Meet The Staff - Bradenton, FL

Meet Our Excellent Team

Meet Our Staff

Tara

Dental Hygienist
Office Manager (CRDH, RRT)

Tara has been with Eastman Craighead Periodontics since 2004. She completed her Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene with honors From Manatee Community College. She is also a critical care Registered Respiratory Therapist and is certified in advanced cardiac life support. Whether helping to treat and prevent oral disease or helping someone to breathe easier, Tara enjoys improving the quality of her patients’ lives. When she is not in the office, Tara enjoys spending time with her family and 3 bulldogs – Baxter, Sadie and Blu.

Brett

Dental Hygienist
Treatment Coordinator (RDH)

Brett received his Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from SPJC in St. Petersburg, FL in 1998. He began working with Dr. Eastman in 1999 and found his niche. After several years of clinical patient care he now uses his years of experience discussing treatment options with patients as a treatment consultant for the Lakewood Ranch location. He carries multiple roles in the office, coordinating education programs for dental professionals and as Area Manager for marketing and technology. He enjoys the outdoors, has a passion for technology and has an artistic/creative side. He is a fifth-generation native Florida resident who is married and proud father of two boys.

Kimberly

Dental Hygienist (CRDH)

Kimberly earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in 2013 from the University of Florida and her Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene from State College of Florida in 2020. When not pursuing her passion of improving the overall health of her patients and building confidence in their smiles; she likes to spend time traveling, exploring the world and different cultures. She and her husband also like to spend weekends out on the water, boating, and fishing.

Sherri

insurance coordinator

Sherri started with Dr. Eastman in 2004 and moved away in 2014. She continued working in the periodontal field as a treatment and scheduling coordinator for eight years before returning to our practice as our insurance coordinator. Patient care is her top priority. She is originally from New York and travels back often. She has two grown sons and is grandmother to the cutest boy, Mason Walker.

Valentin

Dental Hygienist (CRDH)

Valentin separated with an honorable discharge from the Marines in 2017 and pursued his career in Dental Hygiene. He received his Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the State College of Florida in 2022 along with his local anesthesia license. Valentin enjoys a good cup of coffee, and spending time and traveling with his family, including his two cats.

Ashley

ofCommunications Specialist

Ashley joined our practice in 2017 as an Appointment Coordinator and transitioned into the role of Communications Specialist in October 2024. She manages all outgoing correspondence with referring offices and helps keep communication running smoothly throughout the offi ce. Her friendly nature and attention to detail make her a valued part of our team. Ashley is a native Floridian and enjoys kayaking Florida’s waterways, cheering on the Bucs, baking sourdough, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.

Andrea

Dental Assistant (EFDA)

Andrea received her certification in Dental assisting from Manatee Technical College in 2010 and has been loving her profession ever since! She was born and raised in Bradenton, Florida and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Andrea’s passion is helping people and her priority is patient care. She takes pride in her job and works closely with our doctors and team as the clinical area manager. Although dentistry is a huge part of her life, she is equally passionate about spending quality time with her family and close friends. Andrea looks forward to building a relationship with all our patients at Eastman Periodontics.

Yana

Dental Assistant (EFDA)

Yana was born and raised in Ukraine where she earned her master’s degree in general dentistry and speaks English, Ukrainian and Russian. In 2022, she moved to Florida, USA, to pursue her dental career. She obtained her dental assistant certificate from the School for Dental Assistants in St. Petersburg, FL. Since childhood, Yana has aspired to be a dentist. Her professional values drive her passion for dentistry and motivate her to always strive for excellence in her work as a dental assistant. Her commitment to creating a positive, welcoming environment ensures patients feel at ease during their visits.

Stevie

Dental Assistant (EFDA)

Stevie was born and raised in Bradenton, Florida. She loves helping patients, providing great service, and seeing amazing results. She prides herself on getting to know our patients and building a relationship with them. She is a great asset to our team; you may see her answering calls, greeting patients, or assisting in procedures. Stevie does it all! When she isn’t working you can find her spending time with her husband and three dogs.

