Class: 2014 Age: 39 Company: Caterpillar Inc.
Education: B.S., Business Administration
Professional accomplishments: Self-learning and on-the-job experience helped me to become a designer using 3D modeling for Caterpillar. I also started E.J. Herron Excavating, an excavation company that eventually grew to focus on jobs within the $200,000-$400,000 range. My experience has lead me to provide construction technology leadership with voice of the customer and equipment application expertise at Caterpillar.
Off the clock: Home improvement, landscaping, golf, swimming, and spending time with my wife, kids and their sports and scouting activities.
Favorite movie: I enjoy crime and mystery movies.
Extracurricular: Provided discounted and in-kind donations to Habitat for Humanity for families building homes in the Peoria area with excavation of basements, installation of sewer and water lines, and backfilling. Served on various municipality and church boards.
Fun Fact: I played bass guitar in a band with two of my brothers for a few years, and I received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in high school as a trumpet player.
E.J. has continued to use his experience to build an online presence promoting technology and is also working with Crew Collaborative to recruit young people into the industry.