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SAMTEC SIGNAL
Product Fair Company Meeting Remodel MAKE-A-WISH
Welcome Company Meeting...3 Remodel...5 Events...7 Make-a-Wish...9 Product Fair...11 Scottsburg Construction...17 SME Remodel...18 Women’s Leadership Network at Samtec...19 Customer Spotlight...20 Associate Spotlight...21 Costa Rica...25 Samtec Around the World...27 Crosstalk...29 Announcements...30
Did You Know?
Despite what many Associates may think, Samtec was not named after Sam Shine or his dog, Tec. Samtec is actually an acronym and stands for Sales And Marketing/ Manufacturing of Technical Electronic Components. Tec arrived after Samtec was already named.
Tessie is hiding somewhere in this newsletter! Once you find Tessie, email us at samtecsignal@samtec.com, or stop by HR, and let us know her location. Everyone who finds her will be entered to win a $25 gift card!
30+ YEARS OF SERVICE Pictured above is a group of Samtec New Albany Associates that have worked here for 30+ years!
Front left to right – Nancy Schellenberger, Vickie Spears, Carol Broadus Row 2 – Debbie Fultz, Debbie Brown, Theresa Downs, Brenda Andres, Cindy Hagan Row 3 – Jane Freeman, Sandra Dorton, Jan Day, Linda Decker, Jeff Murphy, Keith Hartman, Troy Cook Row 4- Eileen Burrous, Mike Hynes, Ruth Best
COMPANY MEETING
Left of the Line Samtec had a company meetingr on June 16th. Three broad initiatives were presented during the meeting:
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New Products and Technologies We discussed in the last company meeting how “Integration Leads to Innovation” and the importance of our new product ventures along with the evolution of our Technology Centers. These products and technologies are what together create Solution Blocks. Solution Blocks are an evolution of our product weave and are the way we communicate our breadth of products as well as our Technology Centers. Our Solution Blocks are Active Optics, IC-to-Board/Ultra Micro, High Speed Cables, High Speed Board-to-Board, Micro/Rugged, and Flexible Stacking. Sales for our Core Board-to-Board products (Micro/Rugged and Flexible Stacking) are currently around $400 M, while sales of our Silicon-to-Silicon “Left of the Line” Products (IC-to-Board, Optics, High Speed Cable, and High Speed Board-to-Board) are currently $200 M. So, what product area should we develop? Based solely on sales dollars, you would think Core Board-toBoard, right? But sales of these products are decreasing as a percentage of our total sales every year, while sales of our Siliconto-Silicon products are increasing. Future growth is dependent on the success of these “Left of the Line” products like SEARAY™, ExaMAX®, Z-Ray® and FireFly™, and this is why we see so many investments in these areas.
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Right of the Line
Keith Baumann
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*No animals were harmed, This is not a real goose.
Sales Update Samtec has traditionally outgrown the industry by 2-3 times. From 2005 to 2014, Samtec recorded a 130% annual growth while the industry grew at just 43%. The reason for this growth is that Samtec continues to look for ways to differentiate ourselves from our competition. In the 1990s, Samtec manufactured strictly commodity products like our TSW/SSW Series, and we sold them primarily through distribution. We had approximately 4,000 customers, and sales were $37 M. Since we made the same connectors as everyone else, our Sudden Service, like 24-hour samples and quick lead times, is what set us apart from our competition. Sales increased in the 2000s to $200 M, and we were servicing 10,000 customers through a direct sales force. We began to focus on proactive account development of select customers. Not only did we expand the components of Sudden Service to include our web site and technical support, but we began to strategically focus on the products that we sell as well. We expanded our product offering from just headers and sockets to include differentiated products within three main categories: Signal Integrity, Micro and Rugged (our Product Weave). Today, we have over 23,000 customers worldwide, and sales are expected to be $625 M by the end of 2015. We continue to seek ways to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. To service our customers of today, and tomorrow, we know we have to move beyond pins and plastic. We need “Left of the Line” technology capabilities for ultra fast, ultra dense, and ultra micro applications. The development of Technology Centers help our customers optimize their entire signal path from chip-to-chip and all points in between: Silicon Technologies. In order to sell these advanced interconnects, we need multi-tiered specialists within Outside Sales, Inside Sales, and Silicon-to-Silicon to provide all encompassing service and support.
