The Interface

Episode 149: Minesh Patel

A conversation with Minesh Patel, Vice President of Product Management and Engineering for Charles Industries. Minesh has been with Charles Industries for 16 years. We talk about his work in their facilities expansion into Nogales, Mexico, and how, in a short time, is already becoming successful. We talk about how the relationships with their sister divisions in the RFOB group have helped him and his team better understand the industry and opened up tremendous potential opportunities in edge computing and EV charging. We talk about how he started at Charles Industries years ago and how the acquisition by Amphenol was almost exactly how it was described to him beforehand. We talk about being born in India, moving to the Chicago area when he was a young boy, and now having many family members who've moved there. We talk about the 1990's Chicago Bulls, 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 148: Abraham Martinez

A conversation with Abraham Martinez, EHS Manager for Amphenol Optimize in Nogales, MX. Abraham has been with Amphenol for a year and a half, and we talk about managing the EHS team for 20 different Amphenol operations and 38 plants in Nogales. We talk about the challenge and thrill of working with so many businesses and manufacturing processes, including the brand-new Charles Industries facility, and how safety is paramount above all else. We talk about getting a degree in engineering and how he got into working in the safety field, almost by accident, and realizing he had found his dream job. We talk about boxing in his free time and his love of mixed martial arts, even for someone who works in safety. 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 147: Dominic Imbrogno

A conversation with Dominic Imbrogno, Vice President of Charles Industries in Illinois. Dom has been with Charles for 25 years. We talk about how the manufacturing capabilities of the different facilities he manages in the US and Mexico are well aligned for expanding into new technologies. We talk about the 50-year history of Charles Industries and how it's evolved from a small family-owned company to being acquired by Amphenol in 2019. We talk about starting to see the true benefit of being part of the larger Amphenol family as they continue to grow. We talk about being a huge sports nut as a kid in Illinois and how he eventually decided to study electrical engineering in college. We talk about the joys of watching his children turn into successful young adults. 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 146: Zaynab Malik Bellows & Ryan Conlin

A conversation with two of our summer MBA interns -- Zaynab Malik Bellows and Ryan Conlin. Zaynab is interning at Charles Industries in Illinois and is a student at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Ryan is interning at Amphenol Alden in the Boston area and is a student at Yale School of Management. We talk about their roles and projects this summer and how they've had a lot of flexibility to learn, grow, and ultimately succeed. We discuss the business functions and areas they want to focus on as their careers progress. We talk about why, with so many options available to them, they chose to intern with Amphenol. We talk about their educational and work travels around the world, including significant time spent in Jordan, Rwanda, and Uganda. And we discuss their desert island albums, books, and movies. This is The Interface.

Hosted by Chris Cappello. Music by Square Seed.

For The Interface podcast guest inquiries and suggestions: send an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 145: Olivia Skaug & Jake Flynn

A conversation with two of our summer interns; Jake Flynn and Olivia Skaug. Jake is finishing his undergraduate degree at Purdue University and is working for Amphenol TCS in San Jose, CA. Olivia is finishing her graduate degree at Dartmouth College and is working for Amphenol TCS in Nashua, NH. We talk about their work on mechanical engineering projects and system breakdowns and how much they've learned from their fellow employees. We talk about how they became interested in engineering during high school. We talk about the different ways they found Amphenol for their internship and how much they've come to appreciate the company during their time here. We talk about their three dream dinner guests and discuss their 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 144: Charles Friesen

A conversation with Charles Friesen, Engineering Director for Amphenol Technical Products International and part of the Amphenol Industrial Products Group. Charles has been with Amphenol for over 10 years and is based out of Winnipeg in Canada. We talk about TPI's product portfolio, specifically for the solar and EV markets, with their PowerLok product line. We talk about collaborating with other Amphenol businesses to develop the best product solutions for their customers. We talk about getting into engineering as a kid, studying it in college, then working for a company making trailers by push-button design. We talk about all things Winnipeg, including the Jets, the Blue Bombers, and the mosquitos. We talk about auto slalom racing against his fellow engineers 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 143: Alex Lassalle

A conversation with Alex Lassalle, General Manager of Amphenol Active Optics Products. Alex is located in Berlin, Germany, and has been a part of AAOP for 15 years. We talk about their business designing custom optical data communications products that convert high-speed electrical signals to high-speed optical signals to transfer high data for multiple applications. We talk about his experienced team in Berlin, many of whom have been with the company for years, and how they make AAOP successful. We talk about growing up in France and how moving around as part of his father's military career helped him quickly get acclimated to new environments. We talk about his dream of being a fighter pilot not working out, but still not giving up on learning how to fly someday. We talk about his three dream dinner guests and 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 142: Julianne Benson

A conversation with Julianne Benson, Product and Applications Engineer for Times Microwave Systems in Mesa, AZ. Julianne has been with Amphenol for two years. We talk about the wide range of engineering disciplines she covers in her role -- from R&D design to manufacturing and process engineering. We talk about the silicon dioxide cable product line, its applications, and the advantages of manufacturing in the dry heat of Arizona. We talk about growing up in Oregon, then going to Northern Arizona University, sight unseen, to study mechanical engineering. We talk a bit about women in engineering and helping to promote engineering to younger people through STEM and other initiatives. We talk about spending most of her free time outdoors doing multiple activities, including hiking and wakeboarding. We talk about her three dream dinner guests and 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 141: Laurent Lagrange

A conversation with Laurent Lagrange, Compliance Team Lead and Product Line Manager for Amphenol Socapex in France. Laurent has been with Amphenol for 20 years. We talk about his vital role in leading the product compliance team to ensure they meet the requirements of REACH, RoHS, and export licenses and its benefits in maintaining good customer relationships. We discuss leading the marketing and engineering for Socapex's extensive contacts product line. We talk about a bit of the 75-year history of Socapex and its long-time presence in the military and aerospace markets. We talk about spending a year at Amphenol Aerospace in Sidney, NY, and how he learned a lot about connectors and himself. We talk about his love of the outdoors, especially in the French Alps, where he was born and raised. 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.

Episode 140: Cristina Cristea

A conversation with Cristina Cristea, General Manager of Charles Industries, based out of Schaumburg, Illinois. Cristina has been with Amphenol for close to 11 years. We talk about the recent grand opening of the new 85,000 sq. ft. Charles Industries facility in Nogales, MX. We talk about the original small idea of looking for additional manufacturing space that eventually grew into a state-of-the-art facility with advanced fabrication capabilities for their fiber optic and wireless enclosure solutions. We discuss how the new facility will allow Charles to be more cost-competitive and expand their business beyond North America. We talk about growing up in Romania, moving to the U.S. at 18, and finding a job at Amphenol Borisch Technologies that revealed her passion for operations and running a factory. We talk about her love of traveling. 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 an email to ccappello@amphenol-aao.com or LinkedIn message to https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjcappello.