> From Austin to EDS: Strengthening the three legs of the stool

Ed Smith, ERA CEO

Hello! Just a short time has passed since the national ERA Conference in Austin, where we hosted the event at a new venue, but still had the same great energy. Thank you to the ERA staff and volunteers for your time and effort. The sponsorships were sold out and the speakers were on point. The hotel has guaranteed that the elevators and hot water issues are being addressed. I look forward to seeing everyone in Austin next year at another great event.

Our attention now turns to the next big event in our industry which is EDS — it is Vegas or bust! I think this year EDS is very important as the industry is seeing very robust book-to-bill rates of 1.2 to 1.5 being reported, and this is being driven by markets such as industrial, medical, defense/aerospace, data centers and power. This year the conversation is about the art of the possible. How do we not build up dead inventory, while delivering the parts customers need? How do we maintain a strong backlog that they can build with all the parts available? Precise communication is necessary in these times as many things are moving quickly, like demand, inventory and what parts are not available to fulfill a complete BOM. All “legs of the stool” have to have tight communication and focus on lead time, pricing and quantities. The other big concern in a tight market is counterfeiting of parts and how customers fill the gaps in the supply chain.

This year we at ERA will roll out two new exciting programs. The first one will be a new set of TAM data broken down by area, product type and quantity. We are building a website so that reps can get the geographic data and manufacturers can get the same data as reps, plus the overall country such as the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The distributors will be able to see all the data across all regions. There are 28 columns of data so ERA is building a user-friendly website to make it into easily digestible information that will be of great value to all three legs of the stool. The second program is a formal ERA mentoring program that will help build connection and learning even further in our industry. I look forward to moving both of these programs forward and helping ERA show value to our member firms.

We at ERA look forward to seeing you all at EDS and working with you in Vegas.

Please stop by our booth in the Lily Ballroom and don’t forget that we have meeting rooms available for our members to use. It is also a great place to network with fellow members and have a cup of coffee and a snack. I can’t wait to see you all in Vegas and hear how the industry is moving during this new supercycle.

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> ERA Quick Connections — May 2026, Vol. 1

May 2026, Vol. 1

MANUFACTURING DATA REPORTS

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the fourth 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

> Oregon-based Lattice Semiconductor said Monday it is buying a Georgia tech company called AMI for $1.65 billion in cash and stock, a deal the Oregon company said will improve its products for data centers and artificial intelligence. Read more.

> A new Trump executive order could reshape retirement savings for those who don’t have access to an employer-sponsored plan. Read more.

> You may think of your to-do list as overwhelming and tedious— like a debt you need to pay off. Reframing your to-do list as credit-building and a way to move forward can radically change your perspective and energize you. Read more.

ERA NEWS

> The EDS Summit will be here soon!

Make sure the ERA Business Center in the Lily Ballroom is your home base. Stop by to: chat with the ERA National Staff and visit with our Recognized Resource providers; grab the special EDS Lines Available edition; pick up your ERA member ribbon; and enjoy some refreshments and a quiet place to connect.

*Note from the EDS Show Corp: EDS badges can be picked up beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 18 at the registration desk. Be sure to build in time for this process so that it does not impact your meeting schedule. As a reminder, everyone in the event area must display an EDS 2026 badge at all times. Please refer to the EDS Badge Policy for more information.

> Join us for the next ERA LIVE on Tuesday, May 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET where we will dive deep into the new rules of Google and AI search and visibility! Experts from G&G Creative NYC will break down how modern SEO, intentional content and site design work together to fuel your digital marketing engine.

What we’ll cover: why original expertise is the new SEO gold mine; how to attract the right audience, not just a bigger one; turning site structure and messaging into a lead-generation machine. Join us to learn exactly what you need to change to start seeing real results.

See you there! More info & log-in details.

> ERA is pleased to announce the addition of Zenode, an AI-driven component search platform, to its list of Recognized Resource vendor partners.

Electronics sales representatives often spend hours manually cross-referencing customer bills of materials (BOMs) against their represented lines. This complex evaluation traditionally requires days of back-and-forth communication with engineers. Zenode’s Alts tool performs comprehensive part comparisons in approximately one minute per component, providing sourced documentation for immediate engineering review.

Read the full press release. Visit zenode.ai.

CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS

Indiana-Kentucky ERA — Day at the Track — Thurs., May 14
Florida Sunshine ERA — Annual In-Person DTAM Presentation — Thurs., May 14
New England ERA — Young Professionals Networking Event — Thurs., May 28
Northern California ERA — 3rd Annual Golf Event Benefiting Special Olympics — Wed., June 10
Minnesota ERA — Networking Event feat. Speakers Dave Doherty & Eddie Smith — Wed., June 17
Metro NY ERA — Steve Alford Memorial Golf Outing – Mon., June 22
Chicagoland-Wisconsin ERA — Summerfest Outing — Thurs., June 25
Pacific-Northwest ERA — Save the Date: Golf Tournament – Fri., Aug. 21

ERA Bulletin Board

Join ERA Today

Industry Calendar

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> ERA Welcomes Zenode as New Recognized Resource Partner

ERA PRESS RELEASE
May 1, 2026
Contact: Clare Kluck / Communications Director / ckluck@era.org

View/download in PDF version

ERA Welcomes Zenode as New Recognized Resource Partner

The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) is pleased to announce the addition of Zenode, an AI-driven component search platform, to its list of Recognized Resource vendor partners.

