.jpg)
Elizabeth​ discovered her passion for dentistry while earning her dental assisting degree from Washtenaw Community College. After several years in the field, she continued her education at the University of Michigan, graduating with a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene and earning her license in 2011.
With over a decade of experience in both pediatric and general dentistry, Elizabeth brings not only clinical expertise but also strong leadership skills. She has a talent for supporting her team, fostering collaboration and guiding patients with compassion.
Currently, she is pursuing a graduate degree in health care services and public health at U of M Flint, further strengthening her ability to grow as both a clinician and a leader.
​
Outside the office, Elizabeth enjoys time with her three children and grandson. She stays active through strength training, hiking and skiing but also appreciates slowing down with coffee and a good book.
Elizabeth
Hygiene Team Lead
Dena brings over 36 years experience in dental hygiene after graduating from Oakland Community College. Throughout her rewarding career, she's proudly balanced her passion for dentistry with raising her three boys and is now embracing her newest little: first-time grandma!
​
She joined the Nurture Family Dental team in April 2025 and has loved building strong, genuine relationships with both patients and her teammates. Always eager to learn, Dena brings a caring spirit, positive energy and a heart for helping others feel comfortable and cared for.
​
Outside the office, you'll find her soaking up the outdoors - whether it's biking, gardening, camping or riding on the back of a Harley with her significant other, Denny. She also loves quilting, sewing, baking and trying new recipes.
Dena
Hygienist
Heather Nurture Family Dental welcomed Heather in September of 2022, but she has been a dental hygienist for the past 17 years. Heather received her bachelor of applied arts from Central Michigan University before pursuing a degree in dental hygiene from Wayne County Community College. Her passion for building relationships with people from all walks of life and helping them achieve excellent oral health is what drives her every day. Heather's warm, outgoing, silly and compassionate personality has allowed her to develop long-term relationships with both her teammates and patients.
​
When Heather is not in the office, she loves spending time with her husband and their three boys, who are actively involved in sports all year round. She also enjoys outdoor activities, traveling and working on DIY home projects.
Heather
Hygienist
Maureen ("Mo") received her degree in hygiene from Mott Community College and is such a joy to be around. It's easily seen that Mo genuinely cares for each patient and loves meeting new people. Her warm, caring personality exudes the great attitude that Nurture Family Dental is proud to provide its patients.
​
Mo joined Nurture Family Dental in October, 2019. She and her husband, Britt, are proud parents to their daughter Andrea and their "adopted" Emma, whom they welcomed into their home as a foreign exchange student. She greatly enjoys yoga, great food, and spending as much of her summers on the water as she can!
Maureen
Hygienist
Julie graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in dental hygiene, and has been practicing for over 20 years. She takes pride in building strong relationships with her patients, prioritizing their comfort while developing exceptional care. It's no surprise that her infectious energy spreads throughout the office.
​
Outside of the office, Julie and her husband Matt enjoy quality time with their three sons, taking long walks with their dog and staying active outdoors.
Julie
Hygienist
Kristen is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, class of 2012. She brings both heart and experience to the Nurture Family Dental team. She finds true fulfillment in building lasting relationships with patients, helping ease their fears, and creating a calm, welcoming atmosphere because she believes every dental visit should be a positive one.
​
She lives in Howell with her husband and their two lovable cats. Outside the office, she's always up for an adventure, especially if it involves a trip to Florida's magical theme parks. Whether she's traveling, relaxing with friends and family, or planning her next getaway, she brings the same warmth and joy to her personal life that she shares with every patient she meets.
Kristen
Hygienist
Nina with 28 years of experience as a dental hygienist, she knows her way around a smile and she's still just as passionate about helping patients feel as confident and cared for as she was on day one. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in dental hygiene and has spent her career focused on prevention, education and building real connections with her patients.
​
When she's not at NFD, you'll find Nina coaching classes at Menace Strength and Conditioning, where she helps people get stronger inside and out. She's been a proud local for 23 years and lives with her husband three awesome sons, one amzing daughter-in-law and two wild pups who definitely keep things interesting!
​
She's all about good conversations, great smiles and bringing positive energy into everything she does, whether that's in the office, the gym or at home!
Nina
Hygienist
.jpg)
Cyndi with 20 years of experience in the dental field, Cyndi is a seasoned pro who enjoys assisting in general and surgical dentistry. She attended Washtenaw Community College to hone her skills. She has become a valuable addition to our leadership team.
