Throughout his life, Mark Cook has remained the consummate salesperson. Bouncing between positions selling electronics at Radio Shack and Sears, framing for custom houses and working currently at a lock supply store, Cook wanted more for him and his family. Cook kept his eyes on the prize, which was to be his own boss.

Now, despite hardships in the economy, Cook has achieved that goal with Thunder Jump Party Inflatables.

Along with his spouse, Jene Lucas, the family owned and operated business, rents party inflatables (i.e. moon bounces) to Oklahoma City’s metropolitan area, for events such as children’s parties, picnics, church functions, graduation events and family reunions.

Lucas handles the paper work, including securing permits, insurance and tax identification numbers, and Cook does the handiwork, or as he jokingly refers to it as "grunt work."

The idea for Cook’s start-up actually came from keeping in mind the mistakes of others.

He had learned the importance of customer service in his field firsthand when he had tried planning parties for the five children between Cook and Lucas. He would contact companies to bring party inflatables, but the businesses he had contacted didn’t follow through.

As trade magazines for party inflatables businesses stacked up around the house, he turned his attention to reading them, and he said he realized he could do a better job than those before him.

"No one thinks about how these businesses work," Cook said.

Cook does his best to keep his customers’ safe. Before and after each rental, he inspects the party inflatables for holes, tears or anything to tip him off that would lead to a hazard. He makes sure the inflatables are firmly attached to the ground with stakes or sandbags, depending on if the inflatable is set up on grass or concrete. He, then, puts orange cones around the anchor points so no one trips over them.

And after each rental, he sanitizes the inflatables by using the same kind of disinfectant used to neutralize potential medical threats on wrestling mats.

He said that safety is very important to him and his family.

Saturday, May 18 wasn’t a typical day for Cook’s Thunder Jump Party Inflatables. That day emphasized family. It was his son’s eighth birthday party, and Cook hardly finds a moment to catch his breath.

From noon on and onward, Cook breaks out speakers blasting Green Day and Bush, starts the bubble machine, busts-out the popcorn machine and then, brings forward the sno-cone machine, which leads to a long line for both children and parents.

Only after serving the last attendee (which is just after 4 p.m.), he finally allows himself to tastes the fruit of his labor: a sno-cone all to himself.

After all, even planning a party can be serious business.

To contact, call 209-4873. Or visit the web site, www.thunderjumpparty.com