in embracing “open source” with their technology in hopes of accelerating their AI position.
IPS, SEL Raise the Bar for ENIG Automation in North America
09/11/2025 | Mike Brask, IPSIPS has installed a state-of-the-art automated ENIG plating line at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories’ PCB facility in Moscow, Idaho. The 81-foot, fully enclosed line sets a new standard for automation, safety, and efficiency in North American PCB manufacturing and represents one of the largest fully enclosed final finish lines in operation.
Dan Feinberg on Walt Custer: Remembering an Extraordinary Business Associate and Friend
09/09/2025 | Dan Feinberg, Technology Editor, I-Connect007The passing of Walt Custer marks the end of an era for all those who knew him and were helped and impressed by his presence, both personally and professionally. Walt's life was characterized by his unwavering commitment to the industry, his profound wisdom and willingness to share it, and his infectious enthusiasm for everything he did.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/05/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s almost fall here in Atlanta, and that means that the temperature is finally dropping. And it quit raining! It’s been raining since March, and I’m so over it, as the social influencers say. Last night we grilled out on the deck, and it wasn’t hot, and we didn’t get rained on. Life is good. It was a busy week in the industry. In this installment of my must-reads, we say goodbye to Walt Custer, the man who made PCB data points interesting for the rest of us.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Technology and Industry 4.0
09/03/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsUltra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology is rapidly transforming how smart systems are designed and deployed in the context of Industry 4.0. With its capacity to support highly miniaturized, high-performance, and densely packed electronics, UHDI is a critical enabler of the smart, connected, and automated industrial future. Here, I’ll explore the synergy between UHDI and Industry 4.0 technologies, highlighting applications, benefits, and future directions.