Her presence has been a breath of fresh air, bringing positivity and warmth to our team and patients.
When not in the office, Cyndi loves spending time outdoors with her husband, Jim, their three daughters (Riley, Stella and Delaney) and their golden retriever, Copper. She's an avid runner who hits the pavement almost every day and has completed multiple full marathons!
​
Cyndi
Clinical Team Lead
.jpg)
Amie originally joined Nurture Family Dental in March 2020, bringing her over two decades of experience in the dental field and a gentle, reassuring presence that patients immediately connect with. In 2023, she took time to pursue both personal and academic goals, proudly becoming a member of Phi Theta Kappa and continuing her studies in environmental science.
​
Amie is passionate about lifelong learning and deeply values the connection between health, nature and overall well-being, which are values that align perfectly with our philosophy at NFD. We're thrilled to have her back on the team, where she continues to support our mission of changing the way people experience dentistry.
​
Outside the office, Amie enjoys spending time in nature hiking, camping, kayaking and birdwatching. She also loves to read and spend quality time with her husband, their five adult children, Lucas, Carissa, Isaac, Dylan and Owen, and their two beloved cats, Levi and Uno.
Amie
Clinical Assistant
Kristin became a part of our NFD family in April 2024. She completed her clinical assistant training at Michigan Dental Assisting School in Farmington, MI. Every day, she works hard to ensure that patients feel comfortable and receive the highest quality care. Having lived in Howell for over 20 years, Kristin enjoys spending her free time with her three children - Jude, Jade and Jenson - as well as their two cats, Ed and Luna.
Her hobbies include running, gardening, sewing and reading. Additionally, she dedicates her weekends to volunteer work, teaching others about the Bible.
Kristin
Clinical Assistant
Lindsey became a part of our NFD family in April 2024, bringing with her four years of experience in pediatric dentistry! She swiftly embraced our culture and is eager to enhance her skills as a clinical assistant, all while delivery compassionate care to each patient!
She and her boyfriend Jesse live locally with her son, Jensen and their two kittens, Gwen and Kobe. She has a deep passion for photography and relishes the opportunity to capture moments in time for others. She enjoys being with family and friends in her leisure time, crafting and diving into a good book!
Lindsey
Clinical Assistant
Saleena joined Nurture Family Dental in January of 2022. She has over nine years of dental experience and has been such a bright spot since joining the team. She quickly jumped on the NFD train and has assimilated herself right into our culture!
​
Saleena has been married to her husband Geoff for 26 years and together they have four children and live in Howell. As a family they attend Northridge Church where Geoff the campus pastor. In Saleena’s free time, she loves to travel and spend time with her family.
Saleena
Clinical Assistant
Riley joined Nurture Family Dental in the summer of 2025 and has dove head first into learning all things dental! From keeping our handpieces and equipment spotless to soaking up every bit of knowledge around the office, she's getting hands-on experience and bringing a bright, positive vibe to the team! We're so excited to be a part of her journey into the dental world!
Riley
Sterilization Assistant
.jpg)
Kimberly has called Pinckney home since she was five years old and now shares it with her two dogs, Lucy and Zoey, and her cat, Kylah. She loves spending time with her adult kids, Nate and Madison, and you can find her camping, boating, at a concert or just enjoying time with friends and family.
She brings 15 years of dental experience, 20 years of management and an MBA in healthcare leadership (2022) to our team. What reallly stands out is her genuine passion for making patients feel comfortable and cared for.
With deep roots in the community and a heart for helping others, she's a friendly, supportive presence that both our team and patients love to be around!
Kimberly
Administrative Lead
Colleen we are delighted to have Colleen on our team as NFD's patient concierge. With six years administrative experience as a scheduling and treatment coordinator in the dental field, she is the perfect fit for this role in our practice. Colleen has a passion for connecting with patients and is inspired by the way that dentistry can impact others. We are grateful to have her on board, providing a warm welcome and comfortable environment for our patients. Her infectious smile and positive attitude make her a valuable addition to our team.
Colleen and her husband Adam share their cozy home with their furry friends, Merlyn the cat, Penny Lane the dog, and her beautiful horse, Lakota. In her free time, Colleen enjoys cooking for her family, exploring new places and antiquing.
