SMTA 'Members of Distinction' Awards Announced

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The SMTA is proud to honor the 2021 “Members of Distinction” award recipients who have shown exceptional dedication to the association and the electronics manufacturing industry.

The association’s highest honor, the Founder’s Award, recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions to the industry, as well as support and service to the SMTA. This year, the organization selected David Raby, STI Electronics, Inc., to receive this prestigious award. A member since 1985, he has provided skilled leadership as a past President and Board member, an officer in the Huntsville Chapter, and an ambassador. SMTA and the electronics industry have benefited immensely from David Raby's contributions over the years.

The Member of Technical Distinction Award recognizes individuals who have made significant and continuing technical contributions to the association. This year the Awards Committee selected Ronald Lasky, Ph.D., P.E., Indium Corporation, as the recipient of this award. Dr. Lasky has presented numerous technical papers at SMTA conferences, is a co-founder of the SMTA Certification Program, and is a member of the Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium Technical Committee.

The Excellence in Leadership Award honors strong leaders who continue to support and elevate the association. The 2021 recipient of this award is Debbie Carboni, KYZEN Corporation. Debbie has been dedicated to the success of the SMTA for over 20 years. She has demonstrated her leadership as VP Expos on the Board of Directors for six years, as a prolific speaker for many years, and as an active member of the Expo and Women’s Leadership committees. Most recently she has been instrumental in reviving the Philadelphia Chapter and mentoring the officer team. The SMTA thanks Debbie for her many valuable years of service.

The Excellence in International Leadership Award recognizes members who have provided outstanding support and leadership to the SMTA's international members, chapters, or educational programs. The recipient selected for this award is Mei Ming Khaw, Keysight Technologies. Mei Ming has been a prominent leader in the SMTA Penang Chapter for many years as well as working with headquarters to bring their programs to a global audience. She formerly chaired the technical committee of the South East Asia Technical Conference on Electronics Assembly and also helped organize the annual expo in Penang for many years.

Keysight Technologies received the SMTA+ Corporate Partnership Award this year. As a global member, Keysight Technologies has shown support at every level of the association from supporting chapter and board leadership positions to technical contributions for conferences, committees, and most importantly their willingness to share technical knowledge with others in the industry. They embody the SMTA mission by encouraging employees to become members, attend meetings and share their knowledge. Keysight Technologies is most deserving of this honor.

SMTA has recognized exceptional individual and corporate members for their immeasurable contributions to the association since 1994.