Officers

 

Tom Edman 

President and CEO 
TTM Technologies

Tom Edman has been the chief executive officer of TTM Technologies since January 2014 and president since January 2013. Tom also served as a board director for TTM since September 2004. From early 2011 to December 2012, he served as group vice president and general manager of the AKT Display Business Group, which is a division of Applied Materials Inc., a publicly held provider of nanomanufacturing technology solutions. From 2006 to 2011, Tom served as corporate vice president of corporate business development of Applied Materials, Inc. Tom has served on the IPC Board of Directors since 2016.

Jeff Timms

CEO, ASMPT SMT USA LLC

Jeff has experience in acquisitions, R&D, B2B marketing and selling, and strategy development which have served him well to achieve a leading market share position as the CEO of ASMPT SMT USA LLC in charge of North and South America.

Peter Cleveland

Senior Vice President, TSMC

Peter advises TSMC on policy, legislative, legal, regulatory, and standards matters. He has chaired the BOD of several trade associations, such as the Information Technology Industry Council and the Trans-Atlantic Business Council. Before this term, Peter served on the IPC Board for eight years. 

Bob Neves

Chairman and Chief Technology Officer 
Microtek Laboratories (China)

Bob Neves has spent the last 34 years as the chairman and CTO of Microtek Laboratories and Microtek Laboratories (China), both independent test facilities. He has served as IPC’s TAEC chairman, Rigid Board General Committee chairman, HDI General Committee chairman, Rigid Board Test Method Task Group chairman, IPC TGAsia Technical Liaison, Laboratory Qualifications Committee chairman and has been involved in more than 50 IPC committees in the United States and Asia during his career. 

He also served as the IEC TC52/91 Test Methods Committee chairman and member of the UL STP Standards committees associated with plastics, PCBs and CCL. He also holds patents for HATS²™ accelerated via reliability technology. He was inducted into the IPC Hall of Fame, the IPC’s highest lifetime honor, in 2007, and was awarded the Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Medal in 2015. Bob has served on the IPC Board of Directors since 2012.

Dr. John W. Mitchell

President and CEO
IPC

As IPC’s president and CEO, Dr. John W. Mitchell leads the organization’s global operations and staff. Working with the IPC board of directors, he is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the Board’s strategic vision and aspirational goals. He joined IPC as president and CEO in April 2012, and has been instrumental in launching solutions to help IPC’s members achieve financial success and competitive excellence.

Dr. Mitchell has championed IPC programs such as a new learning management platform, IPC EDGE; Validation Services; an Online Certification Portal; and a re-engineered Member Success department. Between creating new solutions that support standards development, improving member relations, and advocating for regulatory change, Dr. Mitchell has generated a more than 50 percent increase in acceptance of standards as measured in revenue collected since 2012, and grown IPC’s global membership by nearly 100 percent to more than 3,000 member companies. His focus on global expansion has also resulted in membership doubling for Asia-based companies to more than 1,000 and more than 600 in Europe.

Dr. Mitchell began his engineering career at General Electric Aerospace in 1988. In 1992, he joined Alpine Electronics and became a founding member of its research company which is credited for introducing navigation systems to the U.S. OEM market. During his tenure at Alpine, he held several positions, including manager of software engineering, director of IT and senior director of strategic planning.

In 2003, Dr. Mitchell was recruited to Bose Corporation where he served as general manager/director of a new global business unit – Bose’s largest-ever product development initiative. Just prior to joining IPC, he served as the CEO of Golden Key International Honour Society, the world’s premier collegiate honor society, with more than 2 million members from more than 190 nations.

Dr. Mitchell’s academic credentials include a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education, a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, and a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering from Brigham Young University. In addition to his academic credentials, Dr. Mitchell holds a patent in GPS navigation systems. 

 

Directors

Paul Baldassari

President, Manufacturing and Services, Flex

In close partnership with Flex’s business segments, Mr. Baldassari leads manufacturing and services operations globally, serving customers across various industries and end markets with advanced manufacturing solutions, logistics, and repair services. Along with Flex’s strong workforce spanning 30 countries, he is responsible for driving the global operational strategy and execution, maximizing leverage of Flex’s worldwide footprint, scaling manufacturing technology, and managing responsible, sustainable manufacturing and logistics services for the company.

Gerald Eckstein

Senior Vice President, Engineering Electronic Control Units & Head of Business Unit Mechatronics, Robert Bosch GmbH

Gerald became the Senior Vice President of R&D Electronic Control Units (worldwide) in July 2023. He also serves as the Head of the Business Unit Electronic Control Units Mechatronics (P&L) for the following product lines: braking, steering, electrical drives, and e-bike. Gerald has experience in development for the automotive, industrial, healthcare, renewable energies, telecommunications, and semiconductors industries.

