As marketing recruiting and development supervisor for Caterpillar Inc., Jada Phillabaum recruits and interviews for Caterpillar’s Marketing Talent pipeline. She manages dealer administration responsibilities and establishes common processes for the management of the Caterpillar/dealer relationship.

Just three years after joining the company, Phillabaum became marketing field representative in Brazil and led Caterpillar dealers to achieve the annual business plan of $175 million in sales. Her marketing skills and ability to establish process improvements allowed her to excel as manager of Caterpillar’s Latin American Customer Relationship Management.

After returning to corporate headquarters in 2006, Phillabaum supervised the development of more than 15 marketing representatives as they progressed through a two-year rotational program, and led Caterpillar’s recruiting efforts for Technical Marketing. She currently serves as dealer administration process owner, entrusted as the champion of the Caterpillar/dealer partnership throughout the enterprise.

Phillabaum dedicates much of her free time to serving the community, especially women empowerment, support for underprivileged children and faith-based service. In 2006, she and her team of 26 employees were nominated for the Caterpillar Chairman’s Community Service Award for their hours of service.

Striving to support other women who wish to obtain the same opportunities she had, Phillabaum is a strong supporter of the Women in Engineering program at her alma mater, Purdue University. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers—Central Illinois Section, serving as the Outreach Committee chair and leading programs in District 150 schools and Girl Scout troops so young girls can learn about the field. She has been recognized numerous times by the Society of Women Engineers and is a graduate of Bradley University’s Management for the 21st Century program and the Leadership Miami program.

Phillabaum acts on her desire for all children to grow up in a positive, supportive environment by volunteering on the Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters board. She is also a “Big Sister.” Phillabaum attends Richwoods Christian Church, where she serves as a small group leader and is establishing a new missionary opportunity for her congregation in the Amazon River Basin in Brazil. She also volunteers twice a month with South Side Mission’s Adopt-A-Block ministry. iBi