Colleen
Patient Concierge
.jpg)
Amber grew up in Howell and enjoys finding new ways to challenge herself as well as working on personal growth. When she isn't in the office, she loves spending time with her husband, Chris, their son, Zachary and their two dogs, Maggie and Marco Polo. Whether it's a quiet night at home or a day filled with adventure, Amber enjoys spending time with the people she loves.
​
Amber spent time in the pet care industry before joining NFD in July 2022. She strives every day to make sure patients feel comfortable and receive the best care possible whenever they are in the office.
Amber
Patient Scheduling Coordinator
Lindsey became a part of Nurture Family Dental in October 2021, bringing three years of dental experience and 17 years’ experience in the medical field. Lindsey graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in business administration and a certificate in marketing. As our Patient Scheduling Coordinator, she ensures our schedule hums along and enjoys establishing relationships with our patients with her outgoing personality and great sense of humor.
Lindsey enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family, her husband of 20 years, Steve, and her twin children Harper and Cooper.
Lindsey
Patient Scheduling Coordinator
Kim courageously jumped into a new industry and joined Nurture Family Dental in August 2021 after devoting much of her career to medical administration for 18 years. As our Patient Services Coordinator Kim focuses on what happens after your services with NFD are completed. She works with specialist referrals, coordinating future treatment and the proper billing of services to insurance.
​
Kim grew up in Howell, lives in Byron and enjoys the country life with her husband of 36 years, George. Kim also enjoys time with her two adult sons and two granddaughters. In her free time, she loves kayaking, camping, and traveling to new destinations and experiences.
Kim
Patient Services Coordinator
Kayla became an instrumental part of our team in August 2021 and has been part of the dental industry for 13 years. As our Insurance Specialist, she brings the skillset and tenacity required to navigate the open waters of insurance. She enjoys helping the patient get the most out of their benefit plan and explaining the nuances of insurance coverage.
Kayla lives in the Fowlerville area with her husband Shane and daughters Addilynn and Finley. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, camping and horse shows with her daughters.
Kayla
Insurance Specialist
.jpg)
Brittney joined our team in August 2021. She comes to us with over seven years of dental administrative experience, including managing a practice, she brings valuable expertise to NFD. Brittney is passionate about creating a fun and friendly atmosphere for our team and patients, which, in turn, changes the perspective of dentistry! Brittney is the creative mind behind our practice's culture. Her keen eye for photography and creative flair bring our team's vision to life.
​
Originally from Livingston County, Brittney and her husband Matt are now raising their three children in the same area. When not at NFD, she enjoys spending time at home with their two huskies and soaking up sun either poolside or on the lake with family and friends.
Brittney
Director of Marketing and Communications
.jpg)
Valerie
HR Lead/Executive Assistant
Valerie attained much success in the corporate world for over twenty years before deciding to make a career change, joining Nurture Family Dental in December of 2021. As our HR Lead, she joins our leadership team in planning our long-term goals for the practice, focusing on the timely and efficient onboarding of new team members, administering our team member programs and benefits, and ensures our compliance with numerous licensing and regulatory agencies. She also acts as an agent on behalf of Dr. Kuras and Dustin, providing support behind-the-scenes to ensure the practice's growth and improvement.
​
Valerie grew up in Westland and moved to the Whitmore Lake area in 2015. She loves being on the water and enjoys spending the majority of the summer boating with family and friends. In her free time, she also enjoys attending concerts, sporting events, and cheering her nieces on with all their sports and activities.
.jpg)
Dustin graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with BBA degrees in both Marketing and Management. As our Chief Operating Officer, he takes pride in ensuring our team has all the tools and processes to afford our patients a uniquely enjoyable experience! Whether it be our accounting, payroll, marketing, equipment, supplies, expansion and many other areas, Dustin loves managing our operations and creating long-term goals and visions for the practice while ensuring our culture remains in a category of one!
​
In his former decade-plus career as a Sales and Supply Chain Manager for the steel and aerospace industries, Dustin learned the value in establishing lasting relationships with people and that his customer service to others was paramount. He is very excited to utilize his experience to better your visit to our office!
​
In his free time, Dustin enjoys golf, weightlifting, playing basketball and loves his life at home with Dr. Kuras, their four kids and the crazy travel sports schedules they have.
Dustin
Chief Operating Officer