Feb. 2, 2022
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
Harrison Frank passed away Dec. 15, 2021 at 96 years old in San Diego, Calif. Frank was a lifetime member of ERA, and a White Pin member since 1975. He was a partner at Halbar Associates, and a member of the Southern California ERA Chapter.
1/25/2022
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
ERA is mourning the loss of Herb Kramer and Bertrand Aaron.
Herb Kramer passed away in December 2021. He retired from MicroSales, of which he was the owner, in 2006. Kramer held several positions in the Ohio chapter of ERA, including president, and was awarded ERA lifetime membership in 2005.
Bert Aaron passed away in December 2021 and would’ve been 100 years old in January 2022. Aaron was the owner of Aaron Technical Consultants, Chesapeake chapter, and owner of Bertram D. Aaron & Co. Inc., New York chapter. Aaron was awarded ERA lifetime membership in 2003. Aaron led a passionate life and illustrious career. Among many other accomplishments, he attained the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II, which led to a position as aeronautical research scientist at NASA and then as an engineer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps where he received the Commanders Medal. Having lost two wives to breast cancer, Aaron organized and chaired the first Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation Symposium on state-of-the-art medicine for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
1/25/2022
Source: Hughes-Peters
Hughes-Peters, a multi-regional distributor of electronic components, announced to their employees that they are now part-owners of the company. After nearly a 28-month process, the owners sold 49 percent of the company into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) on December 3, 2021.
Industry veterans Mike Okel, Donna Hensley, and Mike Smith purchased Hughes-Peters in 1999 and created a business model that has been very successful. They realize that the company’s greatest assets are the employees. “We did not get to where we are today without a long list of dedicated and loyal employees, some that are no longer with us. Selling the company outright was not an option,” said Mike Okel, president of Hughes-Peters. ”We’ve had a year of celebration for our company’s 100th year in business and there is no better way to cap it off.”
The owners will remain active and in control of the company with 51 percent ownership. This ESOP is a wealth-building opportunity for the Hughes-Peters’ employees that allows them to share directly in the success they are helping to create. It also sets the company’s long-term direction. Hughes-Peters remains committed to continuing to build strong relationships with both customers and suppliers.
For more information about Hughes-Peters, please visit www.hughespeters.com.
1/25/2022
Source: EDS Leadership Summit
The EDS Leadership Summit is returning in-person in 2022 at the Mirage in Las Vegas, from May 10 through May 13. The event is co-sponsored by ERA and the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA).
The Summit’s goal is to provide a forum for manufacturer, representatives and distributors to plan, discuss new opportunities and set goals in an energized atmosphere. This happens through a combination of scheduled, one-on-one meetings, educational programs and networking opportunities.
For more information and to register, visit edssummit.com.
1/25/2022
Source: Intel
Intel announced at the end of January that it would invest $20 billion for the construction of two new semiconductor factories in Licking County, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. It is hoped the new facilities will aid in meeting surging demand for semiconductors. In addition to the construction investment, Intel pledged an additional $100 million toward partnerships with educational institutions to strengthen research programs and enhance the workforce and talent pool in the region.
Construction is expected to begin late in 2022. Production is expected to come online in 2025, when the fab will deliver chips using the industry’s most advanced transistor technologies.
January 12, 2022
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) is pleased to announce Crystal Kadakia and Michael Knight as General Session speakers who will present at the 2022 ERA Conference on Tuesday, March 1. The 2022 ERA Conference will take place Feb. 27 through March 1 at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, Texas.
Kadakia will be presenting “The New Normal: A Digital Workplace Culture” on the morning of March 1.
Kadakia is a transformational change expert who has been asking organizations around the world, “What is the possibility of different?” through her keynote speeches, books and consulting work. With a focus on reframing and operationalizing culture, technology and generation changes, Kadakia aims to go beyond the traditional future of work conversations to inspire leaders to transform their businesses to thrive in this newly disrupted world.
In her 2022 ERA Conference presentation, Kadakia will move the audience beyond the status quo to embracing what’s possible in the digital age. From 10+ years of future of work research, Kadakia will share a new perspective shift that will allow attendees to empower their performance in today’s digital context, rather than engage from a stressed, overwhelmed, digitally-defused state.
