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Our Team
Our office employs the highest caliber individuals to fulfill our purpose of providing excellent orthodontic care. The doctors hire and further educate individuals to maintain our practice’s standards of excellence with a smile. They provide continuing education for our team by sending them to meetings, seminars, and courses throughout the year to learn the latest techniques and innovations.
Our team members are excited about orthodontics, have uncommonly high integrity and skills and are interested in maintaining long-term relationships with our patients and their families. They know what patients are experiencing. Most of our team (and their families) have had braces courtesy of our own doctors! |
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Treatment Coordinators
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Clinic Coordinator
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Appointment Coordinator
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Office Assistants
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Clinical Staff
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Liz Maxbauer, RDH - Office Manager
email: lmaxbauer@mcnamaraortho.com
Liz was born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan, where most of her family still resides. As a graduate of the University of Michigan Dental Hygiene program, her first job out of college was with an orthodontist. While this is slightly unusual for a hygienist, it proved to be fortuitous as she has worked for a total of eight orthodontists during her career
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She started in our office in 1982, working chairside directly with patients. While her duties keep her primarily at the front desk, you may see her occassionally working chairside with patients or helping with sterilization or lab work. She says, “I love our team because everyone genuinely cares about our patients and the quality of work we do. I take great pride in working with such high caliber doctors and staff. I find my position as office manager, as well as the field of orthodontics, to be fascinating because it continually challenges me to develop my skills in a variety of directions, involving science, technology and human relations. We don’t just straighten teeth, we change lives.”!
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Cherie Lovett, RDA
Treatment Coordinator/Clinical Staff
Cherie is a native-born Californian, hailing from San Francisco. In 1962, she began working as an orthodontic assistant with her father who was an orthodontist in Berkeley, California. She temporarily retired to have two children, Michael and Lynda, before returning to work and taking the first RDA exam required in 1971.
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After moving to Michigan in 1991, she went to work for Drs. McNamara, Nolan, West, & Burkhardt as the Treatment Coordinator in our practice. Cherie has a continuing interest in patient and practice management and has participated in courses given at the University of Michigan, Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, and at national workshops on the principles of Treatment Coordinating. She also holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management where she graduated with honors and is a member in good standing with her Honor Society.
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Jackie Ranta, RDH
Treatment Coordinator/Clinical Staff
Jackie is a native of Tecumseh, MI, where she and her husband Bill still reside. Together they have seven children!! They range between the ages of 6 and 21 which keeps life fun and exciting. Yet even with a big family, she and Bill still find time to sneak away and go rollerblading together.
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Jackie is a graduate of Owens Community College and has been a dental hygienist since 1984.
As an orthodontic clinician and treatment coordinator she finds her job both challenging as well as rewarding. She says, "Because of the high standards the doctors have set for themselves as well as the staff, there is continual growth and learning opportunities in our office".
She loves the interaction with the kids as well as adults. She is fascinated at being part of a team that creates beautiful smiles. Her own was created here as well! All of this just confirms the quote she loves: "A smile is worth a thousand words"!!”
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Mary Kivi
Appointment and Insurance Coordinator
Mary worked as an Orthodontic Chairside Assistant for six years before joining our front desk staff as the Appointment Coordinator in 2000. “The people are the best part of my job”, she says. She loves greeting our patient family as if they were her own, as well as being a part of a caring professional team.
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In addition Mary is also the Insurance Coordinator, experienced at maneuvering through automated telephone menus and multitasking during long waits on hold.
Mary knows what the patients are experiencing, as she is a former patient herself (and still wears her retainers at night!) She enjoys developing relationships with our patients and their families while they are on their journey toward straighter teeth, and looks forward to all of their warm smiles along the way.
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Joelle M. Perok, DA - Office Assistant
Joelle grew up in Southgate, Michigan, where her entire family still resides. In November of 2009, she relocated to the Ida/Petersburg area with her two childen, T.J. and Sofia, who keep her very busy.
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After switching careers from a certified court reporter to dental assistant, Joelle has found it very rewarding working in many aspects of the dental field: general, pediatric, and orthodontics. ”I enjoy working with patients and their families through the entire treatment, and especially love to see the exciting end result, a beautiful smile!!!”
Joelle joined our practice in October 2008. ”Although I am a newer member of the orthodontic family, I am enjoying working with such a remarkable and friendly team, as well as developing a wonderful rapport with the patients and their families.”
In her free time, Joelle loves to spend time with her family and friends in Southgate, watching T.J ata his soccer games, and enjoying Sofia's toddler years. She also enjoys scrapbooking and playing the flute.
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Krista Gerych
Office Assistant and Clinical Staff
Krista was born and raised in Allen Park, Michigan. Her family moved to the Brighton area in 1996, where she currently resides with her teenage son. In her spare time, Krista enjoys travel, spending time with family and friends, and cheering for her son during his sporting events.
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“I find the field of orthodontics to be very exciting and fulfilling. Our patients, their families and especially my co-workers are very warm-hearted and friendly. My most recent career challenge has been the extension of my duties to include working back in the clinic and sterilization areas. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to get more knowledge in the orthodontic field and I enjoy it very much.”
