Summit Interconnect was proud to participate in the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA), held in Washington, D.C. this June. The event drew record attendance and demonstrated strong momentum for the U.S. printed circuit board and substrates industry, with impactful engagement from both government and industry leaders.

As a founding member of PCBAA, Summit Interconnect is deeply invested in strengthening the domestic PCB supply chain. Our CEO, Shane Whiteside, currently serves as Chairman and plays an active role in guiding the organization’s strategic direction and advocacy efforts. John Vaughan, Vice President of Strategic Markets at Summit, also serves as PCBAA Membership Chair.

This year’s meeting brought together Members of Congress, Department of Commerce officials, defense primes, OEM executives, and representatives from across the electronics manufacturing sector. A core focus was advancing bipartisan support for the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act (PCBs Act)—a critical piece of legislation aimed at revitalizing the U.S. electronics manufacturing base.

As part of the event, PCBAA representatives conducted over two dozen meetings on Capitol Hill, securing new Congressional co-sponsors for the PCBs Act and reinforcing the importance of onshoring production of mission-critical technologies.

The annual meeting continues to serve as a vital platform for uniting policymakers and industry stakeholders in a shared mission: ensuring that the United States remains globally competitive in the design and manufacturing of printed circuit boards, substrates, and advanced electronic systems.

At Summit Interconnect, we are honored to contribute to this movement. We remain committed to promoting policies that secure the U.S. electronics ecosystem and safeguard the future of domestic innovation.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Clay Swain this past weekend. Clay was an integral part of Summit Interconnect from the very beginning—joining the company just six weeks after it was founded. He brought a spirit of optimism, warmth, and dedication that helped shape Summit’s culture and values. His impact on our team and our customers was immeasurable.

With a career that spanned decades in the printed circuit board industry, Clay was widely respected for his integrity, passion, and leadership, and he was instrumental in building lasting relationships across the industry.  Clay began his PCB industry career as an Account Manager at Lundahl Astro Circuits in Logan, Utah, where he quickly distinguished himself through his natural ability to connect with customers. From there, he advanced to roles at the Tyco Printed Circuit Group and then at TTM Technologies.  In 2016, Clay joined Summit’s leadership team as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Throughout his tenure with Summit, Clay led with vision and integrity. He played a pivotal role in our company’s ongoing growth and success—earning the admiration of colleagues, customers, and partners alike.

Clay’s contributions extended far beyond his professional roles. He had a kindness and enthusiasm that inspired everyone around him, whether he was engaging with customers or leading his team. His genuine interest in people left a lasting impression on all who knew him.  “Clay brought tremendous energy to our company and much of our early success is attributed to him,” said Shane Whiteside, CEO and Chairman of Summit Interconnect. “We will miss his warm smile and relentlessly positive approach to everything in life and work.”

As we move forward, Clay’s presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to guide how we serve our customers and support one another.

We invite all who knew Clay—customers, partners, teammates, and friends—to join us in celebrating his life and the indelible mark he left on all of us.

—The Summit Interconnect Team