Samtec Signal E1 2024

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SAMTEC SIGNAL

THE LAS VEGAS Sphere

LEADING INNOVATIONS THAT Inspire!

WELCOME

In this edition of the Samtec Signal, we will explore the power and potential of collaboration in our rapidly evolving world. In today’s interconnected society, collaboration has become not just a buzzword but a vital force driving innovation, progress, and positive change across all facets of life. From the boardroom to the classroom, from scientific breakthroughs to artistic endeavors, collaboration is the key that unlocks new ideas, fosters diversity of thought, and brings people together in pursuit of common goals. As a member of the Samtec family, we hope you enjoy this edition!

Unleashing Potential Through Collaboration Collaboration is the act of working together with others to achieve a common goal or objective.

It involves individuals or groups pooling their knowledge, resources, and skills to solve problems, create something new, or accomplish a task more effectively than they could individually. Effective collaboration can lead to innovation and increased productivity.

This edition of Samtec Signal showcases collaboration in various forms, from end-product applications and new sustainability ventures to the creation of the Samtec Product Catalog, environmental efforts, the co-op program, and Samtec Cares’ partnerships with the community and more! We hope you find inspiration in our collective accomplishments.

Tessie is hiding somewhere in the Samtec Signal! Once you find her, email us at samtecsignal@samtec.com and let us know where she is. You will be entered to win a $25 gift card!

SPHERE: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS ART Have you heard about the Las Vegas Sphere? It’s a stimulating new venue set to host a variety of large-scale events, including concerts, special film screenings, and professional sports. Standing tall at 366 feet and spanning 516 feet wide, it claims the title of the world’s largest spherical structure, hence its fitting name. Essentially, The Sphere is a colossal, ball-shaped stadium boasting state-ofthe-art LED technology both inside and out.

With a staggering price tag of $2.3 billion, The Sphere accommodates up to 18,600 spectators and boasts approximately 170,000 speakers within its confines. Its exterior dazzles with 1.2 million hockey puck-sized LEDs, capable of displaying dynamic imagery on a monumental scale. Meanwhile, inside, a towering 250-foot-tall 16K LED screen envelops the audience, offering immersive visuals that wrap around and above the spectators. What’s truly captivating is the versatility of these LEDs, which can be programmed to transform the exterior into anything from a playful jack-o-lantern to a colossal eyeball, offering a captivating visual spectacle that evolves, morphs, and mesmerizes audiences.

See for yourself here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiYAJzVnD6A The primary aim behind The Sphere was to craft immersive experiences that captivate the senses and transport fans and attendees into a realm of unparalleled wonder. The spherical design plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal.

With its column-free interior, every member of the audience is afforded an unobstructed view,” elucidates Paul Westbury, Executive Vice President of Development and Construction at Sphere Entertainment Co. Westbury, instrumental in bringing to fruition the vision of Jim Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere, underscores the importance of this feature.

CONTINUE READING ABOUT THE SPHERE >>>

STARTING AT $99 PER TICKET, you can enter the Sphere and experience an interactive and immersive show called The Sphere Experience. This is a two-part program that begins when you enter the venue. The approximately two-hour experience begins in the Atrium, where, through one-of-a-kind immersive technology experiences created specifically for Sphere, guests will gain a better understanding of how technology amplifies our human potential. The Sphere Experience then continues in the main venue bowl for a multi-sensory cinematic experience.

U2, one of the world’s biggest rock bands, launched a residency at The Sphere featuring their hit album Achtung Baby on September 29th. The band basically moved its entire creative team to Las Vegas for six months in order to create this show for this building (and only this building). The first half of their residency ended on Nov 4th, and U2’s 17 Sphere shows grossed over $109 million and sold 281,000 tickets. By the end of their shows, U2 is projected to gross over $330 million.

OUR CUSTOMER: Our customer SACO Technologies develops and supplies industry-leading solid-state LED lighting and media solutions. This includes specially lit buildings, concert lighting, and special lighting for events like awards ceremonies and theater, among many others.

For The Sphere, SACO designed and manufactured the exterior LED technology for Madison Square Garden Entertainment. We supplied SACO, who is a longstanding Samtec customer, with well over one million cable connectors. These connectors are a full ASP (custom product) that allows SACO to build the cable assemblies at the construction site, to whatever length is necessary.

Each one of the “hockey puck” LED lamps is a pixel on the giant screen, and they are installed on rails. Our cable connectors are used for connecting the rails.

Samtec also has connectors on the inside of The Sphere.

Our customer AED in Bozeman, Montana, is a full-service contract engineering firm that develops hardware, equipment, software, and firmware, as well as services like designing and building prototypes, FPGAs, quality, and testing programs, and small manufacturing runs. One of their customers is MSG Ventures, which operates the Sphere. AED has designed our ExaMAX cable assemblies into the audio, video, and graphics communication systems of the Sphere. Specifically, this equipment transmits live audio and video feeds and graphics to the screens and hundreds of speakers surrounding the audience. That is much easier said than done! Syncing the audio to the video of a live event is a huge engineering challenge given the amount of data transferred and the distance the signals have to travel. AED selected ExaMAX based on its speed, density, and quality.

SAMTEC JOHOR BAHRU

SUSTAINABILITY REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT GLOBALLY

The Samtec Sustainability team is excited to highlight a couple of recent sustainability projects implemented across our global network during 2023.

