Genuine people have a unique ability to make others feel comfortable and accepted. If I had to describe Melissa with only one word, it would be “Genuine”. The Cambridge dictionary defines the word “genuine” as “real and exactly what it appears to be”. When you meet Melissa that phrase will ring true to you. She will tell you about her family, and you will see someone who is loving, caring, and nurturing. As you continue to get to know her, and work with her in the business world, you will see how intelligent she is, but she does not seek attention for it. The longer you know Melissa the more genuine character you see. She has a humble and altruistic spirit that shines through, often putting others needs ahead of her own. But most importantly above all those wonderful things, we hired her because she was a genuinely great Uno player … just kidding.
Let’s find out what shaped Melissa into this genuine person that she has become, and how she came to be at Ideal Cabinets.
Melissa was raised by a strong and hard-working single mother, she and her younger sister grew up in the very small town of Penhook, Virginia, located in Franklin County. At the time she despised the quiet, country life that seemed so boring, but now she appreciates those small-town simple days so much. She has grown to treasure the memories of her childhood summers spent with her grandparents – snapping beans, shucking corn, and working in the garden. The time spent with them instilled in her a strong work ethic, a passion for being outdoors, and a love for the Lord that has never left her.
Melissa started a family at a young age and considers her greatest life accomplishment raising her three children. She has two fabulous sons, Seth and Bryson along with one beautiful daughter, Taylor, and a wonderful son-in-law Justin. Taylor and Justin have blessed her with two precious grandsons, Colson and Clay. They bring so much love and joy to the family. Melissa says she has found no greater quote is as true as “The days go by so slow, but the years they pass so quickly” and that is exactly how motherhood has felt to her.
Being blessed to be a stay-at-home mom, Melissa spent several years at home raising her three children, volunteering at their school, going on field trips, and cheering on the sidelines. As her kids got older, she entered the workforce and started a career in the business office of a local pediatric practice. After ten years and many changes to the healthcare world, she knew it was time for a change for herself and the door opened to join the team at Ideal Cabinets.
She and her husband and soul mate, Clark, still live in Franklin County, where they have built a wonderful life together. When they are not working, they are planning their next adventure whether it’s a day trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway (hiking to a waterfall or floating on the river,) or Melissa’s favorite – a getaway along the coast to the Outer Banks. She is an avid seashell hunter and collector, finding the most peace and tranquility at the beach looking for treasures. If you see her out on an adventure, there is a good chance she will have her camera in hand. She loves photography, especially capturing the beautiful and unexpected moments of nature. She uses this talent to serve on the photography team at her church, where she and her husband are very involved and can be found each Sunday and Wednesday.
Melissa says that she loves working at Ideal Cabinets because not only is it a local, family-owned business, but you are truly regarded as family. She says, “Everyone, whether employee or customer, is treated with such care and respect. The core values of the company are the same that her grandparents instilled in her so many years ago, and she is thankful to be part of such a wonderful team.”
In the world we live in today, far too many people put on a façade, or worse do not know how to be genuine. Melissa is an exceptional person, and we are blessed that God sent her to be part of our team here at Ideal Cabinets. I am thankful for her every day.
