The Smile Team
Our team reflects the diversity of our community and we love it!
Linda - Consultation Concierge
I'm the patient experience coordinator, and I welcome the new patients into our practice and help them through the initial phase of orthodontics. I know that listening to what the patients say is very important. I help our patients with their wants and needs with a smile and positive attitude. My family includes my two children and one granddaughter, Hayden. When I'm not spending time with them, I enjoy cooking and making crafts. My daughters Tiffany, Savanna and I are proud to be graduates of Mt Vernon High School.
FUN FACTS:
My Favorite color is:
PURPLE because it is such a friendly color : )
The car I drive:
A 2002 Mint condition-Blue Convertible Saab 93s. It is my Mini Vacation. I purposely take the extra-long way home from work every day.
Three things that make me smile:
- Fall leaves crunching under my feet
- Thunderstorms
- Campfires on a camping trip
Nicole - Innovation Engineer
Hi there! My name is Nicole Goehring and I am the Director of Business Operations. After growing up in and going to college in Southern California, I found myself searching for a way to apply my passion and knowledge to help others. I decided DC was the place to build a home with my chosen career path in Healthcare Administration. After a few years, I'm still in love with our nation's capitol and enjoy spending my time exploring the area and finding new study spots as I pursue my Masters in Organization Development at American University. More than anything I love to laugh and bring positivity and joy to my life and others. I'm so excited to be a part of a fantastic team!
FUN FACTS:
How I take my coffee:
Strong, because there are so many great things to be done at Hughes Orthodontics!
Favorite singer to sing or dance to when I’m all alone in the kitchen:
Whitney Houston
Favorite quote:
"Laugh more, love longer" because the more you laugh, the longer you live, and the more love you have to give!
What I love to do:
Travel! I studied abroad around the Mediterranean and caught the travel bug. I’ve now been to four different continents and 12 countries!
Rosita - Ambassador of First Impressions
I work as the insurance coordinator for Dr. Hughes. I help our patients make the most from their insurance coverage. We treat our patients like close friends or family, and always do what we can to make their orthodontic experience more convenient. When I'm not at the office, I love spending time with my husband Ernie and my son Sami. I also enjoy cooking and watching TV.
FUN FACTS:
Cherished childhood memory:
Every weekend my parents would take me to the movies and afterward eat at our favorite restaurant.
Most people don't know this but:
I love Hello Kitty!!!
What brought me to Alexandria:
My brother who lives here and my love for travel. I always wanted to travel and live elsewhere
Favorite Quote:
Everything happens for a reason
Loraine -Ambassador of First Impressions
I enjoy working with our patients to ensure they have a great experience, whether it's assisting with scheduling or answering questions about the practice. After working in fundraising operations for several years at major public healthcare systems in Washington, DC, I decided to change careers and focus on private healthcare/wellness practices. I am fortunate to be working at one of the premium practices in the area!
FUN FACTS:
In my spare time:
I enjoy swimming, hiking, rock scrambling, and paddle boarding.
I'm passionate about:
Ancient healing modalities
I also am:
An advanced meditator and also practice and study classic yoga techniques.
Fredy - Ambassador of First Impression
Hi, I'm Fredy! And I am the first smiling face you will encounter at Hughes Orthodontics. I come from a very small town called Primavera in El Salvador. My passion is photography, videography and editing, so be on the lookout for new Monday Bites!
FUN FACTS:
I look up to:
Lady Gaga because she is very inspirational in what she stands for and delivers a good message of love, kindness and equality through her actions and music.
Some activities on my bucket list are:
- Visit Japan
- Go to every amusement park in the world
- Write a song
My favorite quote is:
"If you don't have any shadows, you're not standing in the light" - L.G.
Damaris -Patient Care Specialist
I was born in Buenos Aries, Argentina. I come from a family of 5. I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends. Since I was little I dreamt of becoming a dentist because of the struggle and insecurity I had. Apart from that, another reason is to help people build up self-esteem and confidence. I enjoy helping others and making them feel good about the way they look and feel.
FUN FACTS:
Who inspires me:
My parents are who inspire me to be the best that I can be. I'm truly grateful for the love and support. They sacrificed their needs and desire in order to give my sisters and I a chance at obtaining a better education and future.
Favorite Restaurant:
El Paso Mexican Restaurant
Favorite Movie:
The Great Gatsby
Rosa - Multitasking Master
I joined Hughes Orthodontics in 2006 as a chairside assistant and today, I’ve expanded my knowledge and responsibilities both clinically and administratively to become the clinical care specialist. I enjoy working with patients to help them create a perfect smile which builds their confidence and self-esteem. My husband, Gerardo, and I have two adorable children, Emily and Justin.
FUN FACTS:
Things I love:
I enjoy shopping, watching movies, making craft around the house with my family, and always keeping busy with my kids' activities.
