February 28, 2010

Kathryn Himes Speaks at EIU

Kathryn Himes, an EIU Communication Studies alumnus, recently spoke on campus during the College of Arts and Humanities “Meaningful Work” series. She is the senior governmental affairs representative for Caterpillar’s Governmental Affairs Operation based out of Washington, D.C.  Himes is responsible for the human resources/workplace portfolio including labor, compensation and benefits, and legal matters.

Her talk, titled “The Meaningful Work of Communicating Inside the Beltway: Employee Relations, Corporate Communication, and Issues Management in our Nation’s Capital,“ focused on communication’s influence on one’s work community and personal growth, and how she uses communication to directly influence workers' lives and employee relations.

Prior to her Washington assignment, Himes held a series of positions at Caterpillar headquarters. She joined the company in 1998 and worked in corporate public affairs as the corporate news editor. She has also served as the assistant producer for background news, and as employee and community relations manager at Track-Type Tractors Division. Himes also worked as communication manager in the North American Commercial Division, and was a manager of Caterpillar’s Employee Political Action Committee (CAT PAC) and legislative communications.

Himes holds a B.A. and M.A. degree in Speech Communication from Eastern Illinois University, and recently completed her MBA at Georgetown University.