THE ALBANY HERALD • 40 UNDER 40 • Tuesday, April 29, 2014 • www.albanyherald.com 15
Amanda Merritt Dental Partners of SWGA
Dr. Amanda Merritt is a native of south Georgia, born and raised in the Valdosta area. Since she was just a teen in braces, Dr. Merritt knew she wanted to devote her life to helping others discover the confidence she found through a healthy smile. Dr. Merritt graduated third in her class from Berrien High School and went on to attend Valdosta State University where she graduated Cum Laude. In 2005, she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. She then completed a General Practice residency, a prestigious program where she refined her expertise though training in implant dentistry and sedation dentistry. Following dental school, Dr. Merritt briefly practiced in both Fitzgerald and Valdosta before joining the family of professionals at Dental Partners of Southwest Georgia in 2009. Her philosophy as a dentist is to serve her patients with honesty and compassion. She is especially concerned with calming the fears of those patients who experience anxiety during their office visits. Dr. Merritt is active in many professional organizations including the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. She served as the President of the Southwestern District of the Georgia Dental Association from 2011-2012. She currently serves the Lee County Chamber of Commerce as a board member. Dr. Merritt enjoys giving back to her community through volunteer work with Give Kids A Smile and a number of other free dental clinics. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and savoring the rich heritage and culture of southwest Georgia. Dr. Merritt's greatest accomplishment is her family. She is married to Jay Merritt of Fitzgerald. Together, they have one son, Dalton, and are expecting a daughter this summer.
Roger M. Mishoe
Marine Corps Logistics Command Mr. Roger Mishoe is the last born of 12 to Mr. James Mishoe (Deceased) and Lafaye Mishoe of Bucksport, SC. He is a 1999 graduate of Southern University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and was immediately commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After a tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan as a Marine Artillery Officer in 2002, Mr. Mishoe was selected to attend the United States Naval Postgraduate School where in 2004 he graduated with a M.S. in Military Operations Research. Mr. Mishoe was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2006 and accepted a position as a defense contractor providing operations research and logistics support to DOD, Federal, and State Agencies to include support operations to service members in Afghanistan. Over six years with his company (2006-2012), Mr. Mishoe received numerous awards and rose to a position of Senior Director where he led, mentored, trained, and celebrated his staff of more than 50 in various logistics, operations research, and Information Technology disciplines. In November 2012, Mr. Mishoe was selected to his current position as Director, Studies & Analysis Division at Marine Corps Logistics Command, Logistics Capabilities Center. For the past 10 years, Roger has called Albany his home and is extremely blessed to be counted a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Albany for the past 9 years. He’s a member of the Gamma Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc here in Albany. He has a passion for volunteering and helping those in need and leading through service in various capacities of his life. He is married with two sons, Anthony (age 15) and Jaden (age 11) who are the absolute joys of his life.