Meet The Team

A born-and-raised Alaskan, Tammy brings more than 36 years of experience in dentistry to Excellence in Dentistry. She began her career as a dental assistant after graduating at the top of her class from the Dental Assisting Program at UAA. After 20 years of chairside assisting, Tammy transitioned into dental administration, where she now serves as our Office Manager, New Patient & TMJ Coordinator.

What Tammy loves most about dentistry is connecting with patients. She genuinely enjoys getting to know each person, listening to their concerns, and helping them feel comfortable and confident in their care. With decades of experience, she has a passion for teaching and sharing her knowledge to help patients better understand their dental health and treatment options. Tammy brings passion, honesty, loyalty, and a caring heart to everything she does and feels incredibly fortunate to work alongside such an amazing team.

Outside the office, Tammy loves spending time with her family, cooking, watching movies, singing, dancing, and traveling. She is a proud mom and Nana to her 6-year-old granddaughter and a devoted dog mom to her adorable and lovable toy Maltipoo, Abby.

Born and raised in Alaska, I’ve always appreciated the beauty and adventure our state offers. My husband and I are grateful to work for local organizations that allow us to give back to our community and enjoy everything Alaska has to offer, from winter activities to summer fun.

With many years in the dental field, I’ve had the privilege of helping patients in several areas of the office, from assisting to administration and billing. At Excellence in Dentistry, I love helping patients understand and maximize their dental benefits. It’s rewarding to be part of a team that provides advanced, comprehensive care and supports patients in achieving their best smiles.

Nicole has been a part of the dental field since 2003 and brings a unique passion for both accounting and untangling the complexities of health insurance. She loves helping patients navigate the details behind the scenes so they can focus on what matters most – their health and smile. Her favorite part of working in dentistry is seeing patients achieve their oral health and smile goals and knowing she played a parti in their journey.

Outside the office, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband and their 5 children. You can often find her skiing, hiking, or expressing her creative side through painting.

With over 26 years of experience in dentistry, she has had the privilege of working in many facets of the dental team. In this season of her career, she has found that helping people and practices stay financially healthy is what she loves most. She considers it an honor to help ensure everyone receives excellent compensation and benefits, and finds it incredibly rewarding to see the results of her work come to fruition through consistent, methodical processes.

An introvert who has learned the art of extroversion, she loves spending every moment she can with her husband of 24 years and their 10-year-old daughter. She is a devoted Siamese cat lover and a Chocolate Lab girl through and through. Alaskan adventures are always at the top of her agenda, and she feels incredibly blessed to live a simple, quiet life in such a beautiful place.

Nichole has been an essential part of the practice since 2019, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. From payroll and purchasing to general administration, she manages the many details that keep the office organized and efficient.

Born and raised in Farmington, Utah, Nichole is the proud mother of four children, and the somewhat reluctant mom of three energetic dogs. Outside the office, she loves spending time with her family in her favorite role as “Grandma Coco.” She’s also passionate about fitness and finds joy in serving through her church and community.

Originally from Indiana, Emily graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Anchorage and brings a warm and compassionate approach to her role as a dental hygienist. With a passion for educating patients about their oral health, Emily is dedicated to helping each person achieve their healthiest, most confident smile. Her calm demeanor and thoughtful care make every patient feel comfortable and valued.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys traveling, hiking, and biking, as well as discovering new dining spots. She cherishes quality time with her husband Zack, their Samoyed Sebastian, and their Siamese cats, Stella and Apollo. Emily is thrilled to be part of the Excellence in Dentistry team and looks forward to welcoming you to the practice!

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Curtis brings 16 years of dental hygiene experience to Excellence in Dentistry, along with a background shaped by his service in the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Marines at 17, serving four years on active duty as a Motor Transport Instructor, followed by four years of inactive duty. His military experience instilled the dedication, discipline, and commitment he brings to patient care today.

Curtis began his career as a Dental Hygienist 16 years ago and spent five years in Bethel, Alaska, providing dental care through the Indian Health Service. He joined the Excellence in Dentistry team in December 2025 and quickly found a place he calls home. He especially enjoys building meaningful relationships with his patients and being part of the practice’s supportive, positive team.

Outside the office, Curtis enjoys making the most of Alaska’s outdoors. He loves hiking, biking, fishing, camping, kayaking, and just about anything that gets him outside.

Janae has been a dedicated dental assistant since 2009, bringing skill and care to her patients with expanded functions expertise. She loves making a difference in people’s smiles and enjoys working closely with patients. Outside the dental office, she is a passionate photographer. In her free time, she enjoys hunting with her husband and pup, embracing the great outdoors.

Kayleena has recently started her new journey at Excellence in Dentistry and has since fallen in love with the team. Dentistry can be very hard, but with the right team, it feels like family and it makes it all worth it.

She has been in dentistry for about 2 years and looks forward to continuing growing her skills in Dental Assisting and Admin Reception. She likes to spend her free time with her family and fur babies.

Born and raised in Anchorage Alaska, Shandalyn graduated in 2015 as a certified dental assistant from Manatee Technical College in Bradenton Florida. She married her high school sweetheart and they have been together since 2010. When not at work, she loves to cook, watch movies, and vacation where there are theme parks. Dental assisting has been a very rewarding part of her life as she enjoys helping people and looks forward to learning new things every day to continue growing her knowledge and experience.