> READ: ERA Quick Connections – October 2026, Vol. 1
October 2026, Vol. 1
MANUFACTURING DATA REPORT
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the ninth straight month, says the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report.
The computer and electronic products sector, and the electrical equipment, appliances & components sector, both reported growth. Read the full report.
INDUSTRY NEWS
> Scientists have unveiled a “mind-reading” AI tool that can recreate, with uncanny accuracy, images that people are looking at by tapping into their brain activity. Read more.
> Meta debuted its new AI agent, Muse, in September. OpenAI just debuted one as well. Why these new AI agents could spell chaos – read more.
> Succession planning is about people, not positions — and it starts with candid questions. Read more.
ERA NEWS
> ERA announces that Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) will be the keynote speaker at the 2027 ERA Conference, taking place Feb. 21-23, 2027, in Austin, Texas.
Malachowski will open the ERA Conference on Monday morning, Feb. 22, with her keynote presentation, “Harnessing Headwinds: Successfully Navigating Change and Adversity.”
As a former fighter pilot and combat veteran, Nicole Malachowski uses the metaphor of headwinds to share inspiring stories and practical tools that ignite our ability to harness the challenges in our personal and professional lives.
> Read full press release. > Register for the Conference. > View sponsorship opportunities.
> Sign up today for Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) program on Dec. 1-3!
COLT is a fun and collaborative virtual training session, focused on effective chapter management and planning tactics. Attendees can expect to gain creative ideas and practical knowledge about member recruitment, hosting events and organizing educational sessions. If you are already in an active chapter leadership role or are interested in pursuing one, talk to your board about attending this valuable training program where you can learn from other chapter leaders.
Chapter leaders who complete COLT this year will receive 1 complimentary attendee registration for the 2027 ERA Conference, scheduled for Feb. 21-23, 2027, in Austin, Texas. (one per chapter)
> STEP 2026 is over, but you still can receive this valuable training! All STEP sessions, including archives dating back to 2021, are available online for purchase at era.org/step.
Watch anytime, revisit whenever you need a refresh and take advantage of a $100 discount for ERA members. STEP delivers live, practical modules taught by proven industry leaders and professional sales trainers. It offers concrete takeaways that reps, distributors and manufacturers can implement immediately on their very next sales call. Purchase the STEP 2026 training series today.
INDUSTRY TRENDS SURVEY
The October 2026 ERA Electronic Components
Industry Trend Survey is now live!
Check your email inbox.
CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS
- Mid-Lantic ERA — Networking Event — Wed., Oct. 14
- Carolinas ERA — Virtual Lunch Event: Electronics Components Playbook — Fri., Oct. 16
- Northern Cal ERA — Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Employees — Tues., Oct. 20
- Northern Cal ERA — Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Managers — Wed., Oct. 21
- Southwest ERA — Happy Hour and Food Drive — Thurs., Oct. 22
- Canada ERA — Voice of the Customer Networking Event — Tues., Oct. 27
- New England ERA — Networking Dinner with Speaker Chris Lins — Wed., Nov. 4
- Indiana-Kentucky ERA — Volunteer Event with Gleaners Food Bank — Fri., Nov. 6
Malachowski will open the ERA Conference on Monday morning, Feb. 22, with her keynote presentation, “Harnessing Headwinds: Successfully Navigating Change and Adversity.”
The safest way to reserve your room for Conference is to access the Hilton Austin hotel link directly through the ERA website at 
In this issue, don’t miss:
> The 
> MentorUP enrollment is still open…but not for long! The deadline to enroll is 4 days away — Monday, June 29. Mentorship is a proven way to grow, connect and thrive, and we’d love for you to be part of it. If you’re thinking about signing up to join the next ERA mentor/mentee cohort that will meet July through December, do not wait. 
> The 
> ERA is now accepting reservations for ad space in the Summer 2026 issue of 
> The 
> The new ERA 
> Reflections on year one: Building a stronger foundation for ERA
Reflections on year one: Building a stronger foundation for ERA
The first new program that we have implemented is the new MentorUP program sponsored by Master Electronics. Let me first thank Master Electronics for stepping up and providing funding to build our mentorship online platform and professional design. I have personally had some of the best mentors in the business and still rely on them for guidance and support. I believe one of the greatest gifts someone can give is their time, guidance and support. The initial response and sign-up for the MentorUP program has been robust and extremely positive. The first cohort of mentors and mentees will meet July through December 2026. This program can be a game changer for our organization and membership!
The next new program that will be rolled out will be a Market TAM portal for ERA members only, hosted on ERA.org. This portal will show extensive market TAM data for U.S., Canada and Mexico by HTS codes and area. Data will be able to be sorted by area and product type. Mexico ERA started this program and then ERA National took it over and expanded this to cover all three regions. There is a lot more to come in this department, so stay tuned.
We have also spent time with distributors and helped them shape new programs for reps, in order to work arm-in-arm with them in the local markets. I’m pleased to say there is strong engagement in this area from both sides. Working with all “three legs of the stool” is fundamental to making for a stronger community to help the end customers get the best service possible. More information is coming on this in July and August.
On the manufacturer’s front: with the help of Mike Swenson and other people such as Cesare Giammarco, we have prepared three new presentations that show the value of reps to manufacturers, which we will post on ERA.org in the near future. The one that I am most excited about is a “Rep vs. Direct Calculator” that can be adjusted by marketplace or used as an overall look at across regions. We continue to show it and get feedback from our community and will continue to improve these value-add tools.
We have a busy summer at ERA National planning another fall STEP (Sales Training for Electronics Professionals), sponsored by TTI. This live, virtual sales training should be taken by all ERA members to sharpen sales skills and make you personally more valuable to your business and customers. Most professional industries have a mandated amount of continuing education; if we want to call ourselves professionals, we should continue to learn the latest and greatest tools and ways to go to market.
We have picked Julie Carr and Brooks Mattice as our 2027 ERA Conference Chair and Co-Chair, respectively, and I want to personally thank them for their time and effort. They have one of the most important roles in leading the ERA Conference. The number of volunteers in the committee is also very humbling and impressive, so thank you all for your time and effort.
Last but not least — the charity work being done by local ERA chapters in raising funds for local charities really humbles me when I visit the different regions and see the amount of effort and results in giving back to the local communities. We will continue to visit and support as many of these events as possible. Keep up the great work. The local chapters are what differentiates ERA from all others.
As you can see, there is a lot going on and I am excited about the future of ERA and our industry. We are in a super cycle so sit back and enjoy it.