“For the past two years, we have all experienced an acceleration in working in a digital world,” said Paula Renfrow, vice president, Americas Marketing, TTI Inc. and General Sessions Subcommittee co-chair. “This shift can sometimes cause stress and uncertainty, and raises lots of questions regarding how can we best work in this digital environment. Crystal will bring a fresh approach to teaching us how to use digital technology to empower ourselves and our teams. Crystal has developed a real understanding of our industry and the challenges that we are all facing, and will weave together a practical organizational change strategy. Her new perspective will provide attendees with powerful tools to use as we continue to push forward, be resilient, and embrace a new digital workplace.”
Michael Knight, president of the Exponential Technology Group and senior vice president of corporate business development at TTI Inc., will close the conference in the afternoon of March 1 with his presentation “A Linear Approach to an Exponential Curve is an Accident Waiting to Happen.”
Knight has worked in the both the manufacturing and rep communities prior to joining TTI. He has held a variety of national and global leadership roles in sales, marketing, operations and general management in both private and public companies.
Knight’s presentation will cover how the exponential nature of technology has changed the game of the electronics industry and how legacy, linear approaches to thinking, planning and strategy-setting are working against us. The presentation will cover the state of the component supply chain and ramifications for the automotive industry especially as it pertains to electric vehicles and related infrastructure, as well as the federal response to electronic industry supply chain issues.
“For the sixth year in a row, we are thrilled to have Michael Knight present the closing general session at the 2022 ERA Conference,” said Matt Cohen, CPMR, vice president of sales & marketing, CC Electro Sales Inc. and General Sessions Subcommittee Co-chair. “Michael is consistently one of the highest-rated presenters at past ERA conferences, and his forward-thinking and cutting-edge topics are always as educational as they are entertaining. And this year’s topic is no exception, where Michael will tackle the timely subject of the shift within the electronic component supply chain. As we come together in Austin, I am confident that Michael, a respected and industry-recognized thought leader, will show us the ‘new day and new way’ as we continue to understand and navigate the new path forward in our industry.”
For more information about the conference schedule and to register, visit: https://era.org/era-events/era-conference/.
About ERA
The 86-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.
January 11, 2022
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
The ERA Conference Committee is excited to announce the breakout sessions for the 2022 ERA Conference, scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1, in Austin, Texas.
Over the past nine months, volunteers on the Breakout Sessions Sub-Committee have been working diligently to develop 15 Breakout Sessions for the upcoming conference. These interactive and highly informative sessions are the highlight of the ERA Conference, and the interactions, education and insights gained will not disappoint.
For a description of each session, visit the Breakout Sessions page on the ERA Conference website.
Pre-registration for the breakout sessions will open the first week of February. Each session is offered twice, which will allow you to attend six breakout sessions during the two-day event.
The conference is less than six weeks away, so don’t wait to register or sign up to be a sponsor!
December 27, 2021
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
ERA regrets to report the Dec. 18 passing of F. W. “ Bud” Moulthrop, the founder of the Northern California rep firm Moulthrop Sales, Inc., and a long-serving volunteer at the local and national levels of ERA. He was 94 years old.
Bud was a pillar of ERA leadership from the 1960s to the 1990s, holding local offices in Northern California ERA and serving for many years as a trustee and then chairman of the ERA Insurance Trust. He was recognized with numerous awards for his volunteerism, including the ERA Key Award and Honor Award. He was also one of the early inductees into the White Pin Group in 1967. Beyond ERA, Bud served on the board of the EDS, was active in many other industry activities and was involved in Rotary Clubs in both Oakland and Lafayette, Calif.
He was a Navy veteran who served in both World War II and the Korean War. In the five years between wars, he graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, met and married his wife Patty and in 1950, established his rep firm selling antennas, tubes and other radio products.
In addition to Patty Moulthrop, Bud is survived by his two sons, John and Clark — a member of the ERA Hall of Fame — and their families. Notes of condolence can be sent to Patty at patty94549@aol.com.
December 13, 2021
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) announces that Clare Kluck has joined its team as Communications Director, effective December 13, 2021.
In this role, Clare will be responsible for developing effective messaging and communications strategies for the Association, and directing its Web, print, social media, email, podcast and ERA conference communications efforts. Clare will serve as editor of The Representor, ERA’s quarterly print and digital publication.
