ECIA Releases E-book Commemorating 100-Year History of Authorized Channel
Just in time for the holidays!
ATLANTA – The founding of the authorized channel can be traced back to the area of New York City that became known as ‘Radio Row’ during the 1920s. There, dozens of radio parts resellers sold components as radios began making their way from military to consumer use after World War 1. As several ECIA members were also marking 2021 as an important date in their own long history of service to the technology industry, the idea to scour the archives for anecdotes and photos was born.
Former Avnet executive Al Maag led the project as publisher of the e-book. “I’ve been blessed to work in the tech field since 1971 with two component manufacturers, a global distributor, and a media company,” Maag commented. “During that I time I have certainly been engaged in the channel. Hopefully my experienced associates and I have captured the highlights of the industry for everyone to relive or learn about. It was indeed a pleasure to do the research and work with supporters to create this historical document.”
“If ever there was a year to celebrate the accomplishments of the authorized channel, it is this one,” continued ECIA Senior Vice President Victor Meijers, who coordinated the project for ECIA. “The supply chain disruptions our customers are experiencing have emphasized the value of what our members do in facilitating the exploding demand for components and smoothing out the kinks in the supply chain. We are proud of this e-book, which contains some fascinating tidbits about our storied history. I think readers will enjoy taking this trip down memory lane.”
Chief Editor of the 169-page e-book was Barbara Jorgensen, one of the industry’s most respected journalists; it boasts a stellar list of seasoned authors, including Heidi Elliott, Steve Cholas, Bruce Rayner, Matt Sheerin, Craig Conrad, and Tess Hill. Contributors are too numerous to list here but include the marketing professionals that know the industry best.