Tim Plummer, Kevin Bratcher, Terry Spine *These are real Geeks.
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Getting Better at Bigger Besides our multi-tier technology specialists in Outside Sales, Inside Sales, and Silicon-to-Silicon, in order to increase our business with our current customers, we need to continue to increase our account control. We can no longer fail to know and understand who our customers are and what they do. We need to be in to see them earlier in the design process. To do this, we have restructured the Sales Team into four areas of support: •Global Field Sales Engineers Team (FSE) •Silicon-to-Silicon Team (S2S) •300 – 700 Top Accounts plus our Strategic 10 •XBO Group Samtec will continue to work to the “left of the line” for future product, sales, and service initiatives. An update on the remodel was also discussed. See pages 5 and 6 for more information on the remodel.
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NEW ALBANY REMODEL
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The recent years of Samtec have been fairly successful on all counts: sales have been increasing, our technology offering has been evolving, and operations have been improving with new initiatives like LEAN manufacturing. As our service and product offering evolve, so do our customers and their expectations. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in customers asking to visit our facilities, including our Worldwide Headquarters in New Albany. This is very important to how relationships will be built in the coming years of Samtec. Not just relationships with customers, but also vendors, partners and potential new Associates.
shop floor needs to be re-arranged to optimize the flow for LEAN initiatives, and we need a building that we can all be proud to show off. These are just a few of the reasons we’ve decided to remodel our home at 520 Park East Blvd.
When we looked around New Albany, it left something to be desired. Our facility has always been one of the cleanest, most organized connector manufacturing plants in the world, an accomplishment in and of itself. However, after over 15 years in the same building, things have started to show their age, and we’ve begun to see where the building is not being used optimally. We’re out of room for new Associates in the office, the
We’ve decided to split the project up into three general phases.
The remodel is no small undertaking. Last time we did something of this magnitude, we were building 520 Park East Blvd. and scheduling a date to move in. This time around, we must solve a puzzle as to how to remodel the space we currently occupy, while minimizing distractions.
PHASE 1
During phase one, we will build a new break room, complete with a brand new Phil’s Grill. This should allow us more room for company meetings, a more inviting café space for Associates and visitors, and will
allow Phil to experiment with new offerings. We will also have a great new courtyard to get some fresh air in during the spring, summer, and fall months. The old traffic area will also be converted to first floor office space with modern finishes and more natural light.
PHASE 2
During this phase, we will expand the lobby to be much more inviting to visitors. The reception counter will move to the first floor, and we’ll have some pretty cool interactive experiences for visitors to learn about who we are, and what we do.
PHASE 3
During our last phase of the project, the second floor existing office will be remodeled to match the new look and feel throughout the building. The new building will be more inviting, functional, and
a better place for all of us to come each day. We’ve set the trend in two other major Technology Centers already this year: the Optical Group in California moved into their new office space last June, and the Microelectronics Group in Colorado finished their remodel in May. Upon completion of the remodel in New Albany, all three of the major US facilities will have a similar look, feel, and flow. This will not only help build a more consistent brand and experience for visitors, but should also make it easier for Associates to travel and work in each location. The overall time frame for the project is eighteen months beginning in September with the start of the first major phase. With a little bit of patience and teamwork, we’ll all have something to be proud of. If you have specific ideas or questions regarding the remodel, feel free to contact Madison Hamman at madison.hamman@samtec.com.
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EVENTS
From front: Sisci Deng, Ovi Schaefer 2nd Row: Wenhan Lu, Mendel Lee, Jessie Liu, Venus Wong, Candice Gardner 3rd Row: Chester He, Elizabeth Gootee
Scott Sullivan, Richard Sparks, Ben Wehmiller
Taylor Koetter, Dustin Whitsett, Ben Haws, Matt Puffer, Richie Collins, Mike Boone, Kathy Byrd
From front: Mendel Lee, Venus Wong 2nd Row: Chester He, Mike Hynes
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Prakash Chinnapan, Ashutosh Agarwal, Ravindra Kumar, Koteeswara Rao, Matt Baumann, Manju Prasad
From left Clockwise: Matt Puffer, TL Lee, Ho Kok Leong, Jose Phillips, GAN Yee Chun, Desmond Pow, Brandon Harpenau
Mike Schmitz, Taylor Koetter, John Riley, Chris Adkisson
GAN Yee Chun, Josh Martin, Paige Davis, Ana Araya, Susan Chen, Crystal Chong, Nana Liu, Tiru, Afif A.
