PCEA Names Webb, Schmidt Award Recipients

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – PCEA in October announced Susy Webb recipient of the third annual PCEA Leadership Award and Stephan Schmidt recipient of the third annual PCEA Membership Award. The announcements came at the PCEA annual meeting in conjunction with the PCB West conference and exhibition.

The Leadership Award recognizes members who have made significant, long-term contributions to the association and the industry. The Membership Award recognizes individuals for standout contributions to their local chapter.

Webb is vice chairman of the PCEA Executive Board and a member of the Education Committee and Conferences Task Group. She co-authored PCEA’s Certified Printed Circuit Professional training and certification curriculum, and is a regular speaker at PCB East and PCB West, and international design conferences, and consults for individual companies and PCEA chapters. She is a former writer/columnist for PCD&F, a chapter writer for Clyde Coombs’ Printed Circuits Handbook, and one of the judges for the annual Siemens TLA competition. A senior PCB designer with 40 years of experience, her career includes experience in coastal and oceanographic oil exploration and monitoring equipment, point-to-point microwave network systems, and CPCI and ATX computer motherboards. 

“Name the job in the printed circuit industry, and Susy Webb has done it,” said Stephen Chavez, chairman, PCEA, in announcing the award. “She has been one of the most popular presenters in the history of the PCB East and PCB West technical conferences, a significant contributor to the PCEA Training Design Certification curriculum, and a strong leadership voice and mentor across the organization. 

“We can think of no one more deserving than Susy Webb for the 2024 PCEA Leadership Award,” he added.

Schmidt is the leader of the Portland (OR) chapter, which meets each month and is now embarking on a review of intelligent data transfer processes. He is a global technology executive with over 20 years of experience in the laser and electronics industry, most recently as the North American President of LPKF Laser & Electronics, a leading provider of laser-based solutions.

“Stephan Schmidt has completely revitalized the Portland chapter, and it is now functioning as perhaps the most active group within PCEA,” Chavez said in announcing the award. 

“Moreover, his energy and thoughtfulness about ensuring local members have a range of presentations – from design to fabrication to assembly – make him an invaluable leader in our organization. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Stephan Schmidt with the 2024 PCEA Membership Award.”

Members Vote to Relocate PCEA

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – PCEA members voted unanimously at the annual meeting in October to support a board of directors’ recommendation to redomesticate the corporation to the state of Georgia.

The members also endorsed the slate of directors for 2025-27, including Jim Barnes, Stephen Chavez, Tomas Chester, Doug Dixon, Justin Fleming, Rick Hartley, Matthew Leary, Charlene McCauley, Anaya Vardya, Susy Webb and Eriko Yamato. PCEA president Mike Buetow rounds out the board.

The meeting was held during the PCB West conference and exhibition at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.

 PCEA was incorporated in California in March 2020. Following the acquisition of UP Media Group in January 2022, PCEA moved its headquarters to Georgia, where most of the new employees were based.