First Customer Seminar Hosted at the Panama Demonstration and Learning Center

The first ever Panama Customer Value Creation Seminar was hosted earlier this year and happened to be the first seminar in the PDLC's short history. 

"Our customers are the focus of our business and the reason we are building the Panama Demonstration and Learning Center. Without our clients, we wouldn't be in business," said Dave Littlepage, the PDLC project manager.

There were more than 180 participants including Cat dealers and customers from throughout the Americas South Region.

The two-week seminar focused on machine productivity and the impact job site setup and technology in its holistic form play in building a healthy bottom line for the clients in attendance. The seminar also provided the first AT-740 B Series ejector demo in the region.

"It was our first event at the PDLC, and since it isn't finished yet, we had a lot of help from Dave Littlepage and his team. It was really fun coordinating it," said Robert Lozano with the Latin America - Northern Region of GCI. "We had some folks come down from the U.S., they did an insane amount of work to ensure we were prepared and the customers received the value promised."

Arrangements were made, so that the 100 hectare area of land that houses the future PDLC provided the customers in attendance a comfortable stay. 

Lozano said there were some setbacks the first week, such as heavy rain and translator equipment malfunctions. The second week, however, came with much better weather and the benefits of lessons learned from the previous week. The second week of the seminar ran much smoother and the more than 70 clients were very positive, according to Lozano.

Max Chong, of FCC, one of the largest clients in the region stated, "A comprehensive and value-based solution is one of the many reasons we choose to purchase Caterpillar equipment. This seminar outlined many of the ways Caterpillar can help customers improve their bottom line."

Lozano said the seminar could not have been successful without the enormous amount of help from so many Caterpillar teammates.

"Without all of you, this event would not have been possible. Your hard work, dedication, willingness to make changes 'on the fly' and support made this event a great success," he said in an email to the individuals associated with the seminar.