Paige Dickey, Libby Pevlor, Kristin Ashley, Jenise Wehmiller, Venus Wong, Mendel Lee
Kyle Abbott, Mary Temple, Linda Decker
Janna Short, Beth Johnson
From Front: Paige Davis & Josh Martin Jarret & Lindsay Gahafer, Josh Payton, Amanda Foster, Matt Gahafer, Andrew Nolan, Brad Terry, Sergio Roca, Willie Lozado
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Samtec has been very supportive of the Skees Family. In May, Associate Willie Lozado set up an event through the local high school so Aiden could throw out the first pitch.
“When given the choice between being right or being kind, Choose Kind.”
– Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Aiden Skees is just like you… only “different.” Aiden is the son of Ricky and Taryn Skees. Ricky is a Product Manager and has worked for Samtec NA for over 15 years. Ricky and Taryn have been married for 10 years and have 4 beautiful boys. Their second child, Aiden, was born with Apert Syndrome, a rare craniofacial condition that affects the growth of the skull, face, hands, and feet. There is a 1/160,000 chance that a child will be born with Apert Syndrome. Internal organs can also be affected along with the physical abnormalities. Aiden has had 12 surgeries from defusing his hands and feet to create fingers and toes, to a cranium vault operation to allow room for brain growth. Aiden and his older brother Ethan are Irish twins, meaning they are born less than 12 months apart. Watching Ethan tremendously helped Aiden’s growth as a baby. Aiden lives as normal of a life as any 7 year-old boy. He is energetic, happy, and intelligent. Taryn has started an anti-bullying and acceptance program
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to teach others to “Choose Kind.” She and Aiden have spoken at various schools to show that “although Aiden is ‘different’ he is more like them than they think. He’s just a normal kid with normal feelings. People with differences want to be accepted for who they are and NOT what they look like. It is important not to judge and to treat others with respect.” Taryn has also had the opportunity to educate nursing students at her college alma mater about Apert Syndrome. In efforts to continue to spread awareness, Taryn founded apertOWL. Their mission is to be a beacon of hope for families affected by Apert Syndrome by providing support, resources, and inspiration throughout their journey. Aiden’s midface grows at 1/3 of the rate of the average child, and his next surgery, a midface operation, will occur next fall. For 8-12 weeks, Aiden will wear a rigid external device that will slowly break, but then rebuild, his midface. This procedure will bring his face out as much as an inch. The Skees have shared Aiden’s journey with a short film which can be found at aidensjourneythefilm.com. In order to help fund documenting Aiden’s second stage of
From left to right: Ethan, Hudson, Aiden, Taryn, Ricky and Nolan Skees
operations with another short film, donations are being accepted at gofundme.com/aidensjourneyfilm.com. Last December, Aiden got the best Christmas gift ever: he was approved for Make-A-Wish, a foundation that grants one wish to a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Aiden had a hard time deciding what he wanted his wish to be, going back and forth between meeting Peyton Manning or John Cena, or traveling to Times Square or Legoland. With help from John Riley, a Samtec Associate in PMD who is one of Aiden’s designated MAW volunteers, Aiden’s wish became a SUPER Clubhouse. The clubhouse will serve as a place for Aiden, his brothers, and all the neighborhood kids to hang out. It will include a TV so Aiden can watch his beloved Colts, hundreds of Legos, a specially built rock wall that Aiden can climb, and also a zip line! Contact john.riley@samtec.com for more information about Make-A-Wish.
