Georgia Tech College of Management is pleased to announce that Caterpillar Inc. is the first company to become a Corporate Affiliate of the Technology and Management Program, which will cross-train undergraduate business and engineering majors.

Starting in fall 2008, the program is designed to meet the growing corporate need for leaders who are capable of addressing both the technological and business needs of organizations.

“Having strong, high quality companies like Caterpillar serve as Corporate Affiliates is central to the success of the program,” says Mark Ferguson, the program’s faculty director and the Stephen A. Denning Professor of Technology and Management.

“Affiliates will interact with students in the program through both the classroom and outside events, and they will provide real-world problems for interdisciplinary student teams to solve in capstone projects requiring both technical and managerial skills,” he says.

Jason Raw, marketing recruiting and development supervisor for Caterpillar, says he urged his company to participate in the program after learning about it during a relationship-building visit to Georgia Tech.

“The Technology and Management Program is a natural fit for Caterpillar,” Raw says. “We seek to recruit engineers with strong business skills and business majors who understand the technical side. We’re a very technical company, and we’re looking for Caterpillar’s future leaders.”

Started more than 80 years ago, Caterpillar is the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines.

“As a corporate affiliate of Georgia Tech’s Technology and Management Program, Caterpillar has a unique opportunity to interact directly with these students and share our Caterpillar culture of people and technogy,” says Steve Niehaus, commercial manager of Caterpillar Electric Power Generation. “In return, Caterpillar receives the energy, creativity, and passion of young minds eager to learn and find solutions. This a a win/win for Caterpillar and Georgia Tech.”

Erika Geist, Caterpillar's engineering manager for electric power division, adds: “Overall this program will results in a better balance of skills between engineering and management and provide a foundation for success in the business world for these students."

Georgia Tech is now recruiting more companies to serve as Corporate Affiliates of the Technology & Management Program. Affiliate status costs $35,000 per year and is renewable by mutual agreement.

In addition to providing capstone projects, Corporate Affiliates serve as an external advisory panel to provide strategic guidance for the program. They also benefit from many opportunities to build relationships with students and faculty.

Students enter the Technology & Management Program in their junior year and pursue a prescribed course of study while satisfying requirements for a bachelor’s degree in their engineering or management major.

Students interested in the Technology & Management Program should visit http://mgt.gatech.edu/tm.

Companies interested in becoming Corporate Affiliates can contact Linda Oldham, administrative director of the program, at 404-894-4367 or linda.oldham@mgt.gatech.edu.