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Marti Farris
Sr. Technician Intel Corporation
Marti Farris is a member of Work Group 5.0 (WG-5.0), Device Testing. She has
also done behind the scenes editing of Threshold and been the publications
advisor in the past. This year Farris was honored with the Unheralded Volunteer
Award, for her contributions to the efforts of the ESD Association.
According to Farris, she has three roles for the Device Testing work group.
“First and foremost,” said Farris, “I ensure Intel’s
interests are represented in any publications created by WG-5.0. To do this
I perform experiments and present data at the meetings. . . .some may add
that I vociferously defend Intel’s position. Secondly, as a technician
who knows the equipment and is performing testing on a daily basis, I ensure
that the procedures are actually useable on the test floor and not just on
paper. And, as a technical writer, I try to help make the publications readable
and understandable by the intended audience-those who are applying the specifications
to their ESD testing. This audience often includes technicians and those whose
native language isn’t English. Part of my original motivation for getting
involved in the ESDA was my struggles to decipher the very specs I was trying
to use.”
Educational and professional
background
Farris has a BA in sociology and a
certificate in technical writing.
She currently performs ESD testing on Intel products as part of Intel’s
Desktop Products Group section of Quality and Reliability. Farris has been
conducting ESD testing since 1988, starting with the Intel 386. “The
first ESD testing I did was on a manual test box and one had to be quite careful
not to be zapped instead of the device under test! This always makes me appreciate
the automated test equipment we use now,” said Farris.
In addition to device testing, Farris
maintains ESD testers and uses that knowledge to help install ESD testers
and provide training at several of Intel’s domestic and international
sites. Her participation helps ensure site to site testing consistency. In
addition, she serves as a resource for resolving tester issues world-wide.
Personal information, interests, and hobbies
In 1998 Farris adopted a little girl
from China. According to Farris, “she is the light of my life. Now I’ve
happily traded hiking in Italy and Ireland for hiking in our local parks.
We also like to ride bikes, camp, and canoe.” Together, they are involved
in the local chapter of Families with Children from China. Farris also devotes
time to photojournalism for the group’s newsletter, covering different
events in the community.
Benefits of being an ESDA volunteer
“Through my volunteer work with
the ESDA, I have learned a tremendous amount about ESD above and beyond what
I’ve learned on the job or through classes,” said Farris. “I’ve
also improved my presentation (and debating) skills. It’s been empowering
to be able to influence specifications that are used throughout the United
States and around the world. On a personal level,” Farris concluded,
“I’ll always treasure the many friends I’ve made through
my work on the ESDA committees.”
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