Cook Systems Founder
Wayne Cook, Founder
Wayne Cook's journey from serving his country to spearheading innovation in the technology sector encapsulates a story of dedication, bravery, and visionary leadership. It is the intention at Cook Systems to specialize in the support for our customer’s businesses with these requirements today and as AI begins to expand we will provide future vital services that include AI operators to maintain AI operations much like Computer operators for nonstop systems but capable of diagnosing problems and resolving them effectively.
Military Service with Distinction
Wayne's professional story began in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he served as a Combat Medic from 1964 to 1970. His tenure in the military was marked by exemplary service, earning him an honorable discharge at the rank of E6 Staff Sergeant. Throughout his service, Wayne was celebrated for his outstanding skills and bravery, receiving some of the highest honors available to infantry, including numerous commendations and promotions.
Transition to Technology
Following his distinguished military service, Wayne transitioned to the technology industry, where he has since made significant contributions for over four decades. He started as the Chief Information Officer at First Tennessee Bank, where he honed his skills in managing large-scale IT operations. His career path then took him through various roles with leading IT solutions and service providers, during which he adeptly negotiated a multitude of solutions tailored to diverse client needs.
Founding Cook Systems
More than thirty years ago, Wayne founded Cook Systems, leveraging his deep industry knowledge and leadership skills to guide the company through the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of IT services. Under his leadership, Cook Systems has grown into a prominent leader in the field, known for its innovative solutions and commitment to excellence.
Current Role and Personal Commitment
Today, Wayne continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Cook Systems, focusing on guiding the leadership team and ensuring that the company's values are reflected in every business endeavor. Outside of his professional life, Wayne is deeply involved in the Memphis community, supporting various local ministries and fostering relationships with family.
Wayne Cook’s story is not just about the evolution of a leader but also about his lasting impact on the technology industry and his community. His commitment to integrity, innovation, and community service continues to inspire the culture and success of Cook Systems.
Wayne Cook’s story is not just about the evolution of a leader but also about his lasting impact on the technology industry and his community. His commitment to integrity, innovation, and community service continues to inspire the culture and success of Cook Systems.
A Letter from Our Founder
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Fourteen years ago, to my dismay I envisioned a world in which the demand for advanced technical skills would outstrip the available talent even more so than ever due to interruptions in H1B traffic caused by political pressure or the realization Americans needed the jobs but just weren’t being prepared properly to seize them.
I saw that the very success of American software developers had, in a way, become their trap—rooted in languages like COBOL and assembler that had dominated since the 1960s. By the time object-oriented languages began to emerge in the mid-nineties, the establishment was still tethered to legacy systems. As the Internet and the World Wide Web exploded onto the scene, the gap widened, and many jobs in emerging technologies found their homes overseas.
I recalled my early days in IT—when there were no formal computer science degrees, just training manuals provided by computer manufacturers. The brightest American engineers came not from conventional tech schools, but from math departments and fields demanding abstract reasoning. We early pioneers had to develop an approach that was fool proof so we implemented a rigorous selection process with a high testing score cutoff that gave us a 90% success rate in identifying those with true mental acuity.
That approach worked exceptionally well, and at COOK SYSTEMS we reimagined the approach and built our new and updated methodology to produce Full Stack Agile software developers around Java languages and development tools. Immediately domestic American software developers were back and dominating the entire object oriented developer environment. So…..
Twelve years ago, as America grappled with a rapidly changing technological landscape, FastTrack was born. In just eight weeks, we could identify a class of 12 candidates with the potential to become outstanding full-stack developers. But we soon realized that technical skills alone were not enough. To build world-class Agile development teams, we had to nurture the entire individual—enhancing not only their coding prowess but also their communication and teamwork skills. Our rigorous, free program is designed to admit only the very best, ensuring that every FastTracker is not just proficient in technology, but also a natural leader and a critical thinker.
While many traditional educational programs—from boot camps to university degrees—often dilute their curriculum to cater to profit-driven, large class sizes, FastTrack by Cook remains resolute in its commitment to excellence. We select candidates based on the highest standards of mental acuity and overall capability. Today, having trained over 600 exceptional developers—with nearly 100% gainful employment in IT—we are proud to say that FastTrack graduates consistently emerge as instant leaders and top performers in any project they join.
As we stand on the brink of a new technological era defined by artificial intelligence and ever-advancing tools like Python, alongside a suite of prominent AI platforms, our FastTrackers are evolving. They are not only equipped to handle current challenges but are also uniquely positioned to adapt as AI takes on more of the coding process. Like stem cells in a living organism, these developers morph into the critical resource engineers of tomorrow, demonstrating a resilience and adaptability that few can match.
Today, Cook is prepared to scale hundreds of new AI-FastTrackers a year to meet our customers’ evolving needs. We remain deeply committed to the vision that sparked FastTrack and are proud of the legacy we continue to build—a legacy that challenges the status quo and redefines what it means to be a great developer.
