What backgrounds build the best program manager?

The different views on the skills important in program management (PM) from the different representatives of EMS companies are presented. The representatives are Henry Protzel, project manager, WKK Americal (Holding) Inc., Leo Reynolds, vice chairman, Electronic Systems Inc., Renee Rocca, program manager director, Hunter Technology, Lynn Cuperus, director operations, Goodrich Corp., Tan Ka Huat, managing director, CEI Contract Manufacturing Ltd., and Elliot L. Shev, Sr. VP sales and marketing, SMS technologies Inc. According to Protzel, PM is usually the sole contact for the customer and it expertises in handling a project often defines the way customers perceive the support they are receiving. While, Reynolds feels that PMs perform the single most defining role in EMS company and it has to understand the technical, business and relationship issues to manage the expectations and then translate those expectations for the EMS company in a way that produces good outcomes.