Foo-Ming Fu

Chairman and CEO
HaiNa Cognitive Connections

Foo-Ming Fu is currently the chairman and CEO for HaiNa Cognitive Connections (HCC), a newly established company in Foxconn, fully focusing on printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) business and surface mount technology (SMT) advanced technology development. In addition to leading HCC, Fu also manages the Cloud Enterprise Infrastructure Business Group at Foxconn. He has been with Foxconn since 1999 and lead the business groups including Desktop PCs, Industrial Servers/Storages, Graphics Cards, Automotive Electronics, Set-top Boxes, and Smart Home devices for various customers. He established the global operations (Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Mexico, and USA) for PCBA and system integrations.

Fu received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Parker Garrett

CEO, EMSCO

Parker is the Chief Executive Officer and owner of EMSCO, a privately held wire-harness manufacturing and circuit board assembly company focused on products and engineering design services for advanced computing, data centers, mining, marine, power generation, and recreation. Parker has led EMSCO for more than 12 years and finds joy in operations that help make the work environment meaningful, peaceful, and financially rewarding for his coworkers. The business has grown over eight times in size during this time, and while doing so, has had almost zero-percent turnover and growth with no debt. 

John C. Hill, Jr. (Jay)

Chief Operating Officer, Imaging 
GE Healthcare

Jay Hill is COO for GE Healthcare’s Imaging business. He is a 28-year veteran of GE, with engineering and leadership roles in power, industrial, security and healthcare fields. He has led new product development, R&D, product management, strategy and operations. He joined GE Healthcare in 2012 as Chief Technology Officer for the x-ray-based product portfolio.

Jay holds a B.S.E.E. from SUNY, Buffalo and an M.S.E.E. from RPI. In addition to his IPC Board position, he is a board member of industry group BioForward, Inc. and GE Executive Sponsor for Olin College. 

Meredith Ballard LaBeau, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer, Calumet Electronics

Meredith LaBeau, Ph.D., is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and on the strategic leadership team at Calumet Electronics. She is the technical lead and manager of Calumet’s Process Engineering and R&D teams. She also is a member of two international standards committees: IPC and the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP), an IPC Thought-Leader and plays a critical role in developing standards and PCB manufacturing quality and criteria for the electronics industry. In Fall of 2022, Meredith was named to the 1st CHIPs Act, NIST Industrial Advisory Committee. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan Technological University in Environmental Engineering focusing on the integrated assessment of anthropogenic, climate and policy-induced changes on phosphorus export in the United States Laurentian Great Lakes watersheds. .

Greg Maxwell

Vice President, Advanced and Strategic Operations 
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems

Greg Maxwell is vice president of Advanced & Strategic Operations within the Operations function for Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems sector, a leading global provider of advanced solutions for defense and intelligence customers. In this role, he leads the operations strategy and global supply chain function for the sector, responsible for operations strategy development, talent strategy, advanced manufacturing, supply chain strategy, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier performance management, operations processes and systems, the supplier diversity program, and digital transformation. 

Jaesang Min

Research Fellow, LG PRI (Production engineering Research Institute)

Jaesang Min serves as a research fellow for LG PRI. He has outstanding technical expertise in the development of optimal PCB assembly methods, semiconductor packaging process technology development, and micro-joint technology including soldering. He is currently serving as a member of the 2nd IPC Korea advisory committee, and as a technology expert, strengthening the status of IPC in Korea and establishing IPC standards and relative environments.

Marc Peo

President 
Heller Industries

Marc Peo has been with Heller Industries for more than 35 years and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of several successful SMT initiatives including adhesive transfer, vertical curing, solar panel reflow, and the convection reflow soldering systems that are now industry benchmark. Marc actively participates in the following IPC committees and councils: SMEMA Council, APEX Show Committee, Reflow Oven Process Control Standard Task Group, Thermal Profiling Task Group, and IPC Connected Factory Initiative Subcommittee.

Carsten Salewski

Member of the Executive Board, Sales, Marketing and International Business
Viscom AG

Carsten Salewski is a member of Viscom AG’s Executive Board for sales, marketing and international business. Salewski was initially engaged as a software developer and project engineer for customer-specific projects. After the successful conclusion of his studies with the thesis titled “Multi-Sensorial Feature Extraction on Three-Dimensional Objects Using a 5-Axis Portal System,” Salewski also took responsibility for sales of customer-specific image processing solutions and as Unit Manager, established the business unit IBV.

