Natalie Vanderspiegel is a validation engineer in the new product injector design team of Fuel Systems at Caterpillar Inc. She plays a critical role by structurally validating all components within the injector in accordance with validation guidelines. She also investigates material selections to meet technical product requirements, develops applicable processing and analysis techniques, and recommends future development directions.
In 2009, Vanderspiegel created a database to track all hardware orders for her team and reconciled the expense dollars each month. The year before, she planned, coordinated and executed Caterpillar’s World Wide Materials and Heat Treat Conference, serving as the primary communication hub between the Corporate Planning and Advanced Materials Technologies (AMT) divisions.
At Caterpillar, Vanderspiegel has received two U.S. patents for inventions in after-treatment for on-highway truck engines, and she was a recognized innovator at the 2007 and 2008 Innovation Fairs held at Caterpillar’s Technical Center. Beginning in 2006, Vanderspiegel took significant initiative to provide summer students in AMT with mentorship and development opportunities. She chairs the career fair and is the professional/affinity group coordinator on the Missouri University of Science and Technology Core Recruiting team for Caterpillar.
Vanderspiegel is a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), taking on many roles within its local section. As a member of the Professional Development Committee, she created and held the position of technical tour coordinator. This year, she chairs the Professional Development Committee, and her efforts secured a national SWE award for Best Professional Development Event, Large Section. She is in line to serve as SWE’s communication chair in 2011, and has already begun to create a year-long public relations and advertising program.
Her volunteerism doesn’t end with SWE. Vanderspiegel is also involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Peoria, serving as event chair in 2010. The year before, she created a new team to support a young engineer at Caterpillar who was diagnosed with cancer. Her commitment led her to attend the organization’s National Leadership Summit, and she was selected to participate in a 2011 strategy pilot program.
Vanderspiegel is a professional member of the national and local chapters of ASM International, an organization that serves materials professionals, non-technical personnel and managers worldwide. Since 2007, she has volunteered for the Peoria chapter’s Materials Camp, where high school students can learn about becoming a materials engineer with hands-on experiences, and has served as the graduation coordinator and on the Planning Committee. iBi