In March of 2023, Samtec facilities in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, began construction and installation of roof-mounted solar grids. The photovoltaic grids, each with a 1-megawatt capacity, were fully installed and energized by September 2023. This is the first-of-its-kind effort across Samtec’s global network and is proving to be a significant win-win for the organization.

On an annualized basis, when operating at capacity, each grid can generate approximately 20% of the electrical energy (KWh) required to power each site, ultimately reducing Johor Bahru’s electricity costs by approximately 25%.

In addition to the energy and cost savings, this effort helps reduce Samtec’s carbon footprint globally. Because of the solar grids and the clean energy they produce, Samtec’s global footprint is reduced by approximately 1,600 metric tons CO2e annually, and the Johor Bahru facilities’ total carbon footprint is reduced by approximately 26%. Another way to understand this impact is that the CO2 reduction tied to this effort is equivalent to planting approximately 12,000 trees or removing all the greenhouse gas emissions of 341 passenger vehicles annually.

Another Environmental sustainability effort that kicked off in 2023 is the Green Power Agreement at Samtec’s Scottsburg Facility. The agreement is a collaboration between Samtec, the City of Scottsburg, and the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA), similar to the Green Power Agreement we have in place at Samtec Colorado Springs.

Under the Scottsburg agreement, 100% of the electricity used

by Samtec Scottsburg is attributed to renewable resources and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), thus reducing our environmental footprint globally. In addition to this, Samtec is helping to support and develop renewable energy infrastructures and resources in the areas where we have operations.

This is another example of a nice win-win from a sustainable standpoint, and Samtec is excited to be one of the first organizations in Scottsburg to take part in this program. By reducing our emissions, focusing on the efficient use of utilities, and supporting the development of renewable infrastructures locally, Samtec believes it can make communities like Scottsburg better places to live for our associates and everyone in the region.

In recent years, Samtec has seen a growing number of stakeholders rolling out sustainability expectations, accompanied by a significant increase in sustainable regulations globally. In an effort to achieve greater awareness of how we measure up from a sustainability standpoint while also supporting stakeholder expectations, Samtec has taken part in several third-party sustainability evaluations. Notably, EcoVadis and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) are the gold standard when it comes to sustainable evaluations today. Samtec completes these assessments on an annual basis, and we are excited to highlight our most recent scores.

During its most recent EcoVadis and CDP assessments, Samtec met or surpassed all global, regional, and industry averages across all areas of focus that make up each assessment. In addition to scoring well on the EcoVadis assessment, Samtec surpassed global, industry, and regional averages with our CDP scores in the Climate Change and Water Security assessments.

CATALOG ENCAPSULATES TEAM DYAMICS Graced with a vibrant tiger cover, the latest edition of the Full Line Catalog rolled off the press in November.

Showcasing the newest and most popular connectors, this marketing piece has been around since the company’s inception in 1976.

With a shelf-life of about two years, the catalog is intended as an internal resource and an external sales tool. As the company has grown, the book has grown from 16 pages to its current 338-page count. A digital version is located on Samtec’s website (samtec.com/ literature) for sales flexibility.

THE CATALOG 2021

A great amount of effort and a team of talented Associates are needed to produce the catalog. Although product series catalog pages for the website are worked on continuously, planning for the printed catalog begins at least a year out to establish a page count and determine what products to include. Then, a team of planners, designers, 3D illustrators and proofreaders perfect each page before the files are sent to a printing company.

Tasks are not finished when the books arrive from the printer. Shipping to every location and sales associate takes about two weeks. In addition, the catalog PDF and series catalog page PDFs are created and uploaded to the website.

CHECK OUT SAMTEC.COM/SUPPORT/LITERATURE/ TO SEE ALL CURRENT LITERATURE!

Even though the Marketing heads this major endeavor, it cannot be done without feedback and aid from other departments such as Sales, PMD, Engineering and Shipping. This major piece in the sales arsenal is a total team effort.

NEW!

SAMTEC PODCAST The official podcast of Samtec. Hosted by Matt and Dave, we discuss some of the most interesting aspects of the modern interconnect industry. From the latest technologies to entertaining anecdotes, this is the podcast that brings you up to speed with the world of connectors.

SAMTEC BLOG Also, don’t forget to check out the Samtec Blog! We have many contributors from Engineering, Marketing, the Web Team, Co-ops, and more. Several blog posts are published each month to keep you and our customers up to date on the latest buzz here at Samtec.

SAMTEC EXPANDS ITS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND REACHES 100K SUBSCRIBERS MILESTONE Samtec recently revamped its YouTube channel to provide more technical and educational resources.

The expanded channel serves as a bridge between theoretical education and practical innovation, focusing on delivering short and educational content through new curated playlists, insightful demos, and easily accessible online technical support.

Additional playlists have been added to Samtec’s YouTube channel, catering to specific product lines, applications, and technical topics. Whether it’s highspeed interconnects, board-to-board solutions, industry trends, or signal integrity, our YouTube channel offers a convenient avenue for viewers.

These quick yet technical videos serve as invaluable resources for engineers and designers seeking practical knowledge or guidance. Users can search and watch videos on new product launches, technical tutorials and demonstrations, full playlist series, partner videos, or take a look inside Samtec’s global operations. We are working to include more links throughout videos and descriptions for quick and easy online technical support.

I am excited to share that Samtec’s YouTube channel has officially reached over 100K subscribers! A big THANK YOU to our followers and customers for helping us reach this milestone over the past year. Samtec Inc. will be receiving a Silver Creator plaque, which is pretty neat!

