Meet The Periodontal Team – Lincoln, NE

Diane, Office Manager

Diane’s career in oral healthcare impressively covers nearly 40 years so far, with most of that time spent right here at our office. She studied at Central Community College in Hastings and has also worked as a Certified Dental Assistant. Today, her favorite part of this job is building long-lasting relationships with other people. She is so thankful to be part of a team that strives to treat each patient with kindness, respect, dignity, and honesty. They’re also dedicated to the highest standards of care, communication, and appreciation possible – not just of patients, but of each other and the extended dental community as well.

Diane is proud to come from a farming background-in fact, her family still farms the same ground south of Cozad, NE for over 100 years! She has two amazing children. Her daughter and family live in Madison, AL and son and family reside in Omaha. She is married to her childhood friend, Gregg, who is the owner of GDE Construction. They enjoy a wonderful life together, along with their three Labrador retrievers. She and Gregg are lovingly referred to as Lolly and Pops by their 5 beautiful grandchildren. Diane is happiest when serving others, enjoying time with family and friends, experiencing music, wine, and laughter. She values any time spent exploring God’s beautiful world, walking, reading, or traveling. She is one half of a piano duo, called Two Pea’nists in a Pod, who plays for residents of retirement communities and church events.

Colleen, Administrative Assistant

Colleen was born in Manhattan, KS but was raised in Lincoln. She graduated from the dental assistant program at Southeast Community College in 1981. Today, her overall dental career spans nearly 40 years! She feels very proud to not only work with such wonderful people each day but also take care of them as they pursue healthier, happier smiles.

Colleen and her husband Scott have been married for nearly 30 years, and have three children. Lauren is a Registered Nurse, Kylie is starting dental school at UNMC in the fall (she hopes to become a pedodontist or periodontist), and Taylor is a health/science major at UNL. As for hobbies, their entire family loves traveling and has undergone scuba diving expeditions, including Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. Colleen herself personally enjoys gardening, exercising, walking outdoors, and keeping up with Husker sports, especially women’s volleyball. She is a member of St. Joseph Church and is dependent on her faith in all aspects of life. In addition to working full-time in dentistry, she also successfully runs her own small business, which is named Simply Amaizen Popcorn and Snacks!

Marcia, Business Manager

A Lincoln native, Marcia attended Southeast Community College for her education. Today, she has been working in dental offices for nearly 40 years! She loves being to help so many wonderful patients and spend time alongside such talented coworkers on a daily basis.

Marcia and her husband Lynn have two sons named Trevor and Tate. Trevor is happily married and has a daughter named Grayson, who is the love of their lives. Tate is developmentally disabled and lives at home; he keeps them on their toes and feeling young for sure! Outside of working hours, she enjoys watching all types of sports, being outdoors, and reading. She also definitely has a wanderlust personality and is always up for traveling and experiencing new places. In 2019, she had the opportunity to go to South Africa, and it was an experience she will never forget.

Nykole, Administrative Assistant

Nykole says that her job is all about building relationships and getting to know people’s stories. She loves working with our patients and learning about them, and this makes serving them alongside our doctors and staff even more rewarding. She attended Southeast Community College and has over a decade of experience working in dental insurance and as a dental assistant.

Nykole married her high school sweetheart, and they have five children, including four daughters and one son. They also have a lot of pets, including three dogs, a cat, and two chinchillas! She is very involved in Girl Scouts and enjoys watching her son shoot trap on the weekends. As long as she is outside and with her children, she’s happy!

Marina, Dental Hygienist

Marina completed her dental education at the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry, and she has her Expanded Functions training. Today, she’s been working in dentistry for over 15 years so far! Her favorite part of this work is being able to interact closely with patients in need, as well as help them maintain their dental health over the long-term.

While Marina was born in Dnepr, Ukraine, she considers Lincoln her true hometown. She and her husband Alexander have three children named Roman, Julia, and Nelly. Outside of the dental practice, her favorite activities are hiking in the mountains of Colorado, basking in the sun on Florida beaches, and baking artisan bread. She also enjoys trying new recipes from different countries, gardening, reading, and taking on cross-stitching projects. Spending quality time with her large family is an absolute must too, of course!

Shirlette, Dental Hygienist

Shirlette’s career in dentistry spans nearly 35 years so far! She loves caring for, treating, education, and building relationships with not only her wonderful patients but the other team members too. You’ll be sure to enjoy her positive, optimistic personality from the moment you meet her. She studied dental assisting at Southeast Community College before earning her dental hygiene degree at Central Community College in Hastings. She is an RDH who also has her public health license.

Outside of the office, Shirlette is the proud single mom of a teenage boy – he’s her greatest gift. When she has free time, she enjoys cooking, entertaining, hanging out with family and friends, reading, and golfing. She also loves being outdoors and enjoying the sounds, smells, and quietness that God has blessed us with. She has to admit that she always looks forward to shopping too – what girl doesn’t?