In an industry where speed is critical, electronics sales representatives often spend hours manually cross-referencing customer bills of materials (BOMs) against their represented lines. This complex evaluation—which involves comparing technical specifications, pinouts, footprints and functional differences—traditionally requires days of back-and-forth communication with engineers.

Zenode is set to transform this workflow with its upcoming Alts tool, debuting on May 5. The tool performs comprehensive part comparisons in approximately one minute per component, providing sourced documentation for immediate engineering review.

“We are thrilled to be the newest ERA Recognized Resource and trusted vendor to ERA members,” said Brandon Bourn, CEO of Zenode. “We’re confident our AI-driven tools can give reps the answers they need on parts quickly and accurately. Our tools don’t replace the rep’s relationships or judgment, it gives them a faster, more accurate way to show up with the answer.”

“We welcome Zenode on board to our esteemed list of ERA vendor partners,” said Eddie Smith, ERA CEO. “Zenode offers a strong, AI-based components search platform that helps engineers and salespeople conduct comprehensive cross-reference evaluation in minutes instead of days. This is a significant value-add for our members.”

Visit zenode.ai for more information.

About ERA

The 91-year-old Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) is the international trade organization for professional field sales companies in the global electronics industries, manufacturers who go to market through representative firms and global distributors. It is the mission of ERA to support the professional field sales function through programs and activities that educate, inform and advocate for manufacturers’ representatives, the principals they represent and the distributors who are reps’ partners in local territories. For more information about ERA, visit era.org.

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> ERA Quick Connections – April 2026, Vol. 2

April 2026, Vol. 2

MONTHLY POS REPORTS

February 2026 POS activity far exceeded expectations, actually running ahead of January numbers by 3 percent and last February’s POS number by nearly 20 percent. February was the largest POS month since April of last year. February is generally a lower number due to the shortened month, however this activity was significantly above expectations.

Read full report.

INDUSTRY NEWS

> Finance and banking leaders from around the globe raise concerns with Anthropic’s new Mythos AI model. Read more.

> Being a leader is harder than ever. Here are 5 common pressure points for leaders and how to handle them. Read more.

> A 2024 study found that readers preferred content labeled as “human-generated” by 30 percent over content labeled as created by AI. Here are four ways your writing sounds “too AI” and how to fix it — read more.

INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS

The April 2026 ERA Electronic Components Industry Trend Survey is now closed.

View results from 2024-2026.

ERA NEWS

> The EDS Summit will be here in less than 4 weeks.

Download the EDS 2026 app for EDS info on the go — The app is available for both Android and iOS and has the complete public EDS schedule, the Matchmaking utility and more. To download, search “EDS 2026” in your phone’s app store.

New this year — EDS After Dark on Tuesday night from 9 p.m. – midnight in Perdana Gardens. This is a great opportunity to continue dinner conversations or meet up with colleagues after your evening events in an exclusive EDS space. Mark your calendars!

> ERA’s SearchLink.ai has a fresh new look and powerful upgrades designed to streamline your workflow and bring more value to your daily sales operations. We’ve integrated several new tools to help you work smarter:

ERA GPT: Think ChatGPT, but specifically tailored for ERA members.
The Prompt Writer: A great prompt is the key to a great result.
Contract Analyzer: Review documents faster than ever.
Enhanced Search: Our Key Contacts search now features Export functionality, Relevance Score ratings and Find Email buttons directly on the results page.
Company Search: Now includes full export capabilities.

— Watch the New Tutorial Video

— Access SearchLink.ai and try it for yourself!

> The new ERA Career Center Hub is an online resource for companies, early-career professionals and students exploring the world of manufacturers’ reps and the electronics components sales industry. You’ll find internship information; recruiting tips: where to find new hires; resources to understand the landscape (for early-career folks and students, what does a manufacturers’ rep do?) a job board…and more! We’ll be updating and adding new content regularly.

Visit the Career Center Hub!

CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS

Indiana-Kentucky ERA — Day at the Track — Thurs., May 14

New England ERA — Young Professionals Networking Event — Thurs., May 28

Northern California ERA — 3rd Annual Golf Event Benefiting Special Olympics — Wed., June 10

Minnesota ERA — Networking Event feat. Speakers Dave Doherty & Eddie Smith — Wed., June 17

Metro NY ERA — Steve Alford Memorial Golf Outing – Mon., June 22

Chicagoland-Wisconsin ERA — Summerfest Outing — Thurs., June 25

Pacific-Northwest ERA — Save the Date: Golf Tournament – Fri., Aug. 21

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> ERA Announces the Recipients of the 2026 Mark Motsinger White Pin Internships

ERA PRESS RELEASE
April 1, 2026
Contact: Clare Kluck / Communications Director / ckluck@era.org

ERA Announces the Recipients of the 2026 Mark Motsinger White Pin Internships

ERA announces six internships for the summer of 2026

The ERA White Pin group is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Mark Motsinger White Pin Internships:

Maya Gabbi, Chapman University — Ion Associates (Texas)
Olivia Burchstead, University of Kansas — Cover 2 Sales (Maryland)
Taedra Tsecaris, University of Connecticut — John E. Boeing Co. (New Hampshire)
Mary Coakley, University of Massachusetts at Amherst — Coakley Boyd & Abbett (Massachusetts)
Erik Timbo, University of St. Thomas — Cain-Forlaw Co. (Illinois)
Gabrielle Tully, Milwaukee School of Engineering — Brainard-Nielsen Marketing (Illinois)

This is the fifth year that the ERA White Pin Group and ERA National have partnered to award internships to manufacturers’ representative firms in various regions of North America to help hire and onboard college students as interns during the summer or academic year.