Clare brings a breadth and variety of experience to her role as Communications Director, including communications and web marketing work in the realms of non-profit associations, corporate property management, agricultural associations and years of publishing experience. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science from University of Iowa.
A suburban Chicago native, Clare now resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband Rob, and her three children. She is a big football fan and loves to read and be active outdoors.
“I’m excited to take this new role for many reasons,” said Clare. “I love doing communications work, but I’m new to the electronics industry and look forward to learning the industry and meeting all of the fantastic people here. I look forward to continuing the work of showcasing the ERA brand and demonstrating all of the value ERA offers its members and the industry.”
ERA CEO Walter Tobin, added, “We are delighted to welcome Clare to our ERA family. Her communications skills and background will be a tremendous asset in continuing our outreach, branding and communications efforts within the industry.”
Clare can be reached at ckluck@era.org.
About ERA
The 86-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.
2022 ERA Conference Chair, Bryan White, CPMR, VP of Sales at Catalyst Unity Solutions, took a few moments to speak with ERA Events Coordinator, Erin Collins, about why reps, manufactures and distributors should consider attending the upcoming event.
In this candid video interview, Bryan provides a brief overview of the conference educational program and networking opportunities, and shares what he personally gets out of attending the conference.
More than 225 electronics industry professions have already registered to attend the 2022 ERA Conference, “A New Day, A New Way,” scheduled to be held at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, Feb. 27 to March 1, 2022, in Austin, Texas, and there is still time to register!
For more information about the 2022 ERA Conference, visit https://era.org/era-events/era-conference.
ERA regrets to advise you that Marc Noe, the son of long-time ERA staff member Tess Hill, passed away on Nov. 20. He was 51.
As a student and young man, he was an accomplished musician and active in community theater. His business career was spent mostly in the restaurant industry, but his fondest memory was working for the Chicago Cubs during in 2016 and earning a World Series Championship ring.
A private memorial event will be held in early 2022. For the published obituary, go to https://www.leonardmemorialhome.com/listings.
Messages of condolence can be addressed to Tess and her husband Jim at 320 Marion Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.
Steve Alford, President and owner of Superior Technical Solutions located in Hauppauge, New York, passed away suddenly on November 17. He was 59.
He is survived by his wife Marjorie, and 2 daughters, Rebecca and Emily. Steve was the President and National Delegate of the Metro NY/NJ Chapter of ERA. Under his leadership, the Chapter was 3 times awarded Chapter of the year. Steve was inducted into ERA’s White Pin in 2018.
Steve was very well known and highly respected within New York’s high tech electronics industry to which he had devoted his entire professional career spanning 37 years. Among his many talents, a golfer, accomplished musician and all around great guy, a gentleman. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the Alford family during this most difficult time. Our industry lost a good one. Steve will be dearly missed.
The family asks that memorial donations be made to one of the following charities:
LI Cares: https://www.licares.org/
St Francis Hospital: https://www.chsli.org/st-francis-hospital/ways-give
Guide Dog Foundation: https://www.guidedog.org/
Messages of condolence can be addressed to Marjorie Alford at 4 Glenmere Lane, Commack NY 11725.
Global speaker, acclaimed generational researcher and bestselling author, Jason Dorsey, will deliver a thought-provoking presentation, “Crossing the Generational Divide: Unexpected Discoveries and New Actions to Inspire and Bridge Generations,” on Monday afternoon, Feb. 28 at the 2022 ERA Conference.
Watch Dorsey’s insightful preview of his presentation to learn how he will separate myth from the truth for each generation — Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X’ers and Baby Boomers — and share with conference attendees the actions that can help transform the generational divide into a breakthrough opportunity for growth.
Visit ERA Conference for more information about Dorsey’s presentation or to register for the conference scheduled, Feb. 27 to March 1, 2022, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin, Texas.
Internationally recognized thought leader and FutureSight Labs Founder and CEO, Seth Mattison, will open the 2022 ERA Conference program on Monday morning, Feb. 28, with the presentation “The Emerging Future: Building Future-Ready Organizations and High-Performing Cultures to Compete and Win in The Decade Ahead.”
Watch Mattison’s video to get a sneak peek of how his upcoming keynote presentation will inspire leaders to anticipate disruption, navigate transformation, grow their business, build their teams and elevate client and employee experience.
