Real Talk With Rob Tavi

Join Rob Tavi as he explores the dynamic world of digital marketing with expert Brian Sullivan. Dive into a riveting discussion about the transformative role of AI in creative processes, the power of micro-influencers in building authentic communities, and the evolution of direct-to-consumer marketing. Discover the secrets to staying ahead in the digital game, from leveraging AI for more effective strategies to understanding the real impact of social media influence. Don't miss these invaluable insights into the future of digital innovation!

Overview: In this insightful episode, Rob Tavi welcomes Don Akery, the CEO of Waldom Electronics, a company renowned for its electronic components redistribution system and services like excess inventory management and network optimization. Founded in 1947, Waldom Electronics is a private company headquartered in Rockford, IL, with a significant presence in the electronics supply chain sector​​. Key Topics Discussed: Leadership and Thought Leadership: Don Akery shares his insights on leadership and thought leadership within the electronics distribution industry that is embracing technology to empower innovation. With his extensive experience in the sector, including previous roles at TTI Americas, Arrow Electronics, and other firms, Akery brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table​​. Green Stock Initiative by Waldom: The discussion highlights Waldom's innovative approach to managing excess stock, termed 'Green Stock.' This initiative is an environmentally friendly alternative to disposing of excess electronic components, which otherwise might end up in landfills. By redistributing these components, Waldom not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also offers cost-effective solutions to the industry. Waldom's Role in the Supply Chain: The episode delves into Waldom's unique position as a "distributor's distributor," emphasizing their role in streamlining the supply chain. Waldom is committed to solving problems for suppliers, distributors, and indirectly for end users by focusing on efficiency and offering solutions like slow-moving and excess inventory management. Impact on the Industry: The conversation also covers Waldom's influence on the electronic and electrical component industry. Their efforts to make the supply chain more efficient and solve problems between suppliers, authorized channels, and end customers are highlighted, demonstrating Waldom's commitment to adding value to the industry. Conclusion: This episode offers an intriguing look into how a leading player in the electronics distribution industry, like Waldom Electronics, innovates and leads in green initiatives and supply chain management. Don Akery's insights provide valuable perspectives on leadership and the impact of strategic distribution in the electronics industry.

Due to recent global events such as geopolitics and the covid-19 pandemic, uncontrollable factors like supply chain disruptions have changed the semiconductor industry making it difficult for companies to maintain stable supply chains and advance their business strategies. In this episode of the Real Talk with Rob Tavi, Edgewater Research's Senior Research Analyst Dennis Reed talks about some of the key trends in the semiconductor market that drives its growth today. He also shares why he thinks now is an ideal time to invest in the industry and the future risks. Tune in and join the conversation as we dig into the semiconductor's path to becoming a trillion-dollar business Edgewater Research was founded in March 2018 as an independent equity investment research provider and market intelligence company. The company seeks inspiration from rising to the challenges of a dynamic and competitive industry, continually striving to be an essential and trusted provider to the clients it serves. Founded by seven partners with deep channel research experience, Edgewater Research's mission is to provide independent equity investment research and market intelligence that helps investors make better decisions.

The global electronics industry's supply chain is increasingly complex and requires manufacturers and distributors to have an increased awareness of their supply chain performance. In this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi, Macrofab's Chief Product Officer Chris Church discusses how modern manufacturing technology can help support supply chain performance and what this means for you as an entrepreneur or business owner looking for ways to optimize your operations while maintaining high quality and performance standards. Based in Houston Texas, MacroFab is not just a contract manufacturer, but fundamentally a technology company with a focus on electronics innovation. Macrofab seeks to redefine the contract manufacturing industry by developing a software-driven approach to make it faster and easier than ever to bring new electronic products to market. The company's mission is simple: make it easy for electronics makers and developers everywhere to find great suppliers and manufacture their products quickly and efficiently.

Tune into this episode of Real Talk with Rob Ravi Featuring Nemanja Jokanovic as we dive into the democratization of data, which is one of the most significant modern changes leveling the playing field in the electronics and manufacturing industries. The power dynamics are shifting and industry leaders are no longer the only ones with access to valuable data. In the past, data was collected and controlled by a small handful of companies, however, advances in technology have made it possible for smaller companies as well as individual consumers to collect and analyze data. This democratization of data is disrupting traditional business models and is opening up new opportunities for innovation. Anyone with a connection to the internet can tap into the pool of global insights to improve business or personal supply chain strategies. As more companies embrace this shift, we can expect to see even more transformation in the electronics and manufacturing industries in the years to come. Nemanja Jokanovic is a veteran in the field of data in electronics. He has worked in the industry for over a decade and his company, Octopart, is leading the world in electronic components data.

