Management
Bruce Hueners
Bruce Hueners has been Palomar’s global President and CEO since 2007. He began with Hughes Aircraft (now Palomar Technologies) where he collaborated in the development of laser interferometric measurement, die attach and wire bond systems and processes. Before becoming President and CEO, Mr. Hueners held many key positions in the company, including Engineering Manager, Director of Worldwide Sales, Vice President Marketing and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his career at Hughes/Palomar, he worked as an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer in the Semiconductor Products Department at General Electric, developing mechanized processes for high volume optoelectronics assembly.
Mr. Hueners' extensive engineering knowledge includes microelectronic packaging and interconnects, microwave and RF, and optoelectronic applications. He has published more than 50 technical papers and has served on the editorial boards of several trade journals. Additionally, Mr. Hueners is a member of the U.S. District Export Council, the University of Southern California Engineering Advisory Board, and the Cal State University San Marcos President’s Council. He is former Chairman of the San Diego World Trade Center, having participated on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Hueners has participated in many international trade panels, including those on USA-China business relations.
A retired Marine Corps Officer, Mr. Hueners received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California, an MBA from Indiana University, and a Certificate from the Executive Program for Scientists & Engineers at UCSD.
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Carl Hempel
Carl Hempel has been with Palomar Technologies since 2000. As CFO, Mr. Hempel has helped lead the company to consecutive years of revenue growth and profitability. He was an integral part of the 2008 management buyout of Palomar Technologies and was the architect of the acquisition of SST International in 2015.
Prior to joining Palomar Technologies, Mr. Hempel was Controller and CFO at Software Products International (SPI) for 10 years. At SPI, he provided strategic direction for both the operations and financial functions and led a successful production and fulfillment outsourcing effort. Later, he served as Controller for Radiation Oncology Computer Systems, one of the world’s largest suppliers of radiation treatment planning systems for oncology centers. During his tenure, he provided strategic guidance for the financial, production, and
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Daniel Evans
Mr. Evans started his career at Hughes Aircraft (now Palomar Technologies) as a Design Engineer in 1984. Prior to being named CTO in 2015, he held the positions of Project Manager, Engineering Manager, VP of Engineering, and Applications Manager.
Mr. Evans developed many of the core technologies fundamental to Palomar Technologies’ automated equipment platforms; presently, these platforms are installed in thousands of machines around the world. He has received nine Motion Control and System Patents, and has published over 30 technical papers including the widely read “AuSi and AuSn Eutectic Die Attach Case Studies.” His experience in equipment design, customer application, and industry and customer roadmaps allows him to provide leadership to Palomar’s New Product Develop team. Product launches under Evan’s leadership include the 9000 Wedge Bonder and the 3880 High Precision Die Bonder, employing the innovative Z-Theta Bi-Directional 8-tool bond head design.
Mr. Evans earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (both degrees have an emphasis in Robotics and Controls), and a Certificate from the Executive Program for Scientists and Engineers at UCSD. He has served on the Advanced Packaging Roadmap Committees for iNEMI, IMAPS, and ITRS and regularly serves on IMAPS conference committees.
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Rich Hueners
Joining in 2009, Rich Hueners rapidly developed the company’s first global digital marketing platform and integrated it with an enterprise CRM system for global sales and marketing. His roles at Palomar have included Marketing Communications Manager, Product Marketing Manager, Marketing and System
Prior to joining Palomar Technologies, Mr. Hueners was a talent agent at Paradigm Talent Agency in Beverly Hills, CA for eight years. During his tenure, he represented several well-known motion picture and television actors and conducted sales efforts and contract negotiations on behalf of the agency’s clients with major studios. He later developed and established joint ventures with specialized boutique talent agencies.
Taking advantage of his unique background and other innovative marketing and sales techniques, Palomar has achieved successive years of growth and expansion worldwide.
Mr. Hueners holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and the School of Cinematic Arts. He is a member of SEMI, IMAPS, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, and has lived in Singapore since 2013.
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Allan Hass
Allan Hass has over 30 years of industry experience in electronics manufacturing and automation, equipment and process development, and managing the manufacturing of capital equipment, both domestic and outsourced in Asia.
Mr. Hass began his career with Palomar Technologies in 1996. Before this, he worked for Sprague Electric
Mr. Hass earned both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
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Amy Russo
Amy J. Russo has been with Palomar Technologies since 2001. Currently, Mrs. Russo serves as Human Resources Manager and is a member of the global leadership team. She is responsible for the development and implementation of HR strategies, career and professional development programs, policies, and processes throughout the organization.
With over 17 years of human resources experience, Mrs. Russo also worked as Human Resources Manager at PinnFund USA and held HR Generalist roles at Aames Financial and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO).
Mrs. Russo obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and has a Certificate in Human Resources Management from San Diego State University with a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
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Want to join Palomar Technologies, email HR at resumes@bonders.com.
Ricardo Saldana
Ricardo Saldana started his career with Palomar Technologies (then-Hughes Aircraft) in 1989 as an electrical engineer working on electrical and system designs for both wire bonders and die bonders. Mr. Saldana was awarded the Hughes Aircraft Technical Achievement Award in 1992 for the infrared safety light curtain that’s still in use on the 3500-R Die Bonder. In 1994, he was promoted to Engineering Manager of the 2460 and 2470.
Mr. Saldana earned his Professional Engineer license in 1994. In addition to being the engineering lead, he managed several key projects, such as the creation of the 3470 (large area wedge bonder) in 1995, and several complex automation lines. He was promoted to lead the program management in 2000.