Visit ERA Conference for more information about Mattison’s presentation or to register for the conference scheduled, Feb. 27 to March 1, 2022, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin, Texas.
Nov. 10, 2021
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) is pleased to announce the two Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, General Sessions topics and speakers at the upcoming ERA Conference, slated Feb. 27 – March 1 at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, Texas. The speakers were specially selected by the conference planning committee for their expertise and ability to reflect the current business and economic landscape and complement the event theme — “A New Day, A New Way.”
The General Sessions Subcommittee is excited to bring back Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at The Economic Outlook Group and speaker at the 2021 ERA Virtual Conference, who will present the morning session — “The Great Transition.”
Baumohl is well-known for being ahead of the curve in assessing the direction of the U.S. and world economy. His ability to correctly predict the economy’s path was recognized by the Wall Street Journal, which ranked Baumohl in 2019 as the most accurate economic forecaster.
In his 2022 presentation, Baumohl will address how the pandemic has permanently changed the global economic landscape; the key changes in the U.S. and international economy and how they will impact the electronics industry; the outlook for consumer and business spending, inflation, jobs, housing and energy prices; policies by the White House and Congress that will impact economic activity, critical supply chains and trade policies; the economic and geopolitical risks that pose the greatest chance of erupting next; and how to insulate your business from these disruptive events.
“I am pleased to be part of the team that is bringing back Bernard Baumohl for the 2022 annual ERA Conference,” said Matt Cohen, CPMR, vice president sales & marketing for CC Electro Sales Inc. and co-chair of the General Sessions Subcommittee. “Bernard’s ability to translate economic data into terms that connect with our audience is outstanding! He will share his real-time interpretation of how ‘The Great Transition’ is unfolding which will clearly strengthen our competitive advantage in ‘The New Way’.”
Jason Dorsey, global speaker, acclaimed generational researcher and bestselling author, will close out the Monday conference program with a timely and informative presentation on “Crossing the Generational Divide: Unexpected Discoveries and New Actions to Inspire and Bridge Generations.”
Dorsey, a Millennial, married to a Gen X’er, with a Gen Z daughter, is a pioneering generations speaker and researcher who is on a mission to separate generational myth from truth through data to solve strategic challenges for leaders. Dorsey is president of The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK), a generational research, strategy and consulting firm. His latest bestselling book, “Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business — and What to Do About It,” was a #1 New Release on Amazon and Forbes listed it as a Top 10 Business Book of 2020.
In his entertaining, inspiring presentation, Dorsey will address how from recruiting and retaining employees to driving trust, engagement and communication, the generational change is challenging organizations more than ever before. Making the challenge even more urgent is the great resignation, dramatically different work expectations and a tremendous amount of misinformation about generations. Dorsey will separate myth from truth about each generation and discuss the unexpected impact of hidden trends, a new way to think about technology, and specific actions to transform the generational divide into a breakthrough opportunity for growth.
Paula Renfrow, vice president, Americas Marketing, TTI Inc. and co-chair of the General Sessions Subcommittee commented on the committee’s decision to choose Dorsey as a speaker at the event.
“The subject of generational challenges has been on our minds in this industry for a long time; we care about this evolution in the workplace, we worry about it, we hope we’re preparing sufficiently — doing the right things. As we’re now forced to make our way into a new day and a new way, Jason will empower us with research-based tools that engage and build trust across all generations, so that we move forward together — customers and employees,” Renfrow said.
For more information about the conference schedule or to register, visit https://era.org/era-events/era-conference/.
About ERA
The 86-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.
Nov. 9, 2021
Source: Electronics Representatives Association
The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) announces the latest graduates of its 2021 Chapter Officers Leadership Training (COLT) program, held virtually Nov. 3 – 5.
ERA’s COLT is an annual instructional program designed to offer practical knowledge, tips and ERA insider information on chapter management and planning tactics to help chapter leaders meet the challenges of serving as volunteer leaders. The program is coordinated by Cameron English, CPMR, of English Technical Sales and the new dean of COLT; Bob Evans, CPMR, who recently retired as president of EK Micro and is the former chair of the Chapter Leadership Council; Erin Collins, events coordinator for ERA; and Walter Tobin, CEO of ERA.
