Meet The Team

A lifelong Lanier County native, Alisha joined Lakeland Family Dentistry in 2017 and quickly became the office insurance whisperer. Whether it’s verifying benefits or decoding dental jargon, she’s here to make sure your coverage works for you—not against you.

Alisha spent nearly a decade in Virginia soaking up the mountains before moving back home for warmer weather and a close-knit community. She’s the proud mom of Austen and Drake, and recently added “LaLa” to her résumé—a title she wears with a proud (and slightly spoiled) grin. When not wrangling insurance policies, you’ll find her at a ballgame, with her dogs Rylie and Gunner, or enjoying time with her ever-growing family.

Leonila, or “Nila” as we all know her, is one of the calm, steady faces you’ll meet at Lakeland Family Dentistry. As our Treatment Coordinator, she helps patients understand their treatment options, navigate insurance and scheduling, and feel confident about the next steps in their dental care. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Nila is passionate about making every patient feel comfortable, heard, and cared for.

Proud to call the small town of Barney home, Nila values family, community, and treating others with kindness and respect. Around the office, she’s known for being dependable, detail-oriented, and the one who always follows the rules. She has a quiet way about her, but she’s often the person keeping everything organized behind the scenes and making sure no detail gets overlooked.

Outside the office, you’ll usually find Nila spending time with her daughter, whether they’re playing soccer, enjoying a day at the beach, or simply making memories together. She appreciates the simple things in life, staying active, soaking up the sunshine, and cherishing every moment with the people she loves.

Whether she’s helping explain a treatment plan or greeting patients with her quiet, reassuring smile, Nila is dedicated to making every visit to Lakeland Family Dentistry a positive experience.

Renee is the welcoming face who greets patients as they arrive at Lakeland Family Dentistry. She loves creating a warm, inviting experience for every patient who walks through the door. Whether she’s helping you get checked in or answering questions with a smile, she’s committed to making your visit as easy and stress-free as possible.

A Lanier County native, Renee enjoys spending time with her large family and friends, shopping, being outdoors, and keeping up with all things beauty. She has a special place in her heart for babies, so don’t be surprised if she volunteers for baby-holding duty whenever the opportunity presents itself! She also has an uncanny ability to know the words to just about every song ever recorded, and if music is playing, there’s a good chance she’s quietly singing along. Around the office, she’s known for her cheerful personality, contagious smile, and the kind of kindness that makes people feel right at home.

When she’s not at the office, you’ll usually find her shopping, enjoying the outdoors, trying the latest beauty trends, or making memories with family and friends. Renee believes a friendly smile and a little laughter can go a long way, and she looks forward to welcoming you at your next visit.

Kristy is sorta like the glue that holds the circus together—and yes, we lovingly call her the “Ringleader.” She joined LFD in 2014 as a dental hygienist and eventually transitioned into administration, bringing order, laughs, eyerolls, and backup clinical help whenever needed.

A Lanier County native, Kristy lives on a farm with her husband, their twins, and a collection of animals that keeps mysteriously growing. She’s also actively involved in community leadership through the Lanier County Family Connections Board, Lakeland-Lanier County Chamber of Commerce Board, and Lanier County education committees. Whether she’s wrangling farm animals, family schedules, or front-desk drama—Kristy does it all with a smile and sugar-free Red Bull.

Angie joined our team in 2006 as our very first full-time hygienist, and she’s been creating clean smiles and long-term patient relationships ever since. A graduate of Darton College, she’s a proud lifelong resident of Lanier County, where she lives with her husband, John.

Together they’ve raised two children—Hannah and Lyndon—and now enjoy spoiling their grandkids, Easton and Jett. Angie recharges best on the beach with a good book or on a boat with her pups, Chico and Emmie. At work, she’s focused, friendly, and exceptionally skilled… just don’t ask her to pose for a social media photo—she’s got ninja-level avoidance moves.

Shannon’s LFD journey began in 2006 when she trained on-site as a dental assistant. She later graduated from Valdosta State University with her degree in Dental Hygiene and returned as a full-time hygienist with an eye for precision and a love of learning. Speaking of learning, Shannon has recently taken over the OSHA and safety precautions in the office, where she has earned the loving title of, “Sheriff.”

She lives in Lanier County with her husband Derek, daughter Hadley, and their cat Waylon—who may or may not believe he owns the house. Shannon is known for her sharp attention to detail and her habit of dropping random trivia mid-cleaning (you’ll leave with a sparkling smile and a fun fact). Outside of work, she enjoys crime podcasts, gym challenges, and relaxing with family.

Madison joined our team right after graduating from Valdosta State, and we quickly learned there’s nothing shy about her. With her dry humor and get-it-done attitude, she jumped in with both feet and never looked back.

She lives in Lowndes County with her Labradoodle, River, who definitely runs the house. Madison loves lake days, food-fueled road trips, and the sacred weekend nap. If Dr. Castor calls her “kid,” it’s only because she makes the rest of us feel older—and maybe just a little slower.

Some people leave an impression that never really goes away, and Dawn is one of them. After previously caring for patients at Lakeland Family Dentistry years ago, she returned to the team and jumped right back in like she’d never left. It already feels like she’s been here all along, and we’re pretty sure our patients feel the same way.

