Global Trade Analyst II Tammy Pancake recently returned from a wonderful trip to the United Kingdom. Tammy shares highlights from her family’s vacation:

“The best way to describe our trip is truly a ‘trip of a lifetime.’ We had so many amazing and exciting experiences, including: sightseeing in historic London, riding Clydesdales outside of Glasgow, learning to drive on the opposite side of the road, cheering on Scottish athletes at the Highland Games, eating and enjoying haggis, hearing the bagpipe bands at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo music festival, exploring the ancient village of Skara Brae and hearing the history of the Orkney Islands. We also got to hike to the Falls of Foyers at Loch Ness and take in the historic Culloden Battlefield.

I am so grateful to Arthrex, not only for the Years of Service benefit that prompted us to make this Trip of a Lifetime, but also for Making People Better by being such a great place to work every day.”

For every five years of service, employees are eligible for a company-funded Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

We’re excited to highlight International Customer Service Coordinator II Lorena Novasco. Lorena works in the Arthrex Logistics Center (ALC) in Fort Myers and has been with Arthrex for five years. In this 5 Questions interview, Lorena talks about her role in the company, what she loves about her work and how Arthrex has helped her develop professionally.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

I work with the northwestern region of LATAM, monitoring data in each country’s inventory control system. Another important job function is supporting regional managers. I coordinate compliance requirements for the region and provide monthly reports and sales forecasts. I also collaborate with distributors to understand their needs and trade requirements, which, of course, vary by country. I also make sure that we are operating within Arthrex’s global trade standards and act as a liaison between internal and external departments to address any customer service concerns that arise internationally. Additionally, I am challenged with ensuring that all of our procedures are as efficient as can be.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I like working and collaborating with people. One of my favorite experiences on the job was when I traveled to Mexico two years ago to help the customer service team members with a program implementation. Arthrex is constantly innovating and is committed to providing the most advanced surgical products and solutions that help surgeons treat their patients better. As part of the Arthrex family, I am committed to doing and giving my best. That is definitely a daily motivation that helps me be a better professional.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

The biggest highlight was when Arthrex hired me five years ago. I get to connect with so many different cultures and people through my work. I can start my day talking to people in Brazil and finish it by speaking with people in Central America. I’m so grateful for that opportunity I was given and how I’ve been able to develop professionally as a result.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

Take every opportunity you get. The best chances you get in life won’t come around often, so you have to make the most of every opportunity you come across.

One of my coworkers told me that when I first started at Arthrex. I was amazed at how quickly Arthrex was growing and I wanted to grow with the company. After she encouraged me to take every opportunity, I used Arthrex’s tuition reimbursement benefit to help pay for Keiser’s international business program. I’m thrilled to say that I finished my bachelor’s degree with honors this past spring.

What do you do in your downtime?

I love to spend time with family. My husband and I have three kids. We’re adventurous and love to travel, try new foods and interact with different cultures.

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

In this edition of our 5 Questions series, Arthrex California Inc. (ACI) Laser Machine Operator I Tim Kaysarn shares what he does, why he loves working at Arthrex and the best advice he ever received.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

I start my day in the machine shop at the laser welding machines that I operate. I usually weld our tip tube assembly and Scorpion™ suture passer needles as a part of the manufacturing process, as well as assemble instruments to the final products. I look forward to my department manager greeting me to give me my daily assignments and daily goals. I’m thankful that I am given the opportunity to work in multiple departments, as I’m often assigned work in our Assembly or Shipping departments as needed.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Having the privilege of working in multiple departments is definitely enjoyable to me. Being able to work with our products at different stages of manufacturing has given me a broader overall understanding and knowledge of Arthrex’s high standards for the quality of its products. I feel that I’m given an invaluable opportunity to learn from those who are more knowledgeable than me, so that I may personally grow in my own knowledge and value with our company.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

The events that ACI puts together such as the annual softball game and company picnic have certainly been highlights for me. Additionally, I love being able to work with some of the best coworkers in the world who challenge me to be better, encourage me to do more, invest in me to succeed, and make me laugh until my stomach hurts. It’s awesome to be able to work with people I enjoy being around.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

I have worked for Arthrex a little over three years now. I always remember when I was first interviewed by Human Resources at Arthrex, I asked my interviewer what advice did she have for me if I were to be hired. One of the answers she gave me that really stuck out was, “Attitude determines altitude.” Since being hired, I have tried to live by that advice throughout my time at Arthrex and I will continue to use that nugget of wisdom throughout my life.

