Page 311 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

Eric Martin training room in San Leandro
spaces with an array of training aids provided by Caterpillar:
• Tier 4 interim and Tier 4 final engines
• Cat on-highway truck engines
• International truck engines, power trains, and chassis components
• Cat EPG equipment including D80, G40, and LTA generators
• automatic transfer switches and EMCP control panel simulators
In June 2018, the Oregon training group moved into their new facility in Hillsboro, a beautiful, modern space with two classrooms and adjoining labs. Each facility now has three trainers.
In California:
Gene Mendes—EPG
Matt Torrence—Engines & International trucks Steve Davies—Earthmoving
In Oregon:
Galen Smith—EPG
Joe Rinas—Engines & Earthmoving Ryan Shearer—Engines & Earthmoving
Their main purpose is to train all Peterson employ- ees so they can better themselves, grow in their
(L-R) top to bottom: California instructors based in San Leandro:
Gene Mendes, Matt Torrence, Steve Davies; Oregon instructors based in Hillsboro: Galen Smith, Joe Rinas, Ryan Shearer
career, and offer the best customer service avail- able. Classes include soft-skills training as well as traditional technical training.
The University is also part of the overall strategy to help meet Peterson’s continuity plan. In essence, to build a bench of potentials. “Our objective is to have a career plan for our people,” says Duane Sr. “But it’s not cast in stone; it’s just a snapshot of where those individuals are currently, and where we think they’re going. And that will dictate the training they need for that particular career path. It doesn’t mean, however, that a mechanic can’t be- come a vice president.2 It just means that on the current career path, a mechanic requires a certain type of training.”
2 John Krummen, executive vice president and general manager of Peterson Power Systems, started out as an apprentice mechanic at Peterson’s Martinez location in March 1989, after graduating from WyoTech trade school.
CHAPTER 19 | 309