Dental Team – Bonita Springs, FL

Jody, Practice Manager

Jody has been an integral part of our practice since it first opened back in 2006. Coming into dentistry with a marketing background, Jody was jaded by the fact that most of today’s marketing is focused on separating people from their money as opposed to helping them solve their problems. That’s why he is OBSESSED with really helping our patients and always being 100% honest and transparent. Before becoming our practice manager, Jody was a corporate trainer and was a certified facilitator for several programs, including 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He is proud to be Dr. Pugh’s husband, and they have twins as well as two dogs. When he isn’t cheering on his son during his basketball/baseball games or his daughter during her volleyball games, you’ll often find the family just relaxing together watching sports. As a native of Louisville, Kentucky, Jody has a soft spot for Kentucky basketball. In fact, he's likely the only person in the world who's both a University of Louisville and University of Kentucky fan.

Barbara, Office Manager

Barbara has seen and done it all in dentistry thanks to her amazing 39 years of experience! She truly loves being a patient advocate, helping people get the dentistry that they need or want so they can obtain beautiful smiles that inspire confidence and joy. She also likes coaching our fellow team members and helping them grow their passion for service. Over the years, she has completed training in subjects such as practice administration, communications, infrastructure development and support, insurance billing and appeals, and radiography. Her husband is from Owensboro, KY, and they have a daughter named Heather who is a dental hygienist in Owensboro. When Barbara isn’t kayaking, hiking, doing yoga, or dancing (her favorite), you’ll most likely find her spending time with her adorable grandsons, Mylas and Walker.

Kaylen, Front Office Manager

Kaylen has been a part of our team since 2012. As our front office manager, she says that her favorite part of her job is getting to work with great people every day and build long, lasting relationships with our patients. Over the years, she has completed quite a bit of training focused on leadership and service provided by the Pride Institute and Disney Institute. Her family is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, but she grew up in Fort Myers, and she enjoys going to concerts, fishing, hanging out on the beach, and doing pretty much anything outdoors during her free time.

Carolina, Business Admin and Front Desk Team

Carolina actually grew up in the practice because her mother started working here since 2007. She started here part-time when she was just a teenager. To her, the best part of her job is the people she gets to work with every day, and we love having her around, too! When she isn’t helping patients, she likes to read, watch TV/movies, and spend time with her parents and younger siblings.

Kelly, Registered Dental Hygienist

Kelly has over 10 years of experience in dentistry, and she looks forward to many more because she loves getting to know people while helping them smile. She is happily married to JR, and they have two daughters, Emma and Hollie. They also have a friendly old dog named Jager. Whenever they can, Kelly and her family love to travel, especially if it involves cruising, skiing, or boating. Kelly grew up on a family farm in Ohio and loves to visit whenever they can!

Celena, Registered Dental Hygienist

With over 20 years in dentistry (14 of which have been spent right here when the practice began), Celena definitely knows a thing or two about keeping our patients’ teeth sparklingly clean! As our longest-tenured team member, she considers the rest of the team and our patients to be one extended family, and she enjoys getting to serve her community on a daily basis. When she isn’t spending time with her 3 great sons, she likes to go boating, walking, or just sit on her deck and watch the birds. She also likes photographing and drawing Southwest Florida’s beautiful nature. She’s proud to say that she was born and raised in Naples and has never lived anywhere else, which makes her extremely unique!

Lauren, Registered Dental Hygienist

Originally from New Jersey, Lauren has been a part of the dental field for over 16 years, and she got her start by helping out at our front desk when she was still in school. For her, nothing is better than bonding with her patients and helping them become healthier, happier versions of themselves through her care. After completing her hygiene training, she obtained her local anesthesia certification from the University of Florida. She and her husband have two small children, and during her free time, she likes to craft, read, and she recently took up fishing.

Ara, Dental Hygienist

Ara joined us in 2021 and has been a hygienist since 2016. We knew we were going to love her from day one because her very first patient raved about her at checkout. Ara loves to read—believe it or not—medical books! She is fascinated by physiology and psychology. She loves to watch Netflix and medical shows. She also enjoys watching Pokémon with her son. Spending time with her family is another favorite pastime. Ara has been married to Erisbel for over ten years, and they have a son named Matthew. She loves watching Matthew practice Tae Kwon Do. Ara has a calm, quiet vibe, and her patients love coming to see her!

