Meet Our Dental Team Nocatee

Cindy – Dental Office Manager

Originally from Jacksonville, Cindy has spent her entire career in Florida—all 10+ years of it! She has gained priceless hands-on experience running dental offices throughout her career and loves being able to lead a talented team and getting to know every patient that comes into the office.

Married for over 30 years, Cindy has two children and two grandchildren. When she’s not spending time with family, she’s playing the piano, swimming, or cooking. Something everybody must know about Cindy is that she’s a happy and positive person that chooses to see the glass half full and strives to find the positive in all situations.

 

Charlene – Front Office Coordinator

With a dream of working in the dental field for years after attending Florida State College at Jacksonville, Charlene is happy to now be a part of such a wonderful team at Palm Leaf Dental. She enjoys learning new things every day and getting to know and help out patients in any way she can—she truly loves what she does!

Charlene was born and raised in Jacksonville but loves the cold weather. Whenever she’s not at the office, she loves spending her days at the beach, with family, and travelling.

Makenzie – Dental Hygienist

Having grown up in Jacksonville, Makenzie attended Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she went through their Dental Hygiene Program and became a Certified Registered Dental Hygienist. Immediately upon completing her education, she went to work at a pediatric dental office, which taught her so much about patience and working as a team. After that, she then worked in a general dental office, where she loved being able to make connections with all of her patients. Now, she’s excited to do the same at Palm Leaf Dental!

Makenzie and her husband have been married since 2018, and they love to spoil their nieces and nephews together. She has two cats that bring her joy every day and loves trying new restaurants, spending time with family, and visiting national parks. She also has a love for all things Disney! Have you ever met someone that can solve a Rubix Cube? Makenzie can!

 

Joy – Dental Hygienist

Joy boasts a phenomenal 40+ years in the dental field, with several of those being spent right here at Palm Leaf Dental. Upon graduating from Florida Junior College, she immediately jumped into the field and never looked back. One of her favorite parts of her job is being able to interact with her patients.

Joy has been married for over 40 years and has two sons that now have families of their own, including one grandbaby! In her free time she loves to read and play the piano.

Anneka - Dental Hygienist

Anneka is passionate about helping you keep your smile healthy and bright. Her goal as your dental hygienist is to provide exceptional patient-focused care so that your mouth stays healthy for years to come.

Anneka received her degree from Palm Beach State College and has been caring for patients as a hygienist since 2009. She grew up in Maine, lived in Boston & Atlanta and now calls beautiful Ponte Vedra home.

Outside of the office, Anneka loves spending time with her family. She and her husband are foodies who enjoy dining out and trying all types of cuisines. They also like listening to live music and attending comedy shows together. Their son keeps them very busy and loves to play basketball and golf. Their rescue pup, Louie, also provides them with lots of cuddles and laughs!

“We shall never know all the good a simple smile can do.” ~Mother Teresa

Meryeens - Dental Assistant

Meryeens is a dedicated and highly skilled dental professional with a strong passion for patient care. She is a graduate of the Dental Studies Institute of New Jersey, where she earned her certification as a Registered Dental Assistant, making her both nationally certified and state-licensed. Committed to excellence, Meryeens has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education, ensuring she remains at the forefront of advancements in dentistry.

With over a decade of experience in the dental field, Meryeens takes great pride in being part of a dynamic team of professionals who are dedicated to continuous learning and innovation. Deeply compassionate, she values building strong relationships with both patients and colleagues, fostering a welcoming and positive atmosphere.

Outside of work, Meryeens has a profound interest in psychology and neuroscience, always eager to explore new insights about the brain. She also loves spending quality time with her family and traveling, embracing new experiences and cultures.

Ashlee - Dental Assistant

Hi ! I’m Ashlee. I’ve been in dentistry for almost 7 years now. I have 4 loving kitties and spend all my extra time with my family. Dentistry is a passion of mine. Helping and watching people gain back their confidence and smile is a reward in itself. I am blessed to know that I can wake up each day coming to a job and confidently knowing we are helping out our patients the best way possible in our wonderful community.