Spirit: Behind the Screen

Marti McCurdy, CEO of Spirit Electronics, welcomes Dr. Marcia Ballinger, President of Lorain County Community College (LCCC), for a conversation about workforce development, advanced manufacturing, and the future of the semiconductor industry. Dr. Ballinger shares insights into how LCCC built its nationally recognized programs in MEMS and advanced manufacturing to meet industry needs, which led to...

In this episode, Marti speaks with Fred Wolff, Business Development Manager at Q-Tech, to discuss their industry heritage and advanced product roadmap as a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-reliability crystal oscillators for military and space applications. Q-Tech was the first company to commercially manufacture hybrid crystal oscillators for the MIL-PRF-55310 QPL in 1972. Since then, Q-Tech has...

In this episode, Marti is joined by Rajan Rajgopal, CEO of Zero-Error Systems (ZES) to discuss their cutting-edge power reliability and data integrity products, including the Latchup Detection and Protection (LDAP) IC for unmatched micro-SEL protection, and how these solutions are revolutionizing the New Space industry. From its origins at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore and subse...

In this episode, Marti sits down with Spirit SMT Engineering Manager Brendan Courtney to discuss the newly expanded CCA line. Brendan brings over 30 years of experience in the field and has been instrumental in Spirit’s push to become a leader in high-quality, custom board builds for aerospace and defense. The newly updated automated CCA line opens the door to more challenging and complicated proc...

In this episode, Marti sits down with NOVI President and Co-Founder Amit Mehra and CEO Michael Bartholomeusz to discuss how NOVI onboard edge computing modules streamline satellite data analysis and transmission.   NOVI’s innovative computing solutions leverage advanced artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) algorithms to analyze and relay only essential and relevant data from the satell...

EPC's Gallium Nitride (GaN) products have transformed the industry since Spirit first partnered with EPC on franchised distribution 6 years ago. EPC CEO Alex Lidow returns to the podcast to talk with Marti about GaN's growth in space, automotive, and AI.   With space flight heritage and active products in all orbits from LEO to GEO to Mars, GaN has superior radiation resilience for satellites, dat...

In this episode, Marti interviews Co-Founder and CEO Jim Cantrell on his history in the space industry and the trajectory of satellite and launch vehicle builder Phantom Space. Jim's backstory connects the industry's government space age heritage with the shift to Low-Earth orbit satellite launches and data collection applications among private and commercial launch companies.   Jim and Marti also...

In this episode, Spirit VP Zef Malik joins Marti for a conversation about the driving forces and trends to watch in the semiconductor industry.   Zef and Marti discuss: Geopolitical influences on semiconductor manufacturing in the US Domestic manufacturing goals & local impacts Workforce & resources for semiconductor manufacturing Manufacturing automation & impact of AI   For more info...

In this episode, ISOCOM CEO and Managing Director Thomas Bayat shares background on the company's product offerings for commercial space and satellites.   From solid state relays that replace mechanical relays to optocouplers, ISOCOM products have a long running space heritage, including some products still functional on the International Space Station today.   Marti and Thomas discuss product des...

Spirit's Purchasing Coordinator Travis Ireland has been a soldier in the Army National Guard for 11 years. In this episode, Travis talks with Marti about seeing components and end applications for microelectronics in the field. As a veteran-owned company, Spirit is often in touch with the impact our products have on our national defense missions and service members in the field. Travis's experienc...

Spirit has managed and performed radiation testing , but with our addition of device analytical services such as DPA (destructive physical analysis), we also have the ability to prepare sample components. In this episode, Marti and producer Alyssa discuss what is involved with sample preparation for radiation testing and how it fits into Spirit's end-to-end supply chain solutions .

Marti rolls out Season 4 with a new shopping cart feature for e-commerce on Spirit's website. Senior Director of Technology Megan Downie and Warehouse Associate Josh Rolin join her to discuss how e-commerce will work through the Spirit website.   Spirit's shopping cart integrates with the Texas Instruments store to offer both Spirit and TI stock to our customers online. The site will feature strea...