My favorite movie is:
I like to watch chick flick movies, but my all time favorite movie is Dance with Me.
Someday I would love to live:
On the beach!
Abdul - Patient Care Specialist
I work for Dr. Hughes as the lab manager and as a patient care specialist. I get to make retainers from impressions as well as assist with patients in the clinic. When I'm not in the office, I spend time with my wife, Shazia, and our two children, Sameeya and Mohammad. I also play cricket for the Washington Cricket League.
FUN FACTS:
My favorite type of movies are:
Scary movies!!
Things I love:
I love to travel and explore new places.
You will often hear me saying in the office:
“Come on!” or “Simmer Down”
Marelyn - Patient Care Specialist
I work as a patient care specialist and am the supply manager for Hughes Orthodontics. I graduated from West Potomac and participated in their dental academy for two years. I’m originally from Cali, Columbia and I love volleyball and learning new things. Joining the Hughes Orthodontic Team has been a blessing and I look forward to many years to come.
FUN FACTS:
My Favorite season:
I always look forward to the summer because I love the beach as well as family cookouts.
What's on my bucket list:
I want to do a long road trip in a car across the USA.
Something I am passionate about:
My passion is spending time with my family! I love going out and enjoying activities altogether, we always have so much fun.
What I'm afraid of:
I am really afraid of spiders and heights!
Thuy - Spark Plug
I work as a patient care specialist with Dr. Hughes. I have been deemed the spark plug of our office because of the incredible joy and energy I bring each day! Our office is a lot of fun to work in and I know that you'll enjoy visiting us. Our team gets along really well and we love to laugh with our patients. My husband Tin and I have two sons, Timothy and Tyler and two daughters, Tiffany, and Talia.
FUN FACTS:
Three things that make me smile:
- When I see my children read books to each other
- Kids bring home good grades
- Getting to volunteer at my children’s school
Things I love:
I love summer days, walking along the beach with my family, and crabbing the blue crabs at the bay.
Most people don’t know this but:
I love to do yoga on my days off!
Lyuda - Calligraphy Queen
I work here as a patient care specialist, helping Dr. Hughes with clinical procedures and making our patients feel comfortable and at home. I also do all the names and artwork on our welcome board. Dr. Hughes is a great man to work for because he respects the opinions of the staff and patients, and always takes the time to listen.
FUN FACTS:
You may not know this about me but:
My passion is to do gardening. I plant cucumbers, tomatoes, and smaller plants like basil and cilantro.
Things I love:
I love to cook different types of foods and also bake. My talent is decoration whether it is decorating cakes or even hands-on projects like the handwriting you see on the welcome board at the office!
What I'm afraid of:
My deadliest fears are heights and snakes.
When I am not in the office:
I like to ride my bike and jog.
Laura - Fun Ambassador
I am the marketing coordinator! I have the incredible opportunity to seek out ways to grow and expand the Hughes tradition of dedicated service and involvement in our community. I am a Richmond VA native who was swept off her feet by the handsome Dr. Justin Hughes and whisked away to adventures in both NYC and Iowa to achieve the dream of one day joining back here at Hughes Orthodontics. It has been an absolute joy to come alongside my husband in his endeavors and I am very excited to dive into all that the area has to offer. From exploring our nation’s capital to walking the streets of Old Town (where we currently live) to growing in our new church community at Del Ray Baptist. I look forward to meeting you and hearing all about why you love this area and more specifically Hughes Orthodontics ; )
FUN FACTS:
Sport played growing up:
I was a figure skater starting at the age of 7 years old! I had the same wee little Scottish coach over the 12+ years I competed and I even used to travel here from Richmond to the Mt. Vernon ice arena for their annual Cherry Blossom competition!
How Dr. Justin and I meet:
We were sneakily set up by my college roommate! She was in Justin’s church community group and (unbeknownst to us!) thought we would be a great match. She would invite me to things their group was doing together to get us to meet and hang out and the rest is history!
Favorite quote:
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to DANCE IN THE RAIN!
Tammy - Money Maestro
Hi! I am Dr. Herb Hughes wife Tammy, and I am the bookkeeper for Hughes Orthodontics. You can think of me like Santa Claus! Always checking the list twice to make sure Hughes Orthodontics can provide you with the very best experiences!
FUN FACTS:
Three things that make me smile:
- Obviously my magical husband, 3 sons (the trifecta), daughter-in-law, and our dynamic duo pups - Sloppy Joe and Lilah!
- A glorious sunset compliments of my heavenly Father
- Enjoying a nice glass of wine with stimulating company/conversation around a fire pit on a chilly autumn evening
Favorite singer I love to dance to when I'm all alone in the kitchen:
Confessions of a 70's music fan- let's go with the Bee Gees!!!
What energizes me:
"That feeling after an amazing workout!"
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