Nolan’s Notes: Looking Deep Into the Future With X-ray
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Basics of Component Lead Tinning
Standard of Excellence: Anticipating Customer Needs Early and Often
An Inspiring Journey From Animation to PCB Design
January 20, 2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
I recently spoke with Melissa Martinez, a PCB design student in John Watson’s class at Palomar College. In this interview, Melissa shares her inspiring journey from the world of animation to the realm of printed circuit board design. Introduced to the field by her father, an engineer at Northrop Grumman, she discovered her passion for PCB design through John’s curriculum at Palomar. Her story highlights the importance of mentorship and education in attracting new talent to the industry, encouraging young individuals to explore opportunities they may not yet know exist.
Marcy LaRont: Melissa, you came into this industry through a family connection. What were you doing before learning about PCB design?
Melissa Martinez: I was an animation artist who quickly realized that I was now competing with AI, and I wasn’t earning enough money to compete with that. My father has been an engineer at Northrop Grumman for over 20 years, and I knew it was a secure job with a stable income. I knew nothing about the PCB industry until last year when I asked my father about his job, and he found the classes by John Watson at Palomar College. I took the introductory class followed by John’s advanced class. Ultimately, I took a certification course and will be finishing soon.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the January 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: New Dispensing and Coating Solutions
04/03/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOMichael Hanke, Global Sales Officer at Rehm, discusses new dispensing and coating equipment developed in Germany. He emphasizes the significance of software integration with customer systems to tackle market challenges.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Maximizing Cost Savings in PCB Design With NCAB
04/02/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOKelly Dack and Lonnie Port discuss NCAB's role in the printed circuit board industry. With 30 years of experience, NCAB emphasizes the importance of customer involvement during the design process to achieve significant cost reductions.
'Let’s Talk Production Test' with Bert Horner of The Test Connection, Inc. at SMTA Long Island Meeting
04/02/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a leading provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions, is pleased to announce that its President, Bert Horner, will present at the SMTA Long Island Chapter Technical Meeting & Dinner on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The event will take place at the Radisson Hotel Hauppauge in Hauppauge, NY.
CEE PCB Appoints Markus Voeltz to Business Development Director Europe
04/02/2025 | CEE PCBCEE PCB, a leading manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and flexible printed circuits (FPCs) with 3 production facilities in China, is expanding its presence in Europe and began providing local support in March 2025. With 25 years of experience in the industry, the company is enhancing its commitment to European customers by providing more direct collaboration for technical inquiries and advice.
BEST Inc. Presents StencilQuik for Simplifying BGA Rework Challenges
04/02/2025 | BEST Inc.BEST Inc., a leader in electronic component rework services, training, and rework tools is thrilled to announce StencilQuik™ rework stencils. This innovative product is specifically designed for placing Ball Grid Arrays (BGAs) or Chip Scale Packages (CSPs) during the rework process.