HomeWork is new monthly column featuring insights from AHAM members on career, success, and life outside of work. For our first edition of HomeWork, we spoke with AHAM Board of Directors Chair Melanie Cook, who serves as the chief operating officer of GE Appliances, a Haier company.

Name three goals (personal or professional) you are pursuing in 2018.
1. Successful alignment on AHAM's long-term strategy and transition of my role to the new AHAM Board chair.
2. Better enable GE Appliances to serve our owners by aligning our brand strategies and using artificial intelligence, digitization and data analytics to improve our sales and operations planning process, owner insights and preventative service, among others.
3. Enjoy adventures with my family! This year we will visit my sister-in-law in Los Angeles, spend time with family in Florida and Michigan, return to London to reminisce about the time we lived there, and see North Wales for the first time!

How do you jumpstart your morning?
I have the same routine every morning, which starts with my husband sending me out the door with a large travel mug of coffee. During my 30-minute commute, I phone my parents in Florida. It’s a perfect time to connect and get started for the day. Given that it is winter in Kentucky right now, I usually end the call dreaming of the sun and beauty of southeast Florida!

(Editor’s note: In light of yesterday’s events in Parkland, Florida, Melanie Cook extends her deepest condolences to those affected by the tragedy.)
  
Predict an innovation that will revolutionize the next generation.
I am very excited for the day when we really can say “Beam me up, Scotty” and be at our destination. In the world of appliances, artificial intelligence is a game changer.

What is the best career advice you have ever received?
Always be your best true self. Never change your values or what you stand for.

What home appliance can you not live without?
First, I cannot live without my husband Brian utilizing our appliances. He is the chef in the family, and an amazing chef at that. My personal most-used appliance is our icemaker/water dispenser, but the most important would have to be our Monogram pro range. We put it through the paces and enjoy many wonderful meals!

What do you gain from your involvement with AHAM?
I have a deep amount of respect and appreciation for the AHAM leadership and our actively engaged members. AHAM is very efficient and progressive. Our members are passionate about our industry and focus on the right issues to improve the safety, efficiency and image for appliances on behalf of all of our owners.

What is your best advice you have for somebody who wants to succeed in the home appliance industry?
To succeed in this industry you really need to have a love for appliances and appreciate the true impact we have on the daily lives of owners. We ensure that our owners have clean clothes, save time so they can spend it on hobbies they love, can cook healthy food, can host a great party, or do whatever is important for that particular owner.

HomeWork headshot
Melanie Cook
Chief Operating Officer
GE Appliances, a Haier company

Looking for past issues of HomeWork?

September 2024
Jarrod Greer
Sr. Market & BI Manager
Electrolux Group
July 2024
Sarah Chinberg
Retail AC Regulatory Engineer
Midea America Corp.
June 2024
Diane Hoffmann
Brand Director
Cascade Partnerships and Technicians
Procter & Gamble
April 2024
TJ Stoffer
Senior Marketing Manager
North America
Electrolux Group
January 2024
Winston Lindsay
CEO
Lindsay Manufacturing
December 2023
Lara Peterson
Senior Vice President
Marketing – Beauty and Wellness
Helen of Troy
November 2023
Chloe Zeng
Senior Marketing Manager
Marketing & Strategy Dept.
Tuya Smart
October 2023
Nathan Mouw
Senior Director
Global Product Safety & Regulatory Affairs
Whirlpool Corporation
September 2023
Brian McWaters
Vice President
Food Preparation
Electrolux North America
August 2023
Ed Vlacich
Chief Executive Officer
Lasko Products
2022
Mark Zielinski
Director, Merchandising
Demand Planning & Product Line
Electrolux Major Appliances Canada
2022
Pamela Klyn
Sr. Vice President
Corporate Relations & Sustainability
Whirlpool Corporation
2022
Vikram Shrivastava
Senior Director
AISonic Edge Processors
Knowles Corporation
2022
Julie Rippy
Director
Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Vornado Air
2022
Stephen Gatz
Lead Engineer
Codes and Safety
Whirlpool Corporation
2021
Evan Hoffman
Director
State and Local Government Relations
Philips
2021
Lucian Strong
Commercial Vice President
Sales
CoorsTek
2021
Joe Liotine
Executive Vice President
North America Region
Whirlpool Corporation
2021
Nolan Pike
President and CEO
Electrolux North America
2020
Darryl McCartney
IoT Technical Sales Director for the Americas
Microsoft
2020
Mark Bissell
Chairman and CEO
BISSELL Inc.
2020
Dr. Markus Miele
Executive Director and Co-proprietor
Miele
2020
Viren Shah
Vice President and Chief Digital Officer
GE Appliances, a Haier company
2020
Elena Breda
Senior Vice President
Global Product Category Food Preservation
Electrolux
2020
Nate Cho
Director
Internet of Things
Electrolux
2019
Julie Wood
Senior Director
Public Relations
GE Appliances, a Haier company
2019
Carl Eckersley
Director
iRobot
Product Compliance
2019
Tim Ferry
Group President
Tools & Home Products
Emerson
2019
Debbie Mudway
Senior Vice President
Global Marketing
Helen of Troy - Health & Home
2019
Jim Sanduski
President
Sharp Home Electronics Company of America
2019
Manfred Staebler
Vice President
Government Affairs
BSH Home Appliances Corporation, North America
2019
Steve Ver Strat
Regulatory Policy Director
Amway Corporation
2019
Dochul Choi
Senior Vice President
Global Business and Technology Strategy
Samsung Electronics America
2019
Tom Siwek
Vice President
Safety, Compliance and CORE Quality
SharkNinja Operating LLC
2018
Patricia Bassett
Vice President
Research and Development, Appliances and Cookware
Newell Brands
2018
Steve Nackers
Corporate Manager
Electronic Controls
Sub-Zero Group
2018
Dan Query
Vice President and General Manager
Product Line Management
Electrolux Home Products NA
2018
Paulo da Silva
Senior Director
Laundry Merchandising
Whirlpool Corporation
2018
John Taylor
Senior Vice President
Public Affairs and Communications
LG Electronics USA, Inc.
2018
Andy Chinmulgund
Founder and CEO
Bruviti
2018
Lenore Kaplan
Head of Competitor Intelligence for the Americas
Dyson
2018
Melanie Cook
Chief Operating Officer
GE Appliances, a Haier company