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PRODUCT FAIR
John Shine, John Hynes, Ben Wehmiller
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Michael Peak, Ben Wehmiller
GAN Yee Chun, Ben Wehmiller
David Schmidt, Willie Lozado
PRODUCT FAIR
Chris Feldkamp, Shane Harris, Samantha Deak, Sharon Miller
Samtec’s first annual Product Fair was held Thursday, June 25th. The idea around the Product Fair was to create an internal trade show for all Associates that features booths and products that we would actually exhibit at a trade show – of course our mini trade show featured all Samtec booths. The Product Fair provided Associates the opportunity to take a few minutes to learn more about our Technology Centers and see real world applications of key customers. This allows Associates to get a better understanding of the technologies that we discuss during company meetings and also learn about the consumer products that the interconnects we manufacture are being used in. Technology Centers featured Group: · Samtec Microelectronics · Samtec Optical Group · High Speed Cable Plant · Advanced Interconnect Design · Sudden Service Tools and Support
Whitney Hicks, Martin Reimer, Craig Kennedy, Brad Martin, Karl Soderquist
Customers featured Group: · Ethicon’s Echelon Flex™ medical stapler · Honeywell Aerospace’s Joint Direct Attack Munition bomb · NEST learning thermostat · Pentek’s advanced optical system for military applications · Garmin’s communication system for airplanes We had a great turnout and want to thank all the Associates who took time to stop by. It was a fun, informative day.
Greg Reidinger, Darin Poe, Josh Martin, Roger Morris, John Shearer ,Cathy Wesner
Andy Shrout, Derek Bernardi, Laura Kachnavage
Fabio Bonilla, Isaac Wernert, Craig Welly, Kodie Karmire, Greg Reidinger
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Mason Hublar, Betty South
Russ Payton, Rick Rogers, Connie Rogers, Jeff Martin, Lona Vest, Laura Burch
James Claypool
Karl Soderquist, Shane Harris, Janet Rudy, Candice Gardner, Travis Lozier
Katie Chung, Matt Bennett, Ryan Franklin
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Mike Hynes, Theresa Downs, Debbie Brown, Vickie Spears, Sandra Dorton
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TIGER TUNNEL
After almost 15 years in this office, the time has come to start another chapter at Samtec New Albany. As the company has grown, so has the number of Associates working here! Before the Tiger Tunnel is remodeled like the rest of the building, Associates were encouraged to sign the wall and include their start date. Here’s to the memories made over the years!
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SCOTTSBURG CONSTRUCTION Samtec Scottsburg is located on 10 acres at the Mid America Science Park in Scottsburg, Indiana. The exterior will be finished to match the Science Park, giving the area a campus feel. The facility will be a 71,000 square feet assembly-focused building, featuring a break area, Phil’s Grill, Associate locker room, multi-level inventory rack system, first aid room, multiple conference rooms, ample/well-lighted parking, and offices finished to match New Albany and other Samtec facilities. The building is expandable by an additional 40,000 square feet. Currently, the project is 33% complete as the metal veneer and roof continue to be installed. Foundations for the office area and the wall frames are completed. At this stage, the project is still approximately 2 weeks behind schedule due to wet weather earlier this year. Expected move in dates are currently scheduled to be early-to-mid December, 2015.
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Ken Starzynski & Bleu Aldrich
Gloria Bautista, Lorna Idolor, Janet Schmidt Eric Kosovich, Nicole Wilder
SME REMODEL Samtec Microelectronics (SME) is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The SME exterior and office area renovation is now complete. Prior to the renovation, the exterior of the building was dated, and the inside office area resembled a maze of narrow hallways and offices. This layout was not comfortable for Associates and didn’t show well during customer visits. The remodel completely transformed both the inside and outside of the building. Inside is 14,000 square feet of open office space, new conference rooms, new larger break room, and lots of natural light. The exterior of the building now has a modern look with new landscaping and grass areas for Associates to enjoy. With the new open layout, collaboration between Associates is much easier, and the environment feels more like Samtec.
Tony Long, Anthony Davis
Joshua Sales, Steve Baros
Michael Sanders, Mark Medina
Eric Kosovich, Rodney Richardson
This July, SME hosted their own Company Cookout to celebrate the completion of their remodel. They grilled hot dogs, brats, and burgers! They also broke in their new shuffleboard table by organizing a company tournament. Joshua Sales and Steve Baros were crowned the champions!