What do you do in your downtime?

My wife and I love to spend our downtime together snowboarding, biking and eating out at our favorite restaurants. We also enjoy spending time with friends and family and laughing a lot together.

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

Pre-Packaging Coordinator Theresa Stull recently returned from a Caribbean cruise with her best friend, celebrating her five years of service with Arthrex. Employees are eligible for a company-funded Trip of a Lifetime for every five years they work with the company.

Theresa shared some highlights from her vacation:

“I want to thank Arthrex for my amazing trip. It was a dream come true! My best friend and I went on an eight-day cruise. Our first port of call was Grand Turk. It was so beautiful. We had a full day there and spent it sightseeing and shopping.

Our next port was La Romana in the Dominican Republic. The food was fantastic and the people there were so welcoming. Everywhere we went, people said hello and welcomed us to the island. 

Curaçao was our next port and my favorite stop on the cruise. The homes on the island were bright and colorful. We spent the most time docked there, so we got to see some of the night life as well.  

Our last port was in the beautiful, blue/green waters of Aruba. We have beaches in Florida, of course, but the water there was so clear. This was truly a trip of a lifetime.”

See more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

This week, we’re highlighting Senior Administrative Assistant Taryn Chappell as she shares the exciting projects she’s had the opportunity to work on at Arthrex Manufacturing Inc., East (AMIE) and how her father’s life lesson motivates her work every day.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

Over my last year and half at Arthrex, I’ve learned that every day is different and it is a constant adventure. There isn’t a typical day for me, so that is what makes my job an amazing position to have. One day I can be preparing the executive team for an important community meeting while another day I’m setting up employee-related events.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I have the opportunity to interact with employees in many different positions and backgrounds. I enjoy getting suggestions from them and working with Vice President of Manufacturing Andy Owen and the team to see the ideas become a reality. Most recently, an employee had a great idea about having an American flag put up at AMIE and it’s now hanging proudly.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

The excitement of coordinating the Years of Service Awards with Human Resources would have to be one of my highlights during my first year at Arthrex. It is not every day you hear about people being employed with the same company for five, 10, 15 or more years. To have executive leadership there to thank each individual is so amazing. Hands down, it was my favorite event and I look forward to this year’s.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

The best advice I’ve received was from my dad. He would always say, “The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.”

What do you do in your downtime?

I have three beautiful girls that keep me busy, but in my rare spare time you can find me playing my saxophone as I am working on a new song.

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

Senior Product Manager Phil O’Quinn took a whirlwind trip around Ireland to celebrate his 25 years as part of the Arthrex team. Phil’s trip highlights a unique benefit at Arthrex—for every five years of service, employees are eligible for a company-funded Trip of a Lifetime. Phil was happy to share what his one-of-a-kind trip was like:

“My family and I have wanted to visit the “Emerald Isle” for many years and the trip was everything we hoped it would be and more! We started with a train ride through the countryside, from Dublin to Limerick, in the southwestern part of the island. From Limerick, we explored Ireland’s famous coastline, including the Ring of Kerry, picture-perfect sights and quaint fishing villages in the Dingle Peninsula and the towns of Killarney and Tralee. As we made our way to Galway, we bird-watched, seeing puffins and other sea birds while visiting the Cliffs of Moher and drove through the “lunar landscape” known as The Burren. 

From the city of Galway, we explored County Galway, including the Connemara region of the country which has some of the most beautiful and diverse countryside we’ve ever seen. We also visited the cottages of Ireland’s past heroes and leaders, the Knock Shrine, Connemara National Park and the stunning Kylemore Abbey. We then moved east, back to the historic city of Dublin, where we spent the remainder of the trip exploring all that the city and surrounding countryside had to offer.

Throughout our trip, we visited castles, villages, cathedrals and pubs and learned about Ireland’s history and heritage. The one thing I will remember above all else, and this is true no matter what part of the country we visited, is that the people in Ireland were among the nicest and most sincere we’ve ever met.

I can’t thank Mr. Schmieding and Arthrex enough for this tremendous benefit and for all the wonderful opportunities that being part of the Arthrex family has provided my family and I over the years.”

Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

We spoke with Arthrex California Inc. (ACI) Senior Quality Engineer Juan Hernandez-Gomez about his Arthrex experience and got an inside look at the role of a quality engineer. Check out this 5 Questions interview about Juan’s daily tasks, what he loves about Arthrex and how he spends his time outside of the office.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

My day starts at about 7:30 a.m. and my first order of business is my cup of coffee. I then start by writing and returning emails and reviewing my calendar for the day. Next, I meet with our department staff here at ACI for our daily production meeting, which helps everyone understand the production priorities for the day. After that, I review any Engineering Change Orders (ECOs). The latter half of my day is dedicated to longer term projects, such as new program implementations.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I started at ACI about three years ago and have watched the organization grow at a rapid pace. What I’ve enjoyed most about my role at Arthrex is how immersive it is. As a quality representative, I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects in every step of the product life cycle, from development to postmarket. This experience has helped me to drive continuous improvement for ACI products and processes and allowed me to take part in shaping our organization.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

A highlight for me has been my professional development. Since I started, Arthrex has provided me with plenty of challenging opportunities that have helped me further develop both personally and professionally. In fact, I was promoted in June to Senior Quality Engineer.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

The best advice I’ve received is “Never look back in regret.” We learn from our successes, but we learn most from our mistakes.

What do you do in your downtime?

I’m a very active person, so in my downtime I enjoy playing sports and going on daylong hikes with my wife. The trail we visit most often is Peters Canyon in Tustin, California.

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

At Arthrex, our employees are part of an extraordinary culture with exceptional benefits, including our Trip of a Lifetime program. For every five years of employment, employees are eligible for a company-funded Trip of a Lifetime to their destination of choice to recognize their dedication. Infrastructure Project Manager Thomas Birch tells us about his experience:

“My wife Barbara and I are very grateful to have visited Alaska via land and sea for my five-year Trip of a Lifetime. We scheduled our trip to coincide with our 25-year wedding anniversary and it was incredible.

If you’ve never been to Alaska, then you need to add it to your list of places to see! Our three-day land excursion started at the beautiful Hotel Alyeska near Anchorage. Then, we embarked on a seven-day cruise through the inner passage to Vancouver. Both were amazing. The vastness and raw beauty of Alaska is breathtaking. There are countless areas of untouched nature and wildlife everywhere you turn. The small population of Alaska compared to the enormity of the state is unfathomable. We would return every summer to see this beautiful, one-of-a-kind state if we could.

The only downfall is that it’s hard to have Alaskan Salmon anywhere else once you’ve had it in Alaska. Also, I’ll never be able to top the all-you-can-eat crab at George Inlet Lodge. We will just have to go back to Hotel Alyeska for our 50^th anniversary and visit the Seven Glaciers mountaintop restaurant for another amazing anniversary weekend!

Our experience truly made it a Trip of a Lifetime and we will always cherish these memories. Thank you so much to Arthrex for this amazing benefit and expressing appreciation for employees!”

Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights from Arthrex employees on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

We’re excited to highlight Supervisor of International Credit and Collections Vanda Mallo. Vanda joined Arthrex five years ago and answers questions about what it’s been like to be a member of the Arthrex team, her favorite aspects of her job and more.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

I don’t know if there is a such thing as a typical day here, but I like that it’s always changing. I get in at 7:30 and meet with my team. I have three wonderful team members who report to me and we have a discussion each morning about what’s pending. Since our team handles international credit and collections, our stakeholders are very diverse. It’s kind of funny—we’re usually emailing each other while employees on the other side of the world are sleeping. We have to be very considerate about the time zones and the communication styles of people in other parts of the world since everyone has different customs.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Our team’s position in the company allows us to work with so many other teams (customer service, logistics, transportation, etc.). Through that, we get to see the diversity of the company, which I enjoy most. We have friends and coworkers from all over the world. On my team alone, there is one person who was born in Bosnia, one in Bolivia and one born in New York who was raised in Puerto Rico. I was born in Angola and raised in Portugal before moving to the U.S. I love being able to branch outside of our little team and connect with coworkers from Brazil to Japan and anywhere between.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

I really love working at Arthrex. There have been a lot of moments where I pause and think, “Wow, this is a great company,” from culture to benefits to management. One moment that stands out in particular is a medical education event that my team and I helped with last year. We got to see how impressed the attendees were with every aspect of the event, from the product showroom to the expert knowledge of the faculty. As an employee, I felt proud to work for a company that places so much emphasis on medical education that will benefit patients around the world. You just can’t help but feel proud.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

Three things: respect every employee, regardless of their position in the company, dress for success and be humble.

