UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State College of Engineering welcomed its first speaker in the new ExecutiveXcellence Speaker Series, Pablo Koziner, president of Solar Turbines, Incorporated, on Jan. 23.
More than 100 students and faculty filled the E-Knowledge Commons to gain valuable insight from Koziner. He discussed his background, Solar Turbines and his involvement in the company, and also shared helpful advice that he has learned along the way through his foundational values and operating principles.
“We have received tremendous positive feedback from students and faculty on the personal and career development advice Pablo detailed in his talk. His 10 operating principles to succeed in the corporate world were a great hit among the audience,” said Priya Baboo, director of industry, innovation, and development in the College of Engineering. “Students and faculty alike were most intrigued by his diverse background and his climb up the corporate ladder. We couldn’t have asked for a better speaker to launch the ExecutiveXcellence Speaker Series.”
Koziner received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston College and a juris doctorate degree from Boston College Law School. In 2001, he joined Caterpillar Inc.’s Legal Services Division as a senior attorney within its Latin American Commercial Division, and in 2008, he assumed the position of power systems regional manager. That same year, he was named district manager for the company’s Latin America Commercial Division. He was promoted to east region manager in the Americas Distribution Services Division in 2011 and was named vice president of the division in 2013. In 2015, Koziner was appointed president of Solar Turbines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc.
“We wanted to give our students and faculty a firsthand opportunity to hear from successful executives in the industry, while also creating awareness in the industry for Penn State’s wealth of expertise in areas of interest to them,” said Baboo. “Prior to the speaking engagement, the corporate executive tours labs and meets with key faculty of interest, and thereby develops a good understanding of how Penn State can help advance their research and technological development.”
The next installment of the ExecutiveXcellence Speaker Series is slated for fall 2018. “We’re excited to bring in another successful executive in the fall to continue the great momentum from the inaugural event,” said Baboo.
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three primary segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation.