A Smile For Kids Board of Directors
Brenda Turner
Brenda Turner Consulting - Owner
President
ASK was begun by a group of dentists, orthodontists and lay persons who understood the positive impact of a healthy smile for children. One of those founding Board members was my husband, Denny Turner, who passed away 10 years ago. He was an orthodontist in Eastern Oregon for 40 years. He loved his work with ASK as a Board member and treated many ASK kids over the years. After his passing, I was asked to join the ASK Board and considered that a privilege because I knew firsthand the amazing positive changes in children’s health and self-esteem when their teeth were aligned properly. I have been a consultant working with nonprofit organizations doing Board training, process facilitation and strategic planning for 35 years. It is exciting to be a part of ASK’s continuing development and the important work it does.
Sylvia Goedeck
Vice President
Sylvia Goedeck has been married to her childhood sweetheart, Dr. Larry Goedeck, for 50 years and has known him for over 65 years. Theirs is a “mixed marriage": - he’s a Beaver and she’s a Duck!
Sylvia graduated from the University of Oregon in 1966 with a degree in German, and a minor in French. She taught school in Portland and did graduate work at Portland State while Larry was in VietNam. After his time in the service, they bought Dr. Ted Flaiz’s practice in 1971, beginning a 40-year career in Prineville.
Through the years, Sylvia kept the books for Larry’s office and participated in multiple dental mission trips with him as his assistant which included missions to Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, and many places in Mexico.
For many years, Sylvia was a substitute teacher in Crook County, taking on all ages and subjects. She has served on boards for Alzheimer respite care, the Cancer Society and served on the Board of Directors for the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon for 20 years. OFCO provides life-improvement services for folks with a wide-range of disabilities living in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. The services include all phases of life opportunities through its various business ventures, programs, and residential facilities. She is a past President of that governance Board and also President of its FFO Board which functioned as the “friend/fundraising” entity of the organization. Sylvia has been a part of watching the dramatic changes in education and in social services, and has been involved in adapting to the “moving target” called “government funding and regulation” in the delivery of services to those in need.
Dentistry has certainly been impacted by the changes, too. She brings a practical, common sense approach to decision making and an ability to adapt to change. Her outlook is “if you can’t change a thing, change the way you think about it!”
Mara Robles
Bilingual Provider Specialist - NeigborImpact
Board Member
Mara is a proud mother of four. Having dealt with three of her children needing braces, she understands the struggles associated with orthodontics. It is not only about the financial burden, but also about understanding the procedures as sometimes it is not just about aligning teeth. Mara identifies with the vision and work of ASK and values the impact the program is making in the lives of youth, and she is happy to be part of such a great organization.
Marcus Thompson
Thompson Consulting and Coaching - Founder & CEO
Board Member
Born and raised south of Chicago, I have called Oregon home for the past 9 years. As the Founder/CEO of Thompson Consulting and Coaching and Bev’s Kids Youth Services, supporting the community is my mission and priority. This occurs through organizational consultation and individual mentoring and coaching. Prior to my current endeavor I was the Director of the YES! (Youth Empowerment Services) Program at Parenting With Intent. We provided mentoring and long-term support to nearly 200 youth involved in the child welfare system and foster care here in Oregon. After learning of ASK, A Smile For Kids, I immediately fell in love with the mission and as well as their passion to serve the community and youth in need, especially those who have been marginalized and left out. Their understanding of the connection between dental health and self-esteem and how that shows up in all aspects of life was something that immediately stood out to me. I was very encouraged and motivated to get involved with their organization. I have an interesting and I would imagine a typical childhood “braces” story. My teeth were far from straight, and it seemed as if they were the go-to for jokes, bullying, and teasing. I wanted braces so bad, but as a child financially that was not possible. It was not until I was much into my adulthood where that was a possibility. To know the impact the A Smile for Kids is helping the community and youth, who would not have the resources for this to happen is truly inspiring!"
Eric Sande
Executive Director - Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB
Board Member - Investment Chair
Having had misaligned teeth as a child I understand firsthand the importance and the confidence that comes from having straight teeth. Every child deserves the opportunity to feel their best and to have a big positive, happy smile on their face. ASK helps unleash the potential in each child, eliminate barriers and build self-confidence. I am very pleased to play an active role in the success of this organization.
Dr. J Kyle House
Board Member
J. Kyle House, D.D.S.received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and served as a General Dentist in the US Army. While stationed in Giessen, Germany, he was given the opportunity to treat children and discovered that pediatrics was clearly his favorite field. He attended his Pediatric Dental Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington and the University of Washington. After leaving the Army, he spent five years as the Director of Pediatric Oral Medicine at Scott & White Hospital Systems in Temple, Texas.
Dr. House completed his Pediatric Dental Board Certification in April 1996. In 1999, he moved to Oregon to open his private practice in Hood River, which has expanded to five clinics (three in Oregon and two in Washington).
Dr. House's main concern is advocacy and access to care for children. He has served on numerous local, state, regional and national organizations that work to improve children's access to dental care, and has testified on behalf of children on a national level, providing medical information to lawmakers. In addition, Dr. House is a Consultant to the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and has assisted in providing their Oral Clinical Exams since 2006.
Dr. House enjoys being an active part of the community and spending time with his wife, Jill, and his three daughters. His latest project is developing a vineyard and learning about winemaking and viniculture. He likes being outdoors and loves to cook, creating imaginative breakfasts, and – like a true Texan – can explain the critical differences between grilling and barbecue.
A Smile For Kids Staff
Christian Moller-Andersen
Executive Director
With several years of experience in the commercial sector on the Learning and Development side; working as a principal employment office manager for the State of Oregon; and now as the executive director for A Smile for Kids (ASK), a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization that funds orthodontic treatment for Oregon’s underserved youth, Christian brings a multi-facetted and collaborative approach to solving most professional challenges.
His current work with ASK has led Christian to connect with several statewide agencies and other non-profit partners. These partnerships include community care organizations, State and local non-profit organizations, county and state agencies, Oregon Health and Sciences University faculty, and state legislative professionals.
The experience with all these organizations has increased Christian’s understanding of the legislative process as it relates to healthcare and helped propel ASK into a role as a strong advocate for equitable access to orthodontic care for Oregon’s kids. To affect greater healthcare equity for marginalized populations in Oregon and further increase his knowledge of the American healthcare system, Christian is working on his MBA in Healthcare Management at Southern Oregon University.
When he is not studying or spending time with his two daughters, Christian likes to hike, tinker with vintage cars, and work on home restoration projects, however, he also has a solid appreciation for simply "being" and spending time in good conversation with friends and family, especially over great food
Diane Lee
Program Manager
Diane has had a successful career in the insurance industry for over 36 years, between working in commercial insurance and personal auto insurance, helping customers recover from the unexpected. Last year, Diane decided to switch gears and move back to her home state of Oregon and grabbed the opportunity to work with A Smile for Kids. She’s now assisting underserved youth in need of orthodontic treatment and feels that this line of work is incredibly rewarding.
Diane gets to tap into her compassion and empathy while working with the many resource groups and parents and mentions that “...it is so rewarding to see the youth's transformation from when the braces are put on to the final pictures when the braces are taken off. The volunteer piece to this program is a win/win for the youth and their community. This also allows enrichment in the youth's lives as it teaches some responsibility and a chance to grow while learning new skills of their own”.
Kasey Edwards
Case Manager
We are delighted to introduce and warmly welcome Kasey Edwards to the A Smile for Kids (ASK) team! Serving the pediatric dental community since 2012, Kasey brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team.
For eight years, she dedicated her services as a Restorative Dental Hygienist in a pediatric dental office in Washington state. During this period, Kasey not only showcased her exceptional skills in dental procedures but also displayed an innate ability to bond with children and guardians, always emphasizing the importance of understanding oral health in a caring and comforting ambiance.
Upon relocating to the city of Bend, Oregon, Kasey undertook the role of Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for a prominent multi-location pediatric dental office. With her at the helm, the office's social media channels thrived. She masterfully crafted content that bolstered the company's digital footprint and efficiently spearheaded multiple advertisement campaigns and sponsorship initiatives.
Now as a part of the ASK team, Kasey's enthusiasm shines through. She deeply resonates with our mission, understanding the immense value of orthodontic care in enriching both the physical and emotional well-being of young individuals. To Kasey, it’s more than just a job - it's a privilege to contribute to the life-changing smiles of countless deserving youths.
Outside the professional realm, Kasey is a true explorer at heart. Alongside her husband and two adorable children, she loves uncovering new culinary delights in eateries around the city. And if you're looking for Kasey during her downtime, you might find her indulging in some heartwarming moments with cats and dogs or diligently refining her tennis skills, one swing at a time. :)
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Kasey! We are ecstatic to have her onboard and are confident that our sponsors, donors, business partners, and the entire dental and orthodontic community in Oregon will benefit from her dedication.
A Smile For Kids Orthodontic Screeners
Dr. Juliana Panchura
Orthodontic Screener - Smile! Central Oregon Orthodontist
I've got the greatest job in the world! Having watched my father and uncle enjoy long and fulfilling careers in orthodontics, I went to dental school at the University of Pittsburgh after attending Denison University in Ohio. I headed to UCLA for orthodontic training as well as a Masters in Public Health.
Love and orthodontics brought me to Central Oregon in 1988 to join my husband, Dr. Vince Quas. Family tradition carries on with Dr. Cate Quas at Bluefish Dental.
I am privileged to serve as part-time clinical faculty at UCLA. I maintain strong ties to the area through my work at the non-profit Eisner Health where I have been treating kids with cleft lip and palate since 1985.
I have been honored to be chosen as a speaker for many regional, national and international orthodontic meetings.
I love to read, I am a student of Iyengar yoga, and I travel any chance I get. I speak Spanish, Portuguese and a bit of German.
Dr. Benita Wong
Orthodontic Screener - Kaiser Permanente Orthodontist
Dr. Benita Wong received her Dental degree in 2005 and completed her Orthodontic specialty training in 2008, both from University of California, San Francisco. Prior to her dental training, she graduated from Brown University in 2000, majoring in Chemistry with Honors. In between college and dental school, she spent a year in the AmeriCorps*VISTA program working with kids in low-income schools.
She has won several awards for her master's thesis research, academic achievement, and commitment to community service including the National Thomas Graber Award in 2008 and UCSF American Association of Orthodontics Award in 2005. In addition, she helped run a homeless clinic in dental school which provided free dental care for those most in need.
Dr. Wong was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (which is why she's called a "Cajun Asian"), and she also spent most of her teenage years living in Hong Kong. She loves to travel the world with her husband, hike and backpack around Oregon, and spend time with their 2 dogs. Additionally, she enjoys drawing and painting, which is what sparked her interest in dentistry in the first place, as dentistry brings together art and science in a rewarding way that helps people improve their smiles and self-confidence.
What Dr. Wong loves most about her job is being able to interact with young kids, teenagers, and adults everyday while improving the appearance and function of their teeth and bite. She also especially enjoys being able to provide orthodontic services in an affordable way while spending as much time and attention for each individual patient as possible.