Meet the Dental Team – Mankato, MN

A Madison Lake native, Marie has been working in oral healthcare for an impressive 25+ years. Over time, she’s attended countless seminars and continuing education classes in order to improve her skills and learn as much as she can about this field. Today, what she enjoys most about her position is building such meaningful relationships with coworkers and patients alike. Plus, every day is different!

Marie and her husband Jim have five adult children and four grandkids. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with the grandkids, quilting, reading, horseback riding, and visiting the ocean. She’s also involved in the 4-H Dog Project, which keeps her very busy.

Jody has been a part of our dental team for a handful of years so far, and she really enjoys getting to know all of our nice patients! Originally from Blue Earth, she studied at Anoka Technical College.

Jody’s family consists of her husband Brian and their two grown children. Her son lives in Washington, while her daughter (along with their son-in-law and grandson) live near Twin Cities. In her spare time away from work, some of her favorite hobbies include gardening, reading, biking, taking a daily walk, traveling, and playing pickle ball. She’s also a faithful Twins and Vikings fan!

Hannah is originally from Winnebago, MN! She studied elementary education at Winona State University and taught for three years before joining our team. Now, what she loves most about her job is connecting with new patients and organizing everything.

In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, spending time at the lake, riding her bike, and visiting family. Here’s an interesting fact about her: she had two major hip surgeries before the age of 20!

Sarah’s career in the dental world covers two full decades so far, which most of that time spent right here at our dental office. She loves being able to work with such amazing, compassionate, and talented women who support each other in the common goal of improving patient care! Originally from Jackson, she has undergone advanced training courses in TMJ treatment, orthodontics, and periodontology in order to better support our dentists.

Sarah’s husband Mark is an engineer, and she also a daughter named Lauren who is a social butterfly and a soft-hearted, adventurous son named Parker. When she isn’t busy at work, you can often find her tackling various crafts or home projects, working out with friends, unwinding with some yoga or a good book, and riding bikes with the whole family.

Cassie has been in the dental field for several years and counting, all of which have been spent right here at Hyland Dental. She loves helping others achieve their oral health goals alongside like-minded and supportive co-workers. For her studies, she attended Minnesota State University. She is also certified in restorative functions and nitrous oxide sedation, and she has completed additional training in orthodontics, TMD, and sleep disorders. Over time, she decided to transition into a myofunctional therapist after experiencing issues with migraines, jaw discomfort, narrow mouth, and mouth breathing herself—which has led her to be able to help her children as well as our patients who face similar complications!

Cassie and her husband got married in 2019 and enjoy spending time with each other as well as their beautiful children. She loves making wonderful memories with her loved ones, playing with their family dog, Wallace, shopping, pheasant hunting, and building furniture out of wood. She also enjoys puzzles, reading, going on walks, and hanging out near a bonfire during the summers.

Katie hails from Janesville and studied dental assisting at South Central College. Today, she has been working in dentistry for well over 15 years! She loves being able to help our patients by keeping them smiling brightly.

At home, Katie and her husband have six children (Brayden, Macy, Eli, Ellie, Rylan, and Ayla), as well as a dog named Molly. As a group, they love to camp and go canoeing, especially at Boundary Waters Canoe Area! Gardening is also one of her favorite personal hobbies.

A Minnesota native, Arika decided to pursue her studies locally at the Minnesota State University, Mankato. In fact, she is currently in school and starting a dental hygiene program and advanced dental therapy program in the Fall of 2023! When asked what she likes most about her job, she shared that it’s getting to work with and help others daily.

Outside of dentistry, Arika’s interests include hanging out with family, fishing, being on the lake, and watching hockey. Here’s a fun fact about her: she’s a triplet!

Amber is a dedicated Sterilization Technician at Hyland Dental, bringing enthusiasm and a strong desire to grow in the dental field. With less than a year of experience, she is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene at Minnesota State Mankato. Amber values the opportunity to learn from a supportive team as she builds a foundation for her future career. Originally from Wyoming, MN, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with friends, family, and her two energetic Labradors. A fun fact: Amber was part of her high school softball team’s historic state championship win at Caswell Park in Mankato.

Miranda was born and raised right here in Mankato, MN. She chose to pursue her studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Now, we are happy to welcome her to our team! So far, her favorite parts of her job are meeting new people and helping patients have a good experience.

Married with two kids, Miranda loves spending her free time with her family, especially at their family home in Colorado. She also enjoys using her free time to walk, go to the lake, and watch Hallmark Christmas movies and football (go Vikings!).

From Tomah, WI, Marti has been helping patients maintain and improve their smiles for several years and counting. She loved visiting her dentist growing up, but she also knows that most children are nervous or scared during their appointments. That’s why she enjoys making kids feel more comfortable while getting their teeth taken care of. Her journey into the dental field began by graduating from South Central College for dental assisting. She also has experience in various areas, such as orthodontics, BLS/CPR, nitrous oxide, four-handed dentistry, general practice, and chairside dental assisting.

At home, Marti enjoys her time with her partner Eric, and their wonderful son. Other than dentistry, she has many hobbies like rollerblading, biking, swimming, and video gaming. She’s also a major book lover, as she can read a 400-page book in a single sitting!

Kelsey’s favorite part of her career is having the opportunity to build and maintain relationships with her patients, as well as helping them improve their dental and overall health. She graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in her hometown. She has her certification in local anesthesia and nitrous oxide, as well as experience in restorative functions. She’s also currently pursuing her Masters in Advanced Dental Therapy!

As the youngest of four siblings, she has several nieces and nephews who she loves spending time with. In her free time, she enjoys being active and playing slow-pitch softball, volleyball, pickleball, and running. To wind down, she takes her dog, Jersey, on walks and reads a good book. She’s also excited to be marrying her fiancé soon!

Lauran has over two years of experience and is excited to join the Hyland Dental team. She finds it rewarding to work alongside amazing people and appreciates how kind and willing to help her team is. She graduated from the University of South Dakota with her Bachelors in Health Sciences and has completed continuing education in restorative functions. She also has her certificate in local anesthetic and nitrous oxide sedation and is pursuing her Masters in Dental Therapy.

Originally from Monticello, Minnesota, Lauran’s family consists of her mom, dad, and older brother Nick, who is a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. She also has two Golden Retrievers, Mylo and Molly! Outside of the office and school, she loves spending time with friends and family and enjoys cooking all types of foods, especially homemade pastas!