Archives: News / Press

STI Electronics, Inc. announces Edna Crutcher’s 10-year anniversary. Crutcher’s anniversary was celebrated with a cake shared with all of her colleagues at STI. In recognition of this significant milestone, David Raby, President/CEO, presented Crutcher with a certificate in appreciation of her 10 years of dedicated service, a check, and a bonus to her paid vacation.

Crutcher is an SMT Assembly technician who holds several industry certifications. Her diligent work over the past 10 years has contributed to STI’s success.

“Edna’s dedication to her craft is a tribute to herself and the company,” said Chris Cosgray, Manufacturing Manager. “STI holds Edna in the highest regard and we look forward to many more years of success with Edna on our team.”

 

 

 

 

 

Leading up to Veterans Day, STI will be honoring the STI employees that have served in the Armed Forces. Be on the look out every Monday for these spotlights.

 

 

 

Frank Honyotski

STI would like to honor the service of Frank Honyotski, Senior Master Instructor at STI since 2000.Frank Honyotski and his Mother

Honyotski served as an ET1 (Electronics Technician) and achieved the E6 grade in the US Navy. He served on the Perry Class Guided-Missile Frigate the USS Kauffman FFG-59. The Kauffman and crew made a historic visit to Sevastopol, USSR where he acted as an Ambassador of Good Will where he shared drinks with KGB agents. Honyotski’s service aboard the Kauffman continued as the vessel went into the 1st Persian Gulf War in 1991.

After departing the Kauffman, he took on the role of 2M instructor at FTC Mayport, Florida from 1993 – 1997. Having completed 10 years of service he was Honorably Discharged from the Navy.

Thank you Frank for your service to the USA!

 

 

 

Ray Cirimele

Ray Cirimele aboard ship.

As we continue moving toward Veteran’s Day, STI would like to honor Ray Cirimele.

During his service, Cirimele achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E7). He and his shipmates sailed in support of the armed forces during the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis.

While sailing completely around the world, Cirimele was a Shipboard Small Arms instructor as well as the Deck supervisor for the Nuclear Weapons Handling Team.

Ray joined STI in 2011 as a Master Instructor and has since transitioned to the position of Director of Media.

Thank you Ray for your service to the USA!

 

 

 

Randy Baumgarden

STI continues our series, “Honoring our Veterans”.
Randy Baumgarden served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 where he completed two cruises of the Western Pacific. During his 4 years at sea he visited ports such as Pearl Harbor, HI, Subic Bay, Philippines, Pusan, South Korea, and as far as Perth Australia. Randy was a LI3 (Lithographer, 3rd Class) during his tours.

Randy and his shipmates sailed in support of operations in the Gulf of Oman during the 1979-1981 Iran Hostage Crisis.

After being Honorably Discharged, Randy served an additional 2 years as a Reservist.
During his time aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, the film, “The Final Countdown” was produced. The Kitty Hawk is the vessel used in the movie and Randy was one of the crew seen manning the rails as the USS Kitty Hawk returns to Hawaii.

Randy works as Procurement for STI and has been with the company since 1988.

STI thanks Randy Baumgarden for his service to the USA!

 

 

 

Katrena

STI would like to Honor Katrena for her service in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
Katrena went into the Army Reserve right out of high school. Her basic training was at Fort Jackson, SC. She then completed MOS training for Combat Medic at Fort Sam Houston, Tx.She went on to serve eight additional years in the Army Reserve and thirteen years in the Alabama Army National Guard. While with the Alabama Army National Guard, Katrena was deployed for protection details around the state for several of the state’s hurricane disasters.She retired in 2005 with twenty-one years of service as an E5 (SGT).

STI thanks Katrena for her service to the USA!

 

 

 

 

Scott Sanders

STI continues with our series Honoring our Veterans. This week’s highlight includes Scott Sanders.

Scott completed US Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal, SC. He graduated on November 12, 1993 two days after the USMC Birthday.

Scott went on to complete Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense (NBC). He continued as an instructor at Camp Pendleton’s MBC school where he taught basic NBC and decontamination to Marine Units. The remainder of his service at Camp Pendleton was in the 1st Maintenance Battalion’s NBC NCO. Scott was responsible for the chemical gear, masks, and training for about 1200 Marines.