What do you do in your downtime?

I like going to the beach and reading, so reading at the beach is heaven! I also love cooking, especially when my kids come to visit.

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

At Arthrex, we recognize that our families, culture and values make us who we are, which is why we’re proud to offer employees a Trip of a Lifetime to the destination of their choice for every five years of employment. Imaging and Resection Designer Michael Barican recently returned from visiting family in Tokyo and learning more about his Japanese culture during his trip. He shared:

“For my 10-year Trip of a Lifetime, my girlfriend and I went to Japan for an 18-day trip that included visiting my grandparents, exploring Mt. Fuji and the surrounding city, hiking in the 'Japanese Alps,' and, of course, eating delicious food! Japan has the most three-star Michelin restaurants in the world and we couldn’t wait to visit.

This vacation wasn’t only to learn about my Japanese culture, but also to be with my grandparents, who I hadn’t seen in 12 years since they no longer fly. Grandma and Grandpa were ecstatic to see us, and within our first hour there, Grandma had a hot bowl of ramen ready for us to eat! While staying with them, we were able to help out at home and treat them to lunch and dinners out, which is rare for them.

After we adjusted to the local time, we went to Hakone, Japan. Hakone has natural beauty, including gorgeous views of Mt. Fuji and multiple onsens (Japanese hot springs) around town. We hiked around Lake Ashinoko, took a ropeway car up to an active volcano and hiked to the Hakone Shrine at the top of a mountain called Hakonejinja. After all that exploring, we enjoyed more beautiful views and another natural onsen at the Ashinoko Hotel.

Life in Tokyo is nonstop and the food is plentiful and top of the line! Even in little alleyways you can find the best Yaki-Tori restaurants that can only seat 4-10 people. We went to Shibuya, a ward of Tokyo which has the famous pedestrian crossing and tons of shopping. We also visited Shinjuku to see the government building and surrounding business/commercial entertainment areas, Odaiba, which has popular shopping and virtual anime entertainment on a manmade island, and the site of the famous Tsukiji fish market, which unfortunately closed, but the surrounding area still serves every specialty fish dish that you can possibly eat!

Shrines were everywhere and the preservation of them was immaculate. You can easily find them in the heart of Tokyo and surrounding areas, but we decided to take a bullet train, which traveled 180 miles per hour, to Nikko, Japan. At the peak of autumn, we were able to see the different kinds of trees change colors! The Japanese maple tree turns a fire red color in peak season. We explored around town and found some amazing water falls. We then visited the Taiyuinbyo and Rinnoji temples and the Nikkō Tōshō-gū shrine, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was built in the 1600s and is lavishly decorated.

Without Mr. Schmieding’s generosity, we wouldn’t have been able to take such an adventurous trip. We can’t thank him enough for giving us this opportunity to take the time off to see my grandparents and explore more of what the world has to offer!”

Dan Huffman has had several different professional roles in his lifetime, including Navy seaman, commercial and residential electrician and even an independent business owner. But, according to Dan, the best title he’s had is Arthrex Manufacturing Apprentice Program (AMAP) graduate.

Founded in 2009, AMAP is a four-year program that teaches a select group of hard-working people computer numerical control (CNC) operations, the SolidWorks engineering program and to use other related manufacturing equipment. Through on-the-job training and classroom work, the program is designed to help participants excel in their field and develop their careers in manufacturing.

Dan graduated last year and has been a Machinist I in Milling at Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. East for the past eight months.

“My life is so much better since I started the program,” said Dan. “As an electrician, I used to work long hours in the hot sun and had to crawl through stuffy attics. This is something I really enjoy doing and there’s so much more opportunity at Arthrex.”

The program is extremely popular and receives about 150 applicants each year; however, in 2014, the year Dan was selected, there were close to 400 applicants. Both Arthrex employees and external candidates apply for the program and the selection team usually chooses two internal and two external candidates each year.

Supervisor of Manufacturing Training Michael Koszewnik explained part of the program’s appeal, saying, “AMAP provides an intensive learning opportunity and is an investment by both the apprentice and Arthrex. Successfully completing the program has helped many graduates excel in this field.”