“We are excited to welcome this cohort of summer 2026 interns and congratulate the rep firm recipients,” said Kingsland Coombs, CPMR, CSP, senior vice president at large for the ERA Executive Committee and chair of the White Pin Group. “These interns will bring a wealth of new ideas and raw potential that will spark innovation within our rep firms. I look forward to seeing the growth and valuable insights that will come from this collaboration.”

“We are thrilled to be awarding six internships for the summer of 2026,” stated Lori Bruno, CPMR, senior vice president of education for the ERA Executive Committee. “It’s rewarding to see our mission of advocating for the manufacturers’ representative role and cultivating young talent come to life. We look forward to building on this momentum and becoming even stronger!”

ERA launched the Mark Motsinger White Pin Internship program in 2022 as a way to help the rep community introduce the rep model to college students and attract, hire and retain young people to keep the electronics industry fresh and relevant. The program allows rising college juniors or seniors to work for a manufacturers’ representative firm over the summer months to gain a better understanding and hands-on experience of the electronic components industry.

The internship program was named after Mark Motsinger, president of Wallace Electronic Sales, who served as executive director of the ERA White Pin group for more than 16 years. Motsinger helped to define the educational role of the White Pin group and helped promote the hiring and onboarding of new college graduates into our industry.

Please join ERA in congratulating all the rep companies and interns!

Read more information about the ERA Mark Motsinger White Pin Internship program.

About ERA
The 91-year-old Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) is the international trade organization for professional field sales companies in the global electronics industries, manufacturers who go to market through representative firms and global distributors. It is the mission of ERA to support the professional field sales function through programs and activities that educate, inform and advocate for manufacturers’ representatives, the principals they represent and the distributors who are reps’ partners in local territories. For more information about ERA, visit era.org.

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> ERA Grants Life Member Recognition to Five Members

In February 2026 at the national ERA Conference, ERA awarded Life Membership recognition to Carol Cohen (Indiana-Kentucky), George DeVoe (Indiana-Kentucky), John Latimer (Northern California), Mark Conley (Northern California) and Clark Moulthrop (Northern California).

ERA congratulates these five individuals on their Life Member status and recognizes the extraordinary time, talent and effort they have dedicated to ERA and the manufacturers’ rep function within the electronics industry.

ERA Life Members are individuals who have been employed by or associated with one or more firms as members in good standing of the association (regular, at-large or international) during a 20-year period, and are nominated by fellow chapter members at biannual ERA Board meetings.

View a complete list of all Life Members.

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> Tobi Cornell, CPMR, is Named Senior Vice President of Membership on ERA’s Executive Committee

ERA PRESS RELEASE
March 24, 2025
Contact: Clare Kluck / Communications Director / ckluck@era.org

The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) announces that Tobi Cornell, CPMR, President of Kruvand Associates, has joined the ERA Executive Committee as the Senior Vice President of Membership.

“ERA is very pleased to have Tobi Cornell join the Executive Committee as the new Senior Vice President of Membership,” said John O’Brien, CPMR, Chairman of the Board. “As president of a large and successful rep firm in Texas, and with many years of experience volunteering in this industry — including leading one of our main chapters — we know Tobi will champion the manufacturers’ rep function and work to foster the continued success of ERA membership during her tenure.”

Tobi Cornell graduated from Texas Christian University in 1994 with BBA, and entered the electronics industry that same year working for manufacturers’ rep firm, DJ Sales (Dallas, TX). Tobi worked in inside sales covering the Houston market for 2 ½ years, and then moved into outside sales in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for DJ Sales. In 1998, manufacturers’ rep firm Kruvand Associates acquired DJ Sales, and Tobi took on the distribution manager role, in addition to account responsibility. She continued to work in that capacity for 17 years, and was named vice president of distribution in 2015. Tobi continued fostering and growing close relationships with Kruvand’s manufacturers, channel partners and customers in her market, and was honored to be named president of Kruvand in 2023. Tobi also currently serves as president of ERA’s Southwest chapter.

“I’m honored to join the ERA Executive Committee and excited to strengthen the membership sector of ERA,” said Cornell. “ERA provides a unique, indispensable value to its members, and I look forward to amplifying that message and spearheading initiatives that drive our collective, long-term success.”

