Cook Group Partners with Ivy Tech Bloomington and Broadview Learning Center to Launch New Workforce Education Initiatives

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Cook Group, Monroe County Community Schools Adult Education at
Broadview Learning Center and Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington
announced their partnership to create a new pathway between education
and jobs in our community. According to the Indiana Commission for
Higher Education, 737,000 Hoosiers have some college experience, but did
not complete a degree. Cook’s education initiatives are designed to
provide employees a pathway toward new career opportunities.

“Business is constantly changing and we want to provide our current and
future employees the opportunity to evolve with us,” said Pete Yonkman,
president of Cook Medical and Cook Group. “We recently redesigned our
education assistance program to eliminate financial barriers so
employees can increase their education and career opportunities with
company support.”

Part of the redesigned education program includes a collaboration with
Ivy Tech Bloomington called Achieve Your Degree. At no cost to
the employee, this program allows participants to earn a certificate in
seven programs including biotechnology, business administration,
hospitality and various computing and informatics tracks. They can also
continue their education by earning an Associate degree in these
curricula developed for Cook.

“The partnership between Ivy Tech Bloomington and Cook is really a
win-win,” said Jennie Vaughan, chancellor of Ivy Tech Bloomington. “We
have had success with the Achieve Your Degree program with other
companies and are excited to expand the program to Cook.”

The partnership with Ivy Tech Bloomington is just one example of the new
education initiatives within Cook. In addition to higher education, Cook
has worked with Broadview Learning Center to develop a program for
employees to work part-time while they pursue their High School
Equivalency (HSE).

Individuals in Southwest Central Indiana interested in working at Cook
who do not have a high school diploma or HSE will be eligible to
participate in the program after successfully completing the
pre-employment screening process. After attending the free seven-week
preparatory class at Ivy Tech, then taking and passing the Test
Assessing Secondary Completion to obtain their HSE, individuals will
become eligible for a full-time position at Cook.

“More than 5,000 adults in Monroe County do not have a high school
diploma or equivalency,” said Rob Moore, director of adult education at
Broadview Learning Center. “For many, the lack of this credential is a
barrier to employment in jobs that pay wages sufficient to support a
family. We are excited about our partnership to create opportunities at
Cook for those who previously did not qualify for employment.”

“We want to keep hardworking and talented people in Indiana by creating
opportunities for career advancement,” said Yonkman. “Making education
accessible and attainable provides stability for Cook employees and
their families which can lead to career growth within the organization.
We believe that lifelong learning is not only good for individuals, but
also their families and communities.”

About Cook Medical

Since 1963 Cook Medical has worked closely with physicians to develop
technologies that eliminate the need for open surgery. Today we are
combining medical devices, biologic materials and cellular therapies to
help the world’s healthcare systems deliver better outcomes more
efficiently. We have always remained family owned so that we have the
freedom to focus on what we care about: patients, our employees and our
communities. Find out more at www.cookmedical.com, and
for the latest news, follow us on Twitter,
Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington

Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington (www.ivytech.edu/bloomington)
was established in 2001 and opened in 2002. Though the region has a
six-county service area including Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe,
Morgan and Owen counties, it serves students from nearly all Indiana
counties. Ivy Tech Bloomington enrolls approximately 6,200 students per
semester, up from 2,600 when it opened. In 2007, the campus was named
the third-fastest growing community college in the nation according to Community
College Week. Ivy Tech Bloomington recently expanded its main campus
and named the new space the Cook Pavilion. The Cook Pavilion contains a
new library, bookstore, lecture hall, culinary wing, outdoor patio
space, a Bloomingfoods café, and additional classrooms and labs,
including an advanced automation and robotics technology lab.

About Broadview Learning Center

Broadview Learning Center (www.mccsc.edu/adulted)
is the adult education program through Monroe County Community School
Corporation. The Center provides courses for students preparing for the
Indiana High School Equivalency Diploma, which can be earned after
completing a test in five subject areas (math, reading, writing, science
and social studies). The skills taught and eventually tested on are at
the same level as those of graduating high school seniors. The program
also has courses to help adults learn English as a Second Language and
prepare to enter postsecondary education, job training, and employment.

Contacts

Cook Medical
Moriah Sowders
Content Specialist, Public
Relations & Social Media
812-340-4347 (mobile)
812-339-2235,
ext. 104357 (office)
moriah.sowders@cookmedical.com