Meet Our Dental Team
Our amazing team at Yakima Smiles works hard to provide you with the highest quality of service, providing comfortable and ethical care in a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental atmosphere. We love what we do, and have fun helping you care for your smile. Give us a call today at (509) 965-7909 to learn more and make your appointment with our dentist in Yakima, Washington!
Penney – Patient Treatment Coordinator
Welcome to Yakima Smiles! We all look forward to meeting you. I am the first person you meet when you walk in our front door, and my mission is to make your appointment as easy and comfortable as possible. Excellent customer service is my specialty and I love the challenge of scheduling, coordinating insurance, and acting as the ambassador and concierge for one of the best dentists in Yakima.
I joined Yakima Smiles in 2006 and enjoy the challenging aspects of this practice, such as neuromuscular dentistry and sleep apnea treatment. I like working in a practice on the cutting edge of technology. I love the team atmosphere at Yakima Smiles, where we all work to provide our patients with the highest quality care. We have a lot of fun doing it, too! You will notice how professional we are and the big smiles on everyone’s face.
Outside of work, my husband of 23 years and I are super busy with our two boys, age 20 and 21. I love the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Jenna Landers – Registered Dental Assistant and Sleep Apnea/TMJ Patient Coordinator
Welcome to Yakima Smiles! I have had the privilege of working with the team at Yakima Smiles for about nine years. I enjoy interacting with patients and providing excellent care. One of my greatest joys as an assistant is getting to know new patients and helping them feel at ease during their dental visits.
I believe we have an exceptional team and enjoy working with everyone! I appreciate the team’s concern for our patients’ overall health–not just their dental health. I am especially involved with patient care for TMJ problems and sleep apnea treatment with oral appliances, and absolutely LOVE this challenge. I thoroughly enjoy assisting, especially with our cosmetic and neuromuscular cases. To be able to witness the results from start to finish has been an incredibly rewarding part of my assisting career.
Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my husband Randy and our two boys, Logan and Cale. We love the outdoors and being surrounded by family and friends. Most of my free time is watching my boys play basketball and baseball.
Ashley Merz – Registered Dental and Assistant Patient Coordinator
Hello! I can’t wait to meet you. I joined the Yakima Smiles team in 2010. I love working for them because the team combines the highest quality products with superior patient care. Yakima Smiles truly values education and always implements the latest techniques when treating patients. I am passionate about helping patients create and maintain beautiful healthy smiles!
Besides dentistry, I am find meaning in volunteering and love mountain climbing, golfing and traveling to exotic locations with my husband of five years.
Amanda Dereeper – Registered Dental Assistant and Hygiene Coordinator
Hello and welcome to Yakima Smiles! I am a graduate of Naches Valley high school class of 2007 and the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center in 2007 with a certification in dental assisting. I have been a dental assistant for about eight years now. I love being a part of a team that is dynamic, fun, and where the patients are the focus. I recently joined the Yakima Smiles team in October 2016, and am very excited I found such an exceptional doctor and team to work with and am looking forward to growing with this practice.
Outside of work, I enjoy anything outdoors from camping, traveling, kayaking, snowboarding in the winter, and spending quality time with my family and friends. I am also a proud parent of an outgoing and hilarious 8-year-old boy named Zachary. 2019 has been an exciting year for me. I married the love of my life June 2019!
Rebecca Thomas – Registered Dental Hygienist
Welcome and thank you for choosing Yakima Smiles as your dental practice! I truly believe in the philosophy of Yakima Smiles. From the very beginning, I have admired the team’s ethical ideals to delivering the best dentistry possible including the all the latest in technology. Yakima Smiles sets the highest standards and we have a great team who enjoy each other and working together which reflects in our patient care.
The connection between good oral health and overall health becomes more apparent daily. Our goal is to help our patients achieve and maintain optimal dental health. We have seen such positive life changing experiences and I love being a part of that.
My husband, Dale, and I have been married for 32 years. We have a daughter and three grandchildren to which we are devoted. Having family gatherings is our focus outside of work.
Cheryl Farr – Bookkeeper and Insurance Coordinator
Welcome! I love the challenge of working for Yakima Smiles and think we have the greatest team! It means a lot for me to work for the finest dentist in Yakima with expertise in working with children, doing cosmetic dentistry and sleep apnea treatment.
I love to act! I like to be funny, though I’m not always sure I succeed! I enjoy walking, flowers, musicals, beautiful sunshine and my one and only granddaughter, Lauren…. just not in that order!
Anna – Dental Hygienist
I am excited to be a part of the incredible team at Yakima Smiles! What a great way to celebrate my 10th year in dental hygiene. I grew up in Naches and graduated from Yakima’s dental hygiene program in 2010. Since then, I’ve lived in California and Olympia, and I just recently returned to Naches to be closer to family. I love meeting new people and sharing what I know about dental health. I truly strive to provide the best experience possible by getting to know each patient that I serve and providing thoughtful, individualized care. Outside of work, I spend time with my husband and kids working and playing in nature whenever I can!