Here’s to more YouTube channel content and updates coming in 2024. Cheers!

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR RECENT VIDEOS:

TREES FOR THE FUTURE Our Samtec Sustainability Team collaborated with the Sam Shine Foundation for Arbor Day 2023. This opportunity allowed us to engage with our Associates at New Albany, playing a part in being good stewards of the environment while supporting some of our internal sustainability goals. It also served as a platform to raise awareness among a larger audience about the Sam Shine Foundation and showcase some of the impacts they are having locally and abroad.

As part of this effort, we distributed trees and shrubs to several Associates who participated in our Trees for the Future Grant, along with saplings to many others. Through this initiative, Associates were able to take home their tree or sapling and plant it on their property. In total, nearly 150 trees were handed out to our Associates as part of this effort.

SAVE THE MANGROVE

“Save The Mangrove Protect The Earth” As the world increasingly recognizes the critical role of blue carbon ecosystems in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change, we are also contributing to protecting the Earth and promoting sustainability. Here, you can see Samtec Penang actively participating in their local community to plant mangroves and safeguard the environment.

The objective of the program is to raise awareness of the value of healthy ecosystem functions and environmental preservation among our associates.

Under the guidance of the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association and the Penang State Forest Department, we successfully planted 300 mangrove saplings.

BEING A SAMTEC CO-OP By: Janine Love

Samtec’s multi-year co-op program is part of our commitment to education and investment in young talent. The program supports different disciplines. This month’s post focuses on the IT and Signal Integrity Group (SIG) engineering co-op programs, capturing thoughts on the advantages of a co-op program from the full-time employees who lead the programs as well as some of the co-op participants. (For more on how the Samtec co-op program is structured, see Real Job Skills from the Samtec Co-Op Program – The Samtec Blog.)

The IT Co-Op Program Currently, the Samtec IT co-op program has 16 participants: 10 in New Albany, IN (Samtec headquarters) and 6 in Costa Rica. The IT co-op program features two distinct tracks: Infrastructure (with roles such as help desk, network, security, and I&O systems and services) and Development (which offers roles in software engineering, data engineering, data analysis, and project management). The IT students are given rotations based on their aspirations and Samtec’s organizational needs. Currently, 4 co-ops are in the Infrastructure lane and 12 are in the Development lane.

Samantha Deak explains why it is important for Samtec to have a co-op program in IT: “In IT, we face intense competition for top-tier roles, often struggling to secure senior-level talent promptly. This sometimes leaves open positions vacant for extended periods. While these students might not match the technical expertise of senior professionals, they don’t face the typical learning curve

of newcomers who are not familiar with our systems, processes, and culture. This ensures that when a position arises, we have a ready pool of adept candidates, serving as a consistent talent pipeline for our program.”

The SIG Co-Op Program Samtec believes in education plus real-world experience as a steppingstone for doing valuable work. “Our co-ops immediately start working on real-world projects, so by the time they may join our team full time they can manage several projects independently,” says Juan Aguirre SI Engineering Manager, Samtec, and leader of the SIG coop program, “They also know how to navigate through our organization faster and understand our company’s culture.” Samtec currently has 8 SIG co-ops with more expected to join after the fall career fairs.

Signal integrity is a very challenging complex field that encompasses Transmission Line Theory, the physics behind high-speed communications, 3D field tools, materials, and system-level design challenges, just to name a few. “Having this program early on in their careers, combined with rotations within our hubs, enables the skill development of a well-rounded SIG engineer,” notes Juan Aguirre. In addition, it “increases their productivity and collaboration skills, so if they join our team they hit the ground running, already leading their own high-level projects inside our company.”

THE CO-OP PERSPECTIVE Michael Cieslak , a co-op in SIG, as well as Emily Wyland, a co-opnnn in IT reflected on their experiences so far at Samtec: Why did you choose Samtec?

Emily Wyland (EW): I chose Samtec because the current employees that I met spoke very highly of the company.

After attending the Lunch & Learn at the UofL College of Business and hearing more about Samtec’s products and values, I knew an IT Co-Op position here would be a great fit for me.

What do you feel you are learning at Samtec?

Michael Cieslak (MC): At Samtec I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from leaders in the field of signal integrity and power integrity. Also, through the work that I have done I have been able to learn about how to use test instruments such as a VNA and TDR in addition to simulation tools such as HFSS, which I likely would not have been able to get much experience with otherwise. Through the projects I have taken on I have had the chance to learn about how to optimize a design and lead a project. Having to work the 20 hours each week has also meant that I had to get better with my time management skills to manage working and schoolwork.

EW: I feel like I have learned not only technical skills, but also interpersonal skills during my time at Samtec.

On the more technical side, I have learned how to use new video editing software, how to leverage the entire suite of Microsoft tools, and how to employ various project management strategies. On top of this new knowledge, I feel like I have gained a new confidence in my communication skills and my teamwork abilities.

Have you learned/experienced something positive that you didn’t expect to?

MC: When I first joined Samtec I was surprised by the very positive work culture at Samtec and the willingness of everyone to share the knowledge that they have with

others. Another thing that surprised me was the wide array of devices that Samtec’s products go into, I found it particularly surprising that Samtec’s products have found their way into things such as pacemakers and the life support system in a spacesuit.

What advice would you give incoming co-ops?

MC: My advice for any incoming co-ops is to be open to learning new things on the job and to not be afraid of asking questions or tackling new problems. So far, my experience at Samtec has been that when I had a question on how to do something or the theory behind something, everyone I have reached out to has been friendly and willing to help.

