Meet the Team

MARIANA

Office Manager
Mariana began her career in dentistry seven years ago. She transitioned to the office manager role at Must Love Kids® in 2019. Mariana is great at problem-solving and keeping the practice on schedule, and she does everything with a smile. As someone who loves working with children, Mariana finds her role incredibly rewarding. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, kids, and her puppy Kala.

NICOLE

TAWNI

Financial Coordinator
Tawni has worked in the dental industry for 14 years and she moved to the area from Texas three years ago. She is an expert in working with insurance providers and helping patients take advantage of their benefits. On weekends, Tawni enjoys spending time with her family, boating, hiking, and painting. She loves the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and exploring new places.

Karina

Front Office Supervisor
Karina started in dentistry as a dental assistant and joined the Must Love Kids© team in 2019 before transitioning to the front office as supervisor in 2021. She enjoys being the friendly face kids and their caregivers see when they walk in the office. In her time off, she enjoys cooking with her husband and playing volleyball to stay active. She’s recently started learning to make the best coffee at home, and as coffee fanatic, she couldn’t be happier with the results. Additionally, Karina was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States at age three. She is fluent in Russian and is always happy to translate for children and families who need it.

LIZ

Dental Assistant
Liz started practicing as a pediatric dental assistant in 2020 and joined the team in 2022. She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She plans to stay right here. In her spare time, she’s always looking to learn new skills and go on adventures. With her two puppies, she enjoys off-roading, traveling, and exploring. She loves to take on new challenges with her family and friends, and treat herself to a manicure at the end of it all.

KEELEY

Receptionist
The friendly face patients often see first when they arrive to an appointment at Must Love Kids is Keeley. She is a registered dental assistant originally from Portland, Oregon. After five years in Texas, she returned to the Pacific Northwest to be near family and continue her education. She dreams of becoming an orthodontist and traveling the world. She’s known for her positive attitude.

MAGGIE

Receptionist

Maggie has been a dedicated team member at
Must Love Kids since 2023, bringing warmth and
compassion to every patient visit. She is fully
bilingual in both English and Spanish, Maggie
loves helping children feel comfortable when
they walk through the door and help make
dental visits a positive experience instead of a
stressful one. Outside of the office, Maggie
enjoys spending quality time with her daughter
doing arts and crafts, as well as going fishing and
taking scenic drives with her fiancé. She’s also a
proud animal lover with a full house of furry
friends, 3 dogs

Brenda

Dental Assistant

Brenda has been a dental assistant for 5 years and has been part of the Must Love Kids team for almost 2 years. She loves helping both parents and children feel more comfortable and confident when visiting the dentist. Her favorite part of working with kids is making dental visits fun and exciting while teaching children how to take care of their smiles at home. Brenda is bilingual and speaks both English and Spanish, helping families feel welcome and understood. Outside of work, Brenda enjoys baking and swimming. She also loves spending time with her dog and her two horses.

Melissa

Dental Assistant

Melissa has been part of the MLK team since 2024 and loves the energy that comes from working alongside a fun, strong, and reliable group of women. She believes great teamwork helps the day flow smoothly and makes every shift more enjoyable. As a pediatric dental assistant, Melissa’s favorite part of working with children is being able to be a little silly, and have fun. She enjoys creating a positive and comfortable experience for every child who walks through the door. Melissa is bilingual and speaks both English and Spanish, allowing her to connect with and support even more families. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys collecting Pokémon cards, making memories with friends, and spending time with her four beloved cats: Bunny, Pancho, Michi, and Kiwi.

Thalia

Dental Assistant

Meet Thalia, one of our awesome dental assistants! Thalia originally worked with our team for several years before returning to the office in 2025, and we couldn’t be happier to have her back. She has been assisting since 2018 and brings a calm, caring
presence to every patient visit. Her favorite part of assisting is taking X-rays, and she especially loves helping children feel safe, comfortable, and confident during their dental appointments. Thalia is passionate about creating positive dental experiences that help kids avoid dental anxiety as they grow. Thalia is bilingual in English and Spanish, allowing her to connect with even more of our wonderful families. Outside of the office, she loves collecting all things mini and spending quality time with her family.

orthodontics room with dental chairs and star wars pictures on the wall

exam room with dental chair and minion decals on the wall

reception area with tv on wall and couch that looks like the British flag

row of mini arcade games sitting on table

reception area with couch that looks like the British flag

High-quality dentistry for children of all ages

Are you looking for a practice specializing in dental care for kids? Book an appointment online for your child today or contact our friendly team.

REQUEST APPOINTMENT

Meet the Team

MARIANA

NICOLE

TAWNI

Karina

LIZ

KEELEY

MAGGIE

Brenda

Melissa

Thalia

High-quality dentistry for children of all ages

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