Mr. Saldana holds several Project Management certificates and earned the Project Management Professional certificate from UCSD. He earned his B.S degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University in 1989.
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Ralph Burroughs
Before joining SST in 2015, Mr. Burroughs spent the past 15 years as a Controller in the aerospace manufacturing industry for companies BE Aerospace (one of the largest suppliers of interiors for commercial and business jet aircraft markets); Precision Castparts (one of the largest manufacturers in the aerospace and defense industries); and Monogram Aerospace Fasteners (largest supplier of fasteners for the aerospace industry). Mr. Burroughs’ experience and responsibilities cover financial and operational roles.
Mr. Burroughs brings strong costing and manufacturing experience to SST. With an eye for process improvement, Mr. Burroughs is constantly looking for material cost improvement efficiencies. Recently, he has re-organized the production floor to allow a better flow of the manufacturing process, while also reducing costs to ensure increased profitability.
Mr. Burroughs has a degree in Accounting from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA and an MBA in Finance from West Coast University in Los Angeles, CA.
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Saeed Sedehi
SST Vacuum Reflow Systems
Mr. Sedehi has been with SST Vacuum Reflow Systems since 2011. As the Director of Engineering, he oversees design, development, and application lab activities.
Mr. Sedehi has worked in the field of semiconductor manufacturing and electronic packaging equipment for the past 25 years. During this period, he has had several
Before joining SST, Mr. Sedehi developed a couple of solutions for the semiconductor equipment manufacturing industry and sold them successfully to some of the major equipment makers.
He has Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Fresno State and San Diego State universities. He also received a Certification in Program Management from UC Irvine.
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Tim Hughes
Tim Hughes has over 30 years of engineering and management experience in the microelectronics manufacturing industry. Mr. Hughes oversees Palomar Technologies’ worldwide customer service and is a key technical resource for new product engineering, manufacturing, and quality control services.
Prior to his current post, Mr. Hughes was Program Manager. He also held various managerial and senior manufacturing engineering positions at Hughes Aircraft, where he designed high-precision, large-area die
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Steven Buerki
Steven Buerki entered the Silicon Valley microelectronics manufacturing industry in 1983.
He spent 12 years in technical staff positions supporting vertically integrated microelectronic manufacturing for military, aerospace and medical companies.
Transitioning in 1995 from hands-on technical roles to sales, Mr. Buerki managed an independent sales firm in northern California representing high-technology companies including Hughes/Palomar, and became a direct sales manager for Palomar in 2001.
Opportunity in 2013 prompted a move to Orange County, California. to manage north American operations for a German capital equipment company in southern California, focusing on wire bonding and assembly automation for electric vehicle battery systems.
In late 2018 Mr. Buerki returned to Palomar to re-join long-time colleagues and friends, supporting strategic and key accounts in the Americas he is also collaborating with Palomar’s Asia sales operations to help “close the gap” between US and Asia customer sites.
Mr. Buerki studied industrial design, electronics, electro-optics and laser sciences at DeAnza and San Jose City colleges in Silicon Valley. He currently resides in Riverside, California.
Bradley Benton
Bradley Benton began his career at Hughes Aircraft in Tucson, AZ in 1983 as a member of the Technical Staff in Automation and Process Engineering at Missile Systems Group. In 1986, Mr. Benton moved to Hughes’ Industrial Products Division in Carlsbad, CA as a Design Engineer. He managed the Applications Engineering group before moving to Sales and Marketing.
With more than 35 years of experience in the field, Mr. Benton is a recognized expert in microelectronic assembly processes, specifically ball
Benton studied Electrical Engineering and Physics at the University of Arizona. He currently resides in Carlsbad, CA.
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Dale Perry
Eastern North America
Dale Perry has been with Palomar Technologies since 1986, beginning as technical support and later becoming service manager. Since 1998, Mr. Perry has held the position of Account Manager for the eastern half of the Americas.
Prior to Palomar Technologies, Mr. Perry spent 10 years in the Navy, serving in three different Destroyers and working as an Instructor in the Navy’s Advanced Electronics School for Sonar Systems.
Mr. Perry holds an Associate degree in Applied Sciences from National University. He currently resides in Florida.
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Thorsten Scheidler
Palomar Technologies GmbH
Thorsten Scheidler has over 15 years of sales and technical support experience within the power electronics and semiconductor industries in Europe. His primary responsibilities will be in implementing sales strategies to achieve the company’s global sales objectives, with a focus on the in ever growing power electronics market.
Billy Wang
Billy Wang is based in Shanghai and is responsible for developing new business and generating incremental business in China for Palomar’s total solution set.
One of his critical roles will be managing our existing sales representatives in China and ensuring Palomar has strong and enduring relationships with customers.
Billy’s professional experience over the last 20 years has been built in selling high-value products to Chinese customers and working with his Western colleagues and counterparts to expand their respective businesses in China. He also has extensive experience in managing sales representatives in China and deploying systems of accountability with these distributor networks.
Mandy Chen
Taiwan, Korea, and Japan
Mandy Chen is a sales manager based in Taiwan and instrumental in growing the business in the Taiwan market. Apart from Taiwan, Mandy is also tasked to further develop the market in Korea and Japan.
She has an unique attribute in customer relations building and management. She also has vast experience in management, coaching and motivation of sales representatives to scale greater heights in their sales performances.
With more than 19 years of sales on related industrial experience, and special expertise in several fields such as Semiconductor back-end packaging, Optical, Photonic packages, MEMS assembly packaging, and coupled with her high degree of business acumen, she is capable of providing Palomar’s total solution concept to meet the expectations of customers.