Welcome to TTI
2008 Connector Market Outlook Presenter Bios
Moderator: (Connectors)
Lew LaFornara, Vice President of Supplier Marketing, TTI
Lew Lafornara is Vice President of Supplier Marketing at TTI. He has more than 28 years experience in the electronic components industry working on both the manufacturing and component distribution sides of the business. While working for Amphenol Aerospace in the military/aerospace market and for FCI/Berg Electronics in the commercial connector market, LaFornara spent the majority of his career managing the distribution channel both domestically and globally. Prior to joining TTI, he was Vice President of Interconnect at Future Electronics and has experience with Avnet’s Hamilton/Hallmark Electronics unit. In addition to his work experience he has served on the Board of Directors of NEDA, as well as on the Board of the NEDA Education Foundation.
Presenter Information:
Ron Bishop, Founder, Bishop & Associates, Inc.
Ron Bishop founded Bishop & Associates, Inc. in 1985, a market research firm that specializes in the world electronic connector industry. The firm publishes a monthly newsletter entitled “The Bishop Report”, and a twice monthly electronic publication entitled connectorsupplier.com A staff of twenty researchers produce reports centered on geographic regions, end-use equipment markets, connector products, and interconnect technologies. The firm also provides executive placement and conducts multi-client studies, customer surveys, and assists in merger & acquisition activity. Ron Bishop has a B.S. Finance from the University of Missouri.
The U.S. headquarters is located in St Charles, IL, a western suburb of Chicago. The firm also has offices in Brussels, Belgium, Sidney, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Robert “Bob” Pokrzywa, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, FCI
Robert “Bob” Pokrzywa has more than 25 years experience in the electronics industry and has spent the last 10 years with FCI Electronics. He has held many positions in his business career including various marketing and engineering assignments. Bob currently holds the position of Global Vice President, Sales and Marketing at FCI.
Brian Krause, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Molex
Brian Krause has worked in the connector industry for the past 30 years, with the last 27 years for Molex, Inc. in various marketing and sales positions. In his current position as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Molex, Brian is responsible for Global Marketing and Communications, which includes the Molex brand, advertising, public relations, employee communications, as well as the commercialization and promotion of Molex's products globally. In addition Brian has responsibility for Molex's website, strategic planning, and Molex's internally developed demand creation process which allows Molex to identify new growth segments and customers.
Brian's global MARCOM organization promotes Molex to key audiences in major industries through trade shows and customer seminars, advertising, electronic promotions, search words, e-newsletters, product campaigns, public relations, and multimedia productions. The global product commercialization organization is responsible for working with product managers to develop promotion plans and using cost-effective commercialization tactics to meet the marketing needs for each of Molex's sales channels. These tactics include product release packages, web publishing, the "Team Molex" audio conference calls, product sample kits and content for newsletters and promotions.
Rob Rix, Vice President of Global Business Development and Industry Marketing, Tyco Electronics
Rob Rix is Vice President, Global Business Development & Industry Marketing, Communications, Computer & Consumer Electronics (CC&CE) at Tyco Electronics. In this role, his responsibility is to develop the business unit strategy, ensure robust new product and technology streams, and manage mergers & acquisitions.
Rob has served in numerous roles including: global sales management, industry marketing EMEA, and development engineering.
He is currently located in Harrisburg, Penn.