Meet the Team

I’ve been a hygienist at Compassionate Dental Care for two years now! This might sound a little weird, but I’ve always been interested in teeth. When watching movies or tv shows, I’d comment on people’s smiles, which completely drove my family insane. So, when I was in college and said I wanted to work in the dental field, my family was not surprised. I love my job, but what I love most is seeing people gain confidence as they improve their oral health and hygiene after I see them in my dental chair. I take no shame in being someone’s dental cheerleader when their gums and teeth improve! I love to read and hang out with my fur babies when I’m not at work. I currently have two cats (one black and one orange) and a black lab puppy who are all very hyper and love to fight for attention. No matter where I go, I always have at least one set of four paws following me around. I admit they may be a lot of work and very needy, but I think their cuteness makes up for it all!

An accomplishment of mine is having been with the same company as long as I have and having the opportunity to learn and grow within the company. I started as a new dental hygienist right out of school and helped do some dental assisting. I have been Hygiene Director, Office Manager, and Clinic Director over the years, so I have been able to learn all aspects of the field and within our office. Dr.Tim has allowed me to take a lot of continuing education regarding the dental field in clinical and administrative, management, communication, and leadership, which has helped me in my professional and personal life. I have learned a lot of things here that I have been able to pass on to my children and utilize in my home life and work. My favorite thing is talking with new and existing patients and educating them about their dental and overall health, and giving patients the information they need to make the best decision for them regarding their overall health. I also enjoy hiking, traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with my family. I love movies, and I like doing a lot of different crafty things.

I love helping patients improve their smiles and help them feel better about themselves. One tip I always give patients is to smile as often as possible; it brightens other people’s day! I think we do better than other dentists in connecting with our patients. I like to read, bike ride, crochet/knit, DIY home projects, cook, and spend time with my family and friends.

I graduated from assisting school in 2020. I started working at my compassionate dentist in June of that year. I love how there’s so much room to grow for every individual. I’ve completed three additional courses: coronal polishing, sealants, and hand scaling. I’m determined to graduate from hygiene school. I have two pets .. two Pomeranians who are my whole life !!! A quote I live for, ‘You are never fully dressed without a smile.’

I started in March of 2020 as the Director of Marketing and Business Development. I did all aspects of marketing for our three businesses including Compassionate Dental Care, Brand New Smile, and Sleep Better Illinois. In doing so, I learned all about Dental Sleep Medicine and how it’s an alternative to the CPAP machine in treating Snoring and Sleep Apnea. I was tested and treated with oral appliance therapy, and it changed my life. In July of 2022, I transitioned into my current position as Clinical Sleep Director. I personally can speak from my own experience on how this treatment works to help improve snoring and sleep apnea. I have gone through extensive training on the clinical testing, and treatment of sleep apnea and work alongside Dr. Tim Stirneman, who is a Diplomat of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. I love helping people learn more about this treatment, and having patient tell me that it has changed their life as well because they are finally getting the sleep they need.

I am from a small town in Kansas, and I moved to Illinois in January of 2020. I started here in December of 2021. The name ‘Compassionate Dental Care’ drew me into the office because I wanted to work with people who care about people. I enjoy being part of a team that does the best they can for everyone who comes to see us. I enjoy reading and hanging out with my puppy.

I started in February 2021. After a career in the travel industry, I looked for a position using customer service skills. Meeting patients as they enter the office and getting to know them interested me. I did a couple of other things in the office, but the best fit is Patient Concierge. I enjoy the unexpected pop-up things that happen. I also like checking in a variety of people from children to old. Building relationships is essential to me. Being spontaneous, volunteering to help others, knitting, and delving into genealogy is a large part of my personal life.

I first started in Dentistry in 2008 when an office my sister was working with needed someone to help temporarily while one of their Assistants went on maternity leave. I was only supposed to help clean the rooms, but became interested in Dentistry almost instantly and soon after was being trained to be a Dental Assistant. After my first experience assisting the Dentist chairside, I knew that was what I wanted to do. My favorite thing about being an Assistant is the patients, I absolutely love getting to know them and helping them through their Dental experience.

I’m currently the Vice-President of Human Resources and Education for Go to 11 Dental Management Company. I’m responsible for the human resources department as well as developing and implementing consistent training and systems across all brands owned by Go to 11 Dental. I was a high school teacher in California for six years and an elementary teacher for 20 years and had the opportunity to lead numerous evidence-based scheduling and curriculum changes that positively impacted both school and student performance. I have over 25 years of experience working with both students and parents in an inclusive, culturally informed manner. In addition to the education sector, I’ve had extensive experience in the medical and insurance fields. I have a certification as a neurofeedback therapist through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) and owned and operated my own neurofeedback practice.

I have been at Compassionate Dental Care since March 2021. Being a Clinical Support Assistant entails various tasks. Still, my primary responsibility is to sterilize the instruments, and I also help set up the operations for treatment and help clean them after patients leave. What drew me into the dental field was the opportunity to help people and give patients a great experience in our office. During my time here, the best part has been creating relationships with patients and especially with my coworkers. I came into this field completely new, and everyone here has been so great in helping me navigate this new career path. I can’t express how wonderful it’s been to have learned so much while working here. In my spare time, I enjoy binge-watching historical documentaries, crafting, doing SFX makeup, and playing with my dog, Sadies. She is a 5-year-old miniature pinscher/toy fox terrier mix, and she keeps me on my toes as she is super energetic!

I’ve been the marketing assistant at Compassionate since May of 2022. What drove me to apply for a position here was that I was already a patient, and they made me feel right at home and so welcome. They are what the name says, Compassionate. I’m a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University, where I got my bachelor’s in Marketing with a certificate in Digital Marketing. When I’m not working, I love hanging out with my friends, family, and pups! I have three dogs!