Real Talk With Rob Tavi

As the 2022 ERA Conference Breakout Session moderator for "Promoting and Expanding the Manufacturers’ Sales Rep Model in Today’s Business Environment," Mr. Griammarco focuses on the employment situation with 10.6 million jobs open in the US. After boiling it down to about 350,000 sales jobs he discovered the answer is the Rep Model, with over 400,000 Rep Organizations in the US who are ready to hit the streets now. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi, LIVE from the 2022 ERA Conference ft. Cesare Griammarco, a 40-year Sales Rep Veteran in the electronics industry as we dive into the importance of the rep model in the post-pandemic world. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

Tune in to the second of the ERA Conference Podcast shorts where we'll dive into the experience of someone who came on board and saw through one of the ERA's largest growth phases in its history! Ama Omari Derringer, a Membership Services Coordinator at the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) brings a new perspective to the electronics industry. Ama helps people who are current members or prospective members of the ERA, and aims to strengthen the relationships of representatives, manufacturers, and distributors. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

Understanding the importance of embracing the electronics industry's digital sales environment, Rob Brunson, a sales representative from Wallace Electronics sits down at the 2022 ERA Conference with Rob Tavi. Brunson experienced onboarding and attending the 2020 Conference just before the world shut down -- now fast forward to 2022 as we explore a New Day, a New Way. Tune in to the first of the ERA Conference Podcast shorts where we'll explore fantastic breakout sessions -- tracking business as it moves offshore, modern talent recruiting strategies, investing in employees, supply chain disruptions, and the importance of nurturing relationships with digital tools while still focusing on in-person meetings and events. Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

As the pandemic hit, businesses have faced substantial challenges, completely disrupting their operations. How can you rise from these challenges that limit human connection and adapt to succeed in modern times? Join in the conversation and dive in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi featuring Chris Winn, President of SSI, as we explore the semiconductor and substrate industry as well as the virtual trials brought by the pandemic. For over 30 years SSI has proudly represented the industries' leading manufacturers of consumable products and equipment for the packaging, testing, and reliability areas of the Semiconductor, Aerospace, and Hybrid Industries. Dedicated and driven to provide unmatched levels of service, SSI has been focused on bringing solutions to customers as well as developing long lasting and successful business relationships. For more information about Sales and Service Inc. please visit: https://salesandserviceinc.com

We have so many great stories untold, we all have them! With each great story comes the experience and insights to make educated decisions contributing to the evolution of our business operations, tools and technologies adopted. Business infrastructure and digital transformation investments are more crucial now than ever as companies explore strengthening their marketing and omni-channel strategy approach to relate to each customer uniquely and improve their experience, but what obstacles contribute to implementation failures and when is the right time to pull the plug? Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi Ft. Lectrix CEO, Graham Kilshaw and join the conversation as we dig into the reimagining of the electronics B2B industry! Lectrix (formerly ITEM Media) has 40+ years of experience evolving from a publisher of EMI/EMC and Thermal Management media brands to a strategy firm, full-service marketing agency, and online event host dedicated entirely to the B2B electronics industry. They know first-hand how to help ambitious companies achieve success. Want to see the proof, or have a custom request? Check out Lectrix website to learn more! https://lectrixgroup.com/

With an aptitude for engineering and a drive to succeed, women in manufacturing are engineering a brighter future. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi Ft. Angela Thurman, Principal Managing Director at Thurman Co. LLC and discover her journey to become an electrical engineer working with companies like NASA and Collins Aerospace leading to the launch of her own company that aims to add the personal touch to Project, Contract, and Supplier Management based in Houston, Texas. Angela holds a BS, in Electrical Engineering working as an analytical, process-oriented program and contract manager as well as a Mensa Society Member. Her background includes experience working in the aerospace, defense, telecom, and power sectors. Anglea is a proven leader dedicated to creating an environment where teamwork, organization, efficiency, and client satisfaction are core values. For more information about Thurman Co, or to connect with Angela, visit: https://thurmanco.com/

