Melissa Burdick is Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s first SHERO award recipient. The single mom of four received the honor on Wednesday, April 12.

A SHERO is the CEO of her family, the adventure-seeking, calendar-juggling, goal-setting woman who is admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities. JRMC’s OB/GYN team created the award to celebrate women who do great things and inspire others to do the same. The SHERO award seeks to inspire the superhero in others.

image of Melissa Burdick and her four children
JRMC’s first-ever SHERO, Melissa Burdick, celebrated with her four children Lylah, Harlee, Harper and Logan. JRMC created the award to celebrate women who do great things and inspire others to do the same. The SHERO award seeks to inspire the superhero in others.

Burdick’s sister, Kristin Brehm, nominated her.

MEET MELISSA

“My sister is a single mom to four children – Lylah, Harlee, Harper and Logan. The youngest and only son was born after my brother-in-law passed away from cancer. She has continued to do anything and everything to make sure her children and family are happy and healthy. Through all this, Taco Bell promoted her to general manager. My sister continues to give life everything she’s got, no matter what hand she is dealt. She is consistently helping friends, family and employees to be their best person.”

Kristin also wrote about the Burdick family and the challenges they’ve experienced, including the death of Jon in March 2021. He was 32 years old.

“My sister’s husband was diagnosed with cancer for the second time after they were together for 16 years. Two weeks later, they found out they were having their fourth child. My sister had to say goodbye to her partner, the father of her children and the love of her life. She went through her whole pregnancy without him. Though it’s been difficult, she remains the most amazing mom.”

During this challenging time, Burdick received a promotion at work. Today, she is the general manager of Taco Bell in Jamestown.

Throughout her time in leadership, Taco Bell’s Jamestown location improved in employee retention, sales and other nationwide benchmarks. Burdick’s supervisor, Kent Farris, said the metrics at the Jamestown store are now “perfect every time.”

Farris is an area coach for Border Foods, which owns the Jamestown Taco Bell franchise.

“It’s crazy how much it’s improved here,” he said. “Everyone wants to work here. Before, it was a revolving door of staff. Now, people flock to her. She has really built a team. She has improved and succeeded in all the ways possible.”

SHERO AWARD

image of JRMC team with SHERO Melissa Burdick at Taco Bell
JRMC selected first Melissa Burdick, Jamestown, as its first SHERO award recipient. Burdick received the honor on Wednesday, April 12.

Out of 16 nominations, the JRMC OB/GYN team selected Burdick because of her dedication to family and the adversity she overcame. Drs. Gregg McAdoo, Emily Stromquist and Nurse Practitioner Makenzie Breitbach selected Burdick as the SHERO because she deserves recognition for all she does for her children and others.

“We picked Melissa because she has overcome so much,” said Dr. McAdoo. “We also selected her because, in her role, she may not get the acclaim she deserves.”

Burdick said her motto is to “just keep going,” even when times are challenging.

“It’s the only thing you can do,” she said.

LEARN MORE