Vincent Noonan, CEF, is Vice President Strategic Operations at Sheffield Platers in San Diego, California, where he has been since 2008. Prior to that, Noonan was on the chemical supplier side for almost 20 years.
How did you get your start in the finishing industry?
I worked for a small company in Ridgecrest, California, called the Electronics Manufacturing Productivity Facility (EMPF). They were contracted by the Naval Weapons Center to test different equipment to be used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards and the components that would be mounted on those boards. My initial responsibilities were to solder dip 16 pin packages, microsection them, and then measure the solder thickness. After making my way to Southern California, I started work at a PCB shop called BECWAR engineering in the analytical lab. Chuck Hirbour and Rick Armstrong from Technic came in for a visit. They thought my potential was greater than working in this little shop and recruited me to work in the analytical lab at Technic’s Anaheim facility. That was my first step on the long journey.
What do you enjoy best about the industry?
Every day I get to participate in something challenging and exciting. Whether we are in the midst of strategic planning for the next one, three, or five-year run — or trying to determine the most efficient way to run production of a new part number — there is always something new happening. It is not a static environment
Who is your hero?
My mom. She raised four kids as a single mother with extraordinarily little. Even without much for our family, she was always the first to speak about empathy, giving to those who were less fortunate, and being grateful for what you have. It shaped who I became in life and in business.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I think anywhere we might have a little bit of land and have lake frontage. We love the water.
What is your biggest fear?
That the industry I grew up in over the past 35 years will not exist in the same way it exists today.
Will our industry survive in the current regulatory environment over the next 20 years?
It will only survive if we do two things. First, we must continue to support the industry associations like the NASF and local associations like the MFASC in California. They are continually challenging the regulations that do not hit the mark and allow sensible regulation to be put in place, i.e., giving the environmentalists small victories. Secondly, as an industry, we must continue to weed out the bad players. The only reason that we continue to fight off over-regulation is that there are still companies that want to take shortcuts with their business practices. If the Industry does not continue to invest intelligently, we will always be behind in the regulatory atmosphere.
What is your favorite family vacation?
Any place we can get away from technology and the day-to-day grind. Most recently was our trip to the jungles of Costa Rica with my wife, two boys, my mother-in-law, and her sister. To see the excitement and wonderment in their eyes was priceless. Anytime we can get away as a family is a time well spent.
What would you change about yourself if you could?
My great ability to procrastinate. It took me weeks to finally get this done.
What really makes you angry?
A lack of common sense when it comes to making critical decisions. Gather data, elicit input, determine options, make the decision, execute on the decision. Simple, right?
What motivates you to work hard?
Taking care of my family. At the beginning of my career, it was status, elevation of title, feeling accepted by those peers around me. With maturity comes realization. It’s not about how I am viewed by my peers, but what can I do to continue to drive growth at Sheffield, present strategies that keep us nimble, and ensuring that our employees and their families have stability … especially now.
What is your favorite thing about your career?
Finding a new industry, strategy, or project that leads to big growth. It’s fine to have day-to-day wins, but changing a culture, capturing a “whale,” or something as simple as coming up with new masking for an ongoing project that leads to faster turn-around time or less rejections are super rewards.
What is your biggest complaint about your job?
It sounds unrealistic, but I do not have one. There are many little things that can get you down day-to-day, but overall, we have a fantastic team that works together to make it happen.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My boys, Vincent and Steven, and the family that surrounds them.
What is your favorite book?
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
What makes you laugh the most?
My wife, Mercedes, is the wittiest human being I know. She can get me into fits of belly laughter
What was the last movie you went to?
Wow. Pre-Pandemic, it was “Avengers Endgame” with my boys.
What did you want to be when you were small?
An actor.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Spending the day outside with my family.
What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
I am a die-hard Charger fan, so football. I had season tickets for 17 years. It was heartbreaking when they left San Diego. I quit them for a year after they left for L.A., but I was sucked back in and am teetering on the edge of buying tickets for the new stadium and driving to L.A. during the season.
Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car?
Ride a mountain bike.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Help, the Beatles version.
What would be your last meal?
Filet mignon benedict.
Who is your favorite author?
Vince Flynn.
Have you ever had a nickname? What is it?
Vinny.
Do you like or dislike surprises?
Love good surprises, dislike bad news surprises.
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?
Watch a movie.
Would you rather win the lottery or work at the perfect job? And why?
I would rather win the lottery. It would guarantee the long-term ability to really help family, friends, and those less fortunate. It would be extremely rewarding to have that ability above and beyond what I can do with a job.
Who would you want to be stranded with on a deserted island?
My wife.