Our world has seen a series of unprecedented events leading to global shortages and supply chain constraints. With so many outside forces contributing to unstable component lead times and logistics challenges, what market research and trends are providing unique insights to the industry's future? Take a deep dive with us and join the conversation as we explore the challenges and strategies of the top global foundries, impacts of global events and shortages, retail investment trends, the rise in crypto currencies, stock market and predictions on what's to come. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi as we welcome Jay Deahna, Moderator for BWG Strategy, who is facilitating meaningful connections by hosting virtual forums and providing research that brings to light real-world trends and unique insights. BWG Strategy started in 2013. Out of a two person office, BWG launched virtual Research Forum Sessions in New York City. Since then, BWG launched virtual events and the size of their network exploded. In 2016 BWG began publishing research and analysis (Insight Reports) that shined a spotlight on key trends. In 2017, BWG launched BWG Connect to match mutually interesting B2B customers and select partners. All along, BWG has held to their philosophy that everyone comes to contribute to a candid group conversation. And, no sales pitches! BWG has become the trusted resource to track real world trends in technology, media, telecom, ecommerce, consumer, retail, payments and adjacent sectors.

As the semiconductor industry experiences a large-scale surge in demand, manufacturers are investing in technologies and capacity increases. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi, featuring Andrew Dixon, North and South American Sales and Marketing Manager for Diotec Semiconductor for first hand insight into how they are mitigating the impact of disruptions, maintaining customer satisfaction and continuing to deliver innovative semiconductor components. Semiconductor Diodes and Rectifiers have always been essential components of electronic devices. Rectifiers in power supplies, diodes for signal processing or protective elements in various circuits: Modern electronics cannot work without these parts. For more than 40 years, Diotec has remained active in this highly competitive market. Know how, innovations and customer service are the basis of Diotec's success. The heart of a semiconductor device is the silicon Chip. While many suppliers just buy the chips and assemble them into a package, Diotec has got the complete know how of semiconductor production. From wafer and chip production through assembly to testing and packaging: The necessary equipment is mostly produced by Diotec itself, optimized for each production step. For information regarding Diotec Semiconductors please visit: http://www.ibselectronics.com/active/diotec-semiconductor/

As a value-added solution based extension of electronics manufacturer's engineering, manufacturer's representatives are bringing the latest component innovations used in tomorrow's electronics. As the manufacturing world evolves, so do the customer needs for representatives supporting them. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi Ft. Gary Smith, President of G.L. Smith Associates, Inc. as we explore the change that is inevitable and how if we embrace it we can evolve from it, but if we reject it we can be left behind. G.L. Smith Associates, Inc. was first established in 1991 by Gary Lee Smith. With main offices located in Yorba Linda, California. The company specializes in Passive, Electro-Mechanical Components and Assemblies, EMI/RFI Shielding, Interconnect, Magnetics and Materials. G.L. Smith Associates, Inc. is a manufacturers' representative corporation dedicated to representing electronic components and materials to the OEM, Distribution and CEM marketplace. They serve the West Coast with superior service and technical expertise along with a complete understanding of our marketplace. They are dedicated to maintaining the highest integrity in all that we do and to provide quality beyond expectation in every transaction. For more information visit: https://glsmith.com/

The increasing demand globally for electronics is rapidly evolving manufacturing and supply chain, but our digital world has had a tendency to dehumanize relationships. As a leader, finding ways for your team rehumanize these relationships creates deeper conversation leading to greater opportunity! Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi featuring Giles (Gil) Aouizerat as we take a deep dive into the dynamic environment and current affairs driving change, challenges and growth within the electronics industry! As CEO of PCX, Inc. Gilles has provided the vision and leadership to survive and thrive through 4 recessions while growing the organization to over 100 million dollars in sales in that time period in the distribution of electronic components and semiconductors. Gilles has also led the organization and provided the tools and resources to create the Star Quality Program (http://www.pcxco.com/star-quality-program.html); a 67-step inspection process that has re-defined quality control in the independent electronic distribution market for electronic components and semiconductors. Under his leadership PCX Inc. has also achieved several key certifications including ESD ANSI S20.20, ISO 9001-2008, AS9120-2007, HUBZone certification, and DSCC certification. He also serves on the IDEA board (www.idofea.org) as a member of the executive board, a leading independent electronic distribution non-profit trade organization in the electronic components and semiconductor space.

