SMT Perspectives and Prospects: Warren Buffett’s Perpetual Wisdom, Part 1
Standard of Excellence: Training Your Team to Excel in Customer Service
Smart Automation: What Industry 4.0 Means for Mid-sized Electronics Manufacturing
Justin Worden: Success Through Knowledge
July 30, 2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Justin Worden of ROCKA Solutions joined the electronics manufacturing industry just five years ago. He used associations like SMTA to quickly ramp up his knowledge, and he’s quick to credit SMTA with helping him quickly learn to speak intelligently about his customers' challenges and the projects they’re working on. Justin recently became president of the SMTA Austin chapter and comments on the value of networking at a grass-roots level.
Nolan Johnson: Justin, how have you been using SMTA as an educational resource?
Justin Worden: Five years ago, I transferred from a finance-oriented industry, so I needed a crash course to help me learn as much technical knowledge as I could. I dove into the SMTA white papers and the website. It essentially became my virtual library, bringing me up to speed on the types of questions my customers were asking.
The sales and marketing strategies between these industries transfer very well, but I needed an understanding of that fine knowledge to have the greatest impact on my sales and marketing efforts. Using the information from SMTA helped me retain as much information as I could.
I'm now the president of the SMTA Austin chapter. Sean McMillan is our VP of membership, and our liaison to the high schools, and technical and community colleges.
Johnson: It's interesting how engineers in the electronics space and doctors in the medical space are similar in that they subconsciously test your level of knowledge, and take you seriously based on how much you know.
Worden: That's a very good point. I pride myself on never pretending to be something I'm not, and where I have found success in this industry is working with people who have a challenge. I’ve helped them find a solution—not by pretending I always know the answer, but by being able to direct customers to resources that can address their challenges. By doing this, I have found it's a lot easier to build a trusting relationship.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the July 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
KYZEN Cleaning Experts to Provide Insights at SMTA High Reliability Cleaning and Coating Conference
07/29/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, announced today that three members of the KYZEN team of cleaning experts will present technical presentations as part of KYZEN’s participation at the 2025 SMTA High Reliability Cleaning and Conformal Coating Conference scheduled to take place Aug. 12-14, 2025 at the Westin DFW Airport.
HyRel’s Brian Watson Named Candidate for SMTA Board of Directors
07/25/2025 | HyRelHyRel Technologies, a global provider of quick turn semiconductor modification solutions, is proud to announce that its Founder, Brian Watson, has been named a 2025 candidate for the SMTA Board of Directors.
Weller Tools Supports Future Talent with Exclusive Donation to SMTA Michigan Student Soldering Competition
07/23/2025 | Weller ToolsWeller Tools, the industry leader in hand soldering solutions, is proud to announce its support of the upcoming SMTA Michigan Expo & Tech Forum by donating a limited-edition 80th Anniversary Black Soldering Set to the event’s student soldering competition.
SMTA International Technical Conference Program Announced
07/22/2025 | SMTAThe SMTA announced that the technical program of their annual conference, SMTA International, is finalized and registration is now open. The event will be held October 19 - 23, 2025 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, USA.
INSPECTIS AB ‘Makes it a Meal’ with Series U50s Advanced Kit
07/18/2025 | INSPECTIS ABFamous chefs the world over maintain that an entrée doesn’t make a great meal without side dishes. At INSPECTIS, we call those ‘sides’ an Advanced Kit.