Thank you for believing in this vision and for supporting a future where exceptional talent meets relentless innovation.
In closing, in 2025 and beyond, FastTrack isn’t a good solution that stacks up to other potential solutions, no, it is the best alternative to use in Cook mounted teams, or used to populate needful organizations demands instead of conventional approaches to recruit through corporately conceived intern programs , or even those that cannot be classified as elite but do have related experience. FastTrackers are elite that learn brilliantly fast and perform extremely well. Year after year they advance to the most respected in any organization. With AI watch out. We are a 30-year-old software solutions company building can't miss for our software companies' customers to set us apart from any other solution regarding people.
Sincerely,
Wayne U Cook
Founder, FastTrack by Cook
Fourteen years ago, to my dismay I envisioned a world in which the demand for advanced technical skills would outstrip the available talent even more so than ever due to interruptions in H1B traffic caused by political pressure or the realization Americans needed the jobs but just weren’t being prepared properly to seize them.
I saw that the very success of American software developers had, in a way, become their trap—rooted in languages like COBOL and assembler that had dominated since the 1960s. By the time object-oriented languages began to emerge in the mid-nineties, the establishment was still tethered to legacy systems. As the Internet and the World Wide Web exploded onto the scene, the gap widened, and many jobs in emerging technologies found their homes overseas.
I recalled my early days in IT—when there were no formal computer science degrees, just training manuals provided by computer manufacturers. The brightest American engineers came not from conventional tech schools, but from math departments and fields demanding abstract reasoning. We early pioneers had to develop an approach that was fool proof so we implemented a rigorous selection process with a high testing score cutoff that gave us a 90% success rate in identifying those with true mental acuity.
That approach worked exceptionally well, and at COOK SYSTEMS we reimagined the approach and built our new and updated methodology to produce Full Stack Agile software developers around Java languages and development tools. Immediately domestic American software developers were back and dominating the entire object oriented developer environment. So…..
Twelve years ago, as America grappled with a rapidly changing technological landscape, FastTrack was born. In just eight weeks, we could identify a class of 12 candidates with the potential to become outstanding full-stack developers. But we soon realized that technical skills alone were not enough. To build world-class Agile development teams, we had to nurture the entire individual—enhancing not only their coding prowess but also their communication and teamwork skills. Our rigorous, free program is designed to admit only the very best, ensuring that every FastTracker is not just proficient in technology, but also a natural leader and a critical thinker.
While many traditional educational programs—from boot camps to university degrees—often dilute their curriculum to cater to profit-driven, large class sizes, FastTrack by Cook remains resolute in its commitment to excellence. We select candidates based on the highest standards of mental acuity and overall capability. Today, having trained over 600 exceptional developers—with nearly 100% gainful employment in IT—we are proud to say that FastTrack graduates consistently emerge as instant leaders and top performers in any project they join.
As we stand on the brink of a new technological era defined by artificial intelligence and ever-advancing tools like Python, alongside a suite of prominent AI platforms, our FastTrackers are evolving. They are not only equipped to handle current challenges but are also uniquely positioned to adapt as AI takes on more of the coding process. Like stem cells in a living organism, these developers morph into the critical resource engineers of tomorrow, demonstrating a resilience and adaptability that few can match.
Today, Cook is prepared to scale hundreds of new AI-FastTrackers a year to meet our customers’ evolving needs. We remain deeply committed to the vision that sparked FastTrack and are proud of the legacy we continue to build—a legacy that challenges the status quo and redefines what it means to be a great developer.
Thank you for believing in this vision and for supporting a future where exceptional talent meets relentless innovation.
In closing, in 2025 and beyond, FastTrack isn’t a good solution that stacks up to other potential solutions, no, it is the best alternative to use in Cook mounted teams, or used to populate needful organizations demands instead of conventional approaches to recruit through corporately conceived intern programs , or even those that cannot be classified as elite but do have related experience. FastTrackers are elite that learn brilliantly fast and perform extremely well. Year after year they advance to the most respected in any organization. With AI watch out. We are a 30-year-old software solutions company building can't miss for our software companies' customers to set us apart from any other solution regarding people.
Sincerely,
Wayne U Cook
Founder, FastTrack by Cook
Empower Your Business Growth
Avoid letting a lack of skilled professionals stifle your business's progress. By collaborating with us, you tap into a remarkable reservoir of technical expertise. This partnership will propel innovation, enhance productivity, and lead to unmatched success. Reach out now to explore options to unleash your team's full potential.
CONTACT US
Corporate Office
6000 Poplar Ave, STE 125
Memphis, TN 38119
6000 Poplar Ave, STE 125
Memphis, TN 38119
Cook Systems is People Centered and Solutions Driven. We offer a robust portfolio of services designed to elevate technology capabilities by integrating our comprehensive solutions for Fortune 1000 companies and government entities. By hiring only the most talented professionals in the industry, we empower our clients to strategically address complex business challenges and leverage technology for impactful results.
Copyright 2024 Cook Systems. All rights reserved.
