MEET THE STAFF
Aaron A. Straw D.D.S.
Dr. Straw enjoys doing a variety of dental procedures and he loves working with people. To many young aspiring dentists, he says, "Dentistry will give you the unique opportunity to use your manual dexterity and creativity while
maintaining positive personal relationships. It's fantastic!" Creating impressive smiles and preserving healthy teeth, Dr. Straw aims to improve the quality of life for his patients.
He received a Biochemistry degree from Brigham Young University and contributed to cancer research. He then attended Virginia Commonwealth University.
While in dental school, Aaron learned about the best methods in modern dentistry from prestigious faculty and specialists. Since then he has worked in Payson, Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah and continued his education through seminars and workshops from experts
such as Gordon Christensen, Ross Nash, Steven Rasner, Stephen Poss, Pete Dawson, and others. Dr. Straw admits new products in dentistry only after seeing both scientific and clinical research.
While in Virginia, he also met his wife, Danelle, who was an elementary school PE teacher in downtown Richmond. They both love the weather here in Houston and the opportunity to be near family.
Mary B. Mellard D.D.S.
Dr. Mary Mellard enjoys being a dentist because her work has such a direct
impact on her patients' lives. She is the reason for and a first-hand witness
of the transformation in her patients after a successful dental procedure
to improve their smile as well as the health of their teeth and gums.
She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree at the University of Texas
Dental Branch - Houston, in 1983. She has received both the prestigious
Fellowship Award and Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry.
To even be eligible to test for these awards requires a commitment of 1,100
hours of continuing education. Dr. Mellard has progressed through an extensive
amount of education, including Advanced Esthetics training through Baylor
College of Dentistry and the Masters Esthetic course and the Neuromuscular
Occlusion and Full Mouth Reconstruction course, both at the Las Vegas Institute
of Advanced Dental Studies. Fewer than 1% of the dentists in the United
States have completed this extensive training and education.
Dr. Mellard is an active member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the
Houston Academy of General Dentistry, the Texas Academy of General Dentistry,
the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association and the Greater
Houston Dental Association. She is chairperson or board member on several
committees within these organizations.
She stays abreast of the changes and new developments in dentistry by regularly
attending a variety of seminars and continuing education courses which improve
her skills and provide her patients with the most advanced treatments using
the latest technologies available.
Born and raised in Texas, Dr. Mellard has practiced in the Copperfield area
for more than 18 years. An avid golfer, Dr. Mellard and her husband are
the proud parents of four children.
Lisa Chase - Dental Assistant
Lisa is a highly skilled registered Dental Assistant who assists Dr. Straw in his goal
of providing a professional level of treatment for
all patients. Lisa, who has worked in the office for 16 years, has attended
all the major cosmetic courses with Dr. Mellard and brings more than 20
years experience to the office. She loves to witness and assit in the restoration process
of teeth from dingy silver to bright, beautiful white. Though the office
has a very relaxed atmosphere, she appreciates the state-of-the-art equipment
and materials they offer patients.
Outside the office she loves spending time with her family,cooking with her husband Todd,swimming,and scouting with her son Cody.
Donna Jo Masoner - Dental Assistant/Patient Coordinator
Donna Jo has been in the dental field since 2001. Prior to that she was in
Human Resources for 18 years. She loves working with patients and really enjoys
seeing the change to bright and beautiful teeth. She loves all the staff and patients.
She is a native Houstonian, married with one son and a stepson
with 2 daughters. She loves her dogs ( Roscoe and Rufus), loves traveling and venturing
with her husband on the motorcycle.
Anne Clede - Registered Dental Hygienist
A registered Dental Hygienist, licensed in the state of Texas, Anne graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch. She has 25 years of dental care experience, 15 years in our office as a dental hygienist and 10 years prior to that as a dental assistant. The patients are what has kept her in the field all this time; she likes helping patients maintain good dental health. She relishes the friendships she's made not only with staff members, but patients as well. In her spare time, Anne loves music and most importantly her husband and two daughters.
Kelly Dlugosh - Dental Assistant
Kelly is the newest member of our staff with over 25 years of experience working in the dental office. She is a Registered Dental Assistant and has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Baker University. Kelly enjoys attending an extensive variety of continuing education courses. She takes great pride in assisting and facilitating patients through the life cycle of dental care – from the initial visits (consultations) to their beautifully improved and functional smile.
Kelly relocated to Texas in 2007 from Kansas. She enjoys the Houston weather which promotes her primary hobby – waterskiing. She is active in the area ski clubs - officiating in competitions, coaching juniors learning to ski and offering instruction to advanced elite athletes.
She has family here in Houston, including her granddaughter Faith, which she enjoys and loves to spoil as much as possible.
Mary Jo D'Alessio - Registered Dental Hygienist
Mary Jo is our Jersey girl. Born and raised in northern New Jersey, she graduated from Fairleigh Dickenson University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene. Since then she has lived and practiced dental hygiene in both Michigan and Virginia. For the past four years Mary Jo and her family have called Cypress, Texas their home. She has a son at CyWoods High School and when not working, volunteers at church and with the Boy Scouts.
Jennifer Guzzetta - Financial Coordinator
In addition to welcoming you to the office and answering your phone calls,
she is ready to serve you and your scheduling needs. Jennifer will assist
you with understanding your dental insurance concerns as well as your financial
responsibilities. She enjoys seeing the satisfaction of patients when the
results of their cosmetic dentistry change their smiles and their lives.
Jennifer has 18 years experience and has taken yearly insurance continuing education
courses.
A proud grandmother of five grandchildren, she enjoys spending as much time as possible with them.
Her hobbies include Interior Design and floral arranging. She is very active in her chruch, Christ the Redeemer, where she is a Eucharist Minister.