EW: Get involved! Don’t skip the events put on by the company. Some of my favorite memories are from our monthly co-op events and weekly trivia nights. These events are a great opportunity to get to know your co-workers and build lasting friendships.

Becoming a Samtec Co-Op The Samtec co-op program aims to provide real-world experience that works in conjunction with a co-op’s formal education, and it offers a transitional time for both co-ops and the Samtec team to see if there is a good long-term fit after graduation. Samtec will be attending upcoming Fall 2023 career fairs at numerous colleges, including University of Louisville, Purdue University, Arizona State, University of South Carolina, and Penn State (Erie and Harrisburg).

2024: YEAR OF THE DRAGON CHINESE NEW YEAR

The Year of the Dragon holds special significance in the Chinese zodiac, representing power, strength, and good fortune. People born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to inherit the dragon’s characteristics, which include intelligence, ambition, and a strong sense of self-confidence. The dragon is considered a symbol of authority and leadership in Chinese culture, making those born in this year natural leaders & charismatic individuals.

In Chinese astrology, each year is associated with one of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) and a specific animal sign. The Year of the Dragon is also linked to an elemental cycle, creating variations such as the Wood Dragon, Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, Metal Dragon, and Water Dragon. Each elemental dragon is believed to possess unique qualities that influence the personality traits of individuals born in that specific year.

People often anticipate the Year of the Dragon as a time of prosperity and good luck. It is considered an auspicious time for starting new ventures. Many believe that dragons bring positive energy and blessings, making this year particularly favorable for ambitious undertakings and personal growth. The dragon’s mythical nature adds an element of mystery and excitement to the year, fostering a sense of optimism and adventure.

While the Year of the Dragon is associated with positive attributes, it’s essential to approach these beliefs with an understanding of cultural traditions and superstitions.

Chinese New Year celebrations, which mark the beginning of the lunar calendar, often include various customs and rituals aimed at attracting good fortune and warding off negativity. Whether one believes in these traditions or not, the Year of the Dragon remains a culturally rich and celebrated aspect of Chinese astrology, influencing both individual lives and societal events.

HUIZHOU’S SPRING FESTIVAL PROGRAM:

HZ SPRING FESTIVAL SAMTEC HUIZHOU

Samtec has always prioritized the improvement and enhancement of Associates’ welfare, valuing their voices as one of the most important aspects. Recently, Samtec HZ hosted a Spring Festival Party to celebrate the arrival of the new year - the Year of the Dragon.

Associates serve as the driving force behind the company’s development.

To express gratitude to those individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to the company’s growth and created significant value, special recognition was given through the Special Contribution Award and the Innovation and Creativity Award. Six teams were honored with these awards through peer voting. These accolades not only acknowledge their efforts in lean production, cost reduction, and efficiency but also inspire others to continuously enhance their work efficiency, quality, and contribute to the company’s sustainable development.

During the Spring Festival Party, attendees enjoyed a feast, appreciated various program performances, and enthusiastically participated in multiple rounds of lucky draws. The event was filled with joyous cheers, and everyone was immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the New Year!

OPENING DANCE Drumming, as an ancient traditional musical instrument, is not only a way of music performance, but also a way of expressing strength and passion.

FACE CHANGING IN SICHUAN OPERA In the southwest of China, there is a traditional Chinese cultural art - Face Changing in Sichuan Opera. It is a skill of rapidly changing roles by transforming masks.

GOD OF WEALTH’S MAGIC PERFORMANCE The god of wealth brings gifts and luck to the audience with magic performances.

THE JOURNEY OF A LEGENDARY LANDSCAPE PAINTING The dance is based on China’s famous painting “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”, which shows the unique aesthetics of the Song Dynasty.

CHINESE ACROBATICS By combining traditional acrobatics with modern technological elements, audiences can experience unprecedented visual shocks.

NIGHT BANQUET IN TANG DYNASTY PALACE The dance shows the prosperity and elegance in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

SUMMER 2023 GRANTS The crown jewel in our community efforts is the Samtec Cares Grant Program. Samtec Cares was created to positively impact and assist organizations within the communities in which Samtec employees live, work, go to school, and play. Grants are awarded to applying and qualified 501(c )(3) non-profits, up to $50,000 per grant.

Samtec recently announced that over $615,000 in grants were awarded to 29 organizations during 2023. Samtec has awarded over $4 million to date since the inception of the grant program in 2018 to over 155 different organizations.

Samtec Cares targets its awards to support five areas of focus: • Community Development: To better the places where Samtec operates, we look for organizations that improve the quality of life for our employees and neighbors.

• Health and Social Services: Our goal is to support the health of communities and aid organizations that assist those in need.

• Arts and Culture: We support organizations in our communities that provide unparalleled creative arts experiences and opportunities.

• Education and STEM: Samtec supports the education system including STEM-related programs that focus on hands-on learning with real-world applications.

• Environment: We support organizations whose goal is to reduce overall environmental impact via climate, water, air, land, etc.

The Samtec Cares Grant Program is one of countless examples that reflect the generosity and attitude that the company and the people who work here have for the community. It’s a caring company.

SUMMER 2023 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: Align Southern Indiana Align Southern Indiana’s mission is to actively facilitate a shared regional process that will align resources, address needs and produce sustainable solutions resulting in our region achieving its potential as a best place to live, work and play. Funding will support a piloted program designed to provide support for those grandparents raising grandchildren. Led by credentialed counselors, Raising Our Children’s Kids (ROCK) will provide support, resources and discussion topics to foster the growth and well-being of grandparents who are the primary caregivers to their grandchildren by providing an important means of support, education and respite.

Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana The Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana promotes Art and Culture in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties through partnerships with individuals, groups, and businesses. They leverage events, programming, and space as platforms for community arts and culture engagement. Funds will be used to support the Art on the Move program which takes art into the community to provide fun, immersive, and enriching experiences. This program reaches all corners of our community including schools, assisted living facilities, children’s clubs, community events, housing authorities, and other organizations— regardless of age or ability – at no cost to the participating organizations.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those more in need of their services, to realize and develop their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCK plans to use the grant funds to support the STEM Computer Science Pathway program. The CS Pathway program is designed to guide members through a series of increasingly challenging activities, including Hour of Code, CS Unplugged, and App Lab where members will learn to code, imitate algorithmic processes and design original technologies while developing important social and emotional skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and problem-solving.

Clarksville Little Theatre Founded in 1947, the Clarksville Little Theatre’s first musical production netted them $300 and over the years has continued to provide Southern Indiana and Metro Louisville with quality performances. Funding will be used for the complete removal and replacement of the theater’s rigging system. The current system is rope delivered and has not been used for over 25 years which will increase the quality of productions which are currently severely limited since they cannot change lighting, backdrops, or wings to the stage.

Down Syndrome of Louisville The mission of Down Syndrome of Louisville is to support, educate and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome enabling them to reach their fullest potential. Grant Funds will be used to support weekly and monthly classes for infants and toddlers with Down syndrome aged 0-4 years, known as Early Childhood Education (ECE). ECE classes target the complex delays and health problems related to Down syndrome with a comprehensive and consistent approach to intervention.

Services include assessment, intervention, and monitoring of five developmental domains: communication, physical, socioemotional, cognitive, and adaptive/self-help skills.

Falls of the Ohio Foundation The Falls of the Ohio Foundation supports the natural, cultural and historic resources of the Falls of the Ohio Area, including helping the State Park create and maintain a great exhibit and program experience. Funding will be used to support the Falls of the Ohio Foundation with visibility and benefits at all events and across our media platforms that help elevate the space, educate our community on its significance, and activate it in new ways.

Friends of the Big Springs Old Town Church Big Springs Old Town Church was established in 1828, and the building was erected in 1858. SAMTEC Cares Grant will allow the Friends of the Marengo Big Springs Old Town Church to preserve an historic building. Funds are needed to help restore the exterior of this 165-year-old endangered building in Marengo, Indiana. It is located beside the historic Marengo Cemetery where all of the settlers are buried. There are few historic buildings left in Crawford County and this building will become an educational resource for the people of the county, as well as the tourists visiting the area.

Have a Heart Clinic The Have a Heart Clinic is committed to elevating community health in the Kentuckiana region by providing adult patients with cardiovascular care regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance coverage or status.

Funding will be used to purchase a new echocardiogram machine for Have a Heart Clinic.

Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana The Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana was formed in 2016 and exists to address homelessness and its causes in the community by increasing advocacy and awareness, coordinating efforts, and influencing policy decisions. The funds from the SAMTEC Cares grant will be used to fund operations for our emergency White Flag shelter during the winter months.

Hope Southern Indiana, Inc. Hope Southern Indiana, with the support of the faith based community, empowers and supports individuals and families toward stability. Holistic Hardware is a 10week program for personal change. The tools of Holistic Hardware are designed for people in crisis to help themselves. It is essentially a self-sufficiency curriculum aimed at those stuck in a cycle of poverty. The Holistic Hardware Program centers on responsibility, vision, selfesteem, faith, love, discipline, association, planning, work, and wealth.

Imagination Library of Louisville Imagination Library of Louisville’s mission is to provide a free monthly book to Louisville children from birth to age five to foster a love of reading and prepare children for kindergarten. Funding will allow an expansion of the program county-wide. This will help us ensure all Jefferson County kids have access to high quality, age-appropriate books in early childhood.

Loves Endeavor, Inc. Loves Endeavor purpose is to develop, support and empower those in need. This grant will go toward the purchase and install of a Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) to be located in the Charlestown Fire Department. The “Baby Box” is an incubator specifically designed to accommodate the immediate health, safety and security needs of a surrendered infant.

Lifeline Christian Mission Louisville Meal Pack Centre Lifeline put their values into action to love generously, serve passionately, lead humbly, create possibilities and ignite adventure. This grant would be used for our Kentuckiana Community Meal Pack Days and will facilitate a gathering place and provide ingredients and supplies for a safe, fun environment for all ages and abilities in our community. It will fund thousands of meals for hungry kids and families.

LifeSpan Resources For 50 years, LifeSpan Resources has connected individuals to resources, options and services to remain living independently for as long as possible. LifeSpan Resources will use funding to purchase three Ford transit vans to create greater efficiencies in their existing route system and allow them to add additional routing options and increase capacity to serve more clients with more trips.

Louisville Photo Biennial, Inc. Started in 1999, the Louisville Photo Biennial has grown to encompass more than 50 photographic exhibits across the area. Funds will support for the PASTE UP MURAL PROJECT (PUMP) that includes professional photographers from Indiana and Kentucky. PUMP will employ an innovative technique that allows photographs to be printed and pasted in public spaces. The temporary works of art will be pasted in various sites on buildings and public furnishings across Indiana and Kentucky.

