IPC recently unveiled a new Thought Leaders Program in which industry experts will assist IPC on key industry issues and offer valuable insights to IPC members and key external stakeholders. IPC has retained a select group of experts to generate ideas and insights in five areas: education and workforce; technology and innovation; the economy; key markets; and environment, health, and safety.

"IPC is building its leadership on the issues that are driving change for the electronics manufacturing industry," said John Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. "As an association representing thousands of companies, we need to be astutely aware of a range of change drivers and how they are interconnected. IPC will leverage these experts' insights to lead and influence change for the better."

The Thought Leaders Program will be chaired by Mike Carano, an executive at RBP Chemical Technology and a member of IPC's Hall of Fame. "I'm thrilled and honored to coordinate the Thought Leaders Program and the work of this distinguished and diverse group of individuals," said Carano. "The industry is on the cusp of exciting change, and the thought leaders IPC has assembled will help guide the industry to new heights."

The Thought Leaders include:

• Mike Carano (Chair), vice president of Technology & Business Development, RBP Chemical Technology
• Olivier Coulon, consultant, Decision Etudes & Conseil
• Payman Dehghanian, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The George Washington University
• Bryan Erwin, managing partner, BlueWave Merchant Partners
• Denny Fritz, consultant
• Savita Ganjigatti, vice president of Engineering, Sienna Ecad Technologies
• Carol Handwerker, professor of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
• Matt Holzmann, president, CGI Americas
• Meredith LaBeau, director of Process Engineering, Calumet Electronics
• Joe O'Neil, CEO of Green Circuits
• Leslie Weinstein, founder/CEO, CMMC Consulting

The Thought Leaders' responsibilities will include: providing publishable material in their subject areas; flagging opportunities for IPC engagement; and participating in quarterly roundtable discussions. Each expert is expected to fulfill at least one 12-month term, during which quarterly contributions will be expected.

One of the program's first projects will be a report on the U.S. Defense Department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), an effort to better protect the cybersecurity of the defense industrial base. The electronics industry supports this initiative but has concerns about its ongoing implementation.

For additional details, visit www.ipc.org.