Honoring those who share in Microboard’s mission to change lives.
On October 25, 2023, Microboard celebrated its 40th anniversary alongside family, friends, employees, and distinguished guests. Together we celebrated Microboard’s commitment to excellence in electronics manufacturing, building life-saving and life-changing products. While honoring the humanitarian legacy established by our founder, Craig Hoekenga, the mission to serve the world’s poorest of the poor., Amongst the guests were three extraordinary individuals, each a beacon of inspiration. CJ Hoekenga, Mike Papale, and Alex Plitsas are the first recipients of Microboard’s Brilliant Together Life Spacing Awards. They weren’t just guests; they were the embodiment of Microboard’s mission to change and save lives. Although the recipients hail from different backgrounds, the common thread between them is that they have found their gift and are selflessly giving it away.
C.J Hoekenga – Activist
C.J. Hoekenga is the eldest grandson of Microboard’s founder, Craig Hoekenga. In 2012, C.J. and his brother were survivors of the horrific Sandy Hook shooting. Since then, C.J. has taken extraordinary steps to help end gun violence across the country. He attended the Biden/Harris Administration’s declaration of gun violence prevention and marched as well as spoke at events like March for Our Lives, which advocates for a less violent world. Locally, he is involved with the Newtown Action Alliance.
Mike Papale – In a Heartbeat Foundation
Mike Papale, is the founder and president of In a Heartbeat Foundation. A non-profit organization with a mission to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in Connecticut schools and community centers. At 17 years old, Papale suffered cardiac arrest, due to a lack of an AED on site. Fortunately, an EMT performed eight minutes of life-saving CPR. Since then, Papale has made it his personal mission to ensure all schools are properly equipped with AEDs and an AED program to prevent death in a sudden cardiac arrest. Since its inception, In a Heartbeat has donated 246 AEDs and generously gives to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy research. Microboard is honored to be a proud sponsor of In a Heartbeat Foundation and its initiatives. In the United States alone, 1,700 lives are saved due to AEDs.
Alex Plitsas – SOAA & N7 Initiative
Alex Plitsas is a former Microboard employee and U.S. Army sergeant. While deployed in Iraq, he used a remote-control counter IED jammer during his several hundred missions. The jammer successfully protected the troops that were on the ground. He served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and thanks to him and his efforts, countless military and civilian lives have been saved. Currently, he is a board member of the Special Operations Associations of America (SOAA) and an Atlantic Council Fellow. SOAA is working in conjunction with military specialists to negotiate the release of American hostages in Israel and on the Atlantic Council he is a part of the N7 Initiative which aims to strengthen and deepen Arab-Israeli normalization.
About Microboard:
Microboard is a Connecticut based electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider delivering circuit card assembly, system integration, and test services. We’re your source for high reliability and high complexity electronics manufacturing across the Defense, Medical, Telecom, and Industrial market sectors. From simple designs to complex systems, Microboard provides complete solutions beginning with new product introduction to manufacturing fulfillment. We are committed to excellence, motivated by a higher mission, and led by our 3 guiding principles, the 3Ps. Process Excellence, Partnership and People.
Along with our strong engineering staff and test and RF test design team, our leading-edge equipment and software are capable of placing the industry’s smallest parts, building some of the most complex, challenging, and fail-critical boards in the world. Microboard’s motto of “brilliant together” is an unassailable guarantee to our customers, from government contractors to innovative startups looking to amaze the world. Answering the call to world service is a significant and inseparable part of Microboard’s company culture. Through aid projects in 9 different missions around the world, humanitarian commitment is our enduring purpose. Brilliant Togethers