In 2003, Salewski assumed management of international business in America and in 2004, started as CEO of the American subsidiary headquartered in Atlanta, along with the associated business locations in Silicon Valley, California, and in Mexico. Since 2001, Salewski has been involved as an executive employee in various areas of Viscom AG, including sales and management, as well as a business unit and subsidiary manager. With more than 20 years in the electronics industry, he has significant experience with international major customers and trade fairs. He is chairman of the IPC SMEMA Council. Since 2015, he has also been a volunteer member on the Board of Directors of the German American Chambers of Commerce in Atlanta.

Elke Eckstein

Board Professional, Advisor, Senior Executive in Industrials

Former CEO/COO in Tech Companies

Elke Eckstein has more than 35 years of industrial experience in the field of Semiconductors, Electronics and Photonics. From 2019 until end of 2022, she served as President and CEO of the Swiss Enics Group, now merged into the second largest industrial EMS in Europe under the GPV brand.

Previously, she held multiple top-level management positions in leading global companies including Operating and Digitalization Officer as well as head of Business Division Cabinet Products at Weidmüller Group (2013-2018) and COO of Osram Lighting (2008-2013), before that at AMD/Global Foundries, Altis Semiconductors and Siemens/Infineon.

She is member of the Board of Directors at Jenoptik (Ger), KK Wind (Den), Saferoad (Nor) and BE Semiconductor (Nld), U-Blox (CH) and Viacon (Se). Ms. Eckstein holds a degree in electrical engineering from Siemens Academy; her key competencies are in corp. governance, operations as well as digitalization. Her passion lies in talent development and mentoring.

 

Hiroyuki Watanabe

 Executive Director, Global Security                                                       

Strategic Planning Office, Platform Technology Service, Digital Platform Business Unit
NEC Corporation

As executive director of global security at NEC Corporation, a manufacturer of telecommunication equipment and components, Hiroyuki Watanabe has responsibility for cyber security, secure manufacturing, new business and sales at the company.

He has extensive knowledge and experience across various business categories. Among his notable contributions are his successes in architecture design for an exchange system, which resulted in $1B business in the 1990s. During the 2000s, Watanabe-san initiated an open source community called “Open DayLight” as a member of the board with IBM, BROCADE, and CISCO among others, for creating and expanding the market of software defined networking (SDN).

His recent research interest includes revolutionizing legacy supply chain management, and evolution of manufacturing industry using dual-use space defense technologies.

 

 

Cao Xi

Technical Director 
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Cao Xi is the technical director of the advanced process lab and director of the assembly process technology committee at Huawei. He has more than 20 years of experience in DFM, DFR, and process technology research and application of electronics production ranging from consumer electronics. He has presided over several high-density assembly technologies projects (package level, module level, board level, and system level) from R&D to mass production. He is the main contributor to Huawei’s electronics assembly technology platform and DFX standard system. He has 10 patents in the electronics assembly field and is the Chairman of the IPC 7-31 Standard Working Group in China.

Student Member

Waad Tarman

Auburn University

Waad Tarman is Vice President of the IPC Student Chapter at Auburn University. A second-year Ph.D. student and dedicated research assistant at Auburn University's Electronics Manufacturing and Reliability Laboratory within the Industrial and Systems Engineering department. Originally from Jordan, she graduated with an Industrial and Systems Engineering degree before relocating to the U.S. as an international student. She recently graduated with her master’s in industrial and systems Engineering.

IPC Executive Staff 

David Bergman

David Bergman is Vice President of Standards and Technology for IPC and has been with the organization for over 40 years. Bergman is responsible for IPC’s Global Standardization Program, Standards Validation, and IPC’s trade shows in the United States. He also serves as Executive Director of the Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA), an IPC council of IPC.

In recognition of his efforts to identify alternatives to CFCs for defluxing Printed Wiring Board Assemblies, he was awarded the U.S. EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award and EPA’s "Best of the Best" Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award.  He is also a recipient of Soldertec Global’s Lead-Free Solder Award. In 2018, David was selected to receive the American National Standards Institute Astin-Polk International Standards Medal for distinguished service in promoting trade and understanding among nations through personal participation in advancing, developing, or administering international standardization, measurements, or certification. His time at IPC included many significant events, including establishing the IPC India office. He is now responsible for IPC shows APEX and EWPTE (Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo).

 


David Hernandez

David Hernandez is the Vice President of Education. With over two decades of experience in education, certification, and systems, David spearheads global initiatives to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and governments. As a Board Member of the IPC Education Foundation, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of electronics manufacturing by preparing students for lucrative careers and establishing pipelines to feed talent into the industry.

