Speakers

Keith Bandolik, Switchcraft, Inc.

Keith Bandolik is President and CEO of Switchcraft, a position he has held for the past 35 years. He started in Customer Service at Switchcraft in 1978 out of College. He has held a variety of positions at Switchcraft including Distribution Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, Director of Quality and since 1989 has been the President and CEO of Switchcraft.  He is a graduate of the Raytheon Advanced Management Program as well as the Raytheon Advanced Manufacturing Program.  Keith sold Switchcraft 3 times after its 20-year ownership by Raytheon. The company was sold to 2 different private equity companies until it was sold to the current owner HEICO in 2011. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in accounting. He has battled cancer on and off for the past 20 years and has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke.  He is most proud that Switchcraft continues to manufacture most all of their products in the USA in their two factories in the Chicago area. 

Joe Berry, Bel Fuse

Joe Berry has over 35 years of experience in the Magnetics industry.  He began his career at AT&T Bell Labs, as a Member of Technical Staff.  Joe joined Bel in 1999 through the acquisition of Lucent Technologies’ Transformer and Inductor division.  He began his career at Bel as an Engineering Manager, responsible for leading the development of Bel’s MagJack and discrete magnetic module products.  In 2013, Joe transitioned to Operations, responsible for guiding Bel’s Asian Operations teams in establishing Best Manufacturing Practices across all our MagJack manufacturing sites.  In 2021, Joe was promoted to General Manager of Bel’s Magnetics division, which includes our MagJack and Signal Transformer product lines.  He was appointed to the role of Vice President of Magnetic Solutions in 2023.  Joe earned a BSEE from UMass Lowell,  an MSEE from Northeastern University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.  Additionally, Joe successfully completed Bel’s Leadership Development program in 2020.  

Lori Bruno, LuscomBridge

Lori Bruno, CPMR, is Vice President of LuscomBridge. She is responsible for working as a liaison between suppliers and distributors in growing and maintaining business. Lori has worked in the electronic component industry since the early 1990s. Prior to joining LuscomBridge, she worked in distribution most of her career, including at TTI and Avnet. Lori understands the distributors’ “value proposition” and is an advocate of supporting the channel whenever possible. She holds a degree in human development from California State University – Hayward; she is an active member of National ERA and serves as national delegate for the Northern California Chapter of ERA, as well as ECIA.

Rob Brunson, Wallace Electronic Sales

Rob Brunson has been with Wallace Electronic Sales for five years, currently serving as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Rob values customer advocacy, a healthy workplace culture that encourages the free exchange of ideas and supporting teammates in their growth. Helping customers succeed is a key part of his daily role and what he enjoys most.

Alex Chausovsky, Bundy Group

Alex Chausovsky is the Director of Analytics and Consulting for the Bundy Group. He is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than two decades of expertise across subjects including economics, manufacturing, automation, advanced technology trends, and business cycle analysis. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the US and Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. In his investment banking advisory role, Alex is a trusted source of information for owners and executives of privately held firms who are seeking a business sale, acquisition, or financing.

Alex has delivered over a thousand presentations, webinars, and workshops to small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies across a spectrum of industries, and is the go-to source of industry data and insights for business owners and leaders. Alex's analysis has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on the BBC, and on NPR, and he is a Top Voice on LinkedIn.

Robert Derringer, Crouzet

Robert, a 36-year industry veteran with wide-ranging experience in sales, marketing, and customer service, is now in his 9th year as Director of Global Channel for Crouzet North America. He’s a member of ECIA’s Manufacturer Council, co-chairs this year’s Speaker Vetting Committee, and chaired the 2022 ECIA Executive Conference. A distribution advocate, self-proclaimed data guru, podcaster and questioner of status quo, Robert continues to navigate toward being a more inclusive and empathetic leader. He juxtaposes the tips, tricks, and insights he’s gained along his personal development journey alongside those of the panelists so that you can help future-proof your workplace by balancing technology, emotional intelligence, and generational needs.