Modern technology is enabling brilliant minds to invent innovative software powering the world of tomorrow. Sourcing components by line items with the highest level of accuracy and efficiently is a challenge many electronics manufacturers face. Due to the increasing complexities within the global electronics industry supply chain, how can manufacturers and distributors mitigate disruption while maximizing procurement efficiency? Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. CalcuQuote President, Chintan Sutaria to discover how they are reinventing the electronics supply chain! CalcuQuote is part of the Elisa group of companies, investing in the next generation of Industry 4.0 solutions to manufacturers across the globe. CalcuQuote works with over 200 EMS companies and distributors to solve complex problems with industry leading solutions. Whether you are struggling with quoting large BOMs, accurately estimating labor and overhead, finding parts, executing purchase orders or tracking performance of your supply chain processes, CalcuQuote can help. Additionally, Customers of electronics components are going online. CalcuQuote can help you digitize your customers' experience, increase adoption of your existing API solutions and implement digital processes within your own sourcing organizations. Learn more at: https://www.calcuquote.com/

Counterfeit electronics cost the industry billions each year and the pressure on the supply chain for electronic components is higher than ever! Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi, Ft. Mark Rinehart, Managing Director and Founder of White Horse Laboratories, as we explore the supply chain conditions driving the rapid increase in counterfeiting and the leading mitigation solutions to ensure the integrity of authentic components and stability of the electronics manufactured. The products and components manufactured and assembled by electronics companies are at the core of the exciting, fast-moving, and increasingly complex technologies that touch every aspect of today’s modern life. However, the rising demand for reliable, high-performance electronics has built massive pressure on the supply chain: - Complex and non-transparent global supplier network - Need for short and effective product life cycles and increasing regulations - Component obsolescence - Demand outstrips manufacturing capacity and limited supply is allocated - Extended lead-times and higher prices - Threat of counterfeit and fraudulently represented product White Horse Laboratories is the electronics quality assurance partner, from components to finished goods. White Horse Laboratories objective is to prevent and resolve quality issues, through laboratory testing to factory auditing and inspection, rather than simply detect and report them. For more information about White Horse Laboratories, visit: https://whitehorselabs.com/

Both the electronics industry and global supply chain have undergone dramatic transformation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with the advent of digital technologies, most customers now have access to worldwide pricing instantaneously in front of them on any computer! With a rapid increase within the realm of IoT bringing API and automation to manufacturer's supply chains, it's critical to analyze how the customer including manufacturer buyers or engineers have changed too. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk as we welcome back Walter Tobin, CEO of (ERA) Electronics Representatives Association, who aims to strengthen the relationships among manufacturers, field sales representatives and distributors in the electronics industry. Since 1935, ERA’s assertive leadership role in promoting and protecting the function has led to the identification of manufacturers’ representatives as equal partners in the field sales and marketing process. ERA gives a voice not only to representatives but to the manufacturers and distributors who partner with them. ERA listens and responds to members and to the forces that impact the success of their companies. It is the mission of ERA to advance and support the professional field sales function in the global electronics industry by providing programs, services and activities that educate, inform and advocate for manufacturers’ representatives, the principals they represent and the distributors who are representatives’ partners in the marketplace. Thinking of Joining ERA? If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info!

