Speakers

 Speaker details are being updated.

Alan Ahern, Crowley Associates & ECIA Board of Directors

  

Alan joined Crowley Associates, a Manufacturer’s Representative, in 1992 to establish the company into the Metro NY region. Three years later, he purchased Crowley Associates and became President. Through organic growth and acquisitions, Alan has expanded the company operations into multiple ERA territories and dramatically increased sales, while realizing efficiencies through advanced automated sales tools and creative marketing. As a pioneer in Fusion Splice SMPTE Interconnect, Alan developed associated business in the Broadcast Industry.

Alan is Chairman of 4 Rep Councils, Associative Member of 2 Rep Councils, and Member of the ECIA Board of Directors. He is the winner of the 2013 Manufacturers Representative Leadership Award, and the Design For Manufacturing PCB Association Award.

Ross Bernstein, Ross Bernstein Speaking

  

The best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, Ross Bernstein is an award-winning peak performance hall of fame business speaker who's keynoted conferences for Fortune 500 companies on all seven continents and has been featured on many major television networks and publications.

Mike Dominguez, ALHI

  

Michael Dominguez serves as the President & CEO for Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). ALHI is a Global Sales Organization with a team of nearly 80 professionals located among 26 offices across North America and Europe, ALHI’s serves a membership group of hotels that are Independent Hotels & Independent Brands that are an exclusive luxury collection. Prior to joining ALHI, Michael served in executive sales leadership roles with MGM Resorts, Loews Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Starwood Hotels and many more. He is actively involved in leadership roles in the Meetings and Events Industry and currently serves on numerous industry leadership boards and is a Past Chairman of the International Board of Directors for MPI.

Michael speaks in the industry often on topics of disruption, the state of the industry, the economy, behavioral lessons. He was recognized in M&C Magazines survey of top industry speakers and was an invited speaker at South by Southwest in 2018. Michael’s other industry leadership involvement includes board positions with: US Travel Association (Executive Committee); Meetings Mean Business Coalition (Executive Committee).  Michael was recently recognized in the industry for numerous honors including: Induction in the EIC’s Hall of Leaders in 2019; HispanicBusiness.com’s “50 Most Influential Hispanics in the US”.

Bob Evans, Cloud Wars Media

  

Bob Evans is one of the world’s leading analysts of the cloud industry and the global phenomenon of digital transformation. He’s the founder of Cloud Wars Media, a strategic advisor to CEOs and CMOs, and a keynote speaker. In 2012, he was recruited by Larry Ellison to become Oracle’s first chief communications officer, and he left there after 5 years to launch the two businesses he runs today: Cloud Wars Media LLC and Evans Strategic Communications LLC. He’s given keynote talks about business innovation, digital transformation and customer-centric business on every continent on Earth (well, not Antarctica), and has written thousands of articles on those subjects.

Frank Flynn, Sager Electronics & Chairman ECIA Board of Directors

   As president of Sager Electronics, Frank Flynn is responsible for the execution of the company's strategic growth plans. He works closely with his team to drive sales growth and to promote operational excellence.

Frank joined Sager Electronics in 1983 and was appointed president in 1999. Prior to assuming the position of president, Frank served as COO, CFO, and director of corporate development. Since becoming president, Frank has led the company through a period of unprecedented change, bringing focus and structure to Sager's market position, customer base and sales strategy. Frank is credited with the acquisition of West Coast distributor CalSwitch, which solidified Sager as a national distributor. He drove the company’s implementation of a new ERP system and its move to build a new state-of-the-art distribution center.

Frank holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and a MBA in Finance and Marketing from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

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.

Phil Fraser, Analog Devices, Inc. and ECIA Board of Directors

   Phil Fraser has spent over 30 years in the electronic components industry.  His current role is Director of Channel Sales for Analog Devices Inc. He has many years of experience leading sales, marketing and technical support teams, developing sales strategies and building sales channel networks. He has led or participated in many global and cross functional projects that have influenced manufacturer and distributor strategies and operations. Phil earned a BSEE at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Certificates of Professional Development from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. 

Monica Highfill, Women in Electronics

  

Monica Highfill serves as a Founding Executive Director of Women in Electronics, a non-profit organization that empowers women with leadership and development skills in the Electronics Industry.  She is also serves as the Managing Director of the Mentorship Program for Women in Electronics.  Most recently, Monica was the Vice President of Sales for the Americas with KEMET/YAGEO.   Prior to her almost 14-year career at KEMET/YAGEO, Monica held management positions Kent Electronics, Avnet, and Heilind.  She graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and obtained her MBA at Santa Clara University. Monica lives in California and Mexico and in her spare time likes to travel, hike with her dogs, and hunt for old things to make new again.

Dean Kamen, DEKA Research & Development Corporation, FIRST®

   Dean Kamen is the founder and president of DEKA Research & Development Corporation. Examples of technologies developed by DEKA include the HomeChoice™ portable dialysis machine, the iBOT™ Mobility System, the Segway™ Human Transporter, a DARPA-funded robotic arm, a new and improved Stirling engine, and the Slingshot water purifier. Kamen has received many awards for his efforts, including the National Medal of Technology in 2000 and the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005 and has been a member of the National Academy of Engineering since 1997.

Kellam, Cynthia, TE Connectivity

   Cynthia is TE Connectivity's Global Sr. Director, Head of Digital & Customer Experience. She leads the hard work of digital transformation with a focus on customer-centric digital product innovation and omni-channel customer experience strategy. With over 20 years of experience constructing enterprise and global digital strategies that have transformed businesses in multiple industries, Cynthia leverages data- plus human-driven insights to understand strengths and opportunities within teams and platforms leading to unmatched and sustainable business results.

