As a group manager for Caterpillar Inc.’s Integrated Manufacturing Operation Division, Chad Hawes is responsible for production of the company’s signature product—the track-type tractor. Hawes has implemented programs that have improved throughput times by 30 percent and factory efficiency by 20 percent, resulting in more than $2 million annually in improved profitability. Under his leadership, Hawes’ team has improved customer satisfaction by achieving and sustaining on-time delivery performance of over 95 percent.
Throughout the recent recession, Hawes and his team were responsible for managing the downsizing of the company’s business in order to stay profitable. Thanks in part to his team’s efforts, business has rebounded dramatically and is in the midst of the largest and most rapid upturn in its history.
Working to develop Caterpillar’s future leaders, Hawes has mentored a number of employees and successfully placed many in management and entry-level leadership positions. He has been recognized numerous times within Caterpillar for exceeding people, quality, velocity and cost goals, as well as customer focus. He and his team have also been recognized for their exemplary service to Easter Seals.
Utilizing the leadership skills he developed at Caterpillar to benefit the community at large, Hawes serves on the Easter Seals Steering Committee and is the leader of Team Hawes. As a member of the steering committee for the organization’s Black and Blue Ball, he helped raise more than $150,000 this year. He also helped organize the Three Little Pigs Hog Roast, which raised over $40,000 for the nonprofit. Under his leadership, Team Hawes recently developed and executed its Hero Card fundraiser, which sold over 500 cards and was responsible for a large part of the total amount raised by the team.
Hawes is a board member of the Metamora Junior Football League, director of its flag football program, and head coach of one of the league’s teams. He has also coached a basketball team in the Germantown Hills Athletic Association for the past two years. iBi
