Engine Camp
Ran into Jim Weber on the way into work this morning. Jim, like myself, is a UIUC TAM grad, and one of the two principal inventors of Cat's ACERT engine technology (by which we made EPA 2004 emissions regulations, and maintained our position as the market-leading heavy-duty engine manufacturer) - basically, Caterpillar's resident engine deity, just a brilliant maverick of a guy. We met during Engine Camp last year, a 4-day orientation to the engine business which he developed and implemented for select new hires in 2001 and has been trying to hand off to a younger guy (or guys) to take over and run with.
So, to my great surprise, he asked me if I'd be interested in co-directing Engine Camp this year. I asked him to ballpark the time commitment, which he estimated at something like 25% for 1.5~2 months. I told him that, assuming my boss (and BBoss) was down with it, my only hesitancy is that I'm pretty new to this engine development game; he responded that he's looking for folks with unsullied backgrounds and new perspectives, and that I'd caught his eye. So I thanked him for the opportunity, said I'm definitely interested, and that I'd talk to my BBoss and see what he thought.
ETA: BBoss was not crazy about the time commitment. He said if we could further divide it, he'd be willing to let me go 4-5 hr/wk for a couple of months. He ended with "let me think about it." I do hope we find a way to work it out. It'd be a great experience for me, on a number of levels.
So, to my great surprise, he asked me if I'd be interested in co-directing Engine Camp this year. I asked him to ballpark the time commitment, which he estimated at something like 25% for 1.5~2 months. I told him that, assuming my boss (and BBoss) was down with it, my only hesitancy is that I'm pretty new to this engine development game; he responded that he's looking for folks with unsullied backgrounds and new perspectives, and that I'd caught his eye. So I thanked him for the opportunity, said I'm definitely interested, and that I'd talk to my BBoss and see what he thought.
ETA: BBoss was not crazy about the time commitment. He said if we could further divide it, he'd be willing to let me go 4-5 hr/wk for a couple of months. He ended with "let me think about it." I do hope we find a way to work it out. It'd be a great experience for me, on a number of levels.