For the first time this year, the COLT program was held virtually and featured three days of interactive training. Nineteen chapter leaders from 13 different chapters attended the event, which included an opening remarks video by Phil Gallagher, CEO of Avnet; COLT online manual review; a walk through the ERA website; mock chapter event planning workshops; a presentation by legal counsel to ERA, Geral M. Newman of Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell & Glazer LLC, and much more.
Chapter leaders who completed COLT this year will receive one complimentary attendee registration for the 2022 ERA Conference, scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1 in Austin, Texas. This benefit is non-transferable and only one comped registration is allotted per chapter.
Evans expressed his thoughts about the 2021 COLT training program, “The 2021 edition of COLT was a benchmark in ERA history. Nineteen veteran and new chapter leaders from around the country ‘zoomed in’ online for the first-ever virtual COLT seminar. They all came eager to learn about and share best practices for their respective chapters. Their energy and enthusiasm were inspirational, as was the leadership of Cam English, Walter Tobin, and especially Erin Collins, who was tasked with keeping the group one point and on time. Congratulations to all the chapter leaders that participated. They seemed anxious to go back and apply what they learned from the staff and each other, and from these pros, we would expect nothing less.”
English added, “The first-ever ERA virtual COLT brought together 19 chapter members and amazing business managers who represented the ‘best of the best’ future chapter leaders from all over the country. The group rose to the occasion, and the ideas and thoughts shared during this three-day training event would make anyone proud to be associated with the exciting caliber of talent and the creativity we observed. We are going into 2022 with an amazing field of champions well-positioned to lead the ERA chapters. Congrats to all COLT graduates!
ERA congratulates the following ERA chapter leaders on successfully completing the 2021 COLT program:
About ERA
The 86-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.
The Fall 2021 issue of The Representor is now live on the ERA website. In this issue, don’t miss:
• The cover story, “Effective email marketing strategies: How salespeople can utilize targeted email marketing to start conversations and generate leads,” by Patrick Knoelke, managing director and founder of Spyre Group.
Also in this issue:
• The Rising Stars article, “Excelling through education, networking and building a professional brand,” featuring a Q&A with Christian Alviso, field sales engineer for Luscombe Engineering of San Francisco.
• The Someone You Should Know Q&A with Tom Walker, vice president at Spectron Components Inc.
• And the new Tax Matters column, “Converting LLC to S Corporation: What you need to know,” by Bruce E. Bell, CPA/Attorney at the Chicago law firm of Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC.
by John O’Brien, CPMR
Coakley, Boyd and Abbett
ERA President
jobrien@cbane.com
If we have learned nothing else, we have learned that we as companies and individuals can face any challenge head-on and still succeed.
Whether it is a pandemic, natural disasters, skyrocketing logistics and shipping costs, raw material costs or product allocation, never mind all six at one time, we as an industry and as people within the electronics market sector are adaptive and flexible. So, where will all of this lead us?
We have adapted to a new way of working with our customers. The virtual sales call was generically referred to as Webex and used only for those rare occasions when travel was unavailable. So, what about these virtual calls?
When we first started working remotely, getting an hour of a customer’s time was pretty standard. As everyone started falling into their rhythm of working remotely, those hour-long meetings were quickly reduced to 30 minutes to accommodate busy schedules. Nearly 20 months into the pandemic, hour-long calls are more like 15 minutes.
Many customers are now requesting that initial meetings be held virtually. In many cases, if we are doing an exploratory call, we have less than 15 minutes to get to the point with our customers and try to entice them with whatever product we are trying to sell.
Critical to success in those 15 minutes is having a succinct, targeted agenda. I liken these 15-minute calls to what we used to refer to as elevator pitches. We have got to grab and hold their attention while providing maximum value to the customer. That is why research prior to these meetings is so critical. We have to better understand our customers’ needs and attempt to address them with a solution immediately. By doing a deeper dive into customers’ websites, social media and online content, we can get a better idea of what pain points they may be facing and tailor our discussions to help alleviate that pain.
Our ability to be flexible is the hallmark of a great sales organization. We have to be able to try new things and make a decision quickly if these new ideas are going to work. If they do, great. If not, we have to move on and try something new. None of us can get mired in what didn’t work. Figure out how to make the necessary adjustments and try again.