The updated list of officers on the Executive Committee are:

Chairman of the Board – John O’Brien, CPMR
President – Tom Griffin, CPMR
Sr. Vice President Fiscal & Legal – John Hutson, CPMR
Sr. Vice President Industry – Ellen Coan, CPMR
Sr. Vice President Education – Lori Bruno, CPMR
Sr. Vice President Membership — Tobi Cornell, CPMR
Sr. Vice President at Large – Kingsland Coombs, CPMR
Sr. Vice President Manufacturers – John Guetens
Sr. Vice President Distributors – Lou Copley
Sr. Vice President at Large — Ken Bellero
Chief Executive Officer — Ed Smith

About ERA

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> Introducing: The Online ERA Career Center Hub

ERA is excited to announce the launch of the brand-new online Career Center Hub!

This hub will be an ever-evolving resource for companies, early-career professionals and students exploring the world of manufacturers’ reps and the electronics components sales industry.

At the Career Center Hub, you’ll find:

Internship Info — Learn about ERA’s summer internship program for rep firms and view internship training guidelines
Recruiting Tips: How and where to find new hires
Understand the Landscape: For early-career folks and students, learn exactly what a manufacturers’ rep does and how it fits into the broader electronics components industry
Job Board: A dedicated space to browse open positions within our network. (Members—please send us your open position postings!)

…and more! We’ll be updating and adding new content regularly.

Visit the Career Center Hub

Companies/rep firms: Please send open employment positions/postings to Karin Derkacz at kderkacz@era.org. You may post anonymously as well.

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> Congratulations, 2026 ERA Award Winners!

ERA is proud to announce all of its esteemed award winners, honored at the 2026 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas, in February.

-The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was Walter Tobin, former ERA CEO.
-The Tobin Bridge Award recipient was Scott Lindberg, President, Quell Corporation.
-The Tess Hill Award recipient was Lori Bruno, CPMR, Vice President Distributon & Channel Manager, LuscomBridge
-The Jess Spoonts White Pin Award & Scholarship recipient was Jeff May, President, Logix Sales & Marketing.
-The Ray Hall Spirit of ERA Award recipient was John Hutson, CPMR, President, Macinnis Group.
-A new inductee to the ERA Hall of Fame was Dave Norris, President, Norris Associates.

These individuals were all recognized for their many years of leadership, professionalism and integrity in fulfilling ERA’s mission of advancing the manufacturers’ representative function in this industry. Thank you for your time, dedication and passion. Congratulations!

Above: Walter Tobin accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Scott Lindberg receives the Tobin Bridge Award.

Lori Bruno, CPMR, accepts the Tess Hill Award.

John Hutson, CPMR, receives the Ray Hall Spirit of ERA Award.

Dave Norris is inducted into the ERA Hall of Fame.

Jeff May receives the Jess Spoonts White Pin Award and Scholarship.

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> ERA Announces 2026 ERA Chapters of the Year Winners

ERA is proud to announce the 2025 Cameron English Chapters of the Year award recipients!

The awards were based on four categories: Education, Networking, Membership and Special Projects.

The award recipients are:

Education — Minnesota ERA, for hosting an impressive and valuable 3-hour generative AI “deep dive” educational session with Sam Richter as the presenter, and a networking lunch afterwards.
Networking — ERA Canada Chapter, for its tremendously successful “November 2 Remember” event that welcomed 150 industry professionals who brought unwrapped toys in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Membership — Southern California ERA for its participation in the Anaheim Electronics & Manufacturing Show and the Del Mar Electronics & Manufacturing Show, two major industry events that draw engineers, manufacturers, distributors and decision‑makers from across the region. The shows provided a valuable opportunity to network with current ERA members and strengthen relationships.
Special Projects — ERA Metro NY for its successful golf event, held annually in memory of Steve Alford, who was the Chapter president for many years. This special event allowed chapter members to network with many others in the field and enjoy a day of fun and golf.

Congratulations to all of the recipients and to all of the chapters who submitted events for judging!

More information on ERA Chapters.

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> ERA Quick Connections – March 2026, Vol. 1

March 2026, Vol. 1

MANUFACTURING DATA REPORT

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the second straight month but only the third time in 40 months, says the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report.

The computer and electronic products sector, and the electrical equipment, appliances & components sector, reported growth. Read the full report.

INDUSTRY NEWS

> After the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 last month that the Trump tariffs were illegal, the White House is now opening trade investigations spanning 60 countries, in an effort to find other avenues to impose tariffs. Read more.

> How the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect global supply chains. Read more.

> Middle managers are the most likely to experience burnout, and the first on the “chopping block” when layoffs occur. But investing in and nurturing managers can result in strengthening your workplace culture and improving employee engagement. Read more.

INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS

The March 2026 ERA Electronic Components Industry Trend Survey is now live! Check your email inbox.

View results from 2024-2026.

ERA NEWS

> Once again, a huge thank you to all 2026 ERA Conference attendees, sponsors and volunteers for making the event truly one to remember! It was a great 3 days of collaborating, networking, learning and sharing proven best practices.

View this great ERA Conference recap video, made by Zenode.ai!

> Congratulations to all the award winners from the 2026 ERA Conference!

Lifetime Achievement Award — Walter Tobin
Tobin Bridge Award — Scott Lindberg
Tess Hill Award — Lori Bruno, CPMR
Jess Spoonts White Pin Award & Scholarship — Jeff May
Ray Hall Spirit of ERA — John Hutson, CPMR
ERA Hall of Fame — Dave Norris

> ERA is proud to announce the 2025 Cameron English Chapters of the Year award recipients! The awards were based on four categories: Education, Networking, Membership and Special Projects.

