Standard of Excellence: Delivering Excellence—A Daily Goal
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Tin Whisker Mitigation in Aerospace Applications, Part 3
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
Welcome to the BIG Show!
January 7, 2019 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Ed Sullivan was a radio and television pioneer. Though he was a print journalist at first, he shifted his focus first to radio, and, later, television. The Toast of the Town (later named The Ed Sullivan Show) ran on CBS from 1948 to 1971. For 23 years, Sullivan’s Sunday evening live program was where Americans turned to see something new, and also to see entertainment that was comforting. TV critic David Bianculli is credited for commenting, “Before MTV, Sullivan presented rock acts. Before Bravo, he presented jazz… Sullivan discovered, anointed, and popularized young comedians… Ed Sullivan was where the choice was.”
Each week, Sullivan’s show had something for everyone, bringing the whole family—and indeed the whole nation—together for an hour of entertainment. Regular performers (Topo Giggio!) maintained and grew their audiences by appearing on the show, and new acts (The Beatles, The Doors, The Rolling Stones) could launch a career with one appearance on Sullivan’s stage. Yes, there were other variety shows, but Sullivan was the star-maker. Sullivan didn’t start with intentions of becoming an entertainment powerhouse, but how he put together his show certainly worked magic.
This month, we celebrate the impact and reach of the IPC APEX EXPO slated for January 26–31, 2019, in San Diego, California. If there is an equivalent to the Ed Sullivan Show in our industry, it’s IPC APEX EXPO. Have something truly new? It needs to be seen here at IPC APEX EXPO; long-standing products and evolutionary advances from industry stalwarts will grow their installed base here, too. There are other industry shows, but the must-go show for our industry is IPC APEX EXPO; appropriately, it seems that this is the event’s 23rd year, matching Ed Sullivan’s television run.
In an earlier life as a software engineer at an ECAD company, the product manager for my project once said, "The only deadline that will never, ever slide is the tradeshow. We have to be ready for the show no matter what." Which brings us to the cover image for this issue: the stool on the stage, behind the curtain. For those of us who’ve taken the stage or floor, we recognize the tension and the excitement that go with the moment of taking your place just before the curtain opens. In entertainment, once the curtain goes up, you’re on—for better or for worse. Anyone who has had to demonstrate a product that isn’t acting the way it’s supposed to, will know that same feeling.
To view the full article, which appeared in the December 2018 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/27/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007While news outside our industry keeps our attention occupied, the big news inside the industry is the rechristening of IPC as the Global Electronics Association. My must-reads begins with Marcy LaRont’s exclusive and informative interview with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. For designers, have we finally reached the point in time where autorouters will fulfill their potential?
Reflections and Priorities: An Update to I-Connect007 Readers
06/24/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The electronics and manufacturing industry is evolving rapidly—with new technologies, deeper global connections, and a growing drive toward sustainability. To reflect these changes and our place in this dynamic space, we’re refreshing our brand.
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
06/24/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseAs the electronics manufacturing industry races to meet rising global demand and technological complexity, the need for a highly skilled, future-ready workforce has never been greater. At the forefront of addressing this challenge is The Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Collaborative (EMAC)—a national initiative dedicated to strengthening the talent pipeline through strategic collaboration with SMTA, education, and government stakeholders.
IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell
06/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today, following a major announcement, IPC is embracing the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Global Electronics Association President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the rebrand: Why now, what it means for the industry, and how it aligns with the organization’s mission.
Global Electronics Association Debuts; New Name Elevates IPC’s 70-Year Legacy as Voice of $6 Trillion Electronics Industry
06/25/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationToday begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.