Instructor Bios

Ray Cirimele (rcirimele@solder.net) is the Operations Manager of Business Electronics Soldering Technologies, Inc. Ray is an international speaker in electronics manufacturing and has over twenty years experience in the industry performing electronics maintenance, manufacturing, PCB fabrication, rework and repair, sales and training. Ray has worked for the Department of Defense (DOD) at the China Lake Naval weapons Center. While there, Ray worked for the Soldering Technology branch and performed audits and reviews of military weapons systems. Ray has also been involved in the military training programs for the DOD and subsequently became one of the first IPC Master Instructors. Ray's previous jobs include Northrop/Grumman, U.S. Robotics/3Com, Electronics Manufacturing Productivity Facility (EMPF), Enthone-OMI, and Diversified Systems. Ray is an active member of the IPC and has received several awards for his involvement on IPC training videos as technical content advisor. He is also a committee member for the IPC A-610, IPC-7711/7721, and J-STD-001. Ray is a Master Instructor in IPC A-610C, J-STD-001 and 7711/7721. Ray's educational background includes a Bachelor of Technical Education from National University in San Diego.

Norman Mier Jr. (nmier@solder.net) is a U.S. Marine Corp. retired veteran with over 20 years of experience in the electronics rework and repair industry. He received his training through the Navy's Micro Miniature (2M) Electronic Repair Program. He has progressed through every level of rework and repair recognized in the industry. Norman has also earned the highest certifications awarded by IPC in electronics training, being certified as a Master Instructor in IPC A-610D, J-STD-001D, IPC A-620 and 7711/7721. He has worked through BEST for several electronics industry leaders and created tailored courses for their equipment. This also includes providing training to technicians and engineers in surface mount and advanced surface mount technology. The knowledge Norm has brought to these companies has been invaluable to their process improvement efforts. His skill has also been a major factor in keeping BEST training at the forefront in the electronics-training field.

Kris Roberson (kroberson@solder.net) Kris brings over 14 years of electronics industry experience including SMT manufacturing and instructor experiences to our students.  His education includes a Pilot's License as well as airframe and power plant mechanics licenses.  Kris has experience as a machine operator, Machine and Engineering technician as well as an Electronics and Process Engineer for companies as Motorola, US Robotics, and Bose, Fuji placement machines, Universal placement machines, DEK screen printers, Electrovert and Vitronics-Soltec wave soldering machines are all pieces of equipment that Kris has run and maintained.  Kris and his wife make their home in the South East corner Michigan, outside Kalamazoo.  Kris has earned the highest Certifications awarded by the IPC in electronics training, being certified as an Master Instructor in IPC7711 / 7721, IPC A-610D and IPC J-STD 001D.