The award recipients are:

Education — Minnesota ERA, for its 3-hour generative AI “deep dive” educational session with Sam Richter
Networking — ERA Canada, for its tremendously successful “November 2 Remember” event
Membership — Southern California ERA for its participation in the Anaheim Electronics & Manufacturing Show and the Del Mar Electronics & Manufacturing Show
Special Projects — ERA Metro NY for its successful golf event, held annually in memory of Steve Alford

Congratulations to all of the recipients and to all of the chapters who submitted events for judging!

> The EDS Summit in Las Vegas is about 10 weeks away!

Download the app, watch the pre-EDS webinar and book your meeting space.

CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS

ERA’s many regional chapters in the U.S., Europe and Mexico host many important events during the year. We encourage you to attend a local ERA chapter event soon! View entire ERA events calendar.

Carolinas ERA Annual DTAM Presentation — Friday, March 20
New England ERA Mastering Productivity with Microsoft 365 and Copilot – (Open to all chapters!) — Wednesday, March 25
Indiana/Kentucky ERA Lunch and Learn In-Person — MacroFlo – a new CRM that streamlines workflow with AI — Tuesday, March 31
Arizona ERA Industry Networking Event featuring Guest Speakers — Thursday, April 2

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> ERA Quick Connections – February 2026, Vol. 2

February 2026, Vol. 2

MONTHLY POS REPORT

As we close out 2025, we note that December was about 15.5 percent over the POS Index that we’ve been using to track activity. The fourth quarter ran slightly behind a strong Q3 number; however, the year finished on a high note. 2025 ended up a little over 3 percent from 2024. We will be tracking a new year beginning next month and will spell out the parameters along with a forecast for 2026. Read full report.

INDUSTRY NEWS

> The Federal Reserve Bank of New York published a study that found that 90 percent of this year’s tariffs were paid by U.S. firms and consumers. Read more.

> Big tech is ramping up data center construction around the U.S., with Texas, Tennessee, Ohio and Wisconsin emerging as major markets. Read more.

> You may need to master self-leadership before finding success leading others. Here are the three pillars of self-leadership and how this will help in the age of A.I.

INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS

The February 2026 ERA Electronic Components Industry Trend Survey is now closed.

View results from 2024-2026.

ERA NEWS

> We’ll see many of you in Austin in a few days for the 2026 ERA Conference!

Attendees, be sure to read the 2026 ERA Conference Details & Reminders page, with all of the information you need to know about badges, the Conference app, First-Timers orientation, schedule, venue and more.

> The Winter 2026 Representor is now out! This issue’s cover story dives deep into a game-changing concept: Turning friction into fuel. Shane Zutz writes about how successful teams take inevitable tensions and transform them into a competitive advantage. Read it!

Also in this issue: Executive Commentary, XCOM Digest, Rising Stars Q&A, Someone You Should Know Q&A, legal and tax columns, and more!

Read the interactive PDF version.

>If you’re attending the 2026 EDS Summit in May, you may be interested in attending this informational pre-event webinar, with a Q&A session — live on Zoom, Friday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. EST.

CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS

Pacific-Northwest ERA — Save the date: Golf tournament will be Friday, Aug. 21
CERA will open applications soon for its annual scholarship for dependents of CERA members — stay tuned!
Annual Chapter Leadership Council (CLC) meeting will take place at the ERA Conference next week — Tues., Feb. 24 at 7:00 AM CT in Salon J on the 6th floor of the Hilton Austin.

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> Scaling up at ERA

Ed Smith, CEO of ERA

I would like to thank you all in advance for attending the annual 2026 ERA Conference, and for Conference Chair Perry Thornton and Conference Vice Chair Julie Carr and all the committee members who have worked many hours to make this an industry-leading event.

We will have more than 650 attendees and a new home at the Hilton Austin in downtown Austin. This is a record crowd, and this shows that people find value in the three days in Austin. Our goal is to have speakers and breakout sessions that help and guide you in your day-today duties. I appreciate the support of all our sponsors which enables us to have a world-class event in a world-class venue. This was my first year putting this event together and I was impressed by the ERA staff of Kate, Karin, Clare, Ama, Natalie and Susan and the work they do to organize this great event.

The main stage will have fantastic speakers talking about reaching the unreachable and about human connection in a digital world. They will speak about the fast pace of a supply chain in the new world politics (just keeping up with the tariffs last year was dizzying). We will have someone speak about how to collaborate when we live in a world where AI is being used to a greater degree. I could not be more excited to see how the main stage inspires and motivates Conference attendees.

The breakout sessions will dig deeper into topics of importance to reps, manufacturers and distributors and will be geared towards tactical and practical actions and takeaways. AI will be featured in multiple sessions, which will highlight some available tools and how to use them in practical applications. We will have sessions on relationships and some deeper discussions on communication. We will have some conversations about CMMC and how to comply with the flow downs. We will have a market trend update that will feature new data on lead times and sales, and I will also give an ERA update.

There are many other things that ERA is working on that will be rolled out later this year. We are working to provide our members a new data resource that reports all parts shipped in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. sorted by HTS code. We are also working on some data about the value of rep firms with real-life examples and numbers to support our position.

