9 minute read
Teri Ivaniszyn
2021 Women in Engineering
Tobi Cornell
VP, Distribution Kruvand Associates, Inc.
Tobi Cornell graduated from Texas Christian University in 1994 and entered the electronics industry that same year working for a Manufacturer’s Rep fi rm, DJ Sales (Dallas, TX), in an Inside Sales position. She went into Outside Sales after 2-½ years before the fi rm was acquired by Kruvand Assoc (Dallas, TX) in 1999. She continued in fi eld sales at Kruvand for these past 22 years and counting with an account base in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, and was appointed VP of Distribution during this time to continue to foster and grow the close relationships with channel partners in the industry.
Tell us about your company and how they support your involvement with ECIA.
Kruvand is a Manufacturer’s Rep fi rm located in the Dallas, TX area serving the states of TX, OK, AR, LA and the country of Mexico. We have just under 40 employees located in the US and Mexico territory that we serve. Our involvement with the ECIA began early on as one of the original reps to join the organization. We also always attend the ECIA Executive Conferences in the Chicago area each year. My company is very supportive of my individual involvement with the ECIA’s various task force activities, which over the years have included me working with the groups that helped create the new Design Reg form, the planning of Regional ECIA meetings when they were held in Dallas, and most recently the DR Task Force to research the Design Registration program/system in our industry.
Describe a recent project with ECIA (in which you were involved). What were you most proud of or what is most notable about this project?
The most recent project has been the DR Task Force. I began when it formed in early 2020 and spent that full year working with the ECIA team and our other task force members who came from Distribution, Rep fi rms, and Manufacturing companies. Together our team came up with survey questions for the industry, took the fi rst long draft of surveys ourselves, paired down that research and survey, and then helped recruit others to take the revised surveys. Finally, we analyzed all the data and categorized it for the ECIA Board’s review. When 2021 came around, I elected to stay with this DR committee as it entered the second phase of research, and we welcomed many new members to the task force this year from different Distributors, Manufacturer’s Reps, and Manufacturers. I must say that having the history participating in the fi rst phase has made this second phase very satisfying, as I get to see something that has been discussed for one full year move on to the next full year of evolution…and it continues to be very eye opening! By the end of the year our project will come to a close with what should be a fascinating and amazing outlook of the future of the DR Program in the Electronics Industry.
Describe your biggest career challenge.
I think the biggest career challenge would be facing the years of drastic change. Whether it be a market segment decline, a large product line loss, or a natural disaster. I think right now we’re seeing the biggest career challenge in history as we all face and deal with COVID and how it has changed our lives. It is the biggest challenge I’ve faced, yet it’s also an opportunity to grow, to rethink how we do things, and to come out of this stronger on the other side.
2021 Women in Engineering
Juliet Rene Fajardo
Director of National Distribution Sales TDK-Lambda Corporation
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), University of Phoenix-Southern California Campus
Juliet Rene Fajardo is an experienced sales professional accomplished in managing the Distribution Sales channel for an electrical and electronic manufacturing company. In her thirty-one years, she has created and implemented strategies on a national and global basis resulting in excellent customer service, increased employee and customer engagement, and improved fi nancial results. Skilled in Sales Management, Operations, Power Supplies, Purchasing, Customer Service and Manufacturing. She offers enthusiastic leadership skills with the ability to motivate and lead teams in problem solving, negotiating, and relationship building at all levels. She is also experienced with the Japanese business culture.
Tell us about your company and how they support your involvement with ECIA.
TDK-Lambda Corporation, a subsidiary of TDK Corporation, is a global supplier and recognized leader of power conversion products suited to many applications including; medical, industrial, broadcast, defense, factory automation and LED/LCD signage. With global sales in excess of $500 million, we have design, manufacturing, and sales locations in all fi ve key geographic locations: Japan, China, EMEA, ASEAN, and the Americas. TDK-Lambda’s view is a “Power Supply” is more than just an electronic device. It is the “heart” of our customers’ systems and the core element of safety and reliability. This belief drives us to support our customers through all stages of the product life cycle; product development (design-in assistance, EMC, standards, safety certifi cation), introduction (speed, logistics), growth (scale, cost), maturity (cost), and decline (EOL strategy, post support). Our history of providing reliable and innovative power supplies has earned us the reputation of being a trusted world-class organization. TDK-Lambda has been very supportive of my involvement in ECIA, through industry events such as EDS held in Las Vegas and the executive conference held in Chicago, as well as my participation is various ECIA sub committees. These forums are great for establishing and strengthening industry relationships.
What fi rst drew you to the industry?
In my early career years, I worked in purchasing at Applied Materials. It was a great experience that really exposed me to this wonderful electronic component industry. This early experience opened my eyes to the technology innovation, as well as the role electronics plays in many facets of our daily lives.
Describe your biggest career challenge.
One of the biggest career challenges was balancing my “work vs personal life” while obtaining my college education, maintaining a full time job, and raising my two (2) young daughters.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
Dream big, work hard, and don’t be afraid to take on new challenges.
For the rest of Juliet Rene Fajardo’s insights, visit www.designworldonline.com/WiE.
2021 Women in Engineering
Teri Ivaniszyn
BA Business, 1994 University of Michigan BA Communications, 1994 University of Michigan
Teri Ivaniszyn is vice president of distribution, operational excellence and trade compliance for Digi-Key Electronics. Ivaniszyn oversees a cross-functional team of 1,800 associates who are responsible for on-time delivery of more than 25,000 daily orders to customers in 180+ countries around the world. Since joining Digi-Key in 2013, Teri’s expertise and leadership has enhanced many operational processes, including establishing the largest Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in the United States and the fi rst small-package FTZ with major carriers, Custom Border and Protection (CBP) and government entities. She has also helped implement enhanced component traceability processes, and set up COVID-19 safety programs.
Tell us about your company and how they support your involvement with ECIA.
Digi-Key Electronics has always been a big supporter of ECIA. An opportunity arose about fi ve years ago for a Digi-Key representative to join the Global Industry Practice Committee (GIPC), and our CEO Dave Doherty recommended it to me as a great opportunity to get involved. The opportunity was perfect for me because it allowed me to learn more about the electronic component industry, as well as learn about best practices and operational excellence from peers in the industry. Joining this committee was an excellent fi t, as I could jump in and be part of making a positive difference immediately – not just within my own organization, but across the entire industry. Working with ECIA has been amazing. I have not only learned more about the industry and been able to make a difference in the industry, but I have made some lifelong friends along the way. Everybody who is involved really wants to do the right thing and do what’s good for the industry and for their people. To me, it’s been a very rewarding experience.
Describe a recent project with ECIA (in which you were involved). What were you most proud of or what is most notable about this project?
Being involved in ECIA has perhaps never been more impactful – or more important – than throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other members, Digi-Key’s main priority throughout this health crisis has always been our people, and making our work environments as safe and clean as possible. Last spring, I led an ECIA committee that was focused on protecting the health and safety of employees throughout the industry – something that was very relevant and important to all ECIA members. We developed a list of best practices and procedures that members were implementing within their own companies, so they could be shared with others. For example, a team of Digi-Key engineers developed a UV sanitization tunnel to disinfect the 8,000+ plastic totes that are used to move products around our warehouse. We shared all the specs with other members, in case there were others who would also like to develop and implement something similar. Initiatives like this are always so rewarding because they involve people, and keeping them safe and healthy.