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WHAT DOES CONFIDENCE MEAN TO YOU? Kelsey Heckaman, Sharon Miller, Paige Dickey, Whitney Hicks
This summer, 11 New Albany Associates attended a women’s conference in Louisville. Soon after, they reconvened and created a Women’s Leadership Network. Whether your goal is to change the world or to be more confident, WLNS wants to foster those values. WLNS’s mission statement is “Connecting Samtec women by building a collaborative diverse network to support professional growth and leadership development.” Samtec does a great job at developing people by offering leadership classes, and WLNS wants to expand those opportunities by sharing knowledge and helping other females move up the ladder of success. They want to stress the importance of being your own advocate and learning the difference between being too humble and taking pride in your accomplishments. For example, Associate Amy Herp realized the skills she has learned as a mother can translate into her professional life. Juggling the schedules of three boys with school and athletics can become hectic, but so can managing multiple projects at once at work. She has been able to take values from her personal life and watch them play out in her professional life.
Tori Meek, Amy Herp, Claire Loe, Catie Eichhorn
Julie Cook, Donna Flanagan, Cherie Scott
Meetings are held the third Thursday of every month, and upcoming topics include: Presentations Lessons Learned Samtec Panel- shared Experience Life Balance Supporting Women Building Trust Credibility Leadership Influence-Persuasion
WLNS is connecting Samtec women by building a collaborative, diverse network to support professional growth and leadership development. 19
Amy Herp, Tracey Morris, Whitney Bishop
CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
Our customer Intel is a large, multi-national corporation. One of their facilities in Jerusalem is home to a design and development center. They use a variety of Samtec high speed interconnects in their “Duke” hardware infrastructure system for small-to-medium scale FPGA prototypes. This system will be incorporated into all of Intel’s sites worldwide. Pictured is a Duke system interconnected with high speed cable assemblies. Intel uses Samtec HDR, LPHT/LPHS, QMS/QFS, and SEAM/SEAF products.
Our customer Fuji Film designs and manufactures a variety of products including cameras, film, medical equipment, printers, photofinishing products, data storage, and semiconductor materials. FujiFilm focus on high-end imagery and data. One of their products is piezoelectric inkjet printheads and components, which are used by manufacturers of industrial printing and imaging systems. These printer heads are used for display printing, industrial marking and coding, printing on textiles, and other complicated / precise commercial applications. This technology is redefining the textile industry because it doesn’t require wasted fabric due to lot sizes required for specific patterns. Fuji uses a variety of Samtec products: a recent order was for an ASP of our SFM Series.
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It’s no Floyd Mayweather, but Patrick McCarthy’s BattleBot is undefeated too. Patrick McCarthy is a contractor in MIS/OPS at Samtec New Albany. He is a Software Quality Assurance Tester and has been with us for three months. Have you watched BattleBots that aired on ABC recently? Homemade robots fight head-to-head in a tournament for cash prizes. Patrick is no stranger to the competition as his robot, Heart of Gold, won multiple rounds on the 5th season of the show. First introduced to BattleBots in 1998, Patrick and his brother decided they would try their luck at creating their own bot. Patrick started collecting sponsors to help defray the building material costs and gathering interested friends for his pit crew. Soon enough, he had created his own company: Team Heartless Robotics, LLC, and his first robot: Heart of Gold. His appearance on Season 3 of BattleBots ended in flames – literally – as multiple flaws in their robot’s design had Team Heartless Robotics running into the arena with a fire extinguisher after every round. Unable to build his own robot due to a shortage of funds, Patrick decided to assist the pit crew of another robot during Season 4. After learning from the problems with his first robot and with redemption on his mind, Patrick and his team decided it was time to go back to the workshop for the 5th season of BattleBots. Early in the design stage, Patrick made a call to Bert Huncilman & Son, a metal specialist in New Albany, who became their primary sponsor. They provided Heartless Robotics with access to all of their tools and metal stock, as well as an engineer to aid in design. After endless hours, a new and improved Heart of Gold was born. Heart of Gold battled its way up to the TV Round where it faced Spinister in a BattleBox full of fatal obstacles: hammers delivering 150 lbs of damage, 24” titanium saws, spikes embedded in the floor, panels intended to flip over the robot, and spike strips and serrated screws along the walls. The opponents did the “dance of the blades” (attempting to avoid the hazards of the arena), until Spinister became incapacitated. Simultaneously, Heart of Gold became stuck on a floor seam, which led referees to believe it was immobile as well. The end-of-match countdown started, and Spinister was named the winner. Patrick filed an appeal, but unfortunately the next match had begun before the judges ruled in his favor. Fifteen years later, Patrick and his team have retired from their hobby, but if BattleBots airs for another season next year, there remains a possibility that Team Heartless Robotics will return… a new bot, Braveheart, is already on the drawing board!
