Spring 2026 – Chapter News
Chapter News reports the local activities of the 22 chapters of ERA. The chapters sponsor educational and training workshops, local trade shows, legislative and industry projects to enhance the professionalism of individual members and to advance the goals and mission of the national association.
ARIZONA
Arizona ERA hosted its first annual cornhole tournament and charity event in January! It was very successful with 62 people attending. At the event, the chapter also had 50/50 raffle where a portion of the winnings went to the winner of the raffle and the remainder going to the winners’ charity of choice. A huge thank you to the sponsors of this event.
CANADA
Thank you to everyone who joined ERA Canada for its November to Remember Social in support of Make-A-Wish Canada. The energy, generosity and heart in the room were truly magical — together we helped grant life-changing wishes for kids across Canada. A massive thank you to our amazing sponsors who made it all possible: Arrow Electronics, Astec SDI, Avnet, CSC Sygnum, CST-Arwin, Electro Sonic, ERA National, GMA, JLT & Associates Inc., Molex, Pipe- Thompson Technologies, Sager Electronics, Sigma Component Design, TTI, Inc., Tech- Trek, Whitmar Rep Ltd. and X Tronics — and all our behind-the-scenes partners! Your support means the world to wish kids and their families. ERA Canada is grateful for this community — here’s to more wishes granted!
CAROLINAS
Carolinas ERA is excited to participate in the UNC Charlotte Job Fair on Feb. 5! We are very excited to engage with students to encourage and consider a career in electronics and the many resources available within the ERA network.
We will be highlighting the many benefits of ERA, including: networking with industry pros; exploring vast career opportunities; and learning how manufacturers, representatives and distributors connect. Carolinas ERA believes building relationships = building success!
CHICAGOLAND-WISCONSIN
Chicagoland-Wisconsin ERA wrapped up 2025 and launched 2026 with two outstanding events that highlighted the best of our chapter: connection, education and community. On Dec. 3, members gathered for our annual Holiday Happy Hour & Toys for Tots Drive, an event that has become a cherished tradition. With a fantastic turnout, the evening combined festive networking with meaningful giving. Attendees reconnected with industry colleagues while generously supporting Toys for Tots, helping bring joy to children and families during the holiday season. The energy and enthusiasm in the room reflected the collaborative spirit of ERA and reinforced how impactful our chapter can be when we come together for a shared cause.
We carried that momentum into the new year with our 2026 Kickoff Meeting, held on Jan. 15. The event began with an engaging and informative presentation by Mike Budde Jr. of Budde Marketing, who provided valuable insight into POS reporting. Mike walked members through how POS reporting works, the importance of clean and accurate data, what Budde Marketing does to support manufacturers and representatives, and best practices around design registrations and splits.
Following Mike’s presentation, the chapter had the opportunity to hear from ERA’s new CEO, Ed Smith. Ed shared his perspective on the current state of the electronics industry and his vision for the future of ERA. His remarks were both encouraging and motivating and allowed the chapter to get to know Ed.
The evening concluded with a happy hour and networking session, giving members time to connect, exchange ideas and build relationships in a relaxed setting. Together, these two events perfectly showcased the balance our chapter strives for: education, advocacy, networking and fun. They set a strong tone for an exciting and impactful year ahead for the chapter.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Northern California ERA is looking forward to 2026! Unfortunately the virtual session on college recruitment in early January had to be rescheduled. Please look out for a rescheduled time and date— we will be discussing college recruitment and job fair tips with Ellen Coan, CPMR, senior vice president of education for the ERA Executive Committee.
The chapter hosted a 2026 kick-off meeting at Dave & Buster’s in San Jose at the end of January. Over lunch, members engaged with the chapter’s strategic vision and upcoming activities for what promises to be a landmark year.
OHIO
In December the Ohio ERA hosted its annual toy drive benefiting the The Salvation Army-Greater Cleveland and what a meaningful success it was! Thanks to the generosity of members and guests, the chapter collected over $2,200 worth of toys and coats to support local children and families in the Greater Cleveland Area for the holiday season. More than 30 participants contributed, in addition to the funds raised through our Topgolf outing. Dennis Reed spoke and presented during the event, adding an inspiring and heartfelt touch to the day. Not only did the chapter come together to give back, but everyone enjoyed a great afternoon of connection, community and friendly competition. A huge thank you to everyone who donated, attended or helped organize this year’s event. Your support truly makes a difference.
SOUTHWEST
Southwest ERA held a very successful fundraising and happy hour event in Dallas in November! The generosity and donations from those who attended were able to provide 941 meals for those in need through the North Texas Food Bank. The chapter had a wonderful time connecting with industry colleagues and helping our community.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California ERA is thrilled to announce the registration for the 2026 Office 365 All Access Pass Training, available to all ERA members nationwide at a special discounted rate!
In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven business world, Office 365 offers much more than just email and file storage. When used effectively, it transforms into a powerful productivity platform that enhances collaboration, secure information management and efficient time use. This training aims to help ERA members unlock the full potential of the Office 365 ecosystem.
Participants will get a comprehensive, virtual hands-on learning experience with tools like Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint and more. The training focuses on real-world business use cases for independent sales reps and their teams, delivering immediate, actionable takeaways. The program emphasizes efficiency, consistency and smarter workflows, helping attendees create more organized digital workspaces. The discounted member pricing makes it a valuable opportunity to enhance technology skills without significant investment.
Benefits include access to the 2024 and 2025 video archives, and an unlimited number of employees can attend. Interested members can contact the chapter at era@erascal.org. The 2026-2027 annual training kicks off on Tues., February 10 at 9:00 a.m. PST.