In recognition and acknowledgement of his extraordinary contributions to IPC and the electronics industry, Steve Pudles, president and CEO, Zentech Manufacturing, was presented with the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award at IPC APEX EXPO on Tuesday, February 4 at the San Diego Convention Center. IPC’s most prestigious award, the Hall of Fame award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry.
An active IPC volunteer and leader for more than three decades, Pudles has championed the need for PCBA standards and education, always on the forefront of generating innovative ideas for the industry. As a member of the IPC EMS Council, the IPC Board of Directors and former Chairman of the Board, Pudles has been a strong voice for EMS executives’ needs and an even stronger advocate for IPC to continue to invest in programs that help the entire value chain in the electronics manufacturing industry.
An original working group member, developer and co-creator of EMS programs including the EMS Program Management Certification program, Pudles has also been heavily involved in shaping IPC’s Certification, Validation and QML Programs that exist today.
“A staunch advocate for IPC, Steve testified before Congress in 2012 urging common-sense changes to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rule on conflict minerals,” said IPC President and CEO John Mitchell. “His contributions to the EMS Council and EMS Steering Committee are wide and diverse and have made IPC and industry stronger and more successful,” Michell added. “We are thrilled to present him with our highest honor to thank him for sharing his talents and expertise with IPC and the electronics industry.”
IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 5,800 member-company sites which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Brussels, Belgium; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.