As Emergent marks 25 years of protecting and enhancing lives, we spoke to someone who has been there from the very start.
David Mark Coven, who goes by Mark, came to Emergent in the spring of 1997. The company was then known as Michigan Biological Products Institute (MBPI) and was owned by the State of Michigan. A year later, BioPort Corporation – now Emergent – was formed and purchased MBPI.
Thinking back to the early days of Emergent, Mark said, “It was an uphill battle back in 1997, working to maintain operations while not knowing if this place would make it another month. In September of 1998, the state-owned company was sold, boosting everyone’s faith. That was later renamed BioPort Corporation, and finally Emergent BioSolutions.”
But what kept Mark around was the feeling of making a positive contribution to a company that’s working to make a difference in the world.
“‘To protect and enhance life’ speaks for itself and it brings everyone together reaching for the same goal.”
An electrical manufacturing operations specialist, Mark’s favorite memories at Emergent involve times when the world went a bit haywire. “My favorite memory is Y2K. I stayed at work all night waiting for something unusual to occur when the date changed from 1999 to 2000,” Mark said.
The next memorable moment was the 2003 Northeast Blackout, which affected not only Emergent but nearly 50 million people in the northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada.
Some other great memories were the construction of building 55, the demolition of building 5, and when the company went public.
What Mark appreciates about Emergent and his colleagues
“Through the years Emergent has provided ongoing education in my field of expertise and provided personal development guidance to enhance my individual skills and competencies.”
His favorite part of working at Emergent is one that is echoed quite a bit: the people.
“The friendly relationships and atmosphere. We all respect and support each other.”
Mark has also learned, notably, the importance of being a great community partner, which he views as important and necessary.
“In order to become a great company, we need to build and retain good positive relationships with the community and give back.”
When thinking about what makes Mark proud to work for Emergent, he said, “We are working to make a difference in the world and give back to the community.”
And reflecting on 25 years, Mark said, “Wow, where has the time gone. I’m happy to be a part of this company and can’t wait to see what’s around the next corner.”