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Lisa Wise, RDH – Clinical Staff
Lisa is a native of Michigan and grew up in Allen Park. She graduated in 2000 from the Dental Hygiene program at Wayne County Community College District. She lives in Brownstown, Michigan, with her husband Ron and their two children Kayla and Madison.
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“My mom was a dental assistant, which is why I went into the dental field. I was also a dental assistant for three years prior to going into the dental hygiene program. I have always loved to make people laugh and smile, so this field was a perfect fit. “ Lisa has been a perfect fit in our office since she joined us in 2003.
One of Lisa’s favorite holidays is Halloween. She and her husband actually got married on Halloween in 2001, in Wonder Woman and Superman Costumes, respectively. Lisa also enjoys camping and participating in sports, horseback riding and Girl Scouts with her children.
By the way, check-out Lisa’s smile; compliments of the braces she wore from our office. It won’t be long before her girls also become part of our orthodontic family of patients. Then they, too, will see their mom at work; perhaps perpetuating the dental career started by Lisa’s mom so long ago.
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Pam Dennison, CDA
Clinic Coordinator/Clinical Staff
Pam was born across the street from our office at the “old” St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. She grew up in Ann Arbor and attended Allen Elementary School. Pam moved to Scottsdale, Arizona for four years, and returned to Michigan graduating from high school in Milan.
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Pam went to Washtenaw Community College where she obtained her associates degree in Dental Assisting. She took her national board exam and also became a Certified Dental Assistant. Pam worked in the same general dentist’s office for thirteen years before coming to our office.
While Pam has many duties in our office, her favorite activity is keeping her patients entertained while waiting for the doctor. Pam has been known to quiz her young patients on their spelling words as well as give teens advice. She has been heard more than once advising kids that their braces will come off sooner if they keep their rooms clean and get their homework done! She would also love to know what you do for fun.
Pam has been married to Mike since 1981 and they have lived in the same home in Milan since 1983. They have two college aged daughters, Andrea and Jennifer. Pam also has four dogs, two German Shorthaired Pointers (Jade and Cooper), a Toy Poodle (Taz), and a Shih Tzu (Mizuno). Mizuno loves to have his teeth brushed, and can even “brush” them himself.
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Jillian Askew, CDA- Clinical Staff
Jillian is a graduate of the Dental Assisting Program at Washtenaw Community College. At WCC, she was also president of the student �Dental Club�.
She has an outgoing personality which makes her a �perfect fit� for our office. Her instructors, too, encouraged her to pursue the specialty of orthodontics, telling her it would be an excellent use of her talents.
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Before joining our orthodontic team, she also worked in general dentistry and endodontics.
Jillian enjoys cooking, relaxing with friends and family, watching reality TV and (of course) texting.
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Emma Brown, DA- Clinical Staff
We are fortunate that Emma, who has been an assistant in the field of orthodontics since 1970, joined our team in May of 2007. Emma was born in Texas, raised in Missouri, and has lived in numerous locations throughout the Midwest and Texas while raising her four children. She and her husband were married in 1967 and have been blessed with 4 grandchildren.
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Emma says, “The thing I love most about orthodontics is the patients, and seeing how straight teeth can change the way they see themselves. I am excited about being a part of such a warm and friendly orthodontic team who has such high standards and quality results.”
Her other loves include spending time with family and doing volunteer work. She devotes her free time to community and church services.
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Heidi Novak, DA- Clinical Staff
Heidi is an Ann Arbor Native, a 2005 Pioneer High School graduate, and one of our patients. (Check out her new smile!) Along with working part-time, Heidi is a full time student studying to obtain her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in art history from the University of Michigan – Dearborn.
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Along with her studies, she is involved in many clubs and organizations on campus. Her most recent honor was being elected the Public Relations Chair on the executive board of the University of Michigan – Dearborn’s Pre-Dental Association.
Heidi has been with our practice since the Spring of 2005. She was instantly a perfect fit with our team combining her strong science and dental aptitude with any a variety of duties within the practice including sterilization, laboratory technician, and dental assisting. It is her hope to continue in the dental field long term and to attend dental school.
In her free time Heidi enjoys traveling, sewing, trap shooting with her dad, and spending time with friends and family. She has even been known to do chemistry research for fun.
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Maria Jacobson, DA- Clinical Staff
Maria brings with her over 10 years of previous experience working chairside in orthodontics. She adds, "I am thrilled to join this orthodontic team. There is nothing better than getting to know wonderful families and being a part of such an exciting and rewarding accomplishment!".
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Maria was born and raised in Jackson and graduated from Jackson Community College and Washtenaw Community College. She and Chris have been married since 1994 and have two young children, Sam and Molly, they reside in Chelsea.
In her free time, (which is very little), she volunteer's in her kids classes and for her community. Maria loves photography, travel, running and to just be outside being active with her family! Maria is also an Executive Board Member for the Chelsea Center for the Arts, where she volunteer's with fundraising and event planning. "I feel so privileged to be a part of such a gem in my community!"
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