Meaghan Ziemba is a trailblazer in the manufacturing industry to say the least. She spent the first half of her career working on various marketing projects in the manufacturing industry, and has focused the second half of her career on reaching an audience that may have not otherwise been exposed to an industry that is in desperate need of bright young minds. Meaghan has her own copywriting company named Z-Ink Solutions and she also hosts a podcast called Mavens of Manufacturing. She primarily aspires to embolden the next generation of women to explore careers in a predominately male occupied space. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi Ft. Meaghan Ziemba as we dive into the world of copywriting in the manufacturing industry, digital marketing trends, generational gaps, and inspiring a generation of young women to pursue careers in engineering and manufacturing!

John Neuhart is the president of DVC Dry Vapor Cleaner. Although the technology for dry vapor cleaning has been around for 25 years, it is a very small and niche practice. Dry vapor is used to remove flux on circuit boards and uses extremely high temperature vapor in order to clean rather than a solvent like alcohol. Tune into this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft John Neuhart as we dive into the interesting process of cleaning metals using dry vapor in the electronics and manufacturing industry all shot live from the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show!

Jacob Sanchez is one of the only content creators for the electronics industry who is from Gen Z. At the youthful age of 23 years old Jacob is blazing the trail for Gen Z in manufacturing. Jacob is a freelance content creator who covers a multitude of events and up and coming technologies. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk as Rob and Jacob bridge the gap from Generation X to Generation Z all shot live from the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show. They dive into a variety of topics including differences in generational content consumption, technologies both new and old, and how to be a thought leader in a space that is occupied by people who are much older than you!

Tune into this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi featuring Yashar Shahabi where we dive into the democratization of data in electronics, electronic design applications (EDA), and the advantages of companies built in the digital age versus legacy companies. Yashar Shahabi is the Senior Vice President of E-Commerce, Technology, and Product at Sourceability. He oversees all the global sales for Sourceability and he is also an official member of the Forbes Technology Council. Sourceability and IBS Electronics are both ranked as top 50 electronics distributors in the world. Enjoy this podcast as two industry thought leaders share their ideas about data, artificial intelligence, design applications, and so much more!

Tune into this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi featuring Gary Smith all shot live from the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show! Gary has a total of over 30 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of G.L. Smith and Associates Electronics Manufacturers Representative Firm. His company is a prominent member of the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) of Southern California who sponsored the Real Talk Podcast at DMEMS. He sat down with Rob to talk about the changing nature of the industry during this digital revolution, giving back to the electronics community, learning to collaborate with one another, the exponentially growing industry, and inspiring the next generation.

Tune in to this insightful episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi featuring Christina Cavano where we learn about the diversification of endeavor business media and the world of b2b marketing, all shot live from the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show! Christina Cavano is the managing director at Endeavor business media whose mission is to deliver the highest-quality content in multi-channel formats that today’s readers demand. Endeavor Media a media conglomerate that includes many brands like Electronic Design, Machine Design, Microwave & RF, Power & Motion, SourceToday, SourceESB, 3DX, and IDEA to name a few. They create e-newletters, monthly magazines, and host live in-person events (as well as webinars) and have focused on learning to engage an work-from-home audience over the last two years.

Tune into this fun-filled episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft Mark Leary as we dive into the world of publication and print in the electronics industry, all shot live from the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show. Mark Leary is the Managing Director at MMG Publishing. MMG Publishing is a specialist publisher of b2b publications, on-line information and events. MMG currently publishes Electronics Sourcing with editions covering the UK, European and North American geographical regions. It also publishes Electronics Assembly magazine and runs the ES LIVE one day event.

