Okay, I must tell you something that blew my mind. Just this week, two different people casually mentioned that pumpkin spice lattes are coming back soon, and they’re already thinking about Halloween decorations.

September is here — and let’s be honest, we’re all feeling a little of the back-to-school blues. The long days of summer are winding down, vacations are over, and routines are back in full swing. But instead of sinking into post-summer sadness, let’s lighten the mood together.

Dear SPCEA Community - I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you!!  My first book, Authentically Yours: The Global Woman’s Guide to Confident, Cross-Cultural Leadership, officially launches on December 1, 2026.

I had some time to reflect and do a bit of research on key trends over the holiday.

The product cost engineer plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient product design, production processes and cost-effective operations within manufacturing settings. Here are ten important skills that I think every product cost engineer should possess: