GILLESPIE DENTAL ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Ashley grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and graduated from the Fayetteville Tech Dental Assisting Program in 2008. She made her way to Asheville in 2015 and brings with her years of experience, a heartwarming smile and a contagious laugh. In her free time, she loves finding new hikes to venture, frequenting local restaurants and snuggling up at home with a good book. She loves animals and has three adorable rescue pets: one dog, Remy, and two cats, Josie and Louie.
Cindy, a native of Balsam, has been in the dental field since 1986 and with Dr. Gillespie's practice since our opening in 1993. She received an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Southwestern Community and was a certified Dental Assistant for over 15 years. Cindy has a wealth of dental experience and insurance knowledge. She typically helps present detailed dental treatment to our patients while helping them to navigate financial options. An avid animal lover, Cindy enjoys long walks with her dogs around her Pisgah mountain home. She also enjoys fishing with her husband, Richard, while spending time at their lake cottage.
Haley is a Sylva, NC, native and a graduate of Western Carolina University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications. Haley is an excellent conversationalist and has years of dental experience under her belt. You will most likely be greeted by her warm smile and bubbly personality as soon as you walk through the door. Haley and husband, Joe, share a love of travel and the outdoors. They also love animals and have two cats and a dog at home.
Irene has a quiet and smiling poise to her which relaxes patients. She is the true epitome of keep calm and carry on. Irene loves to learn and is ready to take on new advances in our office with enthusiasm. Irene is bilingual and loves to spend time with her family and pups at home.
Julie was raised in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina and graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics. You will probably recognize her voice as she spends the majority of the day on the phone talking to all of our terrific patients. Julie loves being a wife to her husband, Kyle, and a mother to her adorable little boy, Connor. Her pastimes include running, cooking and being outdoors with their two pit bulls, Waffles and Josie.
Kailey received her dental hygiene degree from AB Tech. She works as a hygienist and also assists our busy front office staff at times. Kailey is very thorough and detail-oriented, yet has a laid back demeanor that her patients find calming. She and her husband, Jeremy, have a two-year old daughter, Gwen, who keeps them both on the go! Kailey loves sampling Jeremy's culinary creations and although she does not have much time to spare these days, she still enjoys hiking these beautiful trails any chance she gets.
Originally from Raleigh, NC, Kate received a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Appalachian State University and made Asheville her home in 2001. With a solid background in hospitality, Kate brings a wealth of customer service experience to her role. Her exceptional problem-solving skills, efficiency, and ability to deftly resolve conflicts make her an invaluable asset to our team. Her dedication to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone is evident in her every interaction. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Kate takes pride in being a loving mother to her two children.
Raised in the mountains of North Carolina, Katie received her Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Western Carolina University. You will find Katie at the front desk, greeting patients, scheduling appointments and helping out with social media. She is enjoying getting to know all of our patients over the phone and in the office! When Katie isn't at work, you can find her bouncing around Western NC with her husband, Drew, her three-year-old, Archer, and her two rescue pups, Mowgli and Ellie.
Originally from Western Pennsylvania, Leah has called Asheville home for almost 10 years now. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University and her Dental Hygiene degree from AB-Tech. Leah previously worked as a hygienist in our office and still loves seeing her patients as they pass through our front office! As a LEED Accredited Professional, Leah uses her leadership and expertise to implement sustainable practices in our office. Additionally, she uses her marketing background to facilitate advertising opportunities for the practice. Leah and her husband, Brady, love traveling, college football and hiking with their Australian Shepherd, Vinny.
With over 40 years of experience in dental hygiene, Mary offers a great deal of skill and professional insight to our practice. Mary received her degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Arkansas and joined our practice in 2016 after practicing in offices all over the world. Her bright and engaging personality puts patients at ease, and she builds lasting relationships while learning about her patient's lives and hobbies. Mary herself has a wide range of interests, from hat making to singing jazz. She also enjoys spending time with her four children, granddaughter, Isla, grandson, Rowen and her adorable pomadoodle, Bow.
Rebecca received her education from AB Tech and has been an integral part of our dental assisting core for over 20 years. She is known for her bubbly personality and warm smile. She is genuinely engaging and energetic and enjoys making lasting connections with our patients. Rebecca is an Asheville native but now resides in Hendersonville with her husband of 20 years, Billy. They have two grown sons and are adjusting to their new life as empty-nesters. Rebecca and Billy enjoy going to baseball games together and love relaxing at the beach any chance they get.
Wendy is originally from Florida but now calls Western North Carolina home. She received her dental assisting degree from AB-Tech and has now been with Gillespie Dental Associates for over 15 years. A terrific conversationalist, Wendy does a great job putting patients at ease. Wendy loves reading and traveling; she also enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing with her husband of 20 years. Wendy has recently made her health a top priority and has lost over 80 pounds since January 2022!
Yvette received her dental assisting degree from Keiser University in Florida. Yvette has been a dedicated assistant for years! Patients appreciate her empathetic, caring nature. Family is very important to Yvette as she spends her time out of the office with her husband, children and grandchildren.