Program participants have on-the-job training from 5 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and then attend classes from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. twice a week for the duration of the four-year apprenticeship.

“You have to be sure this is something you want to do. Set aside a lot of time. It’s rewarding, but you need to be dedicated,” said Dan.

Apprenticeship and continuous learning are key components to Arthrex’s success. Arthrex leadership visited the manufacturing training program at Pinellas Technical College in Clearwater, Florida in 2008 and met Michael, the program coordinator and instructor at the time. President and Founder Reinhold Schmieding then set in motion the plan to create Arthrex’s own apprenticeship program and AMAP was launched just a year later.

AMAP is registered through the Florida Department of Education and is one of only three CNC machine operator programs in the state. It’s also Florida’s only Individual Non-Joint (INJ) program, which means that graduates earn a certificate recognizing their skill in manufacturing that’s acknowledged across the U.S.

Dan was very thankful for the many people who helped him during the program, especially Michael and Machinist I Jeffrey Bailey, who used to help mentor the apprentices during their program and still works closely with many of them.

“If we ever had a little downtime, Jeffrey would create a test for us,” said Dan. “He went above and beyond to make sure we learned everything we needed to know about the job.”

AMAP embodies several of Arthrex’s core values, including teamwork, integrity and service. Apprentices share ideas and help each other succeed as they work and study together.

“It’s so fulfilling to watch the apprentices grow during the program and to know that I’m helping them develop their careers as well as helping Arthrex by training dedicated employees,” said Michael, who is still passionate about AMAP and teaching after 44 years of work in manufacturing.

There are several AMAP graduates working at Arthrex today and Dan said that it’s a pretty tight-knit group. He’s looking forward to learning more each day and hopes to continue his journey of professional growth in manufacturing that began with AMAP.

AMAP accepts new apprentices each fall. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, visit our recruiting website, Careers.Arthrex.com, in September and October and look for Manufacturing Apprentice opportunities.

For every five years of work at Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-funded Trip of a Lifetime to their destination of their choice. Employees have taken the Arthrex Traveling Flag with them all over the world—from the top of the Swiss Alps to the bottom of the ocean. Now, Senior Packaging Manufacturing Engineer Robert Johnson shares his story about bringing the flag to the bottom of the world:

“It’s always been a goal of mine to travel to all seven continents. When I finally had the opportunity to book a trip to Antarctica, the last continent left on my list, the two questions I was always asked were, ‘Why do you want to go there?’ and ‘What are you going to do there?’ At the time, my answer was, ‘It’s the last continent I need to visit to reach my goal.’ I don’t think I could have possibly underestimated this trip more.

I started my journey by traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina and stayed there for a couple days enjoying delicious Argentinian beef and the famous local wine. I also got to see Tango shows, which is a form of ballroom dance that originated in Argentina. From there, I flew to Ushuaia, Argentina, or 'Fin Del Mundo,' which is the southernmost city in the world.

That’s where I boarded the ship Ocean Adventurer to get to Antarctica. We spent the next two days crossing Drake Passage, where we encountered 15-18-foot waves. It was a very rocky trip, but it was all worth it the moment we woke up surrounded by beautiful icebergs and mountains.

Each day there were two zodiac (raft) departures from the ship in the morning and afternoon to bring us to land to see wildlife or get up close to the ice formations. In between landings, we had briefings and presentations about the different facets of Antarctica. The first time I actually stepped onto Antarctica, it was such a rush. I was overwhelmed. The feeling was truly indescribable and the landscape was breathtaking.

It was common for us to see seals napping in the snow and penguins curiously walking up to us. We also saw whales while we cruised between the ship and land. Each day was better than the last and the scenery and wildlife presented something entirely new. We were able to see old ship wrecks, research stations, countless icebergs and even some icebergs collapsing as they melted.

On the afternoon of the third day in Antarctica, I participated in the 'Polar Plunge.' Yes, I jumped into 35-degree water. Never have I experienced such pain, joy, excitement, adrenaline and exhilaration all in a matter of five seconds!

One of the most fascinating parts of Antarctica is the ever-changing weather. In one day, we experienced clear, sunny skies, followed by 70-90-knot winds and snowfall, followed by a clear evening. Our guides had to be prepared for anything.

