Caterpillar 2015 Annual Report Download - page 37

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37
2015 YEAR IN REVIEW
In 2015, two Caterpillar employees marked career milestones in two very different journeys. Their stories illustrate
the satisfaction that comes at the end of a long career and the exhilaration that comes from being given the first
chance to give your all.
In early 2015, Ed Flesburg retired after 60 satisfying years of service with Caterpillar. As a 6 Sigma Black Belt
within the Global Supply Network Division (GSND), and over the course of his notable career, Ed achieved much
success and delivered many outstanding results for the company.
Ed began his career in 1955, as a chip wheeler in East Peoria, Illinois. After returning from deployment to Korea, he
spent the next 51 years in many different roles with the company, from janitor to drafting, designing and engineering.
Throughout his tenure, Ed achieved four company patents to his name, developed
14 major design changes, resolved 11 major design problems and generated more
than $55 million in cost reductions. In addition, he pioneered the development of the
heat transfer coolant category, where his experience and expertise was priceless.
Ed’s manager, James Dryden, sums up Ed’s outstanding tenure, “Famous basketball
coach John Wooden once said ‘Who can ask more of a man than giving all within
his span? Giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from victory.’ I cannot think of a
better quote to describe Ed’s work ethic and outstanding accomplishments to make
Caterpillar the successful company it is today.”
As Ed was accepting well-wishes for the future from his grateful team, thousands of
miles away 19-year-old Farooq Kahn was looking forward to the future for the first
time in a long time. Farooq is training as an industrial mechanic at Caterpillar Mining in
Lünen, Germany. His arrival at Caterpillar marks a milestone in a remarkable journey.
Farooq escaped from his home country of Afghanistan when he was only 15 years old, leaving his parents and
siblings and all he knew behind him. It took him five months to arrive in Germany. He spoke not one word of
German, had a very dangerous escape behind him and was completely on his own.
After his graduation from German elementary school, Farooq sent over 70 applications to companies, but only
Caterpillar in Lünen was willing to give him a chance. At the time his German language skills were limited, and,
as a refugee, he only had a temporary residence permit.
According to a study conducted in Germany, only 15 percent of companies are ready to hire young people with
foreign roots. Caterpillar in Lünen has been a part of this small group of companies for years, but Farooq, now
successfully integrated in the company, was the first refugee hired.
“We strongly believe it to be part of our social responsibility to give young people like Farooq the possibility to
enjoy a good education.” (Continued on page 38)
PEOPLE
MARKING MILESTONES
AT BOTH ENDS OF A
CATERPILLAR CAREER
Caterpillar employees
come to us in many
different ways, with
many different stories.
But we are humbled
by what they have in
common: the loyalty and
dedication to put their
talents and enthusiasm
to work to help us build
the world.