AADOM Member Stories: Melissa Cortes
Melissa Cortes,Office Manager at Alexandria Old Town Dental in Alexandria, Virginia!
🎧 Prefer to listen? Tune into Melissa’s story HERE.
Turning Connections Into Growth
When Melissa Cortes attended her first AADOM Conference, she admits she spent most of her time moving between educational sessions and her hotel room.
“I was scared out of my mind,” she shared. “I was kind of like a little hermit crab.”
Today, Melissa is the Office Manager at Alexandria Old Town Dental in Alexandria, Virginia, leading a team of approximately 55 employees across a thriving 10-doctor practice. She’s also earned her FAADOM and MAADOM designations, is receiving her DAADOM this year, and serves as president of Alexandria Collaborative Dental Connection, her local DPLN.
“I don’t think that I could be where I’m at today without AADOM,” she said. “No matter how many years you’ve been in dentistry, you never know what scenario is going to pop up. Having that community and network is super important.”
Her advice for new members is simple: don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, ask questions, and build relationships.
Beyond networking with fellow office managers, Melissa encourages members to take full advantage of the AADOM Conference exhibit hall. She says some of the most valuable improvements at her practice have come from conversations with industry partners and product demonstrations.
“I highly recommend that when you’re at these conferences, you network. Set up demos and figure out which solution works best for your practice,” Melissa explained. “Every time I’ve taken a demo, I’ve taken away something.”
One example is implementing new technology after exploring solutions with vendors she met through AADOM. She believes those conversations help practices discover tools that improve efficiency and better serve both teams and patients.
For Melissa, the greatest value of AADOM isn’t just the education—it’s the people.
“It’s all about the community and the network that you’re building,” she said. “It’s not about the competition. It’s about making sure all the patients in our area are taken care of.”
Her final message to new members attending their first conference?
“Go out there, be who you are, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and visit the vendors. Bring that information back to your practice and really show them what AADOM is all about.”
Melissa Cortes:
Melissa Cortes is the Office Manager at Alexandria Old Town Dental, bringing over 15 years of experience in specialty and multi‑specialty practices. A MAADOM and Lifetime AADOM Member, she is currently pursuing her Diplomate credential and actively serves on several nonprofit boards and professional networks. She founded the Alexandria Collaborative Dental Connection to provide inclusive, role‑specific education for dental teams. Outside the office, Melissa enjoys life with her husband and three children, runs a creative small business, and finds peace tending her garden.
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