Mike Render

Strategic Advisor

Mike Render retired from Caterpillar after a career with increasing responsibilities in the electronics and engine product areas. Mike was a key driver in building the Cat Electronics business from a small research group into the largest engineering organization at Cat and making the prime products market leading through the electronics technologies required to make the products compliant, productive, and more innovative.

He drove innovation and product leadership using predictive technology leapfrogging methods and metrics rather than competition driven followership. Mikes last role in the Cat Electronics group was Chief Technology Manager. Mike also spent several years in the Large Engine product group both as the core engine manager and also the Product Manager for component groups including Aftertreatment for diesel and gas engines. In this role he was a strong driver of strategic supplier relationships and concurrent product and process development, CPPD.  Mike developed supplier partnerships using contractural terms that were based on mutual results not just supplier pricing. These methodologies  were used to meet very aggressive cost, quality and timeline targets. 

Since leaving Caterpillar Mike has been involved in several community programs including the Illinois Math Academy which is devoted to finding innovative methods to teach and motivate grade school and high school students to achieve their personal potential.  Programs offered by the Illinois Math Academy  include mental math, robotics, software development, and individual computer driven teaching.