New Day Ministries, Inc. New Day Ministries is committed to helping disadvantaged, low-income, and at-risk youth from the West side neighborhoods who are at higher risk of participating or being affected by gang activity, violence, and juvenile delinquency. Grant funds will be used to support their L.I.F.E. (Love Inspiring Future Excellence) After School Program which provides comprehensive, high-quality After-School programming for 39 weeks during the 2023-2024 JCPS school year that supports grades K – 12 to promote wellness and change by uplifting and empowering youth within the underserved community of the West End of Louisville.

Nomad Church Collective Nomad Church Collective operates The Outpost, a community center located in New Albany, Indiana, that serves the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill and the abandoned. Grant funds will be used for updating the aging HVAC system of their local community center’s, The Outpost, two primary community rooms allowing the opportunity for the Outpost to function as an official warming/cooling station.

North Harrison High School The Vision of North Harrison High School is to provide a collaborative learning environment that encourages each student to realize their fullest potential academically and socially. The funds requested will be used to purchase equipment for North Harrison High School to create their own STEAM Lab. The latest research into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based learning shows that when a hands-on approach is used in the classroom, students learn new concepts and master old ones with greater success and has been proven to accelerate learning in the classroom.

Norton Healthcare Foundation Requested funds will support the Norton Cancer Institute Pat Harrison Resource Center located in Jeffersonville, IN which provides free support services and resources for those facing cancer in our community. The center offers up-to-date information on cancer prevention and treatment as well as a variety of free support services to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all those impacted by the disease.

Otis College of Art and Design Established in 1918 as Los Angeles’ first professional school of arts, Otis College of Art and Design is a national leader in art education. The grant will be used for student supplies across both Toy and Product Design programs by funding students’ prototyping, 3D modeling and digital printing efforts, as well as projects that require equipment not available on campus, such as waterjet and plasma cutters, glass blowing, break shears and more.

Personal Counseling Services, Inc. Personal Counseling Services’ mission is to provide mental health services to everyone desiring wellness of body, mind, spirit, and community. Samtec Cares grant will be used to provide outpatient mental health services to those individuals and families that are uninsured or under-insured.

PCS will provide weekly individual psychotherapy sessions with some family sessions; in some cases, we will provide monthly medication management where needed; weekly music therapy sessions and/or equine therapy.

Prosser Alumni Association, Inc The purpose of the Prosser Alumni Association is to bring graduates and businesses together to assist Prosser graduates with their transition to employment, career pathway or both. The funding will provide access to tools, work clothing, additional certifications and training, technical degree college tuition, transportation and to negate other barriers that could prevent students from transitioning into their local employment choice after graduation.

SOS International Inc. SOS improves global health and the environment through recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies.

Grant funds will support expansion of the SOS Local Health Program (LHP) to increase the number of lives positively impacted in Kentuckiana. The LHP delivers proactive and targeted support of education, medical care and social services in a way not duplicated by any other local organization. It begins with our team working with hospitals to collect their surplus medical supplies, thereby diverting them from local landfills. The SOS mission-work advances health in our Southern Indiana and Kentucky communities by protecting the environment and advancing education, health and wellness.

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville Founded in 1853, St. Vincent de Paul serves individuals and families in need including those who are homeless, living in poverty, suffering from addiction, enduring mental illness or experiencing acute economic crisis.

Funds will be used to provide wrap-around family support services through after-school programming for children (Family Success Center), food security (Open Hand Kitchen), and counseling services (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program). Through these critical programs, SVDP continues to prove its increasing commitment to serve families in need.

Veteran’s Club Inc The Veteran’s Club provides Connection, Healing, Recovery, Housing Assistance, and Vocational Training to the Veteran and First Responder Community. This grant will be used to enhance and expand their nationally recognized Equine Therapy Program that encompasses Equine Facilitated Mentoring, Restoration Horsemanship, and our Women Warrior Equine Program. These programs are designed to assist Veterans, First Responders, and their immediate family members in overcoming PTSD, Secondary PTSD, Depression,Suicide Prevention, and other hardships related to their service.

Workwell Industries Workwell Industries’ mission is to create jobs for people with disabilities and other who experience barrier to employment. With funding, Workewell Industries will grow the number of people with disabilities they hire and take the program to a higher level of efficiency. Employees with disabilities work alongside non-disabled associates, which supports their confidence by not being isolated or singled out, as well as builds comradery among the employees.

The Maker Mobile, Inc The Maker Mobile is a traveling makerspace that brings education to life by using lasers, 3D printers, CNC equipment, and more to expose kids of all ages to these creative and advanced manufacturing tools.

Grant funds will be used to support a strategic overhaul of STEAM/STEAM equipment throughout the Maker Mobile to include laser upgrades used across varied applications and wiring to handle increased electricload capacity. The equipment from the Maker Mobile will be repurposed and transferred to the community workshop and makerspace for continued use by local students, artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

The Refuge for Children Inc The vision of The Refuge for Children is to provide a safe haven and a stable, loving environment for abused, neglected and displaced children to lessen the negative impact of childhood trauma so that children and youth have a greater probability for success. Funding will be used to purchase vehicles to transport youth in their care on a daily basis to school, appointments, and outings.

