Meet the Team at Newaygo Family Dental Care
Dental Hygienists
Trisha
Registered Dental Hygienist
Trisha has been a part of the team since 2017. She graduated from Tri County High School in 2009, then went on to Grand Rapids Community College and graduated from the RDH program in 2015. She married her high school sweetheart, Talon, in 2016. Together they have 2 children, Haven and Ellie. She enjoys hanging out with friends, doing yoga, shopping, and spending quality time with her family. Trisha enjoys dentistry because there's always something new to learn and she loves building a connection with patients!
Jocelyn
Registered Dental Hygienist
Jocelyn graduated the RDH program at Ferris State University in 2019 and has been a valued member of our team ever since. With a passion for patient care, she thrives in building genuine connections and tailoring oral health education to meet individual needs. Outside of work, Jocelyn embraces an active lifestyle alongside her husband Colin, and their two daughters, Sawyer and Sutton. They cherish family time outdoors, often accompanied by their dogs, Rusty and Ranger.
Joy
Registered Dental Hygienist
Joy joined our team in the fall of 2025. Joy started her dental career as a chairside dental assistant before making the decision to advance her dental career. She graduated from Ferris State University’s RDH program in 2021. While at Ferris, she met her now husband, Glen. Together they have two daughters, Raelynn and Elaina. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors and embracing every opportunity for quality family time. In the fall, Joy can be found in the woods sharing her love for hunting with her father.
Dental Assistants
Melissa
Dental Assistant
Melissa has been a dental assistant with us since 2011. She enjoys working with patients, but also working in our on-site lab. Outside of the office, Melissa is married to her best friend, Kurt, and they have two sweet children, Noah and Natalie. They enjoy time as a family taking care of animals, gardening, and camping.
Ana
Dental Assistant
Ana joined the team in 2021 and has been enjoying getting to know the Newaygo area and building relationships with our patients, and growing in her dental career. Outside of work, Ana loves spending time with her animals, going on new adventures, and diving into new hobbies.
Autumn
Dental Assistant
Autumn is a Grant native that has been practicing as a dental assistant since 2011 throughout West Michigan. Autumn returned to her hometown and is enjoying providing excellent care to her patient family at NFDC. Autumn strives to learn and grow by taking care of people in her career choice. Outside of the office, her first priority is being a mom to 3 boys. You can find them in the woods, lakeside, or by the pool.
Shay
Dental Assistant
As a native of Newaygo County, Shay joined the team early in 2026. Shay started her dental career in 2017 while living in Minot, North Dakota. After 6 years in North Dakota, she found herself settling back into Michigan. Shay finds getting to know patients as one of her favorite parts of working in the dental industry. Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling, camping, spending time on the beaches of our lakeshore, rock hunting and kayaking. She also enjoys the snuggles of her beloved cat, Charlie.
Front Desk Team
Valorie
Office Manager
Valorie joined NFDC in January of 2022 as our office manager. She has worked in the
dental field since 1995 as a former registered dental assistant, an orthodontic
assistant, and a treatment coordinator. Valorie states, "I stumbled into the dental
industry after high school, and it's been a really rewarding career. As a bonus, I've
made some remarkable friendships with my coworkers along the way.
A mother of 3 grown daughters, she now finds herself enjoying time with her husband,
Joe, and their rescue dogs. She enjoys reading, tending to her MANY houseplants,
gardening, traveling, and is an avid football fan.
Brittney
Business Administrator
Brittney joined the practice in the spring of 2023 leaving the ophthalmology field and making the shift into dentistry. She enjoys helping patients coordinate their dental needs with our providers. Outside of the office, she enjoys hunting, camping, and being outside with her husband and 2 daughters. She looks forward to being the welcoming face you will see as you enter the office!
Dennis C. Nelson, DDS
Dr. Dennis Nelson is a Grant native. He served in the US Army from 1968-1971, then went on to obtain his Undergraduate from Central Michigan University. From there, he graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1978. He started his dental career in nearby White Cloud, but then settled in Grant, and started his first practice.
