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How does a manufacturers’ rep partner with manufacturers and distributors to serve the customer?
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Electronics Components Industry 101: An Introduction
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This document
compiles colleges around the U.S. that have relevant programs/tracks — such as professional sales programs, sales engineering, supply chain programs and technical sales — that present recruitment possibilities.
ERA hosted an in October 2025 on the topic of best practices for college recruitment.
Watch this expert panel take a deep dive into valuable best practices for building your future workforce, including college recruitment at local job fairs; recruiting for the manufacturers’ rep world; College curriculum and preparing students for this industry; finding candidates on Handshake; internships… and more!
Some more recruitment tips from ERA:
VIEW/DOWNLOAD ERA’s 10-WEEK INTERN TRAINING GUIDELINES
Establishing an Intern Process
Many manufacturers’ reps don’t know where to start. With challenges ranging from multi-generational to the influx of digital marketing and sales, finding a realistic step-by-step approach or someone with the time to do it, is a daunting task. This White Pin Initiative has come up with the following ideas and is eager to hear feedback from interested rep firms.
- Identify your immediate needs and resources within your firm to work with an intern.
a. Advantages of an intern program: Firm start and stop date, no benefit or employee burden, opportunity to “try before you buy.”
b. Disadvantages: Finding a great fit and then having them return to school. However, some programs have found ways to continue to work with interns during the school year and more directly with scheduled holidays and breaks.
- Define skill set needed for the ideal intern (e.g., MS Office Suite, Social Media expertise, business acumen, industry awareness, sales and customer experience, etc.).
- Identify business majors you would consider (e.g., Business, Technical, Computer, Liberal Arts, etc.). Per industry experts, Business, Technical and Computer are most sought after interns, while Liberal Arts provide greater breadth of experiences, communication and relationship skills.
- Establish application process (e.g., application form, referrals, who will review the form, online or F2F interview, hiring process, communication back to applicant, firm timeline).
- Locate the University, College, Junior College and Trade Schools in your immediate vicinity.
a. Gain a contact in the office of the desired study major (e.g., business, liberal arts, etc.).
b. Gain a contact in the Career Development office and gain a calendar of school-sponsored job fairs and the requirements to set up an information table.
Tip: Most schools have integrated business and engineering (IBE) degrees with career counselors who are interested in working with companies in our industry. Reps are encouraged to sign up for Handshake.com. (Handshake calls itself the #1 college-to career network, partnering with more than 1,500 colleges and institutions. It is free to create an account on Handshake.) ERA encourages rep firms to post their internship and job openings there.
Another tip: Simply enter into Google: “college of your choice + integrated business and engineering degree” and see what turns up. You may have to look under the Business school side; other times openings may appear on the Engineering school side.
ERA’s White Pin Mark Motsinger Internship Program
The ERA Mark Motsinger White Pin Internship Program is now accepting applications for 2026. This internship program offers an ERA-member manufacturers’ rep a chance to hire a college student as an intern, with ERA/White Pin group subsidizing a substantial portion of the anticipated internship cost.
This is a fantastic opportunity for the intern to gain hands-on experience in the electronic component sales industry AND a great chance for rep companies to train and teach a potential hire, with ERA’s help and support.
ERA aims to award five internship awards in 2026. The winning firms and interns will be announced in mid-February!
The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026.
VIEW LIST OF ALL WHITE PIN INTERNSHIP RECIPIENTS
ERA offers a special interest group for ERA-member early-career individuals in the electronics components sales industry, in order to provide the group with a forum for networking and sharing ideas. The group typically meets quarterly virtually and once per year in-person at the ERA Conference in February.
NEXGEN is always welcoming to new members. We require a rep firm owner/manager to nominate the individual formally.
Read more information on ERA’s NEXGEN group.
Job Board
This position is open to both local and remote candidates. It is ideal for a dynamic, results-oriented sales professional with experience in electronic component sales and established relationships with OEMs and EMS companies. You will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building strong customer relationships, and expanding our presence in the U.S. market.
About Us
Kendeil Ozdisan combines the strengths of two globally recognized companies.
Kendeil is a leading manufacturer of power electronic capacitors used in renewable energy systems, industrial motor drives, UPS systems, battery chargers, electric vehicles, and railway applications. With manufacturing facilities in Italy and India, Kendeil supplies high reliability capacitors to customers worldwide.
Özdisan, established in 1980 in Istanbul, Türkiye, is a leading distributor of electronic components and provider of custom manufacturing services. Its portfolio includes R&D support, PCB supply, field application engineering, custom heat sinks and PCB assembly. Özdisan has long-standing partnerships with leading manufacturers, including Fuji Electric Semiconductors, Littelfuse, IXYS, Westcode and Nuvoton.
Together, Kendeil and Özdisan deliver a comprehensive portfolio of power electronic solutions backed by strong technical expertise and global manufacturing capabilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, qualify and secure new business opportunities within target markets
- Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve revenue and margin objectives
- Promote our products through customer visits and technical presentations.
- Prepare quotations, proposals and business cases to support design-in opportunities.
- Build and maintain long-term customer relationships.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or Associate degree in electronics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in electronic component sales, EMS, or electronics contract manufacturing.