We are busy at ERA, but never too busy to help support local chapter efforts and events. If you need our help, just reach out to me or one of the ERA staff. I have attended quite a few chapter events and have been impressed with the enthusiasm and work put into each of the events. Thank you and keep up the great work!

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> ERA Quick Connections – February 2026, Vol. 1

February 2026, Vol. 1

MANUFACTURING DATA REPORT

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the first time in 12 months, preceded by 26 straight months of contraction, says the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report.

The computer and electronic products sector reported growth in January, while the electrical equipment, appliances & components reported contraction. Read the full report.

INDUSTRY NEWS

> These 2026 Winter Olympians’ stories offer leadership lessons on resilience, managing burnout and sustaining high performance. Read more.

> Supply Chain Connect offers its newest podcast, “2026 Semiconductor Trends to Watch: The Rising Risk of Obsolescence.” Take a listen.

> What businesses are getting wrong in using AI-powered email campaigns. Read more.

INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS

The February 2026 ERA Electronic Components Industry Trend Survey is now live!

Check your email inbox. View results from 2024-2025.

ERA NEWS

> The next ERA LIVE will take place next Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 4:00 p.m. ET! Join us as we preview the 2026 ERA Conference — what’s NEW, the all-star lineup of speakers, the breakout session topics, and more! More details and log in-info. We hope to see you there!

> EDS 2026 registration is officially open!

NEW: Companies approved to attend EDS will receive a registration email from EDS Management, which will include a direct link to register. There is no passcode required this year. Once registered, your hotel booking link will be available both on your registration confirmation page and in your confirmation email, making it easy to complete your plans in one place. Suites and small, medium, and large meeting rooms remain, but availability is limited. If your company is interested in securing space, please contact info@edssummit.com to inquire.

> The ERA Bulletin Board is a place where members can post available job positions, potential job candidates and agency sales/mergers opportunities!

To post to the bulletin board, e-mail your listing to Karin Derkacz at kderkacz@era.org.

CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS

Carolinas ERA Virtual Lunch – AI Digital Tools and Implementation — Friday, Feb. 6
Southern California ERA OC Hangar Social — Thurs., Feb. 12
Del Mar Electronics & Manufacturing Show — Wed., Apr. 22

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> In Memoriam: Dawn Lowery

ERA mourns the passing of Dawn Lowery, who passed away Dec. 16, 2025.

Lowery was vice president of sales at Brainard-Nielsen Marketing for nearly two decades. Her tireless dedication shaped not only the BNM sales organization but had an impact on the industry as a whole. She believed in people, invested in relationships, and led with purpose. She also served as Channel Sales Manager at Sumer, Inc. She had her CSP certification and served as a volunteer on the ERA Conference Committee for many years.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, she will be remembered for her generosity, mentorship, and the genuine care she showed for colleagues at every level. She had a way of bringing out the best in others and making even the toughest challenges feel achievable.

She will be deeply missed and always remembered.

Lowery was a resident of Avondale, Arizona. View her obituary.

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> The 2026 ERA Conference Brochure is Out!

The annual ERA Conference is less than 4 weeks away!

We are excited to share the 2026 ERA Conference Digital Brochure, an interactive resource designed to provide you the latest program, session and speaker updates on the 2026 ERA Conference.

This interactive brochure previews the latest highlights from the upcoming conference, including general session and breakout session topics, the Conference schedule and a roster of all of our generous sponsors.

CONFERENCE UPDATES:

View the keynote & general session speakers and more information about their sessions.
View a preliminary Conference schedule and start planning your itinerary.
View breakout session topics. Attendees should register for breakout sessions!
View the attendee list.
Thank you to all of our generous sponsors!

Thank you, 2026 ERA Conference Committee!

Perry Thornton, Pinnacle Marketing – Conference Committee Chair
Julie Carr, MacInnis Group — Conference Committee Vice Chair
Adam Anderson, CPMR, Norris & Associates — Breakout Sessions Co-Chair
Holly Good, Master Electronics — Breakout Sessions Co-Chair
Zach Anderson, Harper and Two — Keynote/General Sessions Co-Chair
Heather D’Amico, MBA, CPMR, Brainard Nielsen Marketing — Keynote/General Sessions Co-Chair
Adam Grigor, Tech-Trek Ltd. — Sponsorships Co-Chair
Scott Lindberg, Quell Corporation — Sponsorships Co-Chair
Todd McAtee, Mouser and XTG Group — Conference Advisor
Ellen Coan, CPMR, C C Electro Sales Inc. — Executive Committee Liaison

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> Announcing the 2026 ERA Conference Breakout Sessions & Speaker Lineup!

The 2026 ERA Conference Committee is thrilled to announce the 15 breakout sessions and speaker line-up for the national conference in February!

Conference breakout sessions are the attendee favorite and highlight of each year’s gathering, and this year will be no exception. Below is a list of the topics to be presented, in alpha order. (You’ll be able to select your preferred breakout sessions soon, via the mobile app, so stay tuned!)

Read full descriptions of each session.

