MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Surface Mount Technology Association said its membership recently elected Bill Barthel as president.

Barthel’s involvement in the SMTA spans more than 25 years, and includes the formation of the Wisconsin chapter; vice president technical programs; SMTA International and local chapter speaker, panel participant; SMTA workshops presenter; SMTA committee member - Medical, Cleaning, Pan Pac, Counterfeit Electronics; chair, SMTA Certification Committee; SMTA board of directors; chair, SMTA Planning Committee; vice president, SMTA Technical Programs, and SMTA International Leadership Award.

Barthel has helped coordinate activities between the SMTA and other organizations, most recently the co-location of fall IPC committee meetings with SMTA International in 2013 and beyond.

During his two-year term, he plans to focus on making stronger chapters by providing more tools and support. Additionally, he plans to brand the SMTA as the industry leader in circuit assembly technology with strong technical programs.

Based in Wisconsin, Barthel is manager, manufacturing technology development at Plexus.