VO Team

We are especially interested in making all our patients feel right at home! We put your needs first to achieve efficient and comprehensive treatment. Our staff is trained and skilled, and we strive to provide energetic and fun-loving service to each patient. Each member of our treatment team is a registered assistant, and our office staff has years of experience in treating patients with the highest level of care. We strive to stay current with the very latest in technology and advances by regularly attending continuing education courses and seminars.

Julie Germain – Practice Administrator

Hello to all of you! I joined our team 15 years ago and am a proud bearer of many hats. My multi-task position is wonderful and I love to contribute to such a positive working atmosphere that the entire staff has created here at Valley Orthodontics. Every aspect of our patients care is important to me and I truly love the joy our patients express from their healthy smiles achieved by Dr. Maher and the assistants.

Away from the office I have served on many community boards. I enjoy music and time spent in my vegetable and flower gardens, and because I am a bit of a social extrovert I thoroughly welcome social time with family, friends and of course my Valley Orthodontic teammates. My husband of 25 years and 2 grown sons and I, love fishing and are all avid sports fans. I look forward to meeting you!

Rosie Lestrud– Scheduling Coordinator

My name is Rosie and I am a business coordinator for Valley Orthodontics where I have worked for the past eight years. I couldn’t ask for a better place to work, as it is both fun and challenging. Dr. Maher and the staff are terrific to work with and I’m able to meet great kids and their parents. Orthodontics is a fascinating field and the end results are amazing!

My husband, Murray, and I live in the country near Baldwin. I love cats and have two house cats, Nissa and Truffles and two barn cats, Bingo and Waldo (where is Waldo?) I enjoy reading (historical novels are my favorite) gardening, traveling – especially to New York City to visit my niece and to Oregon to visit my nephew. I also enjoy bicycling and have biked on many beautiful trails in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. I love where I’m at in my life. I have a great job, many friends and good health. Life is good!

Mary Lou Kugler – Registered Dental Assistant, Lab Technician, Marketing Director

I have been an orthodontic lab tech and certified assistant for more than 30 years and with Valley Orthodontics since 1992! Why that long? – Because orthodontics is the only place to be! Getting to know the patients over the course of their treatment is a blast and my co-workers are quite simply the best! Dr. Maher is an excellent orthodontist and a great person to work for. Coming to work each day is not a chore – it’s FUN! As the lab technician, I get to see the results of all the hard work that goes into creating new smiles for our patients. Not only do they end up with straight teeth, there’s a new confidence that goes along with their new smile. There is also a real sense of pride that we, the ortho people, get from helping others achieve “healthy smiles for a lifetime”!

I live in Stillwater and love to spend time at our little cabin “up north”. My husband Joe, our daughter Kate and our 2 English Cocker Spaniels, Daisy and Sophie, love to fish, swim and hike along the North Shore. Because my job allows me to work part time, I also enjoy volunteering at my daughter’s school in Stillwater and at our church for Wednesday night religious education.

Pam Hendrickson – Registered Dental Assistant

Hi, my name is Pam. I’ve been an Orthodontic assistant for 10 years and graduated from Century College in 1996. After a few career changes and having braces as a child, orthodontics seemed to be the best fit for me. I absolutely love watching the transformations of our patients from the beginning to the beautiful smiles in the end. Here at Valley Orthodontics I feel we have the most caring Doctor and team of women. The friendships I have made here are simply the best. I love our upbeat and fun atmosphere and our patients are a big part of that -- they’re awesome!!

Outside the office I enjoy time with my husband David. We love to go to the Brainerd area for hunting in the fall and boating and golfing in the summer months. We also love to escape to a tropical climate in the winter months. Another big part of my life is the time we spend with our children and their families.

Jeri Nelson – Registered Dental Assistant

After receiving a BA in 1994 with Broad Area Art from UWRF, I tried many professions and found my passion in the field of dentistry. Then, I graduated with a Dental Assistant Degree in 1997 from Century College of Minnesota. I never looked back. Everyday, I know I make a difference, watching each patient achieve a new confidence and an amazing smile. It does help that I get to work in a fun atmosphere, with my closest friends and kindest boss, plus I get to let out my inner kid.

I’m a real animal lover and enjoy pet sitting for my friends. I enjoy all cardio activities in the gym and outside on those hot days. Some people may think I worship the sun. Whenever, possible I like to try a new adventure or a new place to travel. I’m a girl on the go but also like to curl up on the couch with a good mystery novel or movie and don’t forget the sweets. (Followed by a thourough brushing, of course).

Andrea Schmidt – Certified Dental Assistant, Registered Dental Assistant

My name is Andrea. I’ve been a registered and certified Dental Assistant since 1999. I received my clinical training at Lakeland Medical/Dental Academy in Minneapolis Minnesota. I joined Dr. Maher’s staff in April 2005. I head up the OSHA and Radiation safety at Valley Orthodontics as well as working chair side with patients. What drew me to orthodontics was seeing the beautiful smiles we create every day. It makes it all worthwhile to see the patient walk out the door with a new self-assurance. I enjoy working at Valley Orthodontics because the Dr. and staff are some of the most warm and compassionate people I have worked with. Plus we have some of the best patients around!

When I’m out of the office I enjoy spending time with my husband Tom, daughter Fiona and sweetheart of a dog Spike. Tom and I enjoy hiking along the north shore, taking long car rides in our V W’s, and going out to dinner with our family and friends.