Owatonna Office
507.451.5993

Faribault Office
507.334.3334

Meet the Staff

Shelly Bergland
Licensed Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant

Shelly first joined our team in 1998 as an intern, but we hired her as soon as her schooling was complete! Now, in addition to working chairside, Shelly is in charge of all our diagnostic records including various x-rays, tracings, and photos. Shelly says, "I love working at Prairie Ridge—there is never a day we don't laugh and Dr. Loveless is always making sure that we're learning something new!" Her favorite part of working here is the patients, "They're all so wonderful. I love getting to know them!"

Shelly and her husband have three children, and the family spends plenty of time outdoors, either at the park, at their cabin, or out hiking. When she's got a spare moment, Shelly likes to knit, walk or play volleyball.

Julie

Julie Blazek
Licensed Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant, Lab Technician

Julie began working here in 1986. In addition to helping Dr. Loveless chairside, Julie also orders our entire stock of orthodontic equipment and makes retainers and other appliances for our patients! She loves "helping make beautiful smiles," while saying that she also enjoys the "variety of my job and the great co-workers I get to work with!" Julie also appreciates "Dr. Loveless' commitment to provide top-notch orthodontic treatment, utilizing the newest technology out there!"

Julie is our hometown girl, having been born and raised here in Owatonna. She has two daughters. On her days off, Julie can often be found at her husband's auto repair business. With her free time, Julie is also 4-H leader for her daughters' club (she grew up on a farm) and enjoys cross-stitching. Most of all, Julie loves to spend time with her family. In fact, her passion for family goes way back: Julie spends many hours researching her ancestors' genealogy.

Shari

Shari Crabtree
Licensed Dental Assistant, Treatment Coordinator

Shari Crabtree became our Treatment Coordinator in 2004. She's the first team member that our new patients meet, as she explains treatment options and introduces them to Prairie Ridge. When it comes to orthodontics, Shari enjoys "the beautiful smiles we help make... also, Dr. Loveless really cares about his patients and makes our office a fun place to be!" In addition, she really likes "meeting new people and the excitement from kids when they know it's time to get braces!"

Shari grew up in Ellendale, Minnesota, and lives there with her husband and three children. Shari loves to spend time with her family- whether it's staying at their cabin or watching her kids' sports, just being with around them makes her smile!

Sheena Sheena Murphy

Licensed Dental Assistant, Cerified Dental Assistant

Sheena joined our team in the summer of 2006 as an intern and we hired her soon after. As one of our former patients, Sheena is able to truly identify with the patients she now treats. In addition to assisting chairside in the clinic, Sheena also works at
the front desk scheduling appointments and answering phones.

Sheena and her husband, John live in their hometown of Faribault. Sheena enjoys rollerblading, snowmobiling and spending time with her family and friends. She also likes taking their dog Jackson on walks.

Barbara Barb Erickson
Financial Coordinator

Barb has been working here since 1980 and is in charge of accounts and making sure that you receive the maximum benefits from your insurance company. Barb loves the people she works with and respects how Dr. Loveless treats his team "like we are his family and makes our office such a friendly environment!" Her favorite part about working in the orthodontics field is "seeing the patients' first smiles after they've gotten their braces off."

Barb and her husband have three children, plus seven grandchildren. Barb loves boating on the Mississippi river, reading, knitting, and watching her grandchildren's sporting events. She is a native of Albert Lea, MN, and has lived in Owatonna since 1979, where the Ericksons currently reside with their two furriest family members: a beagle, Tess, and a Gordon Setter, Zoey.

Heather Heather Lisowski
Licensed Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant

Heather has been working at Prairie Ridge since 2002. She assists chairside, coordinates all of our radiology needs and manages our office to comply with OSHA standards. Heather remarked, "I really enjoy what I'm doing! Working with everyone is great—they're all team players and Dr. Loveless really cares about everyone." In addition, Heather also enjoys "letting the patients leave with a big, happy smile!"

Heather grew up in New Richland, Minnesota, and has been living in rural Owatonna since 1996. She and her husband have two sons. She especially likes to spend time with her family, but also enjoys going to stock car races, fishing and four-wheeling.

Stephanie McCarren
Licensed Dental Assistant

Stephanie has been at our office for 30 years! Steph loves working in the orthodontics field because of "the patients plus the hands-on work" and says that she also enjoys "the variety and independence my job provides, and I can't forget about tying in colored elastics while motivating patients to wear the elastics!" Steph can be known around our office as a bit of a jokester. "Dr. Loveless is the best! Plus, he's a real person who can have fun!"

She and her two children love to be outdoors with their dog. Steph loves to knit and work on her flower garden.

Sherry

Sherry Rysavy
Licensed Dental Assistant

Sherry joined our team in 2004 as a chairside assistant, but has been working in dentistry for 20 years (in fact, she still "fills in" at various dental offices in this area). She says that her favorite part of working in the orthodontic field is that she "loves seeing smiles transform!" Working at Prairie Ridge is "great," she says, because, "My co-workers are fantastic—they made me feel so welcome and I've learned a lot since I've been here! Plus, the patients that come here are super!" Sherry enjoys working with Dr. Loveless because "he's very nice, he cares about his patients, and likes to have fun."

Though Sherry was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, she considers herself a native of Owatonna, having lived here since 1969. She and her husband have four children. As a family, the Rysavys like to fish, watch movies, play games and hunt for fossils. Sherry enjoys making jewelry, going on walks, swimming and crocheting.

Laura

Laura Willette
Scheduling Coordinator

Laura joined the Prairie Ridge team in 2001 as the person who takes care of everything from scheduling patients' appointments and typing letters to answering phones (she's the cheerful voice you hear when calling our office!). Laura loves working at Prairie Ridge—her flexible schedule gives her more time with her family and she believes that "it's so fun getting to know the patients and their families!" Plus, "I feel so fortunate to work for an orthodontist that does such amazing work!"

Laura grew up in Faribault, but has been living in Owatonna since 1998. She has two adult children Chris and Brittany. When not at work, Laura loves taking trips with her husband Chad on their Harley, taking vacations and of course shopping!