he PSMA Strategic Agenda for the 90s included:

• Fostering communications and cooperation between the various segments of the power sources industry. 
• Educating manufacturers on improving quality and reliability of their products.
• Encouraging and promoting industrywide ethical practices, policies and procedures.
• Continuing to identify and communicate the needs of the user community to the manufacturing community.

APEC 1991 ( Click to enlarge )

As mentioned in my article in the last issue of the Update "In the Beginning", in 1990 PSMA joined IEEE IAS and PELS as a co-sponsor of APEC. I would opine that "1991 was a turning point for PSMA and APEC." 

APEC 91, the first conference sponsored by the 3 organizations, was led, as continues today, by a team of volunteers representing the 3 sponsors, including General Chair Chuck Harm, PELS; Program chair Dr. Tom Jahns, IAS; and Exhibits Chair Dave Kemp, PSMA. The conference was a huge success, though not without its challenges. The Gulf War had an impact with a reduction in our projected international attendance. Our initial concerns were confirmed when David Fields of TDK-Lambda U.K. a Plenary Session speaker, cancelled. His presentation was to address the world market for power supplies. I was asked to take his slot and presented "Global Power Supply Implication...the squeeze is on." I also led an evening rap session titled "Are Power Supply Manufacturers a Band of Liars and Thieves?" During his Keynote Speech, W. J. Warwick, President of AT&T Microelectronics, mentioned the topic of my rap session, saying "he will need to know if it's safe to go back to the office."

Some notable moments from APEC social events in the 1990s:

• APEC '93 was held in the Town and Country resort in San Diego. The social event was a harbor dinner excursion on the San Diego Bay. They had to add a second ship!
• APEC '98 was held at the Disneyland hotel where we negotiated for the Adventureland Area to be re-opened for our exclusive use for the Wednesday social event. Yes, Indiana Jones was working that night!
• APEC '99 was held in Dallas. We tried something new for the social event - a bull was brought up to the Adam's Mark hotel ballroom in a freight elevator. Each of the attendees had a chance to ride him. Note: He was surely drugged, I survived.
  

Dilip Amin riding the bull, APEC 1999		Bob White, General Chair APEC 2000
APEC 1998 Marketing Session Speakers Marshall Miles, Connie Heath, Laurence Bloom, Larry Gilbert, Mohan Mankikar, John Bowers, Chris Stratus, Linnea Brush

Governor Bush APEC 1999 Welcome Letter ( Click to enlarge )

President Carter Letter APEC 1996 ( Click to enlarge )

One challenge I undertook as APEC Publicity Chair, that did not have much success, was to invite a local VIP to greet us. While most declined due to restrictions and other obligations, many did send nice letters welcoming APEC. Some of these VIPs include Presidents George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter; and Governors Mike Foster, Louisiana; George W., Texas; and Arnold Schwarzenegger, California.

San Jose Mercury News March 6, 1996 ( Click to enlarge )

On the other hand, I was successful in getting APEC print and broadcast media attention with a few (Micro-) mice running around a maze. The APEC '93 Micro Mouse contest was broadcast on ABC in San Diego.  The San Jose Mercury News had a full color photo of the contest in their Mar 6,1996 edition. And both the Orange County Register and FOX local channel 11 covered our 2004 event in the Disneyland Hotel ballroom. 

APEC 2016 in Long Beach was the last APEC I attended. It was overwhelming to see how much APEC has grown - the program committee had to sort thru 1212 Technical Session Abstracts submitted from 45 different nations. There were an amazing 370 booths in the exhibit hall! I learned a new topic called "Internet of Things." And I can reflect back to 1995 in Dallas where we offered 140 technical papers in 21 sessions with four parallel tracts.

Wishing PSMA much success as you move forward into the future.

Larry Gilbert, Mohan Mankikar, and Pat Patel at APEC 2016 in Long Beach, CA

Provided by Larry Gilbert, former PSMA Board Member and APEC Publicity Chair

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