Young Adult Development in Action, Inc YouthBuild Louisville assists young people in meeting significant life goals, such as preparing for college and careers, by providing services in education, vocational training, community service, case management, placement, and post-graduation support. Grant funds will be used to finish the Smoketown Community Center’s Youth STEM Lab. The Youth STEM Lab will be available to middle and high school students in the Smoketown neighborhood and will include computer access for youth to complete homework and school assignments, as well as an artificial intelligence and coding lab.

For more information about Samtec Cares Grant Program, visit https://samteccares.samtec.com/samtec-cares/.

Japan

RECIPES AROUND THE WORLD

Food plays a vital role in shaping Japanese culture. A significant aspect of Japanese food culture is expressing gratitude for everything involved in the preparation of a meal – including the chef, the server, and the food itself.

The phrase “itadakimasu” encapsulates this sentiment, meaning “to eat and receive.”

If you try one of our recipes, reach out and let us know!

JAPANESE ROLLED OMELET WITH YOUNG FISH Ingredients: • 3 or 4 eggs • Around 20 grams of dried young sardines • Around 10 grams of finely chopped green spring onion or scallion, as you like • A pinch of salt, as you like Preparation: 1. Beat the eggs lightly with chopsticks.

2. Add dried young fish and stir them.

3. Heat the pan over a medium high heat. * A rectangle shaped pan is good for it.

4. Put in the oil to cover the entire pan and wait until the pan is well heated.

5. Pour a thin layer of the egg mixture into the pan and spread evenly.

6. When the egg white begins to set, start rolling the egg mixture from the back towards you using the chopsticks.

7. After making the roll, slide it back and pour the egg mixture into the exposed part of the pan.

8. Repeat the procedure again and again.

9. Cut the omelet into bite-sized pieces.

It should be easier to cut after the omelet becomes less hot.

OKONOMI YAKI Ingredients: • 1 cup of flour • 3/4 cups of dashi *dashi=broth • 10.5 ounces of green cabbage (shredded) • 2 scallions (chopped) • 2 eggs (whisked) • 2 tbsp of neutral oil such as vegetable or grapeseed oil • 1 cup of beans sprouts Toppings: as you like • Bonito flakes • Pickled red ginger (beni shoga) • Kewpie mayonnaise or regular mayonnaise • Okonomi sauce or tonkatsu sauce • Aonori (green laver) Preparation: 1. In a large bowl, add okonomiyaki flour and stir in the dashi broth until the flour dissolves.

2. Add cabbage, scallions and eggs to the batter and mix well.

3. In a large pan over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat the pan.

4. Pour 1/3 of the mixture into the pan and shape into a 1/2-inch-thick pancake. Top with 1/3 of the bean sprouts and cook for 4 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown.

5. Flip the pancake and cook for 3 minutes, until bean sprouts are cooked.

6. Transfer to a plate and top with okonomi sauce, kewpie mayonnaise, bonito flakes, pickled ginger, and aonori.

7. Repeat the steps for the remaining 2 pancakes.

MISO-SOAKED PORK LOIN Ingredients: • 3 pieces of Pork loin (for pork cutlet) • 1 tbsp of oil Miso sauce: • 3 tbsp of Miso • 1 tbsp of Mirin • 1 tbsp of Japanese sake (Liquor) • 1 tbsp of honey • 1 teaspoon of soy sauce • 1 teaspoon of sesame oil • A little grated garlic • A little grated ginger Preparation: 1. Mix the Miso sauce 2. Cut the meat into strips, prick several times with a fork in order to permeate the Miso sauce easily.

3. Apply the Miso sauce to the meat. Put it in the fridge and let the Miso sauce permeate for 1hour, or half a day if you have time.

4. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat and brown both sides to complete. It burns easily, so be careful with the heat. Bake with the lid on as it will splatter!

TONKATSU (Japanese Pork Cutlet) Ingredients: • 2 pieces of 100 grams Pork loin • A pinch of salt • A pinch of black pepper • Flour • Egg • Breadcrumbs • About 1 liter of vegetable oil Preparation: 1. With the tip of a knife, make about 5-6 cuts between the fat and lean meat. This prevents the meat from shrinking or curling when fried.

2. Tap lightly on the back of the knife. This gives a soft finish.

3. Sprinkle with flour.

4. Soak in the beaten egg.

5. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

6. Fry the pork in oil at 170-180.

7. Turn it over after 3-4 minutes.

8. After this, let’s take it out 2 minutes later.

9. Cut into pieces and serve with vegetables.

KARA-AGE (Deep-fried chicken) Ingredients: • 300 grams of chicken thighs Seasoning: • 1.5 tbsp of grated garlic • 1.5 tbsp of grated ginger • 2 tbsp of Japanese sake • 1.5 tbsp of soy sauce • 1 teaspoon of sesame oil Batter: • 1/2 egg • Appropriate amount of vegetable oil for deep fry • 1.5 tbsp of flour • 1.5 tbsp of potato starch Preparation: 1. Cut the chicken into a bit larger bite-sized pieces.

2. Put them in a plastic bag with all the seasonings and tighten it then rub it well.

3. Leave them in the fridge for 30 minutes.

4. After that, untighten the plastic bag and put the egg and rub it well again.

5. 3 minutes later, add the flour and potato starch in the plastic bag and mix them.

6. Fry the chicken in oil at 180.

7. If you like it to be a crunchier texture, fry the chicken again.

GOMA-AE JAPANESE GREEN BEANS Ingredients: • 100 grams of green beans • 1 teaspoon of salt • 1 tbsp of roasted white sesame • 1 teaspoon of soy sauce • 2/3 or 1 of sugar Preparation: 1. Cut off both sides of the green beans 2. Cut them into 2 or 3 pieces 3. Boil them with the salt for 2 or 3 minutes until they become soft enough 4. Then cool them with cold water 5. When they get cold, wipe off the moisture with a paper towel 6. Next, make the dressing with the sesame, soy sauce, and sugar. Put them in a bowl and mix them together.

7. Finally, toss the greens in the dressing.

HIYAYAKKO Ingredients: • 12 ounces of silken tofu Toppings: • 2 tbsp of scallion or green spring onion, finely chopped • 1 teaspoon of ginger, peeled and grated • Bonito flakes (katsuobushi) • Soy sauce or ponzu sauce Preparation: 1. Delicately take the tofu out of the package and drain.

Transfer the tofu to a plate and leave for 15 minutes to let some of the excess water come out of the tofu.

2. Slice the tofu into four even blocks and place each one of them in a small shallow bowl.

3. Top with scallions, ginger, bonito flakes, and nori.

4. Drizzle a little soy or ponzu (about 1 tablespoon), and serve.

DAIGAKU IMO (Candied Sweet Potatoes) Ingredients: • 3 sweet potatoes (about 500 grams) • 100 grams of honey • Less than 1 tablespoon of water • A pinch of salt Preparation: 1. Cut the sweet potato into large bite size pieces.

2. Soak the cut sweet potatoes in water for about 10 minutes and then dry with paper towel.

3. Slowly deep fry them first at low heat about 320°F(160) oil.

4. After 4 to 5 minutes, take out the sweet potatoes. Let them to cool a little while and then, deep fry again at a higher temperature of 338°F to 356°F (170 to 180) for 1012 seconds.

(The sweet potatoes will be crunchy when deep fried twice.)

5. Mix the 100g of honey, less than 1 tablespoon of water and a pinch of salt in a pan until the mixture is completely dissolved.

Do not stir but swirl the pan to melt the sugar over medium-high heat.

6. Mix quickly to coat the sweet potatoes with the syrup, then stop heating immediately.

(Please do not miss the perfect timing. If you put the sweet potatoes too early, the glaze is just sugary and watery, and if you are too late, the syrup tastes like bitter caramel.)

RICE COOKER PILAF Ingredients: • 3 gou of Rice *1gou=about 150 grams *”gou” is a cup measuring rice • 8 pork sausage, sliced *1 pork sausage=about 8 cm • 1/2 onion, chopped • 1 or 2 green peppers, chopped • 1/3 carrot, chopped • 1 tbsp of consommé granules • Pinch of salt, as you like Tool: Rice cooker. That’s important.

Preparation: 1. Put 3 gou of rice into the pot of your rice cooker.

2. Next put all of the other ingredients on the rice.

3. Pour water until the 3 gou border line written inside the rice cooker pot.

4. Close the lid and press its start button.

5. After the rice cooker shows it’s done, stir the pilaf from the bottom of the pot. Be careful. It is surprisingly hot!!

PENGANG TEAM BUILDING Samtec PE Annual Function 2023 was held on November 5 at Bertam Souk and Waterpark Kepala Batas. This is a time to strengthen the bonds of Samtec Penang Associates. On the event day, all Associates enjoyed the waterparks for whole day. Activities were arranged such as playing games together, energetic Zumba dance experience and even a flash mob performed by Associates!

NEW FACILITY SAMTEC PAC

COAXIAL CABLE AND RF CONNECTOR MANUFACTURING FACILITY Samtec PAC (Pennsylvania Cable) recently opened in Royersford, Pennsylvania. This state-of-the-art 24,000 square foot facility is the latest addition to our manufacturing locations and will specialize in the production of high-quality coaxial cables and RF connectors, servicing industries such as aerospace/ defense, medical device, datacom, automotive, computer semiconductor, instrumentation, and consumer electronics.

Our new PAC facility is developing next-generation precision RF cable assemblies that offer improved stability and flexure over time and address common industry concerns of phase length, delay, loss, and shielding effectiveness. Specifically colored in distinctive Samtec orange, this family of three new RF cables aims to balance application with cost sensitivities.

PAC is staffed with highly skilled cable and RF professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the production process and is focused on developing next-generation products by harnessing the latest advancements in material science and signal integrity.

Harrisburg Associates visited PAC for teambuilding a facility visit!

AROUND THE WORLD

SAMTEC PENANG SAMTEC CARES BLOOD DRIVE “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Samtec Penang organized a blood donation program in collaborating with Blood Bank Center Department, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Penang. This is a biyearly program that is held in their training room. There were 100+ Associates who attended the program and 62 Samtec Associates donated their blood.

SAMTEC BOWLING TOURNAMENT Samtec Penang held a Bowling Tournament to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. This is an integral part of our ongoing commitment to engage and cultivate relationships among associates. The event garnered a strong turnout from everyone, having 200 participants in 40 groups!

SAMTEC MICROELECTRONICS VALENTINE LUNCHEON Samtec Microelectronics held their 2nd Valentine’s Luncheon.

Managers served lunch in exchange for tips and donations.

All proceeds benefited American Heart Association. Soups and salads were served and we’ve heard it was a hit!

SAMTEC WILSONVILLE CABLE COSTUME WINNERS Samtec Wilsonville held a Halloween Costume contest.

The winners were voted by other WV Associates. The 1st Place winners were: The Spike Girls (Kim Williams, Naren Soutavong, Mai Le, Sokall Sam), shown above!