Mel embodies every attribute of what it means to be a leader. In under a year’s time, she hired two supervisors with little to no official leadership experience and worked with them to ensure that they would be successful. Mel is always willing to take the time to teach, to allow shadowing of her workflow, and to proofread any email before it gets hesitantly sent out to the masses. She mentors with a positive attitude and a realistic approach to leadership. She encourages others to have a questioning attitude, to be proud of their work and accomplishments, and strives to support her employees as individuals with lives outside of the work environment.

I feel honored and thankful that Mel "took a chance on me" and hired me as her Radiology supervisor. In a perfect world, everyone would be lucky enough to have a mentor as supportive and caring as Mel. I felt guided when I was lost and felt the push to independence when I was ready (or at least when she could sense I was ready even if I didn't know it). I will forever owe my confidence as a leader to Mel's mentorship. I can only hope to be as wonderful and supportive of my staff and other leaders as Mel has been to me.