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From left: Frank McCarthy, Keith Emmetsberger, Kathy E McCarthy,Pat McCarthy
Chuck Franklin
As long as my badge lets me in, it’s a good day! “That means they still like me!” – Chuck Franklin said with a grin. There’s no doubt that Chuck Franklin exemplifies Samtec culture and spirit. He always has a smile on his face contributing to the great, friendly atmosphere of Samtec. Chuck has been a contractor for Samtec New Albany for over 14 years. He has been married for 30 years, and his son Ryan works at Samtec as well. Chuck’s specialty involves low voltage cables for all the phones, networking, wiring, badges, and fire systems. If something isn’t working, Chuck is in charge of maintenance and repair 24/7. Each day is exciting with a different task for him due to all the renovations occurring in New Albany. “I’ve seen Samtec grow along the years, and as we get bigger, I get busier. It’s a great thing to be busy because that means that Samtec is doing well.” Chuck stressed that it is important to not lose sight of the big picture and to appreciate the great company that Samtec is. He has learned how to work with different people, and it has continued to keep him humble. In the picture above, Chuck is using a tester to test and verify a network line. This ensures that the network cable has a good connection and does not have any issues that would cause a problem connecting a phone or PC to the network. Know someone that has done an amazing job or has a great story? Contact us at samtecsignal@samtec.com
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LOOKING FOR A GOOD READ?
Clara Carter
Read fellow Associate Clara Carter’s Broken Hearted! Clara Carter has worked in Automotive at Versatech for over 11 years. At home, she takes care of her disabled mother, reads and writes murder-mystery novels and children’s books. Clara’s first novel out of the Chicago Hearts Series, Broken Hearted, was released last fall. It is a suspenseful mystery entwined with romance about a woman striving to find the killer of her parents. The twists and turns keep readers guessing on what will happen next. Clara has always loved to read since she was a child. “Reading takes you to a whole new, different world.” Clara expresses, “You can go wherever you want to go!” Clara now enjoys writing her own novels and having the ability to take others to a different world. Clara always has a pen and paper handy. Clara explains, “There is something special about putting pencil to paper. My first draft is always on paper.” It is not uncommon for Clara to let people in front of her at the grocery store as she jots down ideas that have popped up into her mind. After putting her mother to bed, her best writing time is from 2am to 5am. She switches to writing other books or reads if she gets writer’s block. Often times, she challenges herself to a “writing marathon”
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where she writes as fast as she can in a certain amount of time. Clara’s loves to create the characters in her books. She loves to choose how she will look, what her name will be, and what her trademark will be. The hardest part is never writing, but having the dedication to finish the process of publishing the book. As an independent author, Clara put in hours of research to find the necessary contacts. At first she was going to write under a pen name until her husband, Greg, asked, “Are you proud of your work? Then put your name on it!” Clara is quite reserved, but her book has helped her be more outgoing. One of her daughters acts as her personal agent and helps set up book signings. Clara’s first signing was at Versatech. This meant the world to Clara because there was a great turn out, and it showed that her friends cared about her and supported her dream of being an author. If interested, you can purchase Clara’s book Broken Hearted for a discounted Samtec price from HR (Versatech, Speedflex, & New Albany only). You can also find her book on Amazon by searching: Broken Hearted C.H.Carter The sequel to Broken Hearted will be out by the end of 2015, so stay tuned!
