MENDOTA – Working with the public is a natural for Jamie Bromenschenkel. With her bubbly personality and smiling face, she’s a perfect fit as office manager at West Side Family Dentistry in Mendota.

The people she greets walking through the door every day apparently think so as well, as Bromenschenkel was nominated for and selected as the 2021 Tom Merwin Gold Star Employee Award winner presented at the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on Nov. 5 at the Mendota Civic Center. The award is sponsored jointly by the Chamber and The Mendota Reporter.

Bromenschenkel, who is a Mendota native currently living in Peru, has been the office manager at West Side Family Dentistry for nine years. Her previous employer of 18 years closed its doors and Bromenschenkel knew that in her next job, she wanted to work with the public.

Among Bromenschenkel’s duties at West Side Family Dentistry are answering the phone, scheduling appointments and helping patients understand their insurance plans.

“With me being born and raised in Mendota, I know a lot of our patients and their families,” she said. “I enjoy seeing them and catching up.”

Bromenschenkel said she normally doesn’t attend the Chamber Dinner, having done so the last time about five or six years ago. This year, the crew at West Side Family Dentistry all decided to go, so Bromenschenkel hopped on board without ever thinking she would be getting one of the awards.

“I was somewhat coaxed into attending,” she said. “I was told someone else was to get an award that night.”

The presenters of the awards first read off some information about the winners each year before announcing their names, and when it came time for the Gold Star winner to be named at this year’s dinner, Bromenschenkel said she was kidding around with her co-workers that her name was going to be called.

“I was joking around, pretending they were announcing my name, because that’s what I do, and then they did announce my name,” Bromenschenkel said. “I was completely shocked pretty much the rest of the night. I was also amazed at the fact that my husband, family and co-workers kept it a secret the entire time.”

Bromenschenkel said being with her co-workers and having the ability to interact with people make it a pleasure going to her job each day.

“I love all of my co-workers at West Side Family Dentistry and enjoy catching up with our patients on a daily basis,” she said. “We truly have the best patients.”