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There is also an increasing recognition that smaller companies are hard-pressed to take advantage of AI the way they'd like because of the cost. We had some great discussions during the week about how the Association can be a better partner with small companies so that they too can participate in the AI revolution.
4. Geopolitics Remain a Top Concern
Geopolitics remained a top concern at APEX EXPO, surfacing again and again in hallway conversations and panel discussions alike. Companies want stability and policy clarity, but they are not getting either in the current global landscape. When policy shifts can land without warning, businesses struggle to align long-term capital decisions with a regulatory environment that could look very different tomorrow.
I spoke to dozens of companies about how they are responding. Rather than reacting to every headline, they are focused on building resilience and mitigating risk. Many are deepening partnerships with suppliers and customers. Some are making significant capital investments and leaning further into EMS partnerships. Others are strengthening regional manufacturing or diversifying their supply bases.
This is also driving hard discussions about domestic industrial capacity and how to scale it smartly. I heard repeatedly from U.S. companies that even with healthy demand and lengthening lead times, the absence of clear, durable demand signals is holding back the investment needed to make it happen.
5. A New Slate of Board Members Reflects the Full Breadth of the Industry
The Association approved new board members this year who reflect a commitment to representing the entire electronics value chain. Benjamin Gliklich, CEO of Element Solutions, joins as a voice for the materials industry. Lynn Torrel, vice president at Arrow Electronics, brings the perspective of the distributor community and the experience of a seasoned supply chain leader at a Fortune 500 company. Gao Lan, a senior vice president at Lenovo, adds a strong voice in Asia for the OEM community, with a focus on human resources and talent building. In addition, Peter Cleveland assumed the role of Board Chair. Cleveland, a senior vice president at TSMC, brings extensive leadership in public policy and advocacy that will help inform the Association's efforts around the world. He previously served as vice chair and secretary/treasurer of the Board, and his background in global government affairs, including earlier roles at Intel, positions him well to lead at a time when policy engagement is more important than ever.
6. Industry Leaders Recognized
A special congratulations to this year's award winners. Two special shoutouts: Thomas Cetta, senior vice president and chief compliance Officer at Jabil, was given the President’s Award. This award recognizes an individual who has exhibited ongoing leadership and made significant contributions to the Association and the industry. Cetta has been a leading voice in Jabil's global compliance, advocacy, and sustainability efforts.
Dr. Hayao Nakahara, president of N.T. Information, was awarded the Dieter Bergman Fellowship Award for his decades of providing some of the most accurate, comprehensive, and insightful data on the global PCB industry. Nakahara has been the foremost authority on worldwide PCB market data for more than three decades, compiling the widely referenced NTI-100 ranking of the world's largest PCB fabricators and visiting hundreds of board shops annually to maintain an unmatched understanding of global production trends. Congratulations on a well-deserved recognition.
7. APEX EXPO Remains the Industry's Premier Learning Event
Everywhere you went at APEX EXPO this year, the story was the same: people coming together to learn from one another. Whether it was the Technical Pavilion, the Learning Lounge, the AEPC, the EMS Leadership Summit, professional training and development sessions, or conversations on the show floor, this event is about more than buying and selling, and more than developing standards. It is about understanding how we can bring our industry forward together.
Chris Mitchell is IPC’s VP of global government affairs for the Global Electronics Association. Contact him at ChrisMitchell@ipc.org.
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