Meet The Staff

Dental Assistant

Gail

Gail is a Cedar Rapids native.  She is a 1997 Kirkwood Dental Assisting graduate and has been with River Ridge Dental for 21 years. She is certified as an expanded function assistant.  Gail is married and has two sons.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Vanessa

Vanessa is a 2013 graduate of the Kirkwood Dental Assisting program and has experience in chairside assisting, front desk and orthodontics.

Cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, along with playing sand volleyball and spending time with her two fur babies, Rex and Bear, are what Vanessa enjoys in her free time. Vanessa was married May 2019 and she is excited to start new adventures with husband Max!

Jill

Jill is married and has two adult children.  She has been a dental assistant for 37 years, 35 ½ of them at River Ridge.  She really enjoys meeting and getting to know our patients.

In her free time, Jill enjoys following her husband, Ron, who plays the drums in the Compass Rose and Dale Thomas bands.

Deb

Deb has been with River Ridge for 24 years and is also a Kirkwood graduate.; She is a wife, mother to two grown sons and grandmother to Rory, Micah, Sadie and Porter.  She and husband Russ welcomed baby Grace in August!

When not at work Deb especially loves being with her grandchildren, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, running and spending time in her yard, taking care of the garden and flowers. 

Hygienist

Kendra

Kendra is a full time hygienist.  She is married and has three children.  Kendra enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, gardening and crafting.  She enjoys the relationships she has built over the last 18 years with River Ridge.

Deanna

Deanna is a full time hygienist at River Ridge.  She is a 2008 graduate from Kirkwood Community College/University of Iowa Dental Hygiene program.  She joined River Ridge in 2009

Deanna lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband Chad and their two children, Harrison and Holland.  A few things she enjoys most are spending time with friends and family, baking, running, traveling and cheering on the Hawkeyes.  GO Hawks!!

Beth

Beth grew up in Northeast Iowa and obtained her Applied Science degree in dental hygiene from Hawkeye Institute of Technology.  She lives in Marion and has been with River Ridge Dental for 31 years.

Beth enjoys going to concerts and especially loves visiting Nashville.

Lisa

Lisa has been with River Ridge for 20 years.  She received her education at Briar Cliff College and Hawkeye Community College. 

Lisa is married and has three children.  She loves the ISU Cyclones and enjoys supporting them in football and basketball.

Front Desk

Judy

Judy and her husband Dave have two grown sons and five grandchildren.  She enjoys spending time with her family and Aussiedoodle, Mr. Barkley.

She has been making people feel welcome for over 30 years and has truly enjoyed getting to know everyone.

Debbie

Debbie is a Cedar Rapids native and has been with River Ridge for 18 years.  She is our expert insurance coordinator and receptionist.

Debbie is married and has a daughter, Grace.  She enjoys reading, cooking, gardening and spending time with family.  She loves the relationships she has made during her years at River Ridge.