Technology is evolving with increasing demand for capacitors as we enter a new era, but as creatures of habit how can we mitigate the resistance to change and ensure manufacturing production can keep up? While some engineering challenges may be solved by compute today, manufacturing and supply chain challenges require change management leadership to build a solid foundation to scale manufacturing. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk featuring Chris Heilman, President/COO of ASC Capacitor and the Thought Leader empowering perseverance while improving the lives of our customers, employees, and community. Join the conversation as we explore strategies for change management leading electronics manufacturing growth! American Shizuki Corporation (www.ascapacitor.com) has been the leading manufacturer of custom film and foil capacitors for over 70 years. Application engineering and designing capacitors to your specific requirements is their strength. American Shizuki Corporation is a division of Shizuki Electric Company of Japan. (www.shizuki.co.jp) Originally named Goodall Electric Company, the company was founded in the 1940s by Robert Goodall, an Ogallala, Nebraska inventor. A pioneering figure in electronics, Goodall supplied capacitors for proximity fuses for the United States Navy. His company also produced fishing reels, soldering machines and watch cleaning machines. The Goodall capacitor division was purchased in the 1960s by TRW Electronics. Well known for capacitor development, TRW was involved in many aspects of capacitor electronics, ranging from televisions to space exploration. TRW’s focus was primarily DC capacitors as well as resistors and diodes. Shizuki Electric purchased the capacitor division in Ogallala in 1987. Shizuki brought AC technology to Ogallala and began making motor run capacitors in addition to the DC capacitors that had been developed over time by Goodall and TRW. ASC now produces DC products rated from 50V to 30,000V and AC products from 120V to 2500V. End applications change as technology progresses, but polypropylene film capacitors are still a preferred technology, and have become much larger in size than those produced in the company’s earlier days. Today, ASC capacitors are used in numerous applications worldwide, including wind and solar power conversion, variable speed motor drives, electronics, military and power conditioning. IBS Electronics is an Authorized Distributor of ASC Capacitors.

The Semiconductor Industry has been hit hard by global shortages, creating increased risks of counterfeit parts and fraudulent transactions due to the desperation of electronics manufacturers trying to survive and deliver in today's dynamic technology driven market. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk as we welcome back Richard Smith, VP of Business Development at ERAI, an Electronics Industry leader in counterfeit mitigation. Hosting the world's largest database of suspect counterfeit and nonconforming electronic parts, ERAI provides a variety of search tools and databases to aid global procurement in reducing the risk of counterfeit parts entering their supply chain. Founded in 1995, ERAI, Inc. is a global information services organization that monitors, investigates, and reports issues affecting the global electronics supply chain. As the industry’s leading source of risk assessment tools, ERAI provides exclusive services and in-depth information that enable its members to perform industry-specific risk mitigation on suspect counterfeit, high-risk, and non-conforming parts and identify problematic suppliers and customers including aerospace, defense, medical, nuclear and commercial OEMs, CMs, OCMs, distributors, government agencies, industry associations and other organizations serving the industry. Among ERAI's host of risk assessment tools is the world's largest database of suspect counterfeit and nonconforming electronic parts. This tool, alone, has fully changed the way in which sectors of the supply chain research, track, identify, purchase and sell material. It allows members to better mitigate risks in their procurement process, especially when dealing with end-of-life or obsolete parts. ERAI's website and full line of tools and services have been assisting buyers and sellers from all sectors of the supply chain in preventing loss by minimizing risk in the material purchasing and selling processes. The main objective of the organization’s insights and knowledge is to help prevent issues before they occur – and ERAI's offerings do just that.

