Four Industry Rising Stars Recognized at IPC APEX EXPO 2020

In recognition of their leadership roles and support of IPC standards, education, advocacy and solutions to industry challenges, four of industry’s best and brightest were presented with an IPC Rising Star Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2020.  Award recipients were Gaston Hidalgo, Kate Stees, Stephanie Rodgers, and Zhiman Chen.

Hidalgo, a senior industrial engineer at Toyota Motor North America, was honored for his leadership of the IPC-A-610/J-STD-001 Automotive Addendum committee, the J-STD-001 committee as well as his work as an IPC-A-610 Certified IPC Trainer (CIT).

Rodgers, director of advanced product development at Apex Mills, was honored for her leadership in the development of the first industry consensus standard for e-textiles materials, applications and requirements, IPC-8921, Requirements for Woven and Knitted Electronic Textiles (E-Textiles) Integrated with Conductive Fibers, Conductive Yarns and/or Wires.

Stees, a materials and process engineer at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control, who recently completed IPC’s Emerging Engineer program, was honored for her leadership roles on the IPC-A-610 committee.

Chen, an engineer with ZhuZhou CRRC Times Electric Co., Ltd, was honored for her leadership of the IPC/WHMA-A-620C-R and 7-31 China Task Group and IPC-A-610G-R, as well as her promotion of IPC in China.

“The work that the Rising Star recipients have done to enrich the industry and IPC within the last five years will continue to have a lasting impact for many years to come,” said John Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. “IPC is privileged that Gaston, Kate, Stephanie and Zhiman have chosen to share their knowledge and expertise with us and with the entire electronics industry.”

For more information on the IPC Rising Star Award and this year’s award recipients, contact Sandy Gentry, IPC communications director, at +1 847-597-2871.