A partnership that inspires

For over 40 years, Cook has partnered with Bloomington-based nonprofit Stone Belt. Established in 1959, Stone Belt provides resources and support for individuals with disabilities. It is the oldest and largest agency of its kind in south-central Indiana.

The nonprofit’s clients provide some production support for Cook Inc. Additionally, through a program called Project Search, some Stone Belt clients have done internships at local Cook facilities. Several of these interns have gone on to become full-time Cook employees.

Clinical Awareness Day at Stone Belt

Last year, the Clinical Awareness Program was started at Park 48, with the goal of educating manufacturing employees about how the products they build are used to treat patients. This year, we decided that we needed to include Stone Belt in our clinical awareness efforts. So, in January, representatives from several Cook teams (Manufacturing, the clinical divisions, Human Resources, Marketing, and Ethics & Compliance) held a Clinical Awareness Day at Stone Belt’s facility.

“Among the many community partners we have developed over our 60 years, there is none as enduring as the one we have with Cook,” said Leslie Green, the CEO for Stone Belt Arc, Incorporated. “The Clinical Awareness day was magical for us. We’ve realized for all the years we’ve worked with Cook that we play a role in the manufacturing process, but it was so fulfilling to see just how our production fits into the bigger picture. The team of Cook employees effectively connected the dots between what we do and how the products are used. The hands-on demonstrations made it all so real and tangible.”

Stone Belt clients take great pride in what they do and many of them tell their friends and families that they help save patients’ lives. To watch a video where their clients and staff talk about what the partnership with Cook means to them, click here. (You may want to have some tissues handy.)

What Stone Belt does for Cook (with 2018 totals)

• Wire Guide Holders (3,223,093)
  Form the holder into a coil shape, put connectors on the holders, punch the hole, bag, label, and ship back to Cook.
• Catheter Connectors (1,466,496)
  Assemble from three parts.
• Pigtail Straighteners (221,182)
  Cut to a specific length, use a machine to split the material, bag, label, and ship it back to Cook.
• Spirals-Stone Extractors (30,250)
  Punch a hole in the basket and thread it onto the tubing.

“We believe in the uniqueness, worth and right to self-determination of every individual. Therefore, it is our mission, in partnership with the community, to prepare, empower, and support people with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the life of the community.” Stone Belt Mission Statement

A moving experience

For the Cook employees who were able to spend time with the Stone Belt clients who work on Cook devices, the experience was very moving.

“I really enjoyed my time at Stone Belt. I originally thought I was going to Stone Belt to help them learn more about Cook and wire guides, but after it was all said and done, I am pretty sure I was the one who gained from spending the morning with all the employees there. I was so impressed with everyone’s desire to learn more about Cook and the products we manufacture. They all took great pride in telling me what job they have there and how long they have been doing it. Their love and enthusiasm for their jobs was contagious and so enjoyable.”
Spring Terrell, supervisor, Fixed Wire Guides

“It was awesome to see so many people excited about Cook and learning how they help our patients. To see this amazing partnership and be a part of the day reminded me how lucky I am to work for a truly amazing company. The Cook Day at Stone Belt was definitely one of my favorite things I’ve been a part of in my almost 14 years with the company.”
Holly Rush, manager, Global Projects, Learning and Talent Development

“I was able to be a part of this day with Lori Ann Voss. We loved the opportunity to go into the community and see how Cook is affecting other businesses and residents. You could really see the excitement on the faces of each Stone Belt employee for Cook Day, which was so rewarding. It was a great event to be a part of!”
Sophie Clark, event specialist, Cook Events, Americas

“The people working at Stone Belt are extremely hard working and have tremendous pride in their work. Helping provide an understanding of why that work is important and how they fit into our Cook family through their efforts was an incredible experience. The workers and their families, staff, and Stone Belt board members were so grateful for Cook’s long-term support and confidence in the work that they do. I feel blessed to be working for an organization that does meaningful work in the community. Providing work for Stone Belt employees has a deep and lasting impact elevating their self-worth and purpose.”
Rick Mellinger, vice president, Global Advertising and Promotion Compliance, Cook Group Ethics & Compliance

“The day we spent at Stone Belt was by far one of the best experiences I have had so far during my career at Cook. The joy and sheer appreciation on their faces, for the opportunity to work at Cook, was very humbling. They have so much pride in the work they do. The experience really brought forth a new appreciation for Cook and the opportunities they provide to our employees and the community.”
Mindy Parrish, Wire Guides production manager

“We came to Stone Belt to show them where their hard work goes, but they had no idea they were reminding me where an essential component of our products come from. It’s easy for me to forget, among the millions of product components, that these wire holders are made by the hands of such special people that live in this community. The employees came bounding out toward us with huge smiles and friendly demeanors that instantly melted any nerves I had about the day. We came to ‘do a service’ but they gave back tenfold any education we could have provided on that day. It makes me so happy that Cook decided so long ago to make this group a part of our Cook story, and that we kept that connection sacred.”
Sara Batman, global product manager–Wire Guides Access Technologies, Vascular division