Dale Ford, ECIA

Dale Ford is a highly respected industry analyst with extensive experience producing award winning market research. He brings expertise in technology trends, competitive analysis, forecasting and supply/demand research of the electronics, semiconductor and electronics components industries. Mr. Ford has been researching the electronics and electronics components industries for over 25 years. His focused research delivers enhanced visibility on the products, technologies, and players shaping the electronics value chain.

Adam Grigor, Tech-Trek

Adam Grigor is President of Tech-Trek Ltd, a leading Manufacturer Representative based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  He joined TTL in 2001, starting as an Account Manager in Ottawa, Ontario before relocating to the Toronto Area in 2006.  Adam served as a Regional Manager, followed by General Manager, before becoming President of Tech-Trek in 2018.

Adam holds an Honours Degree in Business Administration and Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  

 AmyK Hutchens

AmyK Hutchens is a catalyst for maximizing your brilliance. She’s an international award-winning speaker with over 2700+ presentations, Amazon #1 bestselling author of two books, The Secrets Leaders Keep and Get It!, and has over twenty-three years’ experience training, coaching and consulting with clients such as Whole Foods, Expedia, Starbucks Canada, UBS and hundreds more.  AmyK founded the global Self-leadership platform www.shegetsit.com, received her M.S. from Johns Hopkins University, and has been a featured guest on numerous TV, radio & print networks including Bloomberg, Entrepreneur, USA Today, US News & World Report, NBC & ABC.  She resides in San Diego, California with her favorite human, Scott, and their bulldog Moose. 

Lynn Hutkin, Bel Fuse

Lynn Hutkin is the Vice President of Financial Reporting and Investor Relations for Bel Fuse Inc. Lynn has been with Bel for 16 years in roles of increasing responsibilities in the areas of corporate accounting, financial reporting and investor relations. In addition to her primary roles, throughout her tenure at Bel, she has also been a leader in a variety of other areas including ESG, mergers and acquisitions, bank financing, corporate insurance and employee benefit programs. Prior to joining Bel, Lynn was the Director of External Financial Reporting and Human Resources for CD&L, Inc. In previous roles, she was the Financial Controller at Insys Consulting, a women-owned IT consulting start-up company and Finance Manager at DMR Consulting, an IT consulting firm. Lynn started her career within the audit group at Arthur Andersen after earning her B.S. of Accountancy from Bentley University and is an active CPA in the State of New Jersey.

Suzanne Kozlovsky, Bel Fuse

Suzanne Kozlovsky has over 20 years of HR leadership experience. She joined Bel in November 2022 as the Global Head of People. Prior to her appointment by Bel, Suzanne was Vice President of Human Resources for Prinova (A Nagase Group Company) where she was a core member of the Global Executive Council and Strategy and Investment Team, leading significant transformational initiatives to inspire a culture of high performance in supporting sustainable growth. Suzanne held previous roles at Marmon Foodservice Technologies (A Berkshire Hathaway Company) and Bel Brands USA. At each of her former employers, she was successful in transforming the culture, resulting in recognition as National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For at each organization under her leadership.  Suzanne earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College in International Studies and Spanish and holds multiple recognized HR credentials which include Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR).  Most recently, she earned an Executive Scholar Certificate in Leadership from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.  

Sunwoo Lee

Sunwoo ignites innovation. She began her career in the electronics industry at ArKco Sales, where her passion for technology took root. This propelled her curiosity in innovation and led her to become the Managing Partner of the nation’s first student-led venture capital fund, Atland Ventures. There, she explored the future of work and decided to leave college to build her online presence, fostering communities within the startup and venture capital world.