Spirit Account Rep Steve Kruse's perspective is that if you work to make someone's job easy, they'll want to work with you. You'll rise to the top among your customers. And as his fellow Spirit Account Rep Jason Brandsma shares, Spirit has been recognized for this high-touch support by some of our prime customers this past year.   Steve and Jason talk with Marti about Spirit's component distributi...

The Spirit Electronics Quality department manages all major compliance programs in support of business operations. So it's no surprise that Quality Director Estefania Romero is an expert in export control.   In this episode Estefania and Marti discuss Spirit's compliance and sales support for export controlled components under both ITAR and EAR. The program supports national security goals while p...

In this episode, Spirit's Director of Purchasing Kelly Krall talks with Marti about supplier management and automation.   With lead times and prices constantly shifting in the post-covid supply chain, Kelly has found that the key to meeting customer requirements is communication and insight around delays and changes. Her purchasing team coordinates information between customers and the supply chai...

As an authorized distributor, Spirit has supported some award-winning SMI programs over the years, but Director of Technical Sales Sean Macdonald covers the major supply chain changes and service shifts we've seen in the past 5 years.   Supplier-Managed Inventory (SMI) has typically looked at materials forecasts and ordering in advance to make sure parts are available when you need them on the ass...

CEO Marti McCurdy and VP Zef Malik share the news that Spirit Electronics has acquired Insight Analytical Labs in Colorado Springs, adding the IAL team and services under the Spirit full-turnkey umbrella.   The move adds Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA) and broader construction and device analysis capabilities, crucial services in the military-aerospace industry. Not only does the team perform...

Marti shares her three MVPs as a small business CEO: her attorney, her CPA and her banker. In this episode, Marti talks small business banking with Gary Naquin, Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking at MidFirst.   Gary shares his outlook about bank stability, inflation and economic influences currently shaping the future of the economy in Arizona and the Phoenix Metro area.   Spirit Electroni...

Jim Kemerling, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Triad Semiconductor , joins Marti for an episode about Triad's analog and mixed-signal ASICs and the process of qualifying them for radiation and harsh environments. Triad Semiconductor specializes in analog and mixed-signal ASICs. Marti and Jim discuss Triad's via-configurable arrays that offer flexibility in programming.   You can find out m...

In this episode, Marti chats with EPC's CEO Alex Lidow and Marketing Director Renee Yawger about the progress of GaN. They discuss GaN's performance under high radiation as well as the extensive testing, failure modes and device lifespan detailed in EPC's Phase 15 reliability report .   With the full potential of GaN still to be explored and new EPC products releasing frequently, including new hal...

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month , and Catherine Ivy joins Marti to share her story and the Ivy Brain Tumor Center's work toward effective brain tumor treatment.   Catherine Ivy is the founder of the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation and the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. The Ivy Brain Tumor Center has pioneered Phase 0 Clinical Trials to redesign the pr...

In celebration of Earth Day 2023, Spirit is highlighting all of the ways that we have been pursuing sustainable operations. Even as a small business, we believe that every little action adds up.   Green-minded Director of Technical Sales Sean Macdonald joins Marti for this episode on Spirit's Sustainable small business activities. From growing and harvesting an employee garden to automating our fa...

In this bonus episode, Marti & Alyssa talk about the ongoing Spirit Gives Foundation basket fundraiser. Donations allow us to hold community building events and support local children year-round.   Spirit Gives has the perfect gift for your spring holiday. Whether it's Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation, teacher appreciation or your own special occasion, Spirit Gives is offering hi...

Zef Malik returns for an ASIC dive discussing the process and benefits to electrical test programs for ASICs. With the design access and knowledge in already part of an ASIC program, testing and qualifying an ASIC can quickly deliver ASIC devices ready-to-use with reliability.   Listen to Zef and Marti discuss:   (2:24) Benchmarking an ASIC (6:01) The System on a Chip Market (7:10) How ASIC Electr...

Spirit VP Zef Malik remembers the early days of the ASIC industry. While the FPGA and international manufacturing moved aerospace and defense away from ASIC programs, Zef sees ASIC programming growing and changing as domestic manufacturing returns.   Listen to Zef and Marti discuss the technological ASIC advantages and how to maximize these benefits through foundry services and packaging selection...