Robert Kirch, Vishay Americas and ECIA Board of Directors

  

Robert Kirch is a 30 year Industry Executive who has worked both in Distribution and in Manufacturing all the time in a Sales, Marketing and Sales Operations capacity. He is currently the VP of Global Distribution for Vishay where he has been for over 2 years. Prior to Vishay he was with Fairchild Semiconductor in a variety of roles including Sr. Director of  Global Distribution and WW Sales Operations. He got his start in this industry working for Future Electronics in Sales on Long Island New York where he currently resides. He graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing & Finance.

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.

Steve McClatchy, Alleer Training & Consulting

  

Steve McClatchy is a keynote speaker, workshop leader and author of the New York Times Bestseller Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example. Steve has spoken before thousands of audiences on the topics of leadership, performance, personal growth, and work/life engagement. His client list includes the NFL, Google, Pfizer, Microsoft, Disney, NBC Universal, Accenture, John Deere, Under Armour, Wells Fargo and Campbell’s Soup. He is a frequent guest lecturer at Harvard and Wharton. He has appeared on ABC, CBS, Fox News, NBC’s Today Show and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Entrepreneur and Investor’s Business Daily. Steve’s passion is for continual improvement and believes that when we stop learning, gaining experience and achieving goals we stop living. Steve is best known for his passion, sense of humor and energetic personality. You will be captivated, motivated and truly inspired by his unique and practical approach to effectiveness and success.

Mike Morton, TTI, Inc. and ECIA Board of Directors

   Mike Morton serves as Chief Operating Officer for TTI. His esteemed career in the industry began in 1978 when he was introduced to TTI and took his first job as a product trainee. Throughout his tenure at TTI, he has held many management positions within product marketing including positions as buyer, director passive product marketing and senior vice president global product marketing. Prior to his current leadership role, Mike was at the helm as President, Global Sales and Marketing. For more than thirty years he has been involved in all aspects of operations and supplier relations at TTI. 

Tony Roybal, Avnet, Inc. and ECIA Board of Directors

  

Tony Roybal is President, Avnet Americas, for Avnet, Inc., a global technology solutions company. He is responsible for the broadline electronic components distribution and value-add business in the Americas and leads the operational support teams in the region.

With 30 years of experience in the electronics industry, Tony has a track record of accelerating top and bottom-line growth. Prior to joining Avnet in July 2018, he worked at ON Semiconductor (formerly Motorola Semiconductor) for 24 years, with his last 12 years as the Vice President of the Americas. Under Tony’s leadership, his region realized significant double-digit, year-over-year revenue growth and market share gains in the wireless/consumer, automotive, industrial and computing business segments. He has also been involved in 15 acquisitions, where he played a key role in the organizational, customer and product solutions integration strategy.

Mark Shiring, ebm-papst, Inc. and Chair - Elect ECIA Board of Directors

   Mark Shiring has been President & CEO for ebm-papst  North America since 2015. He is a senior executive with over twenty years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations. His experience 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.  Mark relocated to China in early 2010 as General Manager for ebm-papst China with full P&L responsibility for the sales and manufacturing operation.  He returned to the US in late 2014 as Executive Vice President focused on improving the operation in manufacturing and engineering. 

Jeff Thomson, ON Semiconductor and ECIA Board of Directors

   Jeff is the Senior Vice President, Global Channel Sales for ON Semiconductor. His career spans over 25 years of experience in engineering and sales/sales management. Prior to ON Semiconductor he held the position of President: European Operations, Valor Computerized Systems. He has broad experience in structure and sizing organizations, change management, and managing global teams and cultures.

Jeff’s education includes University of Cincinnati/Sinclair Community College – Mechanical Engineering Technologies, NUS (National University of Singapore)/Stanford – International Management Executive Program

Lynn Torrel, Flex

  

Lynn Torrel is Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer at Flex, the manufacturing partner of choice that helps a diverse customer base design and build products to improve the world. In her capacity, Ms. Torrel is responsible for direct and indirect materials, transportation and logistics, business operations, materials management and strategic supply chain management. Prior to joining Flex in September 2019, she held several leadership roles at Avnet spanning global supply chain solutions, strategic accounts and semiconductor business development, among others. Most recently as President, Avnet United and Velocity, Ms. Torrel was responsible for maintaining and growing the company’s largest and most strategic customers and managing global supply chain programs. She also optimized complex supplier strategies and oversaw key semiconductor initiatives, linking efforts across regions and driving global best practices. Ms. Torrel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and an MBA from Arizona State University, where she received the 2010 W.P. Carey Student Leadership Award. In May 2019, she was named one of the Outstanding Women in Business by the Phoenix Business Journal. She also served as a board member for the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA) and Cortney’s Place, a non-profit organization serving the adult special needs community.

Cliff Waldman, New World Economics LLC

   Cliff Waldman is the CEO of New World Economics LLC, an economic consulting firm in Arlington, VA that provides a range of economic analysis services for manufacturers and organizations with an interest in manufacturing. As a former Chief Economist for MAPI, where he spent 15 years of his career, he is a recognized expert in the economics of manufacturing. Cliff has won three national research awards for a range of published papers. He is the host of ‘Manufacturing Matters With Cliff Waldman’, a show on Manufacturing Talk Radio, now in its third year.

Karim Yasmine, Future Electronics and ECIA Board of Directors

  

Karim Yasmine is an accomplished executive with over 22 years of experience driving the overall business growth of a world leader in electronic components distribution, Future Electronics.

Throughout his tenure with Future Electronics, he has managed a number of major technology business units. Karim’s current responsibilities include Strategic Supplier Expansion and Development, leading the MCU/MPU/FPGA business unit, directing Future’s Rep Council and other key Demand Creation roles within the Future Electronics corporation.