Sales will continue to evolve into a hybrid approach, so the need to adapt is critical to thriving. We are entering a world of blended sales where the virtual calls augment our face-to-face meetings, where speed and accuracy are keys to our customers’ success, and where preparation will be paramount to capturing the attention of our customers.
So, while all of the situations that have been thrown at us over the past 18-24 months have tried our patience and even, unfortunately, dealt us some devastating personal outcomes, we persevere. We press on. We become more agile and we work together to become better for it.
by Walter E. Tobin
ERA CEO
wtobin@era.org
T: 617-901-4088
Like most of us, we are all just “over this.” We are ready to put behind us the many restrictions around masks, social distancing, fist bumps, elbow bumps, vaccination cards, talk of booster shots and on and on.
Don’t get me wrong: I am vaccinated and will get my booster jab the day I am eligible. I want to be SAFE. I want my family safe. I want our great ERA National staff safe. I want all of our ERA members (and not-yet-members) safe. I want the whole world safe. So we are able to do our jobs, to reconnect with our customers IN PERSON, to see each other, to just get back on with our work and personal lives, but in a safe environment.
Covid-19 (This is the ONLY time I will use this word in this update!) has tried all of us now for almost two years! Can you believe it? Who would have thought that we would still be dealing with this for so long? Yet, here we are … like seeing ourselves in a revolving door.
We have recently seen EDS rescheduled from May 2021 out to August 2021, then only to be canceled. We have also seen ECIA cancel their conference in October for the second year in a row — most unfortunate for all of us who look forward to attending it each year.
So, what lies ahead of us? When and how will we get back to a bit of normalcy in our personal and professional lives?
We started to see many of our customers beginning to open and accept visitors — our great Road Warriors who work hard to deliver both samples and information to our design engineers and procurement professionals. They, too, were tired of Zoom calls and the work-from-home environment. Some are actually describing it as “living at work” — perhaps a better, but sad, description of today’s times.
Suddenly, it all stopped and we began to revert to a life of a year ago, argh! We were all yanked back by a huge choke-chain that said: “Wait a minute, not so fast, folks!”
So here we are … ready to dig out our “work costumes,” shiny shoes, starched shirts and blouses, creased suits, fresh haircuts, suitcases dug out and reprovisioned with amenities for hotel stays, our airport travel clothes at the ready. We are all crouched at the starting line on a track just waiting for the starter gun to go off, and then, crickets …
However, hope is on the horizon. Booster shots are being readied, airports are slowly reopening to international travel, our favorite coffee shops and restaurants are slowly restaffing and ready to tempt all of us with “healthy” airport food. We can’t wait!
We just concluded our first annual Virtual Sales Training event – a three-day event that incorporated eleven hours of professional sales training. This training was a result of many of our members asking ERA to provide a virtual platform for those sales folks who may never be able to attend our annual conference in Austin. These are our frontline sales experts who work tirelessly each day to deliver excellent sales and technical guidance to their customers. They are also our sales managers, branch managers, regional vice presidents and owners of tomorrow. This training also offered them a fuller picture of ERA and the benefits that our members realize each and every day.
Also on the horizon is our Virtual Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) annual training — Nov. 3 – 5, 2021. This event was always conducted in person in Chicago but was canceled in 2020 due to the “you know what.” While we would love to see everyone in person, the virtual setting will make it easier for all of our chapters to “send” their present and future chapter leaders to COLT to learn from their peers best practices on chapter management.
These are two major initiatives conducted in a virtual format out of concern for the safety of our attendees.
However, mark your calendars: Feb. 27 – March 1, 2022, for the ERA Conference that will be held IN PERSON in Austin.
“Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”
We are fully committed to holding this event in a safe environment for our staff and attendees. I am very optimistic that we will be able to conduct our conference in person and safely. We have booked the larger and new Zlotnik Ballroom and adjacent meeting rooms that will allow us to accommodate over 500 attendees in a safe and relaxed environment.
Your conference committee of over 50 volunteers is working hard to deliver another GREAT conference – chock full of real and tangible takeaways to help you manage and grow your business.
Registration and sponsor information is available on our website at https://era.org/era-events/era-conference.