Rose

Dental Assistant (EFDA)

Rose was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She moved to Florida with her family in 2012 and graduated from Sarasota Military Academy in 2019. While pursuing her college career in Gainesville, she joined the Eastman Craighead team in 2020 with no prior experience or knowledge in dentistry. Through on-the-job training, she attended Smile Smart Dental School and completed her certification in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog, Elsa, and hanging out with friends. Rose quickly discovered her passion for dentistry and loves providing a positive, relaxing dental environment while ensuring the utmost patient care. She takes pride in helping our patients smile brighter every day!

Tammy

Registered Nurse (RN,)

With 25 years of nursing experience, I bring both skill and compassion to my work. I enjoy working for Eastman Craighead Periodontics, where I continue to provide patient-focused care with dedication and professionalism. My favorite thing to do is spend time with my family, and my favorite sport is football.

Diana

Dental Assistant (EFDA)

Diana is originally from Romania and moved to Florida in 2015. She started working as Dental Assistant for Eastman Periodontics in 2017 and handles the ordering and organization of materials for the office. She is always eager to learn more about dentistry and her favorite part is working in the lab. Diana loves animals and in her free time she paints custom pet portraits.

Ryan

Sterilization Tech

Ryan joined the Eastman Craighead team in 2022. Born and raised in Bradenton, she graduated from Bayshore High School in 2020 where she was a cheerleader and was in JROTC. Ryan loves helping patients. In the office, you can find her helping in different areas. She has a sparkling personality and is always willing to help wherever she is needed. Ryan is very talented at braiding hair. Some of her work was showcased on the Ryan Seacrest New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2023 television event. In her spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew who mean the world to her! Fun fact about Ryan is that she raises crawfish and has 3 as pets!

Chris

Registered Dental Assistant

Chris began her dental career at age 19 in New Jersey, where she obtained her CDA andRDA credentials. In 2003, she moved to Florida and has continued to grow in the dentalfield, specializing in restorative dentistry. She recently joined Eastman CraigheadPeriodontics to broaden her expertise and loves being part of the positive life changespatients experience through their care. Chris enjoys pilates, yoga, hiking, sky diving andspending time with her black & tan hound dog, Ryder. As a devoted animal lover, one ofher dreams is to own a dog sanctuary where she can rescue and care for dogs in need.

Claudia

Scheduling Coordinator

Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Claudia brings warmth,professionalism, and a passion for helping others to every call sheanswers. A proud graduate of Stepping Stones High School (Class of2023), she is fluent in both English and Spanish, makingcommunication seamless for a diverse range of clients

As the voice you’ll often hear on the phone, Claudia is here to assistwith scheduling needs and to answer your questions to the best ofher ability. She takes pride in creating a smooth and friendlyexperience for everyone she speaks with.

Outside of work, Claudia enjoys spending quality time with herfamily at home on her small farm — her favorite place to relax andrecharge.

Kelsey

Registered Nurse (RN, BSN)

Kelsey has been with Eastman Craighead Periodontics since 2022. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State College of Florida and is certified in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. Outside of working, she values spending time with family and her dog, Diesel. 

Sherri

Insurance Coordinator

Sherri started with Dr. Eastman in 2004 and moved away in 2014. She continued working in the periodontal field as a treatment and scheduling coordinator for eight years before returning to our practice as our insurance coordinator. Patient care is her top priority. She is originally from New York and travels back often. She has two grown sons and soon to be a grandmother.

Mallorie

Financial Coordinator

Mallorie grew up on the outskirts of Atlanta and moved to Bradenton in 2015 with her family. She graduated from Braden River High School in 2018 then shortly after graduating went to Manatee Technical college for a EMT degree. Changing up the pace, Mallorie found out she wanted to explore the dental field, which is what led her to Eastman Craighead Periodontics in late 2020. Mallorie started out as an Appointment Coordinator and after her eagerness to learn and grow, she moved onto a dual role as financial coordinator. In Mallorie’s free time her and her Fiancé, Devin enjoy spending time with family, friends and their Boxer, Yadi.

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Bradenton, FL

Lakewood Ranch, FL