Before his role at IPC, David held key positions, such as Director of Education Development and Systems at the American Welding Society, where he led the creation of innovative educational solutions to address both industry needs and workforce challenges. His expertise extends to talent management, professional development, and curriculum design, as showcased during his tenure as Director of Training and Development at Berenfeld, Spritzer, Shechter & Sheer. David's dedication to education is evident through his extensive background, and he continues to shape the landscape of education, empowering students worldwide to pursue rewarding careers in emerging industries. 

Sanjay Huprikar

Sanjay Huprikar leads strategic growth initiatives and member engagement activities as President of Europe and South Asia Operations. He joined IPC in 2012 as Vice President of Member Success, with responsibilities for membership, events, industry programs, and market research.

Sanjay started his career at Motorola as a process engineer. He supported Motorola’s worldwide factories for ten years, focusing on continuously improving cost, quality, reliability, efficiency, and other critical manufacturing metrics in producing new RF products. Sanjay has held numerous senior management roles throughout his career with hardware, mobile internet, and supply chain software companies, including exciting stints with Novarra, Factory Physics, and LLamasoft. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a master's degree in business administration.

 

Matt Kelly

Matt Kelly is the Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Technology Solutions at IPC, where he spearheads next-generation technology advancements and supply chain transformations within the electronics manufacturing industry. With over 25 years of industry experience, including time at 3M, Celestica, and IBM, Matt brings expertise to IPC's executive leadership team. He is renowned for his influential thought leadership, research, and advocacy efforts. Matt's dedication to innovation is evident through the formation of IPC's Chief Technology Council, where he propels the industry forward in areas such as next-generation design methods, advanced packaging needs, and driving industry 4.0 factory-of-the-future manufacturing adoption.

Before joining IPC, Matt held various senior technology and engineering leadership positions at IBM, where his technical contributions garnered recognition through 25 patents, 100+ publications, and numerous industry awards. With a background in Chemical Engineering and an MBA in Strategic Management, Matt Kelly is a visionary leader at the forefront of technology-driven innovation.

Brian Knier

Brian Knier serves as the VP and Chief Marketing Officer. Brian has been instrumental in steering IPC towards global brand growth and innovation for over a decade. Brian leads marketing strategies that add immense value and innovation to the electronics ecosystem.

Before joining IPC, Brian honed his expertise as a marketing strategist and pioneered innovative marketing programs to deliver exceptional results across diverse industries.  With a career spanning leading companies like Panasonic, International Truck and Engine, and Hendrickson International, Brian fostered innovation, market development, team development, and revenue growth.

Passionate about innovation and impeccable execution, Brian is dedicated to empowering organizations of all sizes to thrive regardless of economic challenges. With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Brian leaves an indelible mark on the marketing landscape with his unwavering commitment to success.

 

Chris Mitchell

Chris Mitchell is Vice President of Global Government Relations. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s global advocacy efforts and public policy agenda, with a focus on issues related to trade, industrial policy, workforce, and sustainability. Chris oversees IPC’s strategic funding initiatives, industry intelligence program, and media engagement.
 Chris was recently a director at Prime Policy Group, a leading Washington, D.C. government relations firm. He previously spent nearly a decade working for members of Congress from the State of California, for whom he handled technology, trade, and transportation issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and a master’s degree in philosophy from San Jose State University. He chairs the board of directors of PartnersGlobal and serves on the Fabretto Children’s Foundation board.

Tom Sandman

Tom Sandman is IPC's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), with over 20 years of global finance leadership experience. As CFO, Sandman is responsible for leading IPC’s global financial operations and staff, including information technology (IT) and human resources (HR). Before joining IPC, where he has been for ten years, Sandman held senior roles at General Electric, Safran, and SPG Solar.

Throughout his career, Tom has driven business performance across diverse sectors such as solar, security, wind, and nuclear energy. His expertise spans financial planning, treasury management, contracts, commercial finance, and compliance with government business practices. Sandman's career underscores his deep understanding of international markets and regulatory environments.

Sydney Xiao

Sydney Xiao serves as President of IPC Asia, leading IPC's globalization initiative to expand IPC’s membership, standards, education, and advocacy programs to Greater China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, with a focus on driving technological innovation, quality improvement, talent development, and fostering global collaboration in the electronics industry. Sydney has 15 years of experience at IPC; she previously held positions as Vice President of Operations and Finance Director for IPC Asia.

Sydney holds a master’s degree in international business administration from Tongji University in Shanghai and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Shanghai University.