In a continuing effort to meet the needs of employees and their families, Arthrex is pleased to announce its first on-site childcare facility has officially opened its doors. Located on the Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. South Carolina (AMISC) campus in Pendleton, South Carolina, Arthrex Academy – AMISC welcomed children into the newly constructed facility in early October.
“People started showing up right when we opened at 5:30 a.m.,” said Director of Human Resources for Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. Melanie McLane, who spent the morning at the Academy, greeting employees and their children. “That’s one of the many benefits of Arthrex having its own childcare facilities, having the ability to align the centers’ hours with our shift schedules.”
Melanie was joined by Arthrex Academy Center Director Jenny Hobson. Jenny has worked for Bright Horizons - the company Arthrex has partnered with to operate its childcare centers - for 27 years, and the Arthrex Academy is the third childcare center she’s opened with the company.
“There were some typical first day of school feelings on display,” Melanie said, “but overall, the morning was filled with excitement and anticipation – and a lot of smiles.”
Among those Melanie and Jenny welcomed that morning were Manufacturing Quality Systems Manager Rachel Belshe and her two pre-school-aged daughters.
“When I first learned Arthrex was going to be opening a childcare center, my husband and I were a little on the fence about moving the girls from the daycare they’d been going to since they were born,” Rachel said. “But then we saw the beautiful building and had the opportunity to tour the classrooms curated for each age group and meet the teachers. At that point it was a no-brainer.”
For Senior Benefits Administrator Ana Requena, the timing of the Arthrex Academy’s opening couldn’t have been more perfect.
“I came back to work from maternity leave the same day the Academy opened,” she said. “It was the smoothest possible transition, and it doesn’t get much better than being a building over from your baby and being able to stop by and see them during the day.”
Both Rachel and Ana shared their appreciation for having childcare onsite, not only for the sake of convenience, but also for the peace of mind the proximity provides.
“My husband used to drop the girls off in the morning because their previous daycare was in the opposite direction I needed to drive to get to Arthrex. If I took them to daycare, it would make my commute between 45 minutes and an hour,” Rachel said. “Now my daughters are excited to get to go to work with me – and there’s comfort in knowing we can see each other’s buildings.”
“Arthrex Academy – AMISC is a state-of-the-art childcare center where children have so many wonderful opportunities to learn, grow and flourish,” Jenny said. “Everything regarding the facility’s opening was smooth and beautifully executed.”
“The fact that Arthrex cares enough to create a beautiful place for our kids is just another amazing benefit,” Rachel said. “It’s the icing on the cake.”
Construction on Arthrex Academy – Naples, located at the corner of Immokalee Road and Arthrex Way, is on pace to be substantially complete by January 1, with doors opening to approximately 185 children in late March or early April. Pending permits, construction of Arthrex Academy – AMIE, located on the Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. East (AMIE) campus in Ave Maria, Florida, is scheduled to begin in early 2025.