As a Registered Dental Hygienist, Dawn loves helping people achieve healthy smiles while making them feel comfortable and cared for. She’s known for her kind heart, steady work ethic, and the calm, familiar presence she brings to every appointment.

When she’s not in the office, Dawn wears more hats than most. She’s a devoted wife to her husband, Mitchell, a proud mom, and an incredibly proud “Gigi” to seven grandchildren who keep her happily on her toes. If there’s free time to be found, you’ll probably catch her working in the yard, planting flowers, chasing chickens that apparently didn’t get the day’s memo, or walking the beach with her eyes glued to the sand in search of the next great shark tooth. She’s also a lifelong music lover with a soft spot for Santana, so don’t be surprised if you catch her humming a tune between patients.

Above all, Dawn is a follower of Jesus who believes kindness, hard work, and treating people well never go out of style. She’s a wonderful friend, a familiar face, and exactly the kind of person who makes Lakeland Family Dentistry feel like family.

Her favorite quote reflects the way she lives her life:

“Don’t let your yesterday take up too much of your today.”
— Unknown

Stacie has been brightening smiles (& spirits) at LFD since 2014. Her dental roots trace back to the American Red Cross in Ramstein, Germany- yes, dentistry and jet lag do mix. Her favorite work is helping anxious patients feel calm, seen, and safe in the dental chair.

At home, Stacie & her husband, Dr. Eric Castor chase laughter with their four adventurous kids. Stacie loves music, connecting with nature, spiritual growth, and exploring the world with an open heart. Known for her warmth and resilience, she brings authenticity to all she does. Stacie believes true beauty shines in how a person chooses to grow- with heart, light, and the occasional good laugh.

After 15 years in the food industry, Tammy decided it was time for a career change—and dentistry was lucky to get her. Since earning her EFDA in 2016, she’s been making patients feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for (with her humorous little bits of sarcasm on the side).

She moved to South Georgia in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. Tammy loves anything outdoorsy: boating, fishing, gardening, riding motorcycles—basically, she’s got two speeds: full throttle and beach chair. She lives with her husband and kids, who are always up for the next adventure.

Holly earned her EFDA from Southern Regional Technical College and joined LFD with a mission to make every patient feel safe, informed, and well cared for. Her humor keeps the mood light, even on the busiest days.

At home, she and her husband George are the proud parents of a growing chicken flock that keeps life interesting (and noisy). She also enjoys gardening, event planning, and hanging out with friends. In short, Holly is the kind of teammate who can fix a crown and plan a baby shower before lunch.

Mary was part of Lakeland Family Dentistry before the paint even dried—joining in 2006 when the practice first opened. She’s retired more times than we can count, but she is always showing back up to help us out of a bind. Patients adore her calming presence and uncanny ability to remember everything you’ve ever shared.

Together, Mary & Arel have two children, Summer & Tate. When she’s not at the office, Mary enjoys being “YaYa” to her three cherished grandchildren. Her heart is as big as her laugh, and her loyalty is the kind you build a practice around.

Sahil may be soft-spoken, but don’t let that fool you—he’s got a master’s degree in Comparative Biomedical Sciences from UGA and a goal of becoming a dentist. Since 2021, he’s been shadowing Dr. Castor and mastering the ropes one patient at a time.

A Lakeland native, Sahil brings sharp intellect, a dry sense of humor, and an unshakable calm to the office. We’re all rooting for his future—and also kind of hoping he sticks around a while longer.

Yes, she’s a redhead just like the Disney one, Ariel came to us with a thirst for dental knowledge and a desire to become a dental assistant. While training, Ariel learned the ropes of the front desk and now can jump into both areas of the office when needed.

At home, she juggles life with five kids and a menagerie of mini farm animals. Between frog gigging and fishing trips, she’s somehow always smiling.

Tiffany has been part of the Lakeland Family Dentistry family since 2015, and while life has taken her on a few adventures along the way, she always seems to find her way back home. Not just earning her Dental Assistant Certification- Tiffany also attended cosmetology school. Over the years, she bounced back and forth with both careers. Then became her favorite role of all, being a mom. Today, she brings that same caring spirit, attention to detail, and positive energy to every patient she meets. 

As a Dental Assistant, Tiffany loves helping patients feel comfortable from the moment they sit in the chair. With years of dental experience and knowledge you can trust, she’s always one step ahead, making appointments run smoothly while offering reassurance, encouragement, and plenty of smiles along the way.

Married to her husband, Trevor, and proud mom to their son, Taelon, Tiffany is all about family. When she’s not at the office, you’ll most likely find her at the beach, soaking up the sunshine, collecting seashells, or embracing her lifelong love of all things mermaids.

Around the office, Tiffany is the kind of positive energy everyone gravitates toward. Her optimism is contagious, and she’s always ready to “work it in,” whether that means helping a teammate, lending a hand wherever she’s needed, or finding a way to brighten someone’s day. She’s the person who makes everyone around her feel a little lighter and a lot more welcome. Think of her as the perfect blend of calming confidence and Energizer Bunny, keeping things moving while making patients and teammates feel genuinely cared for.

Whether she’s assisting chairside or sharing an encouraging word, Tiffany is dedicated to making every visit to Lakeland Family Dentistry feel welcoming, comfortable, and just a little more joyful.