THE KING OF FRUITS It’s summer in Malaysia which is good news for fruit lovers. The King of Fruits is in season now. The King of Fruits? Yes, it is the mighty DURIAN. The Durian isn’t so much a tourist attraction, but rather something to experience if you’re ever in the neighborhood. Its name comes from the Malay word “duri” which stands for thorns. The Durian fruit is covered in thorns, and it’s not teeny tiny thorns that cover its exterior either. Let’s just say it isn’t a fruit to toss around. The Durian is known as the “King of Fruits” because of its large size, thorn covered shell, and “unique” odor. The most distinctive characteristic of the fruit would be its odor. Some people might find it fragrant, while others might just cringe at a single whiff. The smell of a single Durian is smelly enough to circulate around an entire house; the Durian is not allowed in many indoor buildings because of this very reason. It is an odor unlike any, which explains why most people would call it either “unique” or “exotic.” Many people have never tried it because they are so put off by its smell. But its somewhat pungent smell does not correspond with its taste, so don’t be afraid to try it. To the left is Shannon Downs, a New Albany Compliance Manager, and Ajini Jawahir, Johor Malaysia’s Plant Manager. Shannon was visiting Malaysia, June 2015, when there was an opportunity to taste the King of Fruits for herself. Ajini opened the Durian and gave a piece to Shannon. Shannon explained that, “The smell was horrendous. It smelled like I was standing in the middle of a garbage dump on a 100 degree day. Surprisingly enough, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. In my opinion, the bitter Durian is MUCH better than the sweet one, but I doubt I will be adding it to my favorite fruits list.” Shannon joked. The shell that surrounds the Durian is green and thorny. Short of hacking it open with an axe, it is a pretty tough fruit to open. It is probably more appropriate to use a cleaver to chop it open. Once open, you’ll be able to see the yellow flesh of the fruit all lined up in a row. The texture of the flesh is creamy like custard. Its taste can either be sweet or bitter. Some people prefer the sweet ones, but it is the bitter ones that Durian lovers search for. The best way to describe the taste of a Durian would be creamy with a hint of almonds. Even so, every Durian has a different taste, and it is in these inconsistencies that many find themselves wanting more. It is the search for the perfect Durian.
Shannon Downs and Ajini Jawahir
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Samtec Costa rica becomes turtle security by saving baby sea turtles. Samtec Costa Rica has recently been awarded the Environmental Blue Flag for reducing consumption of water, power, paper, and fuel along with completing several conservation activities with the Volunteer Association to Service Protected Areas (ASVO). One of the movements that Samtec Costa Rica joined in was to safeguard sea turtles at Matapalo Beach. ASVO has managed to protect the nests of these sea turtles every night from July to December for the past 24 years. Samtec Costa Rica had the opportunity to become more educated in sea turtle conservation efforts first-hand. Twenty-five Associates patrolled the beach and maintained the hatchery where nests and eggs are placed for protection and monitoring. They were able to experience a turtle nesting and a nest burst! After the turtles dug out of the sand, Associates learned how to measure the new born turtles for use in scientific research. ASVO is pursuing to turn all of Matapalo Beach into a “protected area� by law. Keep up the awesome work Samtec Costa Rica!
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Alejandro Meléndez
Axel Rivas
Belisa Martínez
Diego Paniagua
Francisco Vargas
Enid Calderón
Cindy Santos
Kenia Artola
Kenneth Fonseca
Luis Diego Rodríguez
Kimberly Cambronero
Luis Alberto Perez
María Fernándes Cortés
Melissa Tencio
Marilyn Arias
Stever Solís
The top row and bottom, left photo are graduates from this June 2015. The second row graduated in January 2015.
If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you: If you’re determined to learn, no one can stop you. 16 Costa Rican Associates were determined to continue their education. In six months, with the help of the Government’s Educational Office and Samtec Cares, they were able to receive their high school diploma through the “All Aboard” program. The Educational Office holds this program once a year and provides teachers for all subjects necessary to pass the exam. Samtec CR privately coordinates All Aboard on their own the other half of the yearcovering all costs to the students. Associates went to school before or after their work shift in pursuits of passing the final exam. ¡Felicidades graduados!
Front Row: Cindy Santos, Belisa Martínez, Marilyn Arias Back Row: Francisco Vargas, Kenneth Fonseca, Luis Alberto Perez, Luis Diego Rodríguez
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SAMTEC AROUND THE WORLD
Samtec Optical Group Santa Clara, CA
SOG Associates head to the bowling ally outside of work to have a little fun hanging out with each other.
Samtec Microelectronics Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado is known for its abundance of wildlife. Miles Tonini, an Associate at SME, snapped a picture of this deer guarding SME’s front door. How is that for security?
New Albany, IN
Every Summer, Bobbi Smith, Sharon Miller and many other New Albany Associates take a stroll around the walking path located behind Samtec. This is a relaxing break for Associates, and they often run into geese or deer!
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Versatech Crothersville, IN
(Soon to be Samtec Scottsburg) Jason Perry and other Versatech Associates collected several truckloads of non-perishable foods for the US Postal Service Food Drive to support the local food pantry.
