IMET's Assistant CEO Reflects on Long Career in Marketing


It’s a safe bet that this executive at IMET Corporation who just reached his 85th birthday has neither a retirement plan -- nor even a date in mind as to when, if ever, to call it quits. That’s because he claims to be on permanent vacation doing for IMET just what he’s been doing for other businesses for decades: generating the marketing, public relations, sales and media campaigns for this fast-growing electronics contract manufacturer and PCB assembler in suburban Philadelphia.



In reminiscing about his 45+ years as founder and CEO of MSA Advertising -- a successful Philly ad agency with a roster of prestigious national accounts, including Subaru, Nutrisystem, Pep Boys and Lawn Doctor -- Mike Schwartz, now IMET’s Assistant CEO, reveals that at the agency’s startup in 1960 and even after selling it in 2006, he had a lasting love affair with the electronics industry – sensing the coming boom when transistors were just starting to replace cumbersome tubes. In quick succession, the agency garnered numerous electronics industry startups, many of which are still achieving success today, including Manncorp, Heller Industries, Power Dynamics, Fancort Industries and others. “When you look at the astounding growth and rapid advancements in electronics, you can’t help but be awed,” Mike reflects. “It’s an industry that has improved our standard of living beyond wildest dreams and its opportunities have probably spawned more billionaires than any other field.”



“The numerous inventions that were unimaginable in the recent past have changed lives and advanced civilization all started with the birth of surface mount assembly in the late sixties. It allowed micro-miniaturization making pocket computing and global communication commonplace,” he stated. “Equipment that builds innovations is the pillar of my present job: IMET’s three automated PCB assembly lines generating contract manufacturing projects for numerous advanced products in the medical, automotive, science and consumer fields.”



When asked about his predictions for future advances in electronics, Mike foresees 3-D printing and conductive inks as the means of greatly accelerating the development of new products at extremely low cost. “This will allow desktop prototyping in minutes instead of months. It will mean a proliferation of new products – many of which I’m certain will come to IMET for PCB assembly.”

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