The Interface

A conversation with Stephen Lillyman, Technical Marketing Manager for Amphenol Fiber Optic Products. Stephen has been with Amphenol for eight years and is based in Seoul, South Korea. We talk about his role that started as a marketing and graphic design intern and morphed into various product management and business development roles before his current position. We talk about taking advantage of his endless curiosity to learn about fiber optic products and feel confident talking with customers. We talk about his current project of working in the IT/Datacom space, and his relationship with AI has helped him both personally and professionally. We talk about his well-traveled past, including living in Chicago, Nebraska, England, Australia, and South Korea, where he worked on an apple farm. We talk about spending time with his family when he's not working. And we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Damien Chow, Director of Sales in the Asia Pacific region for the Amphenol Global Interconnect Systems Group. Damien is based in Singapore and has been with Amphenol for over 12 years. We talk about his role leading a sales team spread across a large region, working with customers on value-add solutions from the diverse AGIS group. We talk about the exciting and unique challenge of selling products and technologies in a wide variety of markets--from renewable energy to heavy equipment to IT datacom. We talk about being raised in Singapore, a little of the island state's history, and what makes it such a special place. We talk about his successful early career with a local company when he volunteered to move to San Jose because no one else raised their hand. We talk about his and his family's love of playing basketball together, and we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Dan Barrett, General Manager of Amphenol Custom Cable. Dan is based in Tampa, FL, and has been with Amphenol for 26 years. We talk about his business of building custom cables, mainly for the IT and Datacom markets, how they're different from most Amphenol businesses, and their capabilities to satisfy their customer base. We talk about the business's unique service side and the challenges and rewards of installing their products in a wide range of locations--from shopping malls and amusement parks to hotels and sports stadiums. We talk about starting at Teradyne Systems in the late 1990s, working his way up to a GM position, his evolution in the role over the years, and how much he's learned from long-time Teradyne mentors who are still active within Amphenol. We talk about spending time with his family on the weekends, and we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Greg Walz, Director of Product Marketing for High-Speed I/O Cables for the Amphenol Communications Solutions Division. Greg has been with Amphenol for four years and is based in Nashua, NH. We talk about his product line's place in the rapidly expanding AI market and how fast the massive amounts of data are being transferred. We talk about meeting the product development and operational needs of the market, where products are designed, used, and then replaced with the next generation in just 18-24 months. We talk about being a bit of an introvert growing up and how college unlocked his confidence in front of people, as well as his love of leadership. We talk about how an HP calculator got him excited about the electronics industry and led to his electrical engineering degree. We talk giving up the corporate life to run his own business and why he came back to work for Amphenol. And we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Gabriel Rivera, Operations Director for the Amphenol Alden facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. Gabriel has been with Amphenol for six years. We talk about his role at the Hermosillo facility, leading a team that builds connectors and cable assemblies for the medical industry. We talk about never having a boring day at work while he stresses the importance of their products' quality with the slogan, "We're not doctors, but we save lives." We talk about starting his career as a quality engineer, then switching roles after his now wife sent his resume to another company, and he got the job. We talk about moving his young family to Connecticut for a year to be a plant manager and the massive differences between Connecticut and Mexico. We talk about following the sport of boxing, and we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Ryan Flis, Director of Channel Sales for the Amphenol RF, Optics and Broadband Group. Ryan has been with Amphenol for one year and is based in Baltimore, MD. We talk about her new role for the RFOB group in developing a distribution strategy to help them maximize their coverage, especially at Tier 1 accounts. We talk about being new to Amphenol but not new to the telecommunications industry and how great it is to be able to provide the complete Amphenol solution to their customers. We talk about designing a strategy that's relevant not only for the RFOB group but also for individual businesses. We talk about growing up in Baltimore, going to college for psychology, and working at a psychiatric hospital before a radical shift to the distribution world. We talk about her love of live music and we discuss her desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Dave Geer, Principal Engineer for Amphenol Advanced Sensors. Dave is based in St. Marys, PA, and has been with the company for 45 years. We talk about his focus on temperature sensors, their intricacies, and the growing number of applications where these are being designed. We talk about the evolution of the sensor business in St. Marys, the many changes that have occurred, and the great position they're in now as part of Amphenol for the last ten years. We talk about his place within the sensor organization of being a