Heppelmann grew up in rural Minnesota on a small dairy farm with his seven siblings. At school, he liked math and science. He received an introduction to mechanical engineering by repairing and maintaining the farm’s mechanical machinery. An older sister's success in engineering inspired his interest in engineering. While programming Apple 2e computers in his high school’s lab during his senior year Heppelmann recognized the significance computing would have on the future. When he entered the University of Minnesota he decided to specialize in how to use computers and software to solve mechanical engineering problems because of this experience. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1987 from the University of Minnesota.
Career
Heppelmann joined PTC in 1998 when PTC acquired Windchill Technology, Inc., a product life cycle management software company that he co-founded in 1996. Since taking the helm as CEO, Heppelmann is known for integrating the internet of things and augmented reality into the company's business strategy. He forged alliances with Microsoft to accelerate customer adoption of IoT and AR and Rockwell that included a $1 Billion investment Heppelmann also oversees the PTC's legacy businesses, CREO, the mechanical computer-aided design CAD software system and Windchill PLM. Most recently, he led PTC to acquire Onshape, a computer-aided design software system, delivered over the Internet as a Software as a Service to provide customers with a path to SaaS CAD cloud services. After advancing through the management ranks, Heppelmann was appointed PTC's President and CEO in October, 2010 PTC. His roles leading up to becoming CEO include:
March 2009 - October 2009 President/COO Parametric Technology Corp.
February 2003 - March 2009 Exec VP/Chief Product Officer Parametric Technology Corp.
June 2001 - January 2003 Exec VP: Software Solutions/CTO Parametric Technology Corp.
Between January 1998 and June 2001, Heppelmann held various management roles, including Exec VP/Div General Manager Parametric Technology Corp, Div General Manager Parametric Technology Corp, and Senior VP Windchill Parametric Technology Corp.
October 1996 - January 1998 VP/CTO/Founder Windchill Technology Inc.
Prior to Windchill Technologies, he was the Chief Technology Officer of Metaphase, a Control Data spin-off, now part of Siemens AG. Boards of Directors
He also sits on the Board of Directors of Sensata Technologies
Outside Leadership Activities
Heppelmann is a trustee of MassTLC, a technology association with the mission to accelerate growth, innovation, and the development of an inclusive tech ecosystem in Massachusetts.
He is also committed along with 800 CEOs of the world’s leading companies and business organizations to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. It is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. The CEOs distinguish diversity and inclusion to be a social issue, not a competitive one..
Honors and Awards
Named one of the Top 25 Enterprise IT Innovators Of 2019 by CRN Magazine. Named CXO of the Year IoT Global Awards 2018. Named to the CEO Forums 2018 list of 10 CEOS who are transforming business through technology for his translational work in AR. Named to the Top 100 Executives Of 2018 list by CRN Magazine. Named #15 on NextReality’s 50 People to Watch in Augmented & Mixed Reality. Named CEO of the Year by MassTLC.