Scott reminisces that he had one of the greatest jobs in the world. During his 4 years he went through the gas chamber uncounted times to train other Marines. “Where else can you go to make grown men cry on a daily basis?” quips Sanders.

After 4 years of service and the achievement of the rank of Corporal, Scott was Honorably Discharged from the US Marine Corps.

Scott joined STI as the Accounting Manager in April 2019.

STI thanks Scott Sanders for his service to the USA!

 

 

 

 

Kaven Howard

Highlighted today in STI’s Honoring our Veteran’s series is Kaven Howard.

Kaven served 8 years in the US Army. His postings included a tour in Saudi Arabi, Ft. Bragg, NC, Ft. Campbell, KY, and Ft. Bliss, TX. Howard was posted with the 1-325 and the 1-187 Airborne Infantry Regiments as a Parachutist and Infantryman. Kaven went on to join the 507 Maintenance Battalion where he served as a Patriot Missile Repair Technician.

Kaven achieved the final rank of Sergeant/E-5 before being Honorably Discharged in December 2000.

Kaven joined STI in 2019.

STI thanks Kaven Howard for his service to the USA!

 

 

 

A.J. Orames

As we continue our march toward Veteran’s day, STI would like to honor A.J. Orames in our series, “Honoring our Veterans.

A.J. went to basic training at Lackland A.F.B in Bexar County, Texas during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1992. After training at Lowery A.F.B in Aurora, CO, Orames was stationed at Hurlbert Field, Fort Walton Beach, FL.

AJ worked on Photo-sensors for devices such as night vision goggles, inferred systems, radar systems, and the flight recorders for aircraft. AJ supported the MH-53J Pavelow helicopter, the MC-130 Combat Talon Aircraft, and the AC-130 gunship aircraft.

AJ was Honorably discharged in 1996 with the rank of E3.

STI thanks A.J. Orames for his service to the United States of America.

 

 

Jeff Light

Jeff entered the Navy in 1981. After Basic Training, Jeff attended Basic Electronics and Electricity School in Orlando Florida.

Jeff’s next assignment was at Great Lakes, Illinois where he attended Advanced Electronics ‘A’ School  followed by another advanced electronics school operated by the US Army in Fort Gordon Georgia.

Light was assigned to the Naval Communications Unit in Key West Florida where he spent 18 months working on communications equipment located at the Naval Air Station Key West.

Jeff and his crewmates on the Training Aircraft Carrier U.S.S Lexington (AVT-16) were home ported in Pensacola Florida.  Shortly after reporting to the U.S.S. Lexington, the ship was sent to Philadelphia PA for a 10 month overhaul to upgrade the carrier with more modern equipment.  Following refit the ship returned to Pensacola and went to sea every month for 2-3 weeks at a time in order to train new pilots for carrier landings and takeoffs.

Jeff received an Honorable Discharge in 1987 and returned to north Alabama and began work in the private sector. Light joined STI as a Manufacturing engineer in November of 2013.

STI Thanks Jeff Light for his Service to the United States of America!

 

 

 

Jonnie Johnson

Jonnie was active in the Army in 1970 through 1972. During his service he served in Vietnam with the Playboy Platoon of the 334^th Attach Helicopter Company where he was a Cobra Crew Chief. The Company stepped down and was transferred to Germany in March 1972. Jonnie was released from active service with the rank of Sp5 (E5) early so he could attend college.

Jonnie served in the Army Ready Reserves from late 1972 through 1976. He was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Sp5 (E5).

Jonnie took a position with STI in 2004 and is a Part-Time Systems Design Engineer.

STI thanks Jonnie Johnson for his service to the United States of America!

 

 

 

Pablo Ortiz

Pablo completed bootcamp Paris Island Marine Recruit Depot in Port Royal, SC in 1969. He was then stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a Mortar Man.  Pablo served in the Marine Corps before being Honorably Discharged with the rank of Lance Corporal.

In 1979, Pablo enlisted in the US Army. His bootcamp for the Army was completed at Ft. Jackson, in Columbia, SC. Between 1979 and 1992 Ortiz was stationed at various locations including Ft. Sill, OK, Mannheim, Germany, Alabama, Korea, Wurstburg, Germany, Kuwait, and Virginia.

Pablo served as a Maintenance Clerk and Petroleum Oil Lubricant Specialist.

Pablo Ortiz honorably discharged in 1992 with the rank of Staff Sargeant.