mentor to many of the young engineers just beginning their careers. We talk about growing up outside St. Mary's, enjoying the outdoors, and building his own forge to make knives in his free time. We talk about enjoying every inch of life and we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Raul Cortez, Operations Manager for Amphenol DC Electronics in Nogales, MX. Raul has been with Amphenol for 14 years. We talk about his work overseeing cable assembly manufacturing for industrial and medical applications. We talk about how much he stresses the importance of the Amphenolian culture with his workers and how the work that they're doing is critically important in saving lives. We talk about constantly being in learning mode and being open to getting better with our work every day. We talk about growing up 70 miles south of Nogales, studying international business administration, then going to the University of Arizona for a year to learn English and the unique struggles that came with that. We talk about finding a job in Nogales, then working for Amphenol Printed Circuits before DC Electronics. We discuss his focus on relaxing with his family in his free time, and we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Barbara Calderon, Manager of the Advanced Materials and Technology Team for the Amphenol Communications Solutions Division. Barbara has been with Amphenol for almost five years and is based in Nashua, NH. We talk about her new role in managing the research and evaluation of innovative materials for the next generation of connectors and cables, which is trying to achieve higher data rates. We talk about how much work goes into matching a material's required mechanical and electrical properties with its manufacturability to find the best solution. We talk about how much she's learned working with other Amphenol businesses in the RF and sensors groups. We talk about growing up in Venezuela, studying materials engineering, and following her fascination with plastics engineering to move to the U.S. for her Ph. D. We talk about being physically active and preparing for bodybuilding competitions in her free time. And we discuss her desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Greta Martikainen-Watcke, Talent Acquisition Manager for the Amphenol Communications Solutions division. Greta has been with Amphenol for over two years and is based in Nashua, NH. We talk about her role in finding technical people for Amphenol during this major migration towards AI and machine learning technologies. We talk about attracting that talent to come to Amphenol where they can work with many of the key prime industry leaders versus only working for one. We talk about growing up as an active kid in a small town in Pennsylvania, doing well in school, and developing a lifelong love of reading. We talk about finishing college, pursuing a dream to become an author, and completing her first book. We talk about getting into the human resources career through a job at a college that eventually led to Amphenol. And we discuss her desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Alan Yang, General Manager of Amphenol Assembletech. Alan is based in China and has been with Amphenol for 20 years. We talk about Assembletech's high-speed products in the IT/Datacom market and how their locations in China, the U.S., Vietnam, and the Amphenol brand name help them succeed. We talk about the massive growth of the business in his 20 years and how picking the right team has made a world of difference. We talk about how people from wildly diverse backgrounds can succeed in Amphenol if they're naturally curious, work hard, and take pride in sharing achievements across the organization. We talk about spending in North America learning to work for a multi-national company in various roles before Amphenol found him and how his initial four-year plan turned into 20 years. We talk about spending quality time with his family, and we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Mike Comer, Director of Business Development and Product Marketing for Amphenol RF. Mike is based outside Los Angeles and has been with Amphenol since 2007. We talk about Amphenol RF's long history as one of the original core Amphenol businesses and how they've evolved to offer world-class coaxial solutions for RF, microwave, and data transmissions in every market Amphenol supports. We talk about his product and business development teams and how they promote Amphenol RF's product through multiple partners. We talk about being born and raised in southeast Pennsylvania and learning the value of hard work by observing his parents running the family store. We talk about his desire to escape the Northeast winters, journeying to southern California, and falling in love with the area where he's remained ever since. And we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

A conversation with Kevin Truman, Business Development Manager for Amphenol Nexus Technologies in Stamford, CT. Kevin has been with Nexus for a year and a half. We talk about Nexus's business supplying ruggedized audio and soldier-worn connectors to the military and aerospace industries. We talk about Nexus's origins with building telephone plugs and jacks and push-button switches to today's micro-miniature, harsh-environment connectors. We talk about the ups and downs of his career in pharmaceutical sales before moving to Amphenol and how the goal of helping people, regardless of industry, was his focus. We talk about how spending much of his free time in the outdoors, whether it be fishing, hunting, or searching for artifacts, is his form of therapy. And we discuss his desert island album, book, and movie. This is The Interface. Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed. For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions, send a LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.