Douglas R. Oberhelman
Douglas R. Oberhelman
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Douglas R. Oberhelman is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caterpillar Inc.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: March 15, 1952
(Note: Date of death not publicly available)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American businessman and executive
Early Life and Background
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Douglas R. Oberhelman was born on March 15, 1952. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Management from Purdue University in 1975 and an MBA from the same institution in 1980.
Major Accomplishments
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Oberhelman joined Caterpillar Inc. in 1978 as a management associate and quickly rose through the ranks. During his tenure, he held various leadership positions within the company, including serving as President and Chief Operating Officer. In 2010, he succeeded Jim Owens as Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar.
Notable Works or Actions
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Under Oberhelman's leadership, Caterpillar achieved significant milestones:
Strategic expansion: He oversaw numerous acquisitions and partnerships that expanded the company's global reach and diversified its product offerings.
Diversification into emerging markets: Oberhelman prioritized growth in developing countries, recognizing the vast potential for Caterpillar's products and services in these regions.
* Investment in sustainability and innovation: He emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship and technological advancements within the company.
Impact and Legacy
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Douglas R. Oberhelman's tenure at Caterpillar Inc. was marked by steady growth, innovative initiatives, and a commitment to global expansion. His leadership had a lasting impact on the company, shaping its future in industries like construction equipment, energy, transportation, and logistics.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Douglas R. Oberhelman's contributions to business and industry have earned him recognition as a seasoned executive and strategic leader. His insights on topics such as global market expansion, innovation, and sustainability continue to inspire professionals worldwide.
Quotes by Douglas R. Oberhelman
Why is Caterpillar bad if we create a new job in India or China to receive U.S. exports? It makes no sense to me. We want to drive all the exports we can from the United States. We want to concentrate on all those consumers, outside contractors, customers outside the United States that we possibly can.
I, for one, struggle a little bit with a $250,000 education for a philosophy degree. They are a wonderful people, but we can't employ philosophers in manufacturing in the United States. We need a one- or two-year technical add-on for a high school.
Caterpillar exported $20 billion of goods in 2011, all by American hands and American workers, to all over the world. In order to do that, we have to create jobs in all those countries that we export to, to be able to sell there.
We're going to have to raise revenues in some form or fashion, and we're going to have to cut spending, including entitlements of all kind, including the military. We all know this. Lets get on with it.
I, for one, believe that revenue has to increase. I think every American would pay more if they thought spending was going to be cut and the budget brought to balance.
I always try to communicate to our people that we can never make enough money. We can never make enough profit.
I am a human being. I started out with virtually nothing. I worked my way up like so many businesspeople have and made ourselves great in this country. And that is what we have to make sure we preserve for our grandchildren and future generations all the way through.
Any politician that says no tax revenue or zero spending cuts does not deserve reelection. Our hole is so deep in this country with the debt and the debt service, the interest on that debt, before the big expenses come for Social Security and Medicare - for we baby boomers in a few years - that everything has to be on the table.
All of our competitors around the world, every country is investing more in infrastructure as a percentage of their GDP than we are. And down the road our children and grandchildren will have to compete with that more and more.
Inflation was driven by higher labor costs, not higher goods costs. Frankly, I'd love to see a little bit of that. Because I'd love to pay people more. I'd love to see rising wages for everybody.