The Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly Collaborative

"We're proud to partner with both EMAC and SMTA to advance workforce development in the electronics industry. Together, we're building a skilled talent pipeline and supporting the long-term growth and competitiveness of our local economy. Programs like the Student AI Tech Showcase, along with our collaboration on co-hosted events, are strengthening both our workforce and our community."

"We are proud to work alongside EMAC and SMTA as part of a broader effort to advance workforce development in electronics manufacturing. By connecting education with industry in meaningful ways, we are helping develop the next generation of engineers, technologists, and manufacturing professionals while supporting the long-term growth and competitiveness of our regional economy."

"We sincerely appreciate the outstanding partnership and continued support provided by EMAC through guest lectures, industry engagement, technical guidance, and access to professional PCB design resources. EMAC's contributions have significantly enhanced our students' educational experience by bridging classroom learning with industry practices and helping prepare the next generation of electronics professionals."

"The BYU-Idaho Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering Technology programs worked closely with SMTA and EMAC to offer a Special Topics course in PCB Fabrication and Assembly during Spring semester 2026. Nineteen students were enrolled in this pilot course. The course content was completely provided by SMTA and EMAC. Aaron Schellenberg was the BYU-Idaho instructor for the course and simply mentored the students as they progressed through the SMTA learning content. All nineteen students passed the PCB Assembly Essentials micro-credential. SMTA was so supportive that a representative came to campus in person twice to engage personally with students face-to-face. At the end of the semester, BYU-Idaho funded a special 3-day career expedition to the Phoenix area where SMTA and EMAC arranged tours of several electronics manufacturing facilities and introduced students to key leaders at these companies. The trip resulted in several students applying for internship and full-time employment opportunities. We hope to continue this wonderful connection with Adam Le, Tara Dunn and their amazing team at SMTA and EMAC."