2026 Outlook: Trends, Data and Opportunities from the Semiconductor and IP&E Markets
An AI Masterclass: SearchLink.ai 3.0 and Beyond
AI Swap Shop: Real-World AI Use Cases that are Transforming the ERA Community
The Art of Meaningful Conversation
Beyond the Basics: Strengthening the Regional Manager-Rep Relationship
CMMC Made Clear: A Practical Guide to Cybersecurity
Connection Starts with Better Questions
From Components to Solutions: Capturing Value in the Fastest Growing Electronics Ecosystems
From Risk to Reward: Ten Legal Mistakes that Cost Reps Money and How to Fix Them
How Buyers Find You in 2026: Strategies to Drive Organic Revenue
Passing the Baton: ERA Leadership in Transition
Relational Leadership: Connecting with the People Who Power Your Business
Supercollaboration
Turning Strategic Relationships into Innovation Engines
Winning, Growing and Keeping the Best Talent in Electronics

The Conference Committee also proudly presents this all-star line-up of speakers will present the keynote, general and breakout sessions and are sure to provide our attendees new insights, inspiration and knowledge.

Read full details about the 2026 ERA Conference speakers.

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> ERA Quick Connections – January 2026, Vol. 1

January 2026, Vol. 1

MANUFACTURING DATA REPORTS

Manufacturing data reports from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) are released at the beginning of every month and can be accessed at ISM. The latest report says economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the 10th consecutive month.

However, the specific sectors of computer and electronic products and electrical equipment, appliances & components both reported growth in December. Read the full report.

INDUSTRY NEWS

> Supply Chain Connect offers a great year-in-review recap of supply chains, tariffs and trade shifts in 2025. Read more.

> LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslanksy says having a personal five-year career plan is a bit outdated. Learn why.

> Promoting employees to leadership positions should not be a sink-or-swim experience — more learning and development should be offered. Read more.

INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS

The January 2026 ERA Electronic Components

Industry Trend Survey is now live!

Check your email inbox. View results from 2024-2025.

ERA NEWS

> The next ERA LIVE will take place Tues., Jan. 13 at 4:00 pm ET, featuring Dennis Reed, senior analyst at Edgewater Research. Reed will give a recap of 2025 and present his outlook for 2026, based on electronics components market data and ERA member survey results from 2025. No registration required. See you there! More details & log-in information.

> The deadline is January 31 to submit your applications for the 2026 ERA Mark Motsinger White Pin Internship Program! This internship program offers an ERA-member manufacturers’ rep a chance to hire a college student as an intern, with ERA/White Pin group subsidizing a substantial portion of the anticipated internship cost. Read more and apply.

EDS SUMMIT NEWS

EDS returns to Resorts World Las Vegas from May 18-22, 2026! Reservations for meeting space at EDS (hotel meeting suites, executive meeting rooms and space in Lily Ballroom) are now being taken on a first-come, first served basis. Registration for attendees (rep and distributor companies without meeting space at EDS) will open sometime in the first weeks of January.

(Reminder: ERA-member manufacturers’ representatives are able to attend EDS without registration cost!)

New this year – No passcode for Attendee registration! If you have registered for EDS in the past (and we have your email address!), you will receive an INVITATION EMAIL with a direct link to online registration. Please wait until after January 15 to inquire about a lost invitation. Once you have completed your registration, you will get the link to register for hotel rooms at Resorts World with the special EDS 2026 rate.

Please add info@edssummit.com to your list of Safe Senders to receive the most up-to-date information and check out the EDS website for more information!

CHAPTER EVENTS & NEWS

> Does your local ERA chapter have a social outing, charity drive or networking event that it would like to showcase in the Chapter News section of the Winter 2026 Representor magazine? We would love your contribution. Submit your news and photos HERE.

> ERA’s many regional chapters in the U.S., Europe and Mexico host many important events during the year.We encourage you to attend a local ERA chapter event soon! View ERA events calendar.

Northern California ERA – Virtual Education Event (Topic: College Recruitment) – Jan. 13
Arizona ERA – First Annual Cornhole Tournament and Networking Event – Jan. 15
Chicagoland-Wisconsin ERA – 2026 Kickoff Meeting & Happy Hour w/ Ed Smith – Jan. 15

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> Announcing 2026 ERA Conference General Session Speakers James Taylor and Michael Knight

ERA PRESS RELEASE
December 18, 2025
Contact: Clare Kluck / Communications Director / ckluck@era.org

View/download PDF version of this press release

Announcing 2026 ERA Conference General Session Speakers James Taylor and Michael Knight

The 2026 ERA Conference Committee is pleased to announce that James Taylor and Michael Knight will present as general session speakers on the second day of the annual ERA Conference in February in Austin, Texas.

James Taylor

James Taylor, MBA, FRSA, who started his career managing high profile rock stars, is now an in-demand keynote speaker and internationally recognized leader in creativity, innovation and artificial intelligence. For more than 20 years, he has been advising CEOs, entrepreneurs, educators, governments, leaders, writers and rockstars on how to design innovative organizations, unlock creative potential and build a sustainable future. He has authored a new book: “SuperCreativity: Augmenting Human Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Taylor will present the first general session on Tuesday, Feb. 24, entitled “Supercollaboration: Cyborgs, Centaurs and The Rise of Human-AI Collaboration.”