Tune in to discover what the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show is all about and why you should attend in this episode of Real Talk featuring Doug Bodenstab. Doug is the show manager for the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show in San Diego, California. The Del Mar Show is the most fun and exciting show that the electronics show has ever seen. From an after-show reception including a live band to the free buffet and drinks, this show has it all. In Doug's tell-all episode he lays out exactly what an attendee can expect to experience at the show! Visit IBS Connections Café ☕ located in the Bing Crosby Hall at the 2022 Del Mar Electronic & Manufacturing Show May 4-5, 2022 at the Del Mar Fair Grounds in San Diego, California! IBS Connections Café is sponsored by two of our key principals Geehy Semiconductor and Hi-Tech Resistors (HTR) to provide DMEMS guests: - DMEMS Keynote Address, presented by Rob Tavi - Component division - Design center - Resistor & Microcontroller product presentations - Educational marketing & recruitment breakfast session (sponsored by Southern California ERA) - Real Talk with Rob Tavi, Electronics Industry #Podcast LIVE! - Career Corner - FREE bites + buffets - FREE beverages + beer - Networking - Spin the wheel and your chance to win Apple AirPods 🏆 We are looking forward to connecting with everyone in the #electronicsindustry! Register for free attendance + parking: www.mfgshow.com

As a young sales engineer at Luscombe Engineering of San Francisco, Shane Triantos has the vantage point of someone who grew up in a digital era. He works in an industry that has been slow to adopt digitization of sales and marketing but since he grew up with social media, Shane knows the potential that some of these digital tools have. He also understands the importance of bridging gaps between generational groups and knowing how to communicate with each generation. Tune into this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. Shane Triantos  as we dive into the perspective of an up and coming young salesman who is new to the ERA Conference.ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas! 

Being the new owner of the Aurora Group and the Technical Group in the Southeast, Aparna Sproelich understands the importance of adopting new practices into her manufacturers representative firm. Aparna has a background and degree in mechanical engineering and brings a new perspective to Electronics as a woman in a male dominated industry. Tune into this episode of Real Talk ft. Aparna Sproelich as we dive into the exciting new things happening in electronics! ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

As the President and CEO of the Electronics Components Industry Association (ECIA), David Loftus understands the resiliency of the electronics industry and brings years of wisdom and experience to the table. In this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi recorded live from the 2022 ERA Conference, David breaks down the historical trends of the industry and communicates the significance of companies scaling back business during lull periods. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. David Loftus as we ask the question- should electronics suppliers brace for slow periods? ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

As a special advisor to CalcuQuote, Steve Vecchiarelli, has a combined 48 years of experience in the electronics industry including 14 years as the VP-Supply Chain Solutions at Digi-Key. In this podcast short filmed live at the Electronics Representative Associations (ERA) 2022 ERA Conference we explore the increasing awareness around how digitalization is transforming the electronics industry and the future democratization of supply chain data. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. Steve Vecchiarelli, as we ask the question -- How is digitalization transforming the electronics industry? ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

As a third generation Manufacturers Representative in the electronics industry, Tim Kilfoil shares his belief in not sticking to outdated styles of business and adapting to the changing climate. In this podcast shot live from the 2022 ERA Conference, Tim discusses the new generation of engineers who may not be in the office 5 days a week as the entire industry used to be and how industry leaders need to learn new techniques of marketing in order to stay top-of-mind for this new generation. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. Tim Kilfoil, as we take a deeper dive into the evolving world of marketing in the electronics industry. ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

As an electronic component sales engineer in the midwest, VP of Operations for CC Electro Sales and the SVP of Education for the Executive Committee at ERA, Ellen Coan's experience has led her to believe in the importance of sharing best practices and educating people about the Electronics Industry. In this podcast shot live from the 2022 ERA Conference, Ellen teaches us about the scholarship opportunities being created by ERA for college students who otherwise may not ever be exposed the business model of electronics reps, manufacturers, and distributors. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. Ellen Coan, as we take a closer look at the educational message of the Electronics Representatives Association and discuss how important it is to be handing off the tools of the trade to the next generation and setting them up for success down the road. ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!

LIVE from the 2022 ERA Conference, A New Day, A New Way -- Walter Tobin, CEO of the Electronics Representatives Organization (ERA) talks about the experiences of members attending the in-person conference for the first time in 2 years! With more than 200 first time attendees, he emphasizes the importance of leading by example, the growth of the organization throughout the pandemic, and the need for embracing new technology in the post-pandemic world. Tune in to this episode of Real Talk with Rob Tavi ft. Walter Tobin, as we examine the changing world through the eyes of electronics representatives, manufacturers, and distributors at this years dynamic and interactive educational conference full of useful tools, takeaways, and inspiring messages. ERA is one of the only educational organizations in the entire electronics industry. If you are thinking about joining the hundreds of representatives, manufacturers and distributors in the electronics industry who benefit from their ERA membership, visit www.era.org for more info! Stay tuned for future podcast shorts featuring highlights from the 2022 ERA Conference in Austin, Texas!