Erika Ayala
About Erika Ayala
Erika Ayala serves as the Supply Chain Planning Lead at Stepan Company in Northbrook, Illinois, where she has worked since 2018. She has extensive experience in supply chain and engineering roles, including positions at Caterpillar Inc. and a strong academic background from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Work at Stepan Company
Erika Ayala has been serving as the Supply Chain Planning Lead at Stepan Company since 2018. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing supply chain operations and ensuring efficient planning processes. Her tenure at Stepan Company spans six years, and she is based in Northbrook, Illinois.
Experience at Caterpillar Inc.
Erika Ayala has held multiple positions at Caterpillar Inc. She has worked as a Supply Chain Planning Engineer 2 since 2016, contributing to supply chain strategies for eight years in Waco, Texas. Additionally, she has served as a Packaging Engineer 2 since 2014 in Morton, Illinois, where she has accumulated ten years of experience. Prior to these roles, she was a Senior Associate Engineer for one year from 2015 to 2016 and participated in a student project in 2010.
Educational Background
Erika Ayala earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, completing her studies from 2006 to 2011. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Science degree from the same institution, which she completed between 2011 and 2013.
Leadership Experience
Erika Ayala served as the President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers from 2011 to 2012. In this leadership role, she contributed to the organization's mission of supporting Hispanic professionals in engineering and related fields.
Internship and Early Career
In her early career, Erika Ayala participated in various internships. She worked as a Manufacturing Engineering Intern at Caterpillar Inc. for four months in 2012. Additionally, she was a student participant at ArrowStream for four months in 2010. These experiences provided her with foundational skills in engineering and supply chain management.