NAM: Douglas Oberhelman of Caterpillar Elected Vice Chair of the Manufacturers’ Association

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Douglas R. Oberhelman, chief executive officer of Caterpillar Inc., has been elected to a two-year term as vice chair of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Board of Directors. He will begin his term on January 1, 2011. Oberhelman succeeds Mary Andringa of Vermeer Corporation in this voluntary leadership position.

“Doug knows what it takes to keep U.S. manufacturers globally competitive,” said NAM President and CEO John Engler. “His leadership and experience will be a great asset to our member companies as they face unprecedented challenges. Doug is a highly engaged board member of the NAM’s Executive Committee and our Manufacturing Institute on a broad range of issues from exports to infrastructure to skills training. He will be a powerful partner for incoming Chair Mary Andringa as they work together to advance a comprehensive manufacturing strategy for jobs and a competitive America,” he said.

 “I am honored to serve America’s manufacturers as we face the toughest global competition in the nation’s history,” Oberhelman said. “With the right policies and legislation in place, America can continue to be a leader in the global marketplace. I look forward to working with manufacturers nationwide as well as policymakers in Washington to advance initiatives to make the United States the best country in the world to manufacture both to meet the needs of the American market and serve as an export platform to the world.”

Caterpillar Inc. is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar employs more than 93,000 people around the world.

Oberhelman joined Caterpillar in 1975 in the corporate treasury department and has held a variety of positions for the company in the United States, South America and Japan. During his 35 years at Caterpillar, he has been a strong advocate for policies that promote America’s global competitiveness.