The Electronics Manufacturers Association (EMA) of Oregon elected board members for 2018 as the nonprofit gears up for a watershed year. The newly elected board members will be installed in January, pledging a renewed emphasis on the organization's value to members and the Oregon electronics manufacturing industry. Despite global competition squeezing the traditional manufacturing setting tighter than ever, Oregon is on the forefront of the reinvention of electronics manufacturing in North America, just as it was with craft beer and other industries. The EMA's mission is to help Oregon manufacturers tackle this new landscape and the challenges that come with it.

"Oregon is often not thought of as being a leading design and manufacturing hub, and yet, with high-tech aerospace electronics, electric vehicles, advanced Internet connected devices, and other truly innovative technologies coming out of this area, we really are on the forefront," said Duane Benson, incoming EMA vice chair. "The EMA sees 2018 as the time to show the world what Oregon can do."

The 2018 EMA board members are:

Board Chair Ruth Conner 

Conner was previously a quality manager and senior PCB designer at Cipher Systems, an engineering and production company. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the electronics industry and has influenced many of the technologies in place today. She is also the incoming Chair of the Electronic Manufacturers Association and has served as coordinator for the NW Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo for more than 13 years.

Vice Chair Duane Benson 

As marketing manager and chief technology officer at Screaming Circuits, a prototype and small-volume PCB assembler, Benson is a subject matter expert on prototyping techniques, PC board layout and assembly best practices, embedded systems and open source hardware. He is a contributing author to leading electronics publications and a regular speaker at industry events such as PCB West and the Embedded System Conference.

Treasurer Mike McMenamin

McMenamin is vice president of Q&D Manufacturing and joined the EMA and the NW Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo boards in January 2014. He has more than 40 years’ experience in electronics manufacturing, including 13 years developing semiconductor test fixtures at Apex America. He’s passionate about helping small companies grow through strategy planning and implementing policies and procedures.

Secretary Leonard Weitman 

Weitman has more than 30 years’ experience in the electronics industry, specializing in manufacturing and operations engineering and management. He is the senior site manager for ASM America, and serves on the Industry Advisory Board for the Oregon State University School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, and on the SEMI Pacific Northwest Steering Committee.

About The Oregon Electronics Manufacturers Association

The Electronics Manufacturers Association of Oregon empowers local manufacturers’ growth and success. The 40 year old organization works to keep Oregon a place of economic opportunity for its member firms by informing and educating members on leading technological, regulatory and economic topics, promoting their interests to local and state governments, and facilitating productive relationships. The nonprofit’s aim is to serve its members so they continue to be Oregon’s job creators and innovators, helping them stay competitive, sustainable and profitable in Oregon, the U.S. and around the world. Learn more at http://www.ema-oregon.org.