Jesse Vaughan: A Basketball and PCB Industry ‘Fanatic’

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

A third-generation PCB technologist and lifelong basketball enthusiast, Jesse Vaughan shares how family legacy, grit, and a love of innovation shaped his path from the court to the cleanroom. In this interview, the Beyond the Board columnist reflects on risk-taking, resilience, and the boundless future he envisions for the U.S. PCB industry.

Marcy LaRont: Jesse, I’d like to get to know you better. Where were you born and raised, and could you share a favorite childhood memory?

Jesse Vaughan: I was born in Tampa, Florida. Our family lived in the Pinellas Park/Clearwater area for about two years before relocating to Northern Virginia, where my parents were originally from, specifically in the Fairfax County region. I have many childhood memories that I hold close, but if I had to pick one, it would be attending the 2000 NBA All-Star Game at the then-MCI Center with my dad. I have always been a huge basketball fan, and I got to see all my favorite players (AI, Kobe, Shaq, to name a few) showcase their talents on one court. A close second would be serving as the starting point guard for an undefeated basketball team, which also won the championship.

Where did you attend school, and what did you study?

I attended the ITT Technical Institute in Chantilly, Virginia, for a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology. While at ITT, I also left my sales role with a manufacturer’s rep group and took a manufacturing engineer role at Colonial Assembly and Design in Fredericksburg. We had just had a son, and it was a risk to take such a major pay cut at the time, but I was setting out to make a better future for my growing family. My goal was to earn my degree while working daily in the field, thereby better integrating the theoretical concepts from classes with practical, hands-on knowledge, and advancing further in my field while studying, rather than waiting to obtain my degree before making advancements.

To continue reading this interview, which originially appeared in the November 2025 PCB007 Magazine, click here.