All in the family – an intern’s view into her mom’s work

When we learned that marketing intern Vanessa Brown’s mother worked at Cook Spencer, we asked Vanessa to tell us more about what it was like to come to work in a company she had been hearing about her whole life. Read her story below. Vanessa is back in school now, as a senior at Indiana University, where she is working on a marketing degree from the Kelley School of Business, along with a minor in media and creative advertising through the Media School.

My mom at Cook

When I was a little girl, I wondered what my mom did at work. I knew a few things: she went to work early in the morning; she worked in Spencer, Indiana; and she worked for Cook. I would ask what she did for her job, and she would always tell me that she made the tools doctors use to help people. So, I always knew that in some way, what she did was important—and in some cases, it could be life-saving.

As I grew up, I learned that she went to work so early in the morning so that she could be done with work in time to attend every extracurricular activity my brother and I participated in. She never missed a single game, performance, or ceremony. I learned that she works for what used to be called Cook Urological in the microsurgical department, and that she has worked in that department since she started with the company 29 years ago. I learned that she is the most hard-working and dedicated person I know. A perfect example of this is when her department needed workers to put in overtime to help overcome a shortage of products. She stepped up and worked seven-day weeks for more than a year.

My family connection to Cook

So, when I talk about my personal connection to Cook, I am not just referring to the opportunities the company has provided my mother, Debbie Brown, but also my grandmother, Wilma Dayhuff, who worked for 35 years in the Packaging Quality Control and Pre-Quarantine departments; and my aunt, Lisa Seagull, who has worked for Cook for 30 years in the Stents and Labels departments; and several other family members who work in manufacturing at Cook Spencer and Park 48. Even though I could never picture exactly what my mom and my family did or made at Cook, I knew it was important and that they were dedicated to their work.

My turn at Cook

When I accepted an internship at Cook, my entire family was extremely excited for me, as many families would be; however, there was an extra sense of pride and anticipation they had for me to get started this summer. They knew I was about to have a great experience for the company they dedicate so much of their time to.

Even though I knew about this company for most of my life, I did not know what to expect when I started my work here. I mean, I didn’t even know what working in an office from 8 to 5 would be like! Thankfully, I adjusted and was able to be a part of some really interesting projects. From digital marketing trends in the medical device industry to side projects involving the transformation of the company, I was exposed to concepts and processes that will be extremely valuable as I move forward in my career as a marketer.

One of my favorite parts of the summer was meeting so many wonderful people. I can confidently say I’ve never been in such a supportive and encouraging environment before. Each person I connected with was willing to go above and beyond to make my experience the best it could be, and help me with anything I needed.

I enjoyed seeing the impact that Cook has globally in the medical device industry. To work for a company that values patients above all else is inspiring, to say the least. That is what motivates so many to get up and come in to work every day. The work of each individual is far from trivial, from production employees to the top executives. It is critical that everyone do their job to the best of their ability, because at the end of the day, it could make the difference for one patient, or one hundred patients. Not to mention the patients’ families.

Finally seeing where my Mom works

I am grateful for many opportunities I had during my internship, but this one means the most to me: I asked Human Resources (HR) if I could tour the Spencer facility, where my mom works. This is a chance I never had before I worked here. Thankfully, HR made my request happen and I was able to see first-hand what my mom works on everyday.

At Spencer, one of the training employees, Cheyenne Bussing, showed me around the newest addition to the Spencer campus, and walked me through each area of production. I was able to gown up and walk down the aisles filled with focused employees hard at work. Cheyenne was able to help me understand what exactly the product lines and processes were in the Spencer facility—mainly Urological products, but also Reproductive Health and some Interventional Radiology products.

At the end of the tour I found myself sitting next to my mom, watching her work meticulously with pieces smaller than I could even imagine. I knew she did her work looking through a microscope lens, but now I really understand the importance of that microscope! When I attempted to piece together 3-french biopsy forceps, I tried (and failed) for about six minutes. My mother really got a kick out of that. She said, “I told you guys that I worked with tiny, tiny parts!” That was no exaggeration. I will never forget this experience and sharing those moments with her.

Lasting impressions

To think back on the days when my mom’s job was a mystery to me, and to know what I know now, is crazy. She, along with so many others, work to create devices that truly are life-saving. I am grateful that this internship has allowed me to physically visit my mom at work to see what she does on a daily basis and for the understanding I gained in the importance of her role. I am grateful to have learned from the people in this company all summer and the personal growth it has allowed me. And I am grateful that there is a company in the world that has such strong and ethical values, that cares for the well-being of their customers, employees, and patients. I am grateful for Cook.

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Do you have family members who also work for Cook? What’s your family’s Cook story? Leave comments below.