STI Electronics' Dave Raby Shares His Insights on IMPACT Washington DC 2017

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Raby: There’s a hundred reasons or more as to why you don’t get to meet somebody because of all the schedules and the changes up here. I don’t know how IPC put a schedule together but they do an amazing job.

Goldman: I don’t either, and maintain it. It’s amazing how everyone down here seems to run from one thing to the other. But they did make time to speak to us.

Raby: They did, and then personally, I always enjoy hanging out with all the other execs who are here. Some of them I know from previous years or from other places. Some of them I just met this morning or last night at dinner for the first time. But it’s always nice to hang out with somebody in a similar position because you have the same issues all the time, and it’s just always good to hear how they think of things. That helps me tremendously, whether I really get a solution from them or I just see somebody else survived it.

Goldman: There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Anything else you’d like to discuss?

Raby: I appreciate you being here, because this is good for our industry. It really is. The things that we’re trying to accomplish are good for all of us, and you being here, your people supporting you being here, is supporting our industry.

Goldman: Well that’s our motto, you know, “Good for the Industry.” I believe everyone in our company is committed to this industry. It’s our life. I guess a lot of people might be sorry that they aren’t here; this was the opportunity this year. Then tomorrow, do you have more to come?

Raby: Tomorrow we’re meeting with three senators in the morning and then I’m meeting with two representatives and a senator from my home state.

Goldman: That’s a lot of congress people, all in one day.

Raby: The first three in the morning I don’t know, but I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot. The three in the afternoon represent me, so I’m happy to get to talk with them and look forward to that.

Goldman: Do you invite them to your facility?

Raby: Yes, two of the three have been to our facility and both know us well. It’s our representative and then the representative from the district just south of us where some of our workers live. The other one is a new senator that has only been in office since February. He is the replacement for Senator Sessions, who became the Attorney General. I have not had a chance to meet him, but I’m looking forward to that tomorrow.

Goldman: You can extend an invitation to visit your company.

Raby: I absolutely will.

Goldman: And IPC can help set that up. Dave, it’s been great talking with you, as always.

Raby: Thank you. Thanks for all you do.

This article was originally published in the July 2017 issue of SMT Magazine.

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