Sherry James Cook -  Named a 2005 "Most Influential Woman"
By Sarah Redinger

Most of us know Sherry Cook as a Marketing lecturer, a leader in extracurricular activities and a mentor. While it is true that Cook plays a big part in the Marketing Department here at Missouri State, she wears many other hats as well. She is also a business owner, a developer and marketer of children’s books, a community leader, a wife and a mother. Recently, Cook was recognized by Springfield Business Journal as one of Springfield’s 20 Most Influential Women of 2005.

“It was an incredible honor to join such an elite group of women,” says Cook. “I have been overwhelmed by the notes and e-mails from people from the community and from students—past and present. Attending the October 14 awards ceremony was kind of an out-of-body experience. I kept thinking who are they talking about?”

Another thing that made the event special was having friends and family join her. In addition to family members, Cook invited one of her academic mentors, Carol Silvey, from the West Plains MSU campus, one of the first professors she ever had. Cook also invited one of her current students, Marketing major Nicole Hill, to join her. “It seemed appropriate to invite one of my mentors and well as a student I am so proud to mentor currently,” she explains.

So how does Cook fill her time when not at MSU? For one, she created People as Resources in 1990. The company specializes in human resource development, marketing and strategic planning. Through this, she has conducted training seminars, taught courses and facilitated groups for organizations throughout Missouri. Additionally, People As Resources is the college relations arm for Meeks Building Centers, a 45 store building materials chain with two divisions—one headquartered in Springfield and the other based out of Sacramento, California. A few of the duties related to this aspect include marketing Meeks to colleges and universities and working with the CEO/Owner to develop recruitment strategies. 

Cook has embarked on another new business venture recently, alongside her sister, Terri, and a former advertising student/MSU alum, Jesse Kuhn. Together, they formed a curriculum development company called Creative3 and are currently working to create, develop, and market a series of 26 children’s books that teach phonics and science. The series is called The Quirkles and will be coming out late next spring. “This is totally new and exciting,” says Cook. “I’ll really get to put my marketing skills to test as 40,000 plus books roll off the press in March! You’re always told how much work goes in to creating a book, but you really can’t fathom it. That’s probably a good thing, or no one would ever do it.” 

Books are one of Cook’s many passions. She is currently juggling several for her reading pleasure, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, French Women Don’t Get Fat, and The Historian.  A dream job would be to become a major author like James Michener or J.K. Rowling. “I want to be big enough to have a research staff to do the nitty gritty detail stuff though,” she laughs. 

Cook is also very active when it comes to volunteering and working with the community of Springfield. As a member of the Junior League, she has held many leadership positions, including serving as president. Another Junior League highlight, among many, was to help develop and market their cookbooks.

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Cook receives her award at the 2005 Springfield Business Journal's 20 Most Influential Women banquet from SBJ's publisher Dianne Elizabeth Osis. Reprinted by permission, Springfield Business Journal© 2005

During her time as cookbook chair, a new book was introduced and another revitalized. Both received a contract to be sold on QVC television. “For a year I became the QVC queen, as we flew back and forth between Springfield and Westchester, Pennsylvania to appear on their shows. It was quite an experience. We sold more books in one seven minute segment, than we had the entire previous year. They are quite an operation.” she explains.

Cook stills serves as a sustaining advisor to the Junior League. As if this weren’t enough, she also serves on the boards of Greenwood PTA as president, the Kitchen Foundation, the Springfield Greene County Library Foundation, the Springfield Family Y and Kingswood school.

The journey toward becoming one of Springfield’s Most Influential Women has involved many turning points for Cook, and many involved taking risks. The first was to quit her job and pursue her MBA here at Missouri State (where she had also earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing/Retail). Later, she took a risk by quitting a job she really loved in Career Services at MSU and starting her own consulting firm. During this time, she also began teaching part-time for the Marketing Department and spending more time with her young children. 

Other big steps for Cook involved her leadership and involvement in the Junior League, becoming a full-time lecturer, and beginning work with Creative3 and The Quirkles. Cook says she hopes to have many more turning points during her career.

Although Cook has achieved much in the community and throughout her business ventures, she is most proud of her family. She has been married to her husband, Dennis, for 25 years and they have two children, Michael (16) and Lauren (14).  Both attend Greenwood Laboratory School here on campus. Cook boasts, “As part of a small school, they are involved in everything – sports, clubs, music, plus some academics, too!” Seems as though they are taking after their mother, keeping busy and always looking for new adventures!

Pictured is the Cook family (left to right): Lauren, Dennis, Michael and Sherry, as they enjoy a scenic view of the Puerto Vallerta sunset on a family vacation to Mexico last summer.

When Cook does get a few moments of leisure time, she can be found spending time with her family at sporting events, working in her flower beds, or hosting dinner parties for friends.

With Cook's admirable ability to balance work and play, community and family, it’s no surprise that she has influenced so many people! Here in the Marketing Department, we are proud to have her in our hallways as a lecturer and an inspiration.

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