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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Tamara Sites Joins I-Connect007 Sales and Marketing Team
April 10, 2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Tamara Sites, a sales professional with strong ties to companies in the electronics manufacturing sector, has joined the I-Connect007 sales and marketing team, effective April 1. She most recently worked on growing the IPC CFX community, part of IPC’s Factory of the Future initiative. Tamara will now focus her attention on increasing partnerships between I-Connect007 and companies serving the printed circuit board industry supply chain, with a particular emphasis on developing new business.
“We are so excited to welcome Tamara to the I-Connect007 team! Her warmth, positive energy and industry knowledge will enhance our sales efforts,” says Barb Hockaday, I-Connect007 sales manager.
Tamara lives in the Midwest and calls herself a “curious seeker.” She has spent most of her career in sales, with opportunities ranging from newspaper sales to real estate.
Tamara joined IPC in 2020 at the urging of a friend. She worked as the CFX business development manager, assisting in adding 21 manufacturers to the IPC CFX qualified product listing portal.
With a keen understanding of the power of social media in marketing, Tamara is always looking for creative ways to promote her partnerships and customers.
“Roughly 85% of CEOs and purchasing managers have turned to social media to find products, view videos, etc.,” she says. “In today’s world, you have to look for different ways to move your company’s brand. Making those connections on social media opens doors and allows you to start forming relationships.”
Tamara looks forward to working with the I-Connect007 team, traveling, creating new opportunities and building long-term friendships. In her personal time, she enjoys reforesting the property she purchased at auction seven years ago. “I’m trying to bring it back to life,” she says. Tamara also enjoys traveling, cooking, and working with a local dog rescue.
Welcome, Tamara, to the I-Connect007 team!
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
Meet Emerging Engineers: Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker, Summit Interconnect
05/05/2026 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker both work for Summit Interconnect, and are in their second year of the Global Electronics Association’s Emerging Engineer Program with mentor Brian Chislea. They stopped by the I-Connect007 booth at APEX EXPO and shared a bit of their story with me. Patrick has worked at the Hollister, California, plant since 2018, while Eric has been at the Chicago site since 2023. Like many of their peers, they came to the electronics industry from different paths, but are both excited about making an impact.
PCBAA, AAM Take on the Fight to Rebuild U.S. Manufacturing in New Documentary
05/05/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Throughout most of the 20th century, manufacturing was central to the American Dream of providing stable jobs and pathways to upward mobility. Today, more than 80% of global electronics manufacturing capacity resides in China and greater Asia, raising serious concerns about supply chain resilience and national security.