Elizabeth, Dental Hygienist

Elizabeth brings nearly 30 years of experience in dentistry to Pioneer Periodontics & Implant Dentistry and has been part of the team for the past two years. Her favorite part of her role is helping patients achieve and maintain a healthy mouth, and she takes pride in providing thorough, thoughtful care that supports long-term oral health.

Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. She has expanded scope of functions training, including administering and monitoring nitrous oxide, providing local anesthesia, and writing prescriptions for fluoride products and therapeutic mouth rinses. Her extensive clinical background allows her to deliver confident, knowledgeable care while helping patients feel at ease during their visits.

Originally from Minden, Nebraska, Elizabeth and her husband have two children. Outside of the office, she enjoys long walks, bike rides, reading, baking, fishing during the summer months, and spending quality time with her family. She and her family relocated from Sidney, Nebraska seven years ago and are happy to call this community home.

Emily, Dental Hygienist

Emily joined the Pioneer Periodontics team after graduating in May 2025 and has been working in dentistry for the past year. She enjoys learning alongside her coworkers and advancing her skills each day, and she especially loves connecting with patients to help them feel comfortable, informed, and confident about their dental care.

Emily completed her dental hygiene education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln after finishing her prerequisites at Wayne State College. Her interest in dentistry began after spending plenty of time in the dental chair herself, inspiring a patient-focused approach centered on comfort and education. During her training, she gained experience shadowing multiple dental specialties, volunteering, and working in public health settings, where she earned her public health certification. She continues to expand her knowledge through continuing education and staying current on new research and products.

Originally from Aurora, Nebraska, Emily grew up with her parents and older sister, who now works as a physician assistant. She is engaged to her high school sweetheart, Brady, and they share their home with an energetic golden retriever puppy named Hank. Outside of the office, Emily enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with family and friends, ideally with a good book by the pool or the ocean on a warm day.

Samantha, Certified Dental Assistant

Samantha loves forming relationships with our patients and using them to help people transform their smiles and lives for the better! She is a graduate of Southeast Community College and regularly attends continuing education courses to keep up with the latest dental technology and techniques.

Outside of dentistry, Samantha enjoys spending time with her dog, Sutton-- taking her out to her parent's acreage is always a treat! You’ll often find her hanging out with her family, taking the boat out on the lake or going on one of many hunting trips.

TaLissa, Dental Assistant

Born and raised in Lincoln, TaLissa began her career in the field of dentistry by studying at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After graduating, she moved on to get her certification in dental assisting through the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. Over the past several years, she’s undergone on-the-job training to hone her skills and expand her expertise as a dental assistant so that she can provide the high-quality care patients deserve. Today, her favorite thing about her job is building connections with our patients to create a positive experience for them at the dental office.

When she isn’t at the office helping others take care of their smiles, TaLissa spends quality time with her son at home. Every Friday night is their movie night together, and she occasionally hosts grill-outs on the weekends to hang out with friends and loved ones. She also enjoys cooking, playing volleyball all year round, and reading a good book. Her favorite novel is 11/22/63 by Stephen King!

Julia, Dental Assistant

Julia has been working in dentistry for over a year and loves being part of a profession that allows her to support patients as they learn how to better care for their smiles. Her favorite part of the job is seeing patients’ progress over time and knowing she played a role in their journey toward improved oral health.

Julia is currently pursuing a Biology degree with a minor in Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and hopes to one day become a dentist herself. She is CPR certified and has been working closely with people since 2019, developing strong communication skills and a genuine passion for patient care. Being raised in a family with hardworking parents taught her to take pride in her work and give her best effort each day. She is especially inspired by her mother, Marina, who also works at the practice and has been a guiding influence in her dental career.

Originally from Denton, Nebraska, Julia is the middle child in a family of five, with an older brother and younger sister. Outside of the office, she enjoys crocheting, knitting, and spending time with her three cats. Julia also enjoys vlogging and creating YouTube videos in her free time, being outdoors, hiking, lounging at the beach, or going for a run. She hopes to someday run a marathon in every state!

Delayne, Dental Assistant

Delayne has been working in the dental field for over a year and enjoys getting to know patients while providing them with the best care possible. She values the relationships built in the dental office and takes pride in helping patients feel comfortable, supported, and confident throughout their visits.

Delayne earned her degree in dental assisting from Southeast Community College and has been part of the Pioneer Periodontics & Implant Dentistry team for the past year. She brings a caring attitude and strong work ethic to her role each day, inspired by the encouragement and support of her parents, who have been a meaningful influence throughout her career journey.

Originally from David City, Nebraska, Delayne is the youngest in her family and has one older brother. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading a good book, and traveling whenever she can. One of her favorite trips so far was visiting Rome, Italy. During the summer months, she stays active by playing beach volleyball.