Jackson County's Best and Brightest Profile: Melissa Woodhurst

For Jackson Magazine's Best and Brightest Young Adults June issue

Melissa Woodhurst spends 40 hours a week helping the family business stay on the cutting edge of teeth restoration, but in her free time she is committed to helping restore her hometown.

The 27-year old is laboratory manager and technician for Somerset Dental Lab, Inc. Her mother Deb Fiegel started the business in 1996, and in this case it seems mom certainly knew best, hiring Melissa as part of a work-based program when she was a high school student.

“My technology and computer skills and just some new ideas have helped me help the business, whether it’s been in advertising and P.R. or in looking at how different parts of managing the business’ funding can be done more effectively,” said Woodhurst, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baker College.

Woodhurst said the industry is full of challenges with the economic downturn, but working at an office that offers locals important free services motivates her to do her best every day.

The same can be said for her personal life.

She is a member of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Women’s Democratic Caucus, Jackson Jaycees and the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation.

Woodhurst said getting involved with other proactive, successful women has been phenomenal, but it’s her interaction with a girl half her age that she enjoys the most.

She joined Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2009 and wasted no time making a difference.
Learning that her match was interested in police work she set up a personal tour with Detective Sergio Garcia, and Woodhurst and her match ended up being featured in an issue of the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

“If I can get out there and at least help one girl and let her know she’s beautiful and she’s smart and that she can accomplish anything, that’s the core of what makes me want to go motivate young females,” she said.