While I took pictures with the Arthrex flag, several people asked me about it. I told them all about Arthrex and the wonderful Trip of a Lifetime benefit. Everyone was stunned and all had the same thing to say – ‘What a wonderful company you work for!’

I couldn’t agree more and I’ll be forever thankful for the opportunity to take what was truly a trip of a lifetime!”

See more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Bryan Gibas, IT user support technician III, spends his days at Arthrex helping his fellow employees. During his past five years with the company, Bryan has helped train and support employees in Florida, California and Boston, attended educational courses and received two promotions as a result of his hard work. Read on to learn more about Bryan.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

For me, a typical day involves completing work orders submitted by end users [employees] and occasionally working on team projects. The largest project that I’ve been involved with recently is the Windows 10 migration project, which is underway. We’re upgrading every user in the company from Windows 7 to Windows 10. My role has changed over the course of the project, but I am currently working with various departments to upgrade to the new version of Windows and provide hypercare after the upgrade to prevent any slowdowns in production.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The thing I enjoy the most is facing new challenges on a daily basis. I’m constantly learning new things through problem-solving, which keeps my job new and exciting.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

I assist users in every department in our global headquarters building and provide remote and Helpdesk support over the phone as needed, so a highlight for me has been seeing all of the new faces over the past five years and being a part of the rapid growth. 

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

The best advice I’ve ever received is to be humble, be hungry and always be the hardest worker in the room.

What do you do in your downtime?

I enjoy playing video games, watching movies (especially Denzel Washington ones), working out and pretty much any outdoor activity—some of my favorites are fishing, relaxing at the beach and camping. Also, November marked my five-year anniversary and I’m very much looking forward to taking my Trip of a Lifetime!

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

We’re excited to highlight our wonderful employees and their work through our 5 Questions series. The series continues with this profile on Engineer Tech for Quality Assurance Harnuvys Barrios. Harnuvys was promoted in early July from her last position: Quality Control Inspector III in the suture department. Read on to learn more about her new role, what she loves about Arthrex and the advice that helped build her career.

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

My work day begins at 7 a.m. when I check emails and look over my calendar to determine my top priorities for the day. Our team meets briefly every day to discuss the suture department’s processes, most significant tasks that are pending and any issues that may have come up. Currently, I am working on a new program implementation and my major task is to make sure that it doesn’t delay the regular processes for our department.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love that my job challenges me in different ways. There is always something new in Quality Control. Every day is different, which gives me the opportunity to learn more about every step of the process. I feel like learning more of the background information helps us to continuously improve every day.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

The thing that stands out most to me is that five years ago I was a Tech I in Packaging. Thanks to the opportunities that we have here, I was able to move up and I’m now an Engineer Tech QA. For that reason, I say all the time that Arthrex is such a great place to work. Not only are the benefits outstanding, but the opportunities that employees are given to grow are so important too. My professional growth has been the biggest highlight by far.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

Someone once told me it doesn’t matter what role you have as long as you enjoy it and do your best. That’s what makes you stand out among the crowd.

Before I left Venezuela, my home country, I was a lawyer. I also studied for a specialization in international trade and marketing in a post graduate program. When I moved to the U.S., it felt a lot like starting over professionally. Since I had worked in manufacturing for two years in Venezuela before finishing my law degree, that experience helped me get the packaging position at Arthrex, and I have been given opportunities to move up from there. My husband and I have both worked at Arthrex for about five years now and we are so happy and thankful to be part of this company where we continue to grow and learn.

What do you do in your downtime?

I really love spending time with my family. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing as long as we’re together. My husband and I have a five-year-old boy and an 11-month-old girl who we just adore being around. I also love Asian
cuisine, so every chance I get, I’m looking for another great Asian restaurant!

Want to join the Arthrex team? See all open positions.

We’re proud to offer our employees a company-funded Trip of a Lifetime to the destination of their choice for every five years of employment. Senior Test Engineer Hans Dahlin recently returned from his five-year trip and shared some unforgettable highlights:

“I want to thank Arthrex for an amazing trip to Southeast Asia! My wife Helena and I have been backpacking for more than 20 years with our children, especially in Asia, but this was our first trip to Laos and Myanmar. We wanted to visit these two countries in part because they aren’t as touristy as Thailand and Vietnam.