Sunwoo founded Hanaro, a community bridging cross-border investing between Korea and the U.S., uniting Korean-American investors and startup founders. Recognized as one of MinneInno’s Top Young Innovators under 25, Sunwoo has a unique ability to navigate challenges and cultivate innovation within teams, driving decisions and fostering accountability. Her Gen Z lens influences the up-and-coming generation of workers, inspiring fresh approaches and forward-thinking solutions in the modern workplace.

Peter Leyden

Peter Leyden has spent his entire career figuring out the future and helping others better understand what’s coming next.

Leyden came to Silicon Valley at the beginning of the digital revolution to work with the founders of Wired magazine and has built an extraordinary network of technologists and entrepreneurs over time. He gets tech and innovation.

Leyden ran Wired as managing editor in the heyday of the 1990s and subsequently founded and ran two of his own media startups focused on new technologies and the future. He gets what it takes to run an organization.

He worked closely with the pioneers of the futures business, most recently at The Long Now Foundation, and has mastered how to track megatrends and the art of strategic foresight. He now advises senior leaders of top companies on the strategic choices that lie just ahead.

Leyden is the coauthor of two influential books on the future that were published in multiple languages, The Long Boom and What’s Next. He knows how to tell a great story.

He cofounded a political startup that helped transition politics to the internet and served on Barack Obama’s first Technology and Media Advisory Committee. Leyden gets politics and government.

Leyden started his career as a journalist in different regions of America, worked as a foreign correspondent in Asia for Newsweek magazine, and has traveled to more than 50 countries. He has a global perspective too. 

David Loftus, ECIA

Over a 35-year career in high tech, David Loftus has served in a broad range of senior executive positions, including Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Maxim Integrated, Executive Vice President Worldwide Sales and Applications for Cypress Semiconductor, Senior Vice President Worldwide Sales and Corporate Marketing for Intersil Corporation, Vice President & General Manager for Spartan Products for Xilinx Inc.In addition, Mr. Loftus served in Hong Kong from 2002 to 2005 as Vice President & Managing Director - Xilinx Asia Pacific.

Carla Mahrt, JJM Search

Carla Mahrt is founder and president of JJM Search, a global executive search firm.   JJM Search is part of MRI Network – leaders in the search and recruitment industry for over 40 years.  Carla has a unique ability to connect and build long-lasting relationships which she utilizes to bring together bright people with great companies in the electronics industry.

Carla began her career in electronics working for Vishay Intertechnology, Raychem Corporation and Tyco Electronics (currently TE Connectivity).  Carla has been an industry activist serving on the Board of Directors for the Electronic Distributor Show (EDS) where she also served as President of EDS in 2007.  Carla has also received NEDA’s Distinguished Service award for her work on NEDA’s board of directors.  Carla has been a presenter at EDS, ERA and ECIA conferences and currently serves as a consultant for ERA and service partner for ECIA.

She chairs RePlant Woodcliff, a 501c3 organization she founded in 2008, dedicated to environmentally improving Woodcliff Lakes community in Nebraska. 

JJM Search specializes in the electronics industry with a particular focus on mid to executive level engineering, sales, marketing, and product management positions.

Gregory Norris, MIT 

Gregory Norris directs SHINE (the Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise) at MIT, where he advances and applies methods for creating handprints, which are positive sustainability impacts outside the scope of the actor’s footprint. He has also taught Life Cycle Assessment (and handprinting) at Harvard for the past 25 years. Norris is Vice President for Life Cycle Sustainability at the Green Building Alliance, where he helps small and medium enterprises and communities to reduce their footprints and create handprints.  Norris co-founded and is Director of Science at Earthster.org, a web-based platform democratizing LCA. He is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, which seeks to build a scientific understanding of the mind to reduce suffering and promote well-being. In 2012 Time Magazine named his work on Handprints as one of “10 ideas that are changing your life.” 

