As the engineering project team leader for the non-metallics team in the Advanced Components Systems Division at Caterpillar Inc., Richard Gerberding leads a team of engineers and outside resources in the design and development of cab interior trim, working with suppliers and facilities around the world. He also provides support and assistance on plastics design and processes to other areas of the company.
Demonstrating leadership in his field, Gerberding is a Wave 1 DMAIC/Wave 1 DMEDI Certified Black Belt and has run a broad range of projects, including inventory accuracy, test and validation/cost reduction, worldwide business unit inventory reduction, and field return failure analysis.
Gerberding is a leader outside the office as well. He founded and serves as ministry director for Men of A.I.M. (Action…Integrity…Maturity), a regional men’s ministry dedicated to serving the local church through communication, networking, training and other resources. In 2003, he started the organization’s e-newsletter, which is sent to nearly 500 people each month. Gerberding serves as a speaker at conference workshops for the group, including the EQUIP Christian Workers Conference, and was the local leader for the Promise Keepers 2008 Peoria conference, which consisted of a 30-person leadership team, more than 500 volunteers and more than 5,000 attendees.
Gerberding has led workshops and participated in panel discussions at the national Man in the Mirror Leadership Summits in 2008 and 2009, and is now a field trainer for the organization. He is a regular contributor to SIXTHDAY magazine, a quarterly publication based in central Illinois, and an active member of Richwoods Christian Church in Peoria, where he serves on the men’s ministry leadership team.
Earlier this year, Gerberding launched Heart of Illinois Christian Movie Central in efforts to build grassroots support for Christian movies. He hosts, coordinates and publicizes local film screenings and has led efforts to bring Christian films to the Peoria market.
At home, in the office and in the community, Gerberding’s creative approach to leadership has seen him found and maintain several organizations dedicated to the men of central Illinois, making it a better place to live, work and play. iBi
