Jennifer Rose, now Jennifer Read, marketing communications director at Avnet Electronics Marketing (Phoenix, AZ), recently described the start of Connection Technology magazine: “In 1985, editor-in-chief Janet Killian launched the publication with publisher, Linc Samelson (who actually is my husband now). Within a few issues, Janet hired me. Within the first year, she left to join a PR agency, and I took over.”
Connection Technology changed its name to interConnection Technology in 1993. After several redesigns, publishers, and office relocations, today’s Connector Specifier is at home here in Nashua, NH, at the Advanced Technology Division of PennWell Corporation.
The 20th anniversary of Connector Specifier this month is an opportunity to look back at the changes that have taken place within the connector industry since 1985, and check the vital signs. We do it in grand style with contributed pieces from industry historians/high-chieftons in “The state of the connector industry: now vs. then” (see p. 10).
Our first contributor, Max Peel, is president of Contech Research (Attleboro, MA) and longtime Connector Specifier editorial advisor. With son Tom Peel joining him at the helm, Peel claims he has slowed down a bit after four decades in the connector biz, but is “a bit more candid, which comes with age.” He quipped about his article via e-mail, “The cigar is still present, although not the same one as smoked in the 80s (this point has been disputed).”
Second contributing author Ed Cady is market development director for connector and cabling company Meritec (Forest Grove, OR). After 35 years of experience in the industry with companies such as FCI, Berg, 3M, Contex, DEC, Lockheed, Genrad, and Bowmar Ali, there are few companies with which he hasn’t been involved. Cady recalls joining Connector Specifier as one of the first editorial advisors in his article, “Connector Specifier: Twenty years of interconnect evolution,” p. 10.
Third contributing author, Ken Fleck, founder of Fleck Research (Santa Ana, CA), is a 50-year veteran of the interconnect field, committed to providing information and analysis of the connecting electronics industry. Fleck’s commentary first appeared in the debut issue of Connection Technology in 1985, and in many issues since. We once again welcome his valuable and unique perspective in his article, “A look back: a 20-year history of the connector industry” (p. 12).
Mike Hodak, contributing author of our second feature this month, has been the Quality Manager for WECO Electrical Connectors since 1992. He is a professional engineer registered with the Quebec Order of Engineers, and is a Certified Quality Engineer by the American Society for Quality. He is also a member of the UL Standard Technical Panel for Terminal Block Standards, and a member of the CSA Technical Subcommittee on Terminal Blocks. As such, he is eminently qualified to present the article on p. 15, “Surface-mount-technology terminal blocks face in-field reliability tests.”
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Enjoy the personalized views and varied perspectives of these gurus in this month’s feature articles.
Valerie Coffey, Editor-in-Chief
valeriec@pennwell.com