Today’s business landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins and robotics. They are transforming industries ranging from electronics, retail and healthcare to engineering, construction and defense. Taylor will guide Conference attendees through a captivating exploration of how leaders and organizations are adapting to technological change. Learn how, in this new world, our most valuable competitive advantage as a leader lies in our ability to foster creative collaboration between humans and machines. This tailored and entertaining presentation is designed to inspire and equip attendees with insights and strategies needed to be future-ready.

Learn more about this session in this video.

Michael Knight

Michael Knight, an electronics industry favorite, has been in the electronics industry for more than 30 years, working for several electronic private and public component manufacturers and distributors. At TTI, Inc., his roles have included VP of Product and Marketing, President of the Exponential Technology Group and currently, Corporate Senior Vice President of Strategy. Knight also has a long history of service and leadership on the boards of directors of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and is a frequent guest on a wide range of podcasts, and regular keynote speaker at many industry conferences.

Knight will close out the Conference with the final general session on Tuesday, Feb. 24 — “Great Disruption is the Mother of Great Opportunity.” Technology is relentlessly accelerating the pace of invention and innovation, both causing and addressing the disruptions that have become abundant in our business. There are a lot of signs that we are now squarely on the exponential part of the exponential curve and that big, new-to-the-world businesses are being built from the technology supply chain for which we are a part. Knight will offer attendees a look at various “gigatrends” through a series of what-if questions intended to spotlight the ever-growing opportunities for our industry.

The 2026 ERA Keynote and General Sessions Conference Committee is thrilled to have Taylor and Knight as general session speakers on the second day of the conference, as they are sure to present unique insights and knowledge to Conference-goers.

Read more information about the 2026 ERA Conference.

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> Announcing 2026 ERA Conference General Session Speakers Jacob Shapiro and Eddie Smith

ERA PRESS RELEASE
December 4, 2025
Contact: Clare Kluck / Communications Director / ckluck@era.org

The 2026 ERA Conference Committee is pleased to announce that Jacob Shapiro and Ed Smith will present as general session speakers at the annual ERA Conference on Feb. 22-24, 2026, in Austin, Texas.

Jacob Shapiro is a geopolitical analyst and Director of Research at The Bespoke Group, a wealth strategy firm. Shapiro is a prolific public speaker, delivering frequent keynotes and briefings across industries like finance, agriculture and energy, to name a few. He hosts “The Jacob Shapiro” podcast, which features interviews with subject matter experts in geopolitics, technology, markets and other fields.

Jacob Shapiro

Shapiro will present the first general session on Monday, Feb. 23 entitled, “Geopolitics, Supply Chains and the New Electronics Landscape.” The world is shifting from a U.S.-led unipolar order to a multipolar, highly transactional system, and the electronics industry sits squarely in the crosshairs. In this new landscape, success depends less on efficiency and more on resilient partnerships, flexible planning and strategic urgency. Global power is realigning and while this comes with risks, it also creates opportunities for manufacturers and distributors to stay ahead.

Key takeaways from the presentation will include:

• Why North America—especially Mexico under USMCA—is emerging as the most trusted, adaptable foundation for future electronics supply chains.
• Why exposure to China (and in some cases India) now carries structural risk that companies can no longer ignore.
• Reconceptualizing trust as infrastructure—and adaptability as strategy—to build more resilient sourcing, customer relationships and operational plans.

Eddie Smith

Eddie Smith is ERA’s new CEO as of September 2025, and will present the second general session on Monday, February 23. Smith is a seasoned and successful executive with more than 35 years of experience in the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry and the electronic components distribution industry. He served as CEO at Smtek International and then held several senior executive positions at Avnet for many years, including president for seven years. He then joined SMTC Corporation as CEO in 2017 and was later promoted to chairman. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at Data I/O and other private Boards.

Smith will present, “Everything Revolves Around Electronics,” a session that will dive into change in the electronics industry is reshaping our operations. Smith will discuss what is driving the latest supply-chain shifts and what they mean for how we sell, collaborate and compete.

We’ll explore how AI is rapidly transforming our workflows, how sales teams can stay effective in a world where fewer customers want face-to-face meetings and where the future of the rep model is headed. We’ll look back at previous cycles of rapid change — with research and real-world industry data — to reveal the clues that will help us adapt even faster this time.

The 2026 ERA Keynote and General Sessions Conference Committee is thrilled to have Shapiro and Smith as general session speakers on the first day of the conference, as they are sure to bring incredible value and expertise to attendees.

Stay tuned for more information about the remaining speakers at the 2026 ERA Conference!

About the 2026 ERA Conference
The 2026 ERA Conference is an educational and networking event that offers the only opportunity for electronics industry reps, manufacturers and distributors to learn together from many experts in an environment dedicated to sharing proven best practices in field sales and marketing. Complete with keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking events, this do-not-miss event offers a collaborative and energetic environment where all attendees can learn, connect and grow. Read more information about the 2026 ERA Conference.

About ERA
The 90-year-old Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) is the international trade organization for professional field sales companies in the global electronics industries, manufacturers who go to market through representative firms and global distributors. It is the mission of ERA to support the professional field sales function through programs and activities that educate, inform and advocate for manufacturers’ representatives, the principals they represent and the distributors who are reps’ partners in local territories. Visit era.org.

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