Jenny, Dental Hygienist

Jenny spent eight years as a dentist in her hometown of Caracas, Venezuela before moving to the US, where she has spent over ten years as a dental assistant and hygienist. As a Christian, she’s always looking for ways to serve both Jesus and her patients. Jenny loves to have fun with her husband and three daughters, and they spend every minute they can cheering for their favorite team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Idalmis, Senior Dental Assistant

Idalmis has been working in the dental world for over 25 years so far, with around half of that time spent right here at our office. She has been Dr. Pugh’s “Chair 1” assistant for so long now that they do four-handed dentistry in synchrony. The way they work together is really special! She also enjoys helping our patients overcome any fears or anxieties so that they can start looking forward to their dental visits. She has two children who practically grew up here in the office, and her daughter Carolina now works here too. On the weekends, she enjoys working outside in the yard, relaxing on the patio, going to the beach, listening to music, and traveling every chance she gets.

Claudia, Senior Dental Assistant

Originally from Artemisa la Havana, Cuba, Claudia joined our practice over a year ago, but she has been a part of the dental field for over 7 years. For her, the best part of her job is helping people achieve the smiles they want while ensuring they overcome any dental-related nerves. She attended the Lorenzo Walker Technical Institute, and she is also certified in dental X-rays and EFDA (expanded functions dental assistant). She is a big fan of horror movies, sports, and many types of music, and at home, she mostly likes to relax with her husband and children.

Jessica, Sleep Coordinator/Dental Assistant

Jessica loves working with our patients because they always bring a smile to her face, and she’s been doing the exact same for them over the course of her 20+ year dental career. She’s originally from Chesterton, Indiana and is certified in both dental assisting and dental X-rays. Jessica has led a very active life, having taught fitness classes, kickboxing, aquafit, boot camps, and more in the past, and these days, she likes to do pretty much anything that gets her outdoors, including boating, jet skiing, paddle boarding, and hiking. Jessica provides the energy in our office! During her quieter moments, she simply loves hanging out with her blended family, which consists of two stepchildren, her adopted son from Ghana, and her daughter.

Sofia, Dental Assistant

Sofia came to Florida from Montevideo, Uruguay in 2002 and has been a dental assistant for 14 of those years. She’s honored when she gets to take part in giving patients a new smile and seeing their confidence grow. Sofia is an artist who loves painting and coloring, often with her beloved cat Buffy by her side.

Michelle, Dental Assistant

Michelle has been a Fort Myers resident since 2018. She left behind her work in retail and daycare settings to attend the Institute of Medical and Dental Technology. After an internship at our practice, she joined our team. In her free time, Michelle enjoys hitting the gym or curling up on the couch and watching Netflix with her cats, Piper and Pixie.

Sarah, Dental Assistant

Sarah moved to Florida in 2023 from Bristol, CT. However, she’s not new to dentistry. As a dental assistant for 17 years, her favorite part of the job is listening to her patients’ stories and getting to know them personally. When she’s not at work, she loves spending time with her family, especially hiking or boating.

Yamila, Dental Assistant

A native of Cuba, Yamila immigrated to the United States at the age of 6. A dental assistant since 2015, she is bilingual, like many of our staff members. Her favorite leisure activities are biking and visiting water parks with her husband, son, and two daughters.

Karina, Dental Lab Coordinator

Karina has been working in dentistry for nearly 25 years. She started at our office as an assistant in 2009 and now enjoys getting to partner closely with our suppliers, implant companies, and dental laboratories. She’s very proud to be part of a practice that only works with the highest quality, from the materials to the people! Karina and her husband Medardo have two sons who are wonderful young men, along with two dogs – a German Shepherd named Riley and a Pomeranian named Teddy. They’re a big baseball family, as both of their sons have grown up playing travel ball. She also loves her church and enjoys being involved as much as possible there. She likes planning celebrations and is even the team member who regularly gets cakes and cards for our team members on their birthdays.