All of us are SO READY to be back IN PERSON. The last electronics industry IN PERSON event was our own ERA Conference in February 2020. Come help us celebrate seeing each other two years later in February 2022. None of us have gotten any older!
Leave your business costumes at home. Our events are casual and fun. Join us to learn from each other, from our great keynote and general session speakers, and our unique breakout sessions format.
So, FULL SPEED AHEAD! ERA will be protecting you from any torpedoes thrown your way. See you all in February in Austin.
Your ERA Ship’s Captain speaking …
> I think I think …
VIEWPOINTS – The Representor, FALL 2021
The Fusion Sourcing Group Inc.
ERA Chairman of the Board
ctanzola@fusionsourcing.com
The leaves are starting to change color, my trip to the office is taking a little longer as I follow frequently stopping school busses along the way, and despite highly researched draft strategies, my multiple Fantasy Football teams are all underperforming – I think, I think … life is returning to normal. Or is it?
What is “normal?” Is there a “new normal?” Do we even recognize “normal?” These are significant questions dominating a lot of conversations and many of my thoughts. Today, paying homage to former Sports Illustrated writer, Peter King, who wrote a regular column titled, “Ten Things I Think I Think,” I’d like to share a few other things I think I think as well.
I think I think that the last two years have been energy-draining, and by and large, people are fatigued and ready for a return to something normal. The unusual circumstances we are living in have lasted far longer and taken more twists and turns than anyone could have predicted. People are tired of pandemics and variants. They are tired of not meeting face-to-face, and not understanding the fluctuating rules when they do. They are tired of constantly changing “supply chain issues” — both personally and professionally. They are tired of trying to understand Force Majeure and what it really means. They are tired of division and vitriol. They are just collectively weary. What will change that? How will we emerge from this protracted period? Where will a renewing of our collective energy come from?
When EDS 2020 was canceled, the general reaction was acknowledgment with acceptance. In 2021, ERA changed its annual conference from an in-person meeting to our first fully virtual conference; and it was a resounding success from all accounts. It felt like obstacles had been conquered — victory! When EDS 2021 was postponed and eventually canceled, the sentiment I heard expressed was resignation with understanding. ERA recently held its first Virtual Sales Training event, built on the same virtual platform as the conference, and it too was reported as a highly successful event. So, while I think I think that virtual events are here to stay and can be very effective, nothing is more energizing than meeting in person. When will that be normal again?
I think I think that it is easy to confuse doing things with getting things done. Everyone I speak with tells me they are very busy, and I feel it in my schedule as well. The events on my calendar are color-coded by category, and it is a veritable rainbow of activity after activity. Yet, I sometimes wonder how much productivity there is? I wonder how customers, whose engineers have not been in the plant for months, are getting new products designed, tested and brought to market? I think I think they are not as prolific at it as pre-pandemic, and I wonder what the long-term consequences of that will be?
I think I think the many high-tech tools that have been created to simplify communications have also simply made it more challenging, and expectations are much higher. “By the way, I just sent you a text as a reminder to look at the email I sent you, confirming the VM I left after I hadn’t heard back on the LinkedIn InMail message, which I sent an hour ago. Did you get them? Sorry, I was on a Teams meeting and online chat simultaneously.” An exaggeration? Perhaps. A shade of reality? No doubt in my mind.
I think I think that muscle memory applies to more than just the golf swing. When you don’t do something for a while, you get out of a rhythm. Take travel for example. I’m starting to see that slowly increase, and next week I’ll be heading out on a trip … I wonder what I’ll forget to pack this time? Or, for that matter, driving. Did I miss the memo that all the rules of the road and regular practices of automobile safety — like turn signals, obeying stop signs and lights, and staying between the lines on the highway — have become optional? My empirical observation is that the general population has forgotten how. I wonder what else we’ve gotten out of practice on?
This is not intended to be a rant (though maybe it sounds that way), just some of my random observations. My final thought — despite everything, fundamentally, I think it is still a good time to be alive … consider the alternative.
In closing, predicting when we will actually gather in-person again has become less accurate than weather forecasting; however, at the risk of missing it once again, but feeling optimistic, I look forward to seeing everyone in Austin at the 2022 ERA Conference in February — “A New Day, a New Way.” As always, I can be reached at ctanzola@fusionsourcing.com and welcome your comments – what do you think you think?