As a traffic analyst for Caterpillar Inc., Andrew Velpel is responsible for all outbound transportation for the Mossville, Illinois; Greenville, South Carolina; and Seguin, Texas, facilities. In this role, he was recognized for leadership on a project in which his team moved export packaging from a Bartonville facility to one in Joliet—a critical startup project that had collapsed. Working with his team, Velpel leveraged his operations management knowledge to clear a backlog of more than 750 shipments, reduce inventory levels from 19 days to one, and eliminate a 143-trailer backlog. He also led a group of outbound shipping personnel to reduce swell time of shipping containers in the Seguin facility startup.
Dedicated to giving back to his community, Velpel has personally raised more than $4,000 for cancer research over the past four years through his participation in the St. Jude Washington to Peoria Run. For the past three years, he has served on the Run’s fundraising committee, coordinating efforts to raise awareness and money to help find cures for childhood cancer and catastrophic diseases. Collectively, the group has raised more than $352,000 in its four years.
This spring, Velpel helped organize the first St. Jude Kids Run in Washington, teaching the importance of philanthropy to young children. His efforts have instilled these values in those around him, including his young daughter, who asked for monetary gifts instead of presents for her birthday last year so she could make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The story was used by WEEK-TV to promote the St. Jude Run earlier this year.
Velpel is a strong supporter of the Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association and Easter Seals of Central Illinois. He has been a member of the Independent Sportsmen’s Club since 2004, helping to provide Peoria-area youth sports programs with equipment, facility improvements and capital projects. He is also a member of the Illinois Valley Striders and a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6707. iBi
