Bloomington, Ind. — Ross Whittaker, a manager of manufacturing engineering at Cook, was named a member of the Conexus Rising 30 Class of 2024 for his exceptional work in advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) and the changes he and his team have made to help Cook be a more efficient medical device manufacturer.
Ross Whittaker, manager of manufacturing engineering at Cook Medical
By the time Ross graduated from the University of Louisville in 2018, he had already done three co-op terms with Cook. He then joined Cook full-time and has since shown solid work ethic and fast problem-solving skills. This helped him move up to a team lead and subsequently a manager position.
Ross has been relentlessly inventive while leading advanced manufacturing projects. In 2023, he and his team led eight supplier change programs that drove considerable improvements and material cost savings. These innovative improvement efforts are estimated to save the company over $3 million. Most recently, Ross was asked to build and lead a supplier engineering team that evaluates and drives projects to result in better raw material quality, delivery and cost. Because of his work, his leadership enthusiastically nominated Ross for the Conexus Rising 30 Class of 2024.
Conexus is a nonprofit organization that develops Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. Each year, Conexus hosts the Indiana Rising 30 awards. These exclusive awards are given to a group of young professionals who are recognized for their early-in-career accomplishments in Indiana’s largest industry sector. Rising 30 honorees exemplify leadership and innovation in AML and are poised to become Indiana’s future industry leaders.
“Ross is certainly a rising star here at Cook, and we’re excited the Conexus team recognized what we already knew,” said John Enneking, vice president of global manufacturing at Cook Medical. “In his relatively short career here, he’s made a substantial impact on how the organization operates. Ultimately, he’s supporting Cook’s long-term goal of being a reliable supplier for healthcare systems around the world.”
“The dynamic professionals named to this year’s Rising 30 cohort are defining what it means to be a young leader in Indiana’s AML sector,” said Fred Cartwright, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “I’m more optimistic than ever about the future of industry in Indiana after meeting this year’s honorees and learning about their accomplishments and plans for the future.”
About Cook Medical
Since 1963, Cook Medical has worked closely with physicians to develop technologies that eliminate the need for open surgery. Today we invent, manufacture and deliver a unique portfolio of medical devices to the healthcare systems of the world. Serving patients is a privilege, and we demand the highest standards of quality, ethics and service. We have remained family owned so that we have the freedom to focus on what we care about: patients, our employees and our communities.
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