- Strong understanding of electronic components and the electronics supply chain.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
- Willingness to travel as required.
We Offer
- Competitive base salary plus an attractive commission
- Product and sales training.
- Opportunity to represent internationally recognized technology companies.
- Career growth within a growing global organization.
Please send your resume to kaplan@kendeilozdisan.com.
For further information, please contact Tamer Kaplan at (646) 523-6633.
About Reptronics
Founded in 2002, Reptronics is a leading electro-mechanical manufacturers’ representative firm. We have built a highly complementary and synergistic line card and partner closely with top-tier suppliers. Our team works alongside design engineers, procurement teams, and manufacturing professionals—from initial concept through full production—delivering technical expertise and consistent support throughout the product lifecycle, both locally and globally.
Position Overview
Reptronics is seeking a driven and relationship-focused Sales Representative to manage and grow an assigned customer base. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with engineering and procurement teams to influence product selection and drive design wins. You will serve as the key liaison between customers and suppliers, promoting innovative electronic components and supporting customers from concept through production.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and grow an assigned customer base within Minnesota and surrounding areas
- Build strong relationships with engineering, purchasing, and management teams
- Promote and “design-in” products from Reptronics’ supplier portfolio
- Regularly visit customers (in-person and/or virtual) to identify opportunities and support projects
- Act as the primary interface between customers and suppliers
- Provide ongoing technical and commercial support throughout the sales cycle
Qualifications
- Experience in electronics, technology, or technical sales (preferred)
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills
- Proven ability to solve problems and overcome challenges
- Self-motivated with strong time management skills; ability to work independently from a home office
- Bachelor’s degree (preferred, but not required)
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary + performance-based incentives
- Car allowance and mileage reimbursement
- Company-paid phone expenses
- Company credit card for business expenses
- 401(k) plan
How to Apply
Please send your resume to dana@reptronicsllc.com or contact 612-272-7118.
April 2026 — Dca Manufacturing Hiring a Business Development Manager/director — (wisconsin/michigan)
DCA Manufacturing, an electronic manufacturing services provider of printed circuit board assembly, test and system integration with manufacturing facility in Cumberland, WI and Troy, MI is looking for a driven and strategic business development manager / director to accelerate growth. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced technology environment, understands the dynamics of contract manufacturing and can build long-term partnerships with OEMs across diverse industries. You’ll be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, nurturing key customer relationships and shaping commercial strategies that position our EMS capabilities as the partner of choice.
Key Responsibilities
New Business Acquisition
• Identify, qualify, and secure new business opportunities within target markets such as industrial, Defense, Medical and Automotive sectors.
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve revenue and margin targets.
• Collaborate with internal teams (engineering, operations, supply chain, quality) to deliver customer-focused solutions.
Commercial Strategy & Negotiation
• Present proposals, quotations and business cases.
• Coordinate contract negotiations, pricing discussions and long-term agreements.
• Work closely with leadership to forecast sales pipelines and support strategic planning.
Technical & Operational Collaboration
• Understand EMS capabilities including PCB assembly, box build, testing, supply chain management and NPI processes.
• Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure feasibility, cost optimization, and timely delivery.
• Support customer audits, technical reviews and project kick-offs.
Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, electronics or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in EMS or electronics contract manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of electronics manufacturing processes and supply chain dynamics.
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets and developing new accounts.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel as required.
What We Offer
• Competitive salary with commission structure.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and global customers.
• A collaborative, growth-oriented work environment.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
How to Apply
If you’re passionate about technology, skilled at building relationships and excited to drive growth in a dynamic EMS environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Send your resume to USingh@dcamfg.com. Learn more about us at https://dcamfg.com/.
In this position, you will be responsible for driving new sales growth through your sales ability and product application experience.
-Develop direct OEM mobile accounts
-Identify relevant target accounts and growth potential opportunities
-Maintain continual relationship with existing customers within an established region
-Develop proposals and present to customers and prospective clients
-Call on new accounts
-Attend tradeshows to identify new technology on the market
Required Experience and Knowledge:
-Minimum of (5+) years OEM mobile accounts
-Practical experience and understanding of hydraulics and pneumatics industry
-Customer focus with strong negotiation skills
-Experience writing and deploying proposals and client presentations
-Must be a self-starter as position will require working remotely
-Must be highly organized with strong communication skills
Travel Requirements:
-This position will require travel to see customers within the sales territory.
-Occasional overnight travel may be required.
Please contact Kurt Battaglia at (201) 410-1712 or kurtb@neccoelect.com.
Qualifications:
1. Mechanical and/or electrical/electronic aptitude.
2. Work experience engaging with industry professionals.
3. An engineering or business degree is preferred but not required.
4. Computer literacy with Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive), Adobe Acrobat, Zoom and common web search tools.
5. Ability to work from a home office and manage time effectively while in the field with customers.
6. Must have a reliable, presentable vehicle for business use.
Compensation includes a base salary plus a bonus program, benefits, gas card and reimbursable business expenses.
Please review our company web site at www.glsmith.com to clearly understand who we are and what we do in the industry.
Please send resumes to: Gary Lee Smith, garysmith@glsmith.com.
