Caleb Aeschliman | Edwards, IL
Assistant Global Trade Advisor | Caterpillar
Peoria-native Caleb Aeschliman serves as Assistant Global Trade Advisor at Caterpillar and as President of The Tessa Sutton Foundation. For his career success and nonprofit work, Caleb was named Bradley University’s 2025 Outstanding Young Graduate by the Bradley University Alumni Association.
Michael Damron of Caterpillar notes, “Caleb has been a senior leader for three large and innovative companies early on in his career including Caterpillar, Ford Motor Company and Rivian Automotive. He has provided expertise and guidance on complex customs and trade compliance issues, helping these companies to import and export their products around the globe. While still early in his career, Caleb has demonstrated successful results everywhere he has been.”
Caleb’s family launched The Tessa Sutton Foundation in 2023 in the final months of his sister’s battle with cancer. “I am extremely passionate about helping families battling cancer. We try to bring a little bit of sunshine to people's darkest days as Tessa was so good at doing during her life.” The foundation has distributed over $150,000 in direct support to Illinois families battling illness, $30,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and $15,000 to OSF Children’s Hospital.
Grief and loss have presented Caleb with many challenges. “In the span of six years, I lost my dad, my sister, my last two remaining grandparents and my mom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. I have to remind myself to move forward in a way that would make them all proud and do all that I can to help others facing similar challenges.”
Caleb finds inspiration for that journey through his grandmother, Betty Weber. “She overcame challenges early in her life to build an incredible lifetime of memories with my grandfather, Bob. Grandma Betty, in all of her quirky ways, was the one constant in my life that I always knew I could count on.”
His grandfather Bob, an engineer at Caterpillar, also inspired Caleb’s career pursuits. “He was an incredible man and even though I didn't become an engineer, I know the lessons he helped teach me have been a major part of my success.”
“Realizing that everyone's journey is different and that you can follow many different paths to a good outcome is the advice I wish I could give my 20-year-old self.”
After living in Detroit and Chicago, Caleb is back in his hometown and learning to appreciate it in new ways. His favorite spot is CxT Roasting Company. “Tristan and all involved do an incredible job by providing an awesome hang out spot along with amazing coffee!”
Caleb has been married to his wife, Megan, since 2019 and they have a five-year-old son, Carter, “who is the light of our lives.” A dog and two cats round out their busy home and lives.