STI Thanks Pablo Ortiz for his service to the United States of America!

 

 

 

Jim Raby

STI would like to Honor a Veteran and STI Founder, Jim Raby.

Jim entered in the US Navy in 1954.  After completion of bootcamp, Jim was assigned to a Naval Construction Battalion known as, “The Seabees”.

Jim served on, “The Queen Bee”, the U.S.S. Eldorado. He and his shipmates crewed the flagship of the Pacific Amphibious forces under the command of Vice Admiral Settle.

A change in command brought the ship a new assignment as the Flagship under Vice Admiral Pride. Jim served on the Eldorado as the ship sailed for Keeling, Formosa, San Diego and in 1956 to the arctic waters of Alaska. Raby and crew completed artic supply operations and a cruise to the Far East. There they participated in exercises with a Joint Navy-Marine and Nationalist Chinese Navy-Marine amphibious operation off southern Taiwan during the end of the Korean War.

During his time aboard the Eldorado, Jim Raby served as a Communications Technician before being Honorably Discharged from the US Navy.

Jim went on to found STI in San Dimas, CA in 1982 and relocated the company to Madison, AL in 1993. Jim served as the Technical Director for STI several years before his retirement.

STI Thanks Jim Raby for his service to the United States of America!

MADISON, AL — September 2019 — STI Electronics, Inc. is pleased to announce that Diana Bradford, VP of Operations, was recently highlighted on the US Tech website (http://www.us-tech.com/default.aspx?RelID=2157869&issearch=women).

Bradford was published as one of the “Super Women” who shine in the electronics industry. The article focuses on powerful, intellegent women in leadership roles within the electronics industry.

Bradford began her electronics career at Teledyne Aerospace in Tennessee. After moving to Atlanta, she started the first electronics soldering and assembly training program at Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) and served as their Director of Continued Education, Technical Programs for more than ten years. Through this role, Bradford worked with Jim and Dave Raby to bring technical seminars to the Atlanta electronics manufacturing market.

For the past 21 years, Bradford has worked for STI Electronics in Madison. She was promoted to VP of Operations within a couple of years and is currently still serving in that role. STI has provided electronics assembly training to thousands of students over the years, opening doors to individuals to better themselves that were previously closed.

Bradford stated: “Don’t focus on electronics being a male-dominated field. Life is and can be what you make it. Find an area you are passionate about and look for opportunities to make your mark. Find someone in your field of interest that is successful and knowledgeable and then become their shadow. Always, always, always think outside of the box. No one is better suited for any position regardless of gender than someone looking for a more efficient, economical, and easier way of accomplishing something.”

The full article can be found at this link.

STI Electronics, Inc. is pleased to announce the hiring of Caroline Spencer, Ph.D. as Analytical Lab Manager.

 

Spencer is originally from Decatur, AL. She completed her undergraduate degree at The University of Mississippi with a major in Forensic Chemistry.

 

During her time as an undergraduate student Spencer completed a research internship at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, under the advisement of Dr. John W. Bond OBE, focusing on latent fingerprint development on thermal paper. After completing her undergraduate degree, she continued her education at The University of Mississippi pursuing her doctoral degree.

 

The focus of her research during her graduate career was on forensic applications including DNA analysis, studying new psychoactive substances (NPS) and database development. Spencer completed her Doctorate in chemistry, with an analytical chemistry focus in 2019.

 

“Caroline is a welcome addition to the STI Electronics team!” commented STI’s President & CEO David Raby. “Her unique experience and education will boost STI’s analytical and failure analysis capabilities in service to our customers.”

MADISON, AL — July 2019 — STI Electronics, Inc., is pleased to announce that it has renewed its commitment to the White House initiative to boost the skilled workforce.

A White House event marking the first anniversary of President Trump’s Executive Order to develop a national strategy to expand the skilled workforce was held on July 25, 2019. The event reviewed the progress made under that executive order and the related Pledge to America’s Workers, which called on private sector companies to step up their workforce upskilling efforts. In recognition of the industry’s efforts, employees and executives from four IPC member companies were invited to attend Thursday’s White House event. David Raby, President/CEO represented STI Electronics and its support of these efforts.

To support the pledge, STI provides training, education, jobs and certifications ranging from basic, introductory courses for individuals preparing to enter the electronics industry for the first time, as well as advanced education and training. By offering NASA, IPC and other industry certifications, STI prepares and advances the skills of a much-needed workforce.