Andjela Pasi, Waldom Electronics

Andjela Pasi is the Director of Global Marketing at Waldom Electronics, with over a decade of industry experience. Based in Amsterdam, she has successfully built and led the company's global marketing team. Andjela is passionate about sustainable marketing, and she is at the forefront of driving strategic initiatives that promote environmentally and socially responsible practices. Her recent executive MBA has brought fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to Waldom's marketing efforts.

Jim Platzer, Motivational Speaker and Blind Pilot

As the former president of a high-volume distribution facility for a Fortune 200 company, Jim was forced into an early retirement due to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic degenerative disease that leads to blindness. During a challenging transition, Jim focused on knocking down barriers that blocked his future success. One of those barriers was his mobility. He turned to Leader Dogs for the Blind, who matched him with a dog and trained him to experience the world in an entirely new way.

Jim’s message? Your most important sense is your sense of purpose.

His story is relatable and will invite you to live a life of exceeding expectations, innovating, and defining your own destiny.

Sam Rad (Samantha Radocchia)

Sam Rad is a lifelong student of humanity – futurist, anthropologist, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Radical Next, a meta-media studio creating transformative stories, experiences, and media productions that shape a positive future. Her upcoming book by the same name, Radical Next: Thriving in Times of Radical Change explores how “radical next ideas” will transform societies in the decades to come. As an entrepreneur, Sam has founded 4 companies and served across multiple roles across the C-Suite. She holds several patents linking the physical and digital worlds and is considered a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Realities, and Blockchain systems. She was amongst the first anthropologists to conduct research living in a virtual world in 2009.Sam is passionate about empowering humanity to thrive in times of radical change. It is her mission to restore trust and connections between people and themselves, their source, each other, all beings, and our planet. True to her “Rad” name, Sam is no stranger to risk and has accumulated over 700 jumps as an ex-professional skydiver.

Cristian Rodriquez, CrowdStrike

Mark Shiring, ebm-papst, Inc

A senior executive with over twenty years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations.  Mark’s experience with sales, marketing, and customer service teams spans multiple cultures from tenures in the USA and China.

In North America Mark managed a sales and marketing team responsible for direct OEM and distribution sales management as National Sales Manager and then Vice President of Marketing.  He successfully led a transformation of the distribution channel business for ebm-papst  to increase the branding, sales, margins, and mindshare.

Mark relocated to China in early 2010 as General Manager for ebm-papst China with full P&L responsibility for the sales, engineering, and manufacturing operation.  ebm-papst doubled the sales and size of the operation within a 5-year period.

Mark returned to the US in late 2014 as Executive Vice President focused on improving the operation in manufacturing and engineering.  Mark is the CEO of ebm-papst for the Americas region since 2015.

Tom Wichert, TDK-Lambda Americas

Tom Wichert is the Executive vice president of Sales & Marketing of TDK-Lambda Americas. He joined TDK-Lambda in 1998 as the business development manager and was named to his current position in 2017.  He directs all TDK-Lambda’s sales & marketing activities in North and South America, including working with sales representatives, distributors, regional sales managers and key account managers.  Prior to his move to TDK-Lambda, Tom was a design engineer and then program manager at Aerospace Avionics, Inc.  He earned a BSEE from West Virginia University and an MBA from Hofstra University.

Karim Yasmine, Future Electronics, a WT Microelectronics company

Karim Yasmine is an industry veteran with over 26 years of experience driving the overall business growth of a world leader in electronic components distribution, Future Electronics, a WT Microelectronics company.

Throughout his tenure with Future Electronics, he has managed technology business units and strategic suppliers. Karim’s current role is of Executive Vice President of Global Product Marketing and Strategic Supplier Development.  Karim is also responsible for supplier expansion and leads the Future Electronics Manufacturers’ Rep Council.

Karim earned a Graduate Degree from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business in Montreal, Canada, which is home to the Future Electronics worldwide Corporate Headquarters.

When Karim is not leading key his global team and corporate strategies, he enjoys watching and playing multiple team sports, traveling and most importantly spending quality time with his family.