One of many places we visited in Laos was Luang Prabang in northern Laos. This small town is located on the countryside by the Mekong River and it had a very different atmosphere than the capital, Vientiane. We took an excursion outside of Luang Prabang to visit 'Kuang Si,' a stunningly beautiful waterfall, and even took a dip in the lagoon.

We then went by slow boat for two days on the Mekong River before the highlight of our time in Laos: the Gibbon Experience, which is a wildlife adventure where you explore the jungle. We decided to do a three-day tour where we spent two nights in a treehouse more than 100 feet off the ground.

We started the trip driving into the jungle in a Jeep and then, after hours, we continued to travel by foot. We hiked with two guides and used some zip lines along the route. It was an amazing experience to sleep in a treehouse and listen to the sound of gibbons. We were also lucky to see some gibbons!

We traveled during the rainy season, which meant that the roads were very muddy and slippery, so we had to walk more than usual. On the way back, after hiking in the mud for eight hours, we were so exhausted that we laid down on a huge banana leaf in the mud to relax!

When we returned to civilization again we flew to Myanmar. Due to civil wars and military regimes, Myanmar hasn’t been open to tourists for that long. The main purpose of the visit to Myanmar was to see the 1,000-year-old temples in the old town of Bagan, which is an enormous area with over 2,000 temples.

We also visited Inle Lake and Mandalay, the former royal capital in northern Myanmar, which were other interesting destinations.

On the way back, we had layover in Singapore and visited the rooftop restaurant and lounge CE LA VIE in the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, which offered a spectacular sunset view. It was an extraordinary end to our four-week Asia trip!

Thank you again, Arthrex, for this trip of a lifetime!”

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What do fine jewelry and cameras have in common? It may seem like they couldn’t be more different, but Electro-Mechanical Assembler I George Mazahreh explains why his 20+ years of experience working with precious gems is the perfect foundation for his role assembling Synergy^UHD4™ camera heads at Arthrex California Technology (ACT) in our latest 5 Questions interview:

What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?

Every day there is something new to learn. Working at Arthrex never feels like a routine and I’ve found that it energizes me. I’m always excited to come in, see my friends and start my day. There’s such a nice atmosphere here, it’s like a family. Arthrex is a nice place to learn, develop new skills and be myself.

I work on the camera line at ACT assembling Synergy^UHD4 camera heads. It’s not an easy job, but I spent more than 20 years working as a stone setter with diamonds and other precious gems. I used small tools to do very detailed work under a microscope, which is the hardest part to get used to. So combining that knowledge with camera head assembly has been really fun.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

My manager and supervisor help me continuously improve and learn new things. Soon, I’ll start cross-training, which means that today I’m building one thing and next month I will learn something new. It’s a non-stop learning experience and I’m constantly refreshed with new information.

What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?

There have been so many positive things since I started 10 months ago. The quality of the people who work here is inspiring. It’s just a nice, polite, good group of people. Even down to the building itself—it’s clean, organized and secure. During my interviews I was told, “We will do our best; we ask that you do your best and together we will continue making this a good place to work.”

I like the culture here. When you walk around, you see everyone smiling and we all say ‘hi’ to each other. Part of that is all the activities we do together, like the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, the annual softball game, the Fall Festival (our company picnic) and our holiday party. We don’t just work, get paid and go home. Our work and community activities come together and create this positive energy between employees. I’m proud to wear my Arthrex shirt around town.

What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?

Our Senior VP of Global Imaging and Resection holds quarterly town hall meetings to explain initiatives, pass on information and give advice. He’s great! I enjoy hearing him speak and every time he’s here, he greets everyone and makes us all feel equally important.

He says, “You are empowered to do your best in this company. Everyone has something to contribute. We’re all part of one family.”

What do you do in your downtime?

Well, because I worked in stone setting for so long, it’s now my after-work hobby. I have a small workshop that I like to do projects in, setting diamonds and gold. I used to do that for celebrities, professional football players and some other significant people. I worked in Paris for several high-end retailers. It’s really a part of me now, so I enjoy doing it every day.

I’m also in a group that meets a few times a month to observe the stars. Santa Barbara is a great place for it. If you go into the mountains on a clear night, you can see all the stars with just a simple telescope.

I love salsa dancing, visiting Santa Barbara’s wineries and reading, too. Our library is right in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street and it’s beautiful. You would be surprised how much there is to do here!

Learn more about Arthrex, our employees and career opportunities.