Raby commented, “As an IPC-member company, STI is proud to support IPC and the Trump Administration in the effort to expand training and career opportunities for American students and workers. We are determined to close the skills gap by providing technical training that will keep our industry competitive.”

MADISON, AL — July 2019 — STI Electronics, Inc.in cooperation with lead author Mike Bixenman and other contributors, announces two technical paper presentations in September at SMTA International Technical Conference (SMTAI).

The papers focus on the problem of cleanliness for QFN component packages and risk management for class 3 hardware. With the increased focus on cleanliness throughout electronics manufacturing, this topic is of great interest across the industry. Mark McMeen, STI’s VP of Engineering Services and Manufacturing, has been busy working on the evaluation of cleanliness and its effects on reliability for all hardware with a focus on IPC Class 3 products.

Attendees at the SMTAI Conference will have the opportunity to attend two presentations. The conference will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, September 22-26, 2019 in Rosemont, IL.

The first paper, “Characterize and Understand Functional Performance of Cleaning QFN Packages on PCB Assemblies – iNEMI Cleanliness Research Study is the result of 18 contributors who came together to predict and understand the functional performance of residues present under single row QFN component packages. The group’s objective was to develop and collect a set of guidelines for understanding the relationship between ionic contamination levels, and cleanliness. With the knowledge gained, the team will establish a reference Test Suite and Test Spec for cleanliness.

The second presentation will be, “Risk Management of Class 3 Electronics as a Function of Cleanliness.” The advanced technology and harsh environments inherent in Class 3 hardware and their production means that all aspects of the systems must be evaluated for reliability. The purpose of the paper is to apply risk management strategies to contaminations. The information gained will be used to improve methods of proving out and developing better methods for qualifying soldering and cleaning processes at the point of manufacture.

Click on the following link for information and registration for the SMTA International Technical Conference.

STI Electronics, Inc. announces Pablo Ortiz’s 10-year anniversary. Ortiz’s anniversary was celebrated with Krispy Kreme Donuts shared with all of his colleagues at STI. In recognition of this significant milestone, David Raby, President/CEO, presented Ortiz with a certificate in appreciation of his 10 years of dedicated service as well as PTO and a monetary bonus.
“Pablo’s attention to detail in his position as Custodian & Maintenance Technician has allowed STI to provide customers with a clean, safe, pleasant environment in which to conduct business,” says Diana Bradford, VP of Operations. “His smile and attitude are always a pleasure.”

STI is pleased to announce the hiring of Robert Fornefeld as Master Instructor.

Fornefeld will be responsible for conducting IPC certification courses for both Certified IPC Specialists and Trainers.  Additionally, he is currently serving as a co-chair on the IPC-A-610 technical task group and will remain involved with IPC technical and training committees.

Fornefeld joins STI with more than 17 years in the electronics manufacturing industry and 20 years in technical and corporate education.

“Robert’s experience in electronics manufacturing training will be a great benefit to STI’s students,” said Pat Scott, Director of Training Services. “The addition of Robert to the Training Department will allow us to maintain a presence in the IPC committees while we continue to meet customer demands.”

STI is pleased to announce that it is a corporate sponsor of the 2019 SMTA Pan Pacific (Pan Pac) Microelectronics Symposium. The event is scheduled to take place Feb. 11-14, 2019 at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club in Kauai, Hawaii.

STI Electronics has been a corporate member and supporter of the SMTA for more than 27 years. Many of its employees are active in the local chapters as well. An active IPC and SMTA member, STI President David Raby served two terms as president and two terms on the Board of Directors for SMTA.

“STI is proud to provide corporate sponsorship for this year’s Pan Pac symposium,” said David Raby, President/CEO. “The beautiful venue combined with a more intimate setting provides attendees with a great opportunity to gain knowledge in the electronics manufacturing industry.”

Pan Pac promotes international technical interchange and provides a premier forum for networking among microelectronics professionals and business leaders throughout the world.

In addition to several inspiring keynotes, the event will feature ground-breaking research from global experts on advanced packaging & processes, automotive systems & hardware, cleaning technologies, heterogeneous integration, inspection & test techniques, interposer & packaging technology, materials & reliability, nanotechnology applications and more.