Denise is the true cornerstone of our team, and she has been helping our company grow for over 25 years! Her journey started back when she was earning her Business Degree, assembling nurse kits, and learning our operations from the ground up. In 2001, she stepped into roles collaborating directly with customers and quickly realized her true passion: building genuine, lasting relationships, and ensuring every customer feels exceptionally well cared for.

After thriving as our Senior Account Manager, Denise stepped into leadership as our Head of Operations in 2018. For Denise, work is all about people. She leads with integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to supporting both our team and our customers. She is a big believer in a healthy work-life balance, always striving to create a happy workspace where her teammates can thrive professionally and still enjoy plenty of quality time with their families. She extends that same level of care and attention to every customer, ensuring each person feels valued, heard, and well supported.

Her colleagues affectionately nicknamed her "Counselor" -even presenting her with a sign for her office door- because she is always ready to pull up a chair, listen, offer guidance, and help solve problems. Whether you have a quick question, feedback, or a bright new idea, Denise is always happy to chat and ensure you are well taken care of.

Denise’s love for helping others shines just as brightly outside of work. When she is off the clock, you can find her spending time together with her wife, exploring the outdoors, hiking, traveling, gardening, or rocking out at live concerts. Family means everything to her. As the oldest daughter, she truly cherishes living close to her parents so she can be a core part of their daily lives, especially as she helps support her mother with the increasing needs of her father, a Vietnam veteran, living with frontotemporal dementia.

Constantly striving to grow and give back, Denise is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling-a perfect reflection of her lifelong heart for supporting the people around her.

Jacquelynn has been part of the MEA team for over a decade, joining in 2016 as a customer service representative. From her first-year building relationships with customers to rotating through the warehouse to understand firsthand how kits and bulk orders came together; she approached the role from every angle. In 2016 she attended her first nursing conference as an exhibitor, and that experience set the tone for years of national and international trade shows where she honed a deep understanding of the diverse needs of healthcare educators and their facilities. In 2019 she was promoted to Senior Accounts Manager, a role she continues to grow in today. Outside of work, Jacquelynn is married to a retired Marine and is a mom of three wonderful, college age kids. She is an active member and volunteer at River Valley Church and the Tahlequah Main Street Association, where she does not just show up — she leads. She has brought the two organizations together to serve her community in creative ways, including conceiving and running a volunteer lounge at the Red Fern Festival. She also serves with Safe Families Oklahoma as a host home, providing temporary housing and care for children navigating difficult family transitions. When she is not pouring into her community, you'll find her watching football. She is, without apology, a diehard Chiefs fan.

Manda Carrico is the Warehouse Purchasing Specialist at MEA Healthcare Education

Supplies, where she brings a lifelong background in the medical field to the heart of our

operations. Manda’s journey with MEA began five years ago as a seasonal employee.

Through her natural dedication, she quickly advanced into her current specialist role.

Today, she acts as a vital bridge for our company, maintaining seamless communication

between vendors, the warehouse, and our customer service team.

Manda holds an Associate of Science in Medical Assisting from Ivy Tech Community

College. Her firsthand experience in various medical roles gives her a deep

understanding of medical supplies. This unique expertise allows her to collaborate

effectively with vendors, securing the best products and rates for our customers.

Highly efficient and detail-oriented, Manda constantly takes on new challenges, such as

helping with website updates, and finding numerous ways to step in and lighten the

workload for her colleagues. Alongside her Supervisor, Nick, she has been instrumental

in fostering a safe, welcoming warehouse environment while implementing new

procedures that help to improve accuracy from start to finish. Manda is an invaluable

asset to the MEA family.

When she is not finding ways to optimize warehouse operations, Manda loves being at

home spending time with her wife, tending to her house plants and crocheting, or

getting active outdoors caring for her flock of chickens, two Great Pyrenees, and her

garden.