Top 25 Women in Dentistry: Barbara Chmurak, Hu-Friedy Senior Technical Leader

Barbara (Basia) Chmurak has been with Hu-Friedy for more than 40 years, and her dedication to her job and thirst for knowledge are what have made her the successful woman she is today.

She is currently a Senior Technical Leader for Hu-Friedy, responsible for all aspects of making, assembling, laser marking and finishing scalers.

“My advice would be to learn as many skills as possible, always be a team player and dedicate yourself to your profession,” she said.

Chmurak came to the United States from Poland in 1971 and has been dedicating her time to helping create satisfied customers. “Throughout her Hu-Friedy career, Barbara has held many different positions and has learned many different skills in instrument making, solidifying herself as a very versatile and strong member of the Hu-Friedy family,” stated David Reece, Manufacturing Team Leader.

“I always took any opportunity given to me by Hu-Friedy to educate myself and always did my best,” she said.

Chmurak firmly believes in self-motivation and confidence. She said, “No matter where you come from or what your circumstances are, if you believe in yourself, dedicate yourself and work hard; you can accomplish your goals.”

She values her position at Hu-Friedy because it allows her to work with such a wide variety of smart and confident people in a team environment.

She loves working on a team and consistently makes sure everyone is on the same page. “Quality is a big part of my job and I work to make sure newer team members focus on the same level of quality I was trained on,” she said.

Continuing education is also very important to Chmurak, so Hu-Friedy’s strong emphasis on growth through knowledge is something that has kept her with the company.

“Hu-Friedy offers us a lot of different classes,” she said in a recent interview. “I learned how to speak English at Hu-Friedy, how to interact with people, how to manage a team, and so on." "This has not only helped me in my job but also in my home life. I graduated from Hu-Friedy College. Working for Hu-Friedy is like a family and I hope there are more companies in the world with the integrity and dedication to their employees and customers."