Samuel J. Jackson: Leading Innovation and Community Empowerment at Access Dental Laboratories

Samuel J. Jackson, the Chief Operating Officer at Access Dental Laboratories, stands at the forefront of dental innovation and community empowerment. With a deep-seated commitment to fostering leadership and implementing strategic action plans, Jackson has played an instrumental role in establishing the first African American woman-led full-service dental laboratory in the United States. His dedication extends beyond the laboratory walls, as he tirelessly advocates for educational opportunities and community growth in his hometown of Syracuse, NY. Through his leadership, Access Dental Laboratories not only provides top-tier dental services but also empowers underserved neighborhoods, creating pathways to success and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

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Can you provide an overview of ACCESS Dental Laboratories and its mission?

Samuel: ADL is on a mission to provide above average wages, innovative training, and opportunities for growth to communities suffering from unemployment, underemployment, and abject poverty. We are unique because we educate, encourage, and empower underserved and underrepresented neighborhoods through dentistry. Our goal is to uplift and add value to the city of Syracuse by accessing local, human capital.

As the COO of Access Dental Laboratories, what would you say have been the most impactful moments of 2024 thus far?

Samuel: For me here at ACCESS Dental every day is impactful. We are continuing to grow and empower individuals from our community. One ompactful moment is finally having the opportunity for a financial literacy coach to come in and meet with our employees to answer questions about 401K, life insurance, home ownership etc. We always wanted our employees to be successful in and out of ACCESS Dental Laboratories.

What are some of the services and procedures that are in high demand?

Samuel: Right now, our clear aligner brand, Clear Esthetics by ADL, is taking off. Our clients have really taken to this new service that we are offering.

What is the goal when you go into the office everyday?

Samuel: My goal when I go into the office every day is to make sure everyone has what they need to be successful first. Then to ensure there is a quality prosthesis being put out, a product that I would wear in my own mouth.

How do you foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the company?

Samuel: When you walk through our lab there are TV's all over the place, we are continuously watching for new innovative ways to put out a great product through continuing education. We attend dental seminars and pay for training for our staff to keep up on industry changes.

Can you discuss any recent technological advancements or equipment that have significantly impacted your operations?

Samuel: As we are a full-service laboratory, we provide every service in the dental laboratory field. Our newest venture that we believe will have a great impact in our laboratory is the introduction of digital dentures. This process is the future of how dentures are fabricated and we want to get ahead of the field in terms of training and equipment.

What strategic initiatives are you currently focused on to drive growth for ACCESS Dental?

Samuel: I'm looking to partner with our city school district to add dental laboratory classes inside of high schools. An actual miniature dental lab that students can take any period of the day like English. We would like to cultivate the next generation of lab technicians coming straight out of high school and into a working laboratory. Technicians are so hard to come by, so my plan is to nurture our own technicians by offering them the training and knowledge before they enter the workforce.

What else is vital for our readers to know about ACCESS Dental Laboratories?

Samuel: One thing that is vital that I would like the readers to know about is that here at ACCESS Dental Laboratories, we are committed to the community. We believe diversity in the dental field is good for everyone and a way to promote oral health education in underrepresented communities.

Keep up to date:

Instagram: @samueljackson859

LinkedIn: Samuel Jackson