Tune in to this episode of Real Talk ft. Sam Gupta and discover an ERP Thought Leader driving digital transformation! Advancing integrations with your organizations technologies are becoming an essential component of Enterprise Resource Planning. As technology evolves, system integrations are experiencing a revolution simplifying the communication between all of your organizations systems for maximum data output resulting in effective insights for growth while improving the customer experience. Sam Gupta has been a ERP thought leader in the digital transformation space for nearly two decades, with the primary focus on financial systems and ERP. He has been part of large transformation initiatives for fortune-500 corporations but now spends his time consulting with SMEs as a Principal Consultant at ElevatIQ. Sam’s deep expertise in manufacturing value chain combined with cross-industry expertise enable him to have higher success rate with digital transformation initiatives in the manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries. Sam has been involved with startup ecosystem in the last 10 years and have experience in building and growing businesses from scratch. Sam regularly speaks at industry conferences and contributes his experiences through many popular blogs and publications. He also hosts a podcast called WBSRocks focused on business growth through digital transformation and ERP where he interviews top influencers and executives from ERP, Supply Chain, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, and Accounting.

With a mindset that together we are stronger, we can work together to build a better industry for future generations in our new world where we are more connected than ever. Tune in to Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. Jackie Mattox, the Founder and President of Women in Electronics, as we reunite to discuss the leadership driving growth through curiosity and creativity! Women in Electronics (WE) strives to expand the talent in the Electronics Industry. They accomplish their mission through four main goals: Empowering women with networking opportunities at virtual chapter meetings and events; Development professionally and personally through monthly leadership trainings; Advocate for each other by participating in the flagship Mentorship Program; and Celebrate accomplishments as we all thrive in our professional journeys. www.womeninelectronics.com

As technology reaches more people around the world and in the most profound ways, the heat is on among the most influential cloud vendors in the race to the top! Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi and discover Cloud Wars with its Founder and Principal Bob Evans, the leader behind Cloud Wars, which is analyzing the most influential cloud vendors! Bob Evans has been in the enterprise-tech business for more than 20 years as an editor-in-chief and chief content officer, and more recently as Chief Communications Officer at Oracle from 2012-2016. He's written thousands of articles and columns about business innovation, strategy, leadership, disruptive technology, digital transformation and cloud computing. In late 2016, he resigned from Oracle to launch the Cloud Wars franchise. It began with the Cloud Wars Top 10 ranking and weekly articles, and has since expanded into a twice-monthly newsletter, a regular podcast, and more—coming soon! Visit: https://cloudwars.co/

With an idea to solve the challenge of mass quoting and an awareness that change within well established organizations can be difficult, Founder and CEO, Jens Gamperl, with the support of Yashar Shahabi, Sr. Vice President of eCommerce and Digital Transformation and their team, launched the industries most successful electronic component sourcing marketplace with API integrations into customers systems for the optimal distribution customer experience. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk ft. Sourceability and discover the leaders behind the technology advancing modern electronic component sourcing tools supporting the worlds greatest electronics manufacturing companies. Sourceability's mission is to support the needs of the electronics industry's supply chain with a comprehensive suite of forward thinking digital products and services by providing access to reliable technical and technology intelligence, and enabling engineering sourcing for product design requirements. Sourceability’s goal is to transform themselves from a distribution company to a technology company; and be the innovators of our industry. They are bold, dare to be different, and to bring about progressive changes to our industry. They have the tenacity to strive to give our best even when faced with obstacles and challenges making today’s ideals tomorrow’s realities.

Dig in to this episode of Real Talk Ft. MMG / Electronics Sourcing Publisher Mark Leary for an industry outlook! Discover the modernization of the electronics industry publications and the efforts taken to tailor to readers needs, publish relevant content and meet market distribution demand as the only printed electronics purchasing magazine distributed in North America. Electronics Sourcing is the essential publication to help purchasing professionals find out how, what and where to buy the latest electronic components. MMG Publishing is an independent publisher of magazines and marketing products specializing within the European and North American Electronics industry. The philosophy behind MMG is to publish market leading publications that provide the most up to date, targeted and reader requested circulations available for all of its titles. MMG prides itself on the highest possible editorial quality for its publications and on-line products. The editorial profile on each brand is constantly adjusted to each titles industry’s changing needs from an editorial team who are based in the UK and North America. We aim to be the perfect company to work with or for and only by having the highest quality individuals can you produce the highest quality marketing products combining the very best in circulation, editorial, design and client services.