Shanghai, China
About once or twice a year, Associates from Shanghai travel for team building. In this photo, they were at the Island of Shengsi.
Shenzhen, China
Malaysia
India
Samtec Associate, Ashutosh Agarwal, hosts local functions as a MC. He enjoys entertaining any crowd with fun games and his great sense of humor.
In a few weeks, Samtec Malaysia will organize one of their biggest religious festivals, Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Literally translated as “Day of Celebration,� this event marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. During Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the entire country takes on the cultural ambience: radios play festive songs, public areas are colorfully decorated, and Muslims wear traditional garb. It is a time to pay respect and send prayers to the deceased.
Falling asleep at work? Shenzhen Associates started doing exercises! Every day at 10:30am and 3:30pm, they do three minute exercises that were published by the General Administration of Sport. These activities help stretch their bodies after sitting down for many hours.
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CROSSTALK
Unidentified Mastermind
TigerBucks Underground Samtec TigerBuck Officials have reported an increase in laundered or counterfeit TigerBucks in circulation. TigerBucks are the popular Associate recognition currency that can be exchanged for Samtec merchandise, gift cards, and food at Phil’s Grill. Traditionally, TigerBucks have been awarded to Associates who have embodied Sudden Service or stepped up to the plate while at work. However, the Samtec Signal is getting reports that there may be an underworld to the currency. Early reports came in months ago that some of the TigerBucks floating around were on a different shade of orange paper from what a genuine TigerBuck should be. Upon further investigation, the printing wasn’t even straight on some of the bucks. The counterfeit bucks have popped up at Phil’s Grill, although it is unclear just how many fake bucks are currently in circulation. Perhaps the more concerning hint at the possibility of a TigerBucks Underworld are the rumors about the
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laundering of TigerBucks. An overabundance of what appears to be orange paper lint has been found in the dryer vents at Samtec. These clothes dryers are typically used to dry towels used by the cleaning crew, but it seems some Associates have put them to use in an attempt to “launder” the bucks. Soon after, TigerBuck Officials installed a security camera to have a better chance of catching the culprit. Late one afternoon, our cameras captured the mastermind himself. He appears to be a seasoned professional as he lined up the bills and counted his dough. Officials are investigating how the criminal Mastermind laundered money with a washer and a dryer. If you know the man pictured above, please contact our lead investigator, Jack Shine.
ANNOUNCEMENTS The updated US Samtec Associate Handbook is now available View in Vantage: 1. Sign in to Adpvantage.adp.com 2. Locate the “Documents” Panel 3. “Click Associate Handbook” View in TigerNet 1. Sign in to TigerNet 2. Go to the “Resource Center” 3. Click “HR & Company Policies” 4. Click US HR & Company Policies” 5. Open “Samtec Associate Handbook
If you have a story or an Associate spotlight candidate in mind for the Samtec Signal, email us at:
samtecsignal@samtec.com
Samtec Holidays Labor Day Monday, September 7, 2015 Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26, 2015
Have you thought about riding your bike to work, but were unsure about where to secure it? Problem Solved! There is now a bike rack located under the awning by Door C.
Pumpkin Chunking Contest
Root on Samtec’s team, The Samtec Siege, as they attempt to Chunk their Pumpkin 125 yards away and hit the Great Pumpkin with their Engineered Pumpkin Catapult!
5:30pm
To the right is a preliminary sketch.
October 6, 2015 The Purdue Science Park (Behind Zaxby’s)
Come Show Your Support!
Friday after Thanksgiving Friday, November 27, 2015 Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24, 2015 Christmas Day Friday, December 25, 2015
The Samtec Siege Team includes Samtec New Albany’s own Tori Meek, John Riley, Jed Wilder, Derek Bernardi, Liam Parkes, Bryan Ray, and Andrew Collingwood.
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Here is what to expect in the 2015 Fall Edition!
- Pumpkin Chunking Contest Results - Remodel Updates - New Associate Spotlights! - Much Much More!
Have an idea for the Samtec Signal? Email us at samtecsignal@samtec.com Also, if you have found Tessie, email us at the above address or stop by HR, and let us know her location. Everyone who finds her will be entered to win a $25 gift card! Good Luck!