Meet the Staff

APRIL HECKENDORF

Office Manager

April graduated from Lake Washington Technical College as a registered dental assistant in 1998. She assisted for three years before finding her love of the front desk. The part of her job she enjoys the most is getting to know you and helping you get the smile that makes you smile. With her knowledge of front and back office she is able to expertly explain to you your dental needs as well as help you understand your insurance and financing.

April started with us in 2011 managing our Mount Vernon location; in 2020 she also became manager of our Bellingham location. She has spent many years growing relationships with our patients in Mount Vernon and looks forward to doing the same in Bellingham.

When April is not working, she enjoys time with her husband, two boys and her dog Molly. Traveling is by far her favorite thing to do whether it be or somewhere entirely new, a crazy RV road trip or an impromptu trip to her favorite place to relax, Chelan, she loves the adventure that comes with traveling. She also loves camping, sunshine filled days on the lake, music, walks with her dog Molly and time with her friends around the bonfire.

Michelle Alvarado

Patient Coordinator

Michelle began her career in the dental field at age 16 by volunteering her time at a private dental office in Compton, CA.  While volunteering she was also attending Cerritos College.  She graduated Cerritos College in 2008 with a Dental Assisting Certification.  Michelle moved to Skagit Valley in 2014 and shortly after started her career with us.  Michelle’s favorite part of her job is

When Michelle is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young boys. Her favorite pastime is planting flowers and vegetables and watching them grow. She also loves to search for adventure while taking weekend drives and doing all of the great outdoor activities our area has to offer. She likes to spend her time with friends and family.

Haley Koenig

Dental Hygienist

Haley works part-time as a registered dental hygienist here at the office. She started at Diamond Dental in 2020 as a temporary hygienist planning to help for a couple of days but stayed permanently because she “couldn’t get enough of the amazing team” (her words exactly)!

She has been in the dental field for eight years. She graduated in 2014 as a registered dental assistant, in 2018 as a registered dental hygienist, and again in 2021 with her Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene. She currently has plans to go back to school to earn her Masters.

When she’s not studying for school, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, getting out on a kayak or paddle board, playing pickleball, and traveling all around the world! She’s always excited to hear about others’ travel plans and welcomes fun travel recommendations! Next on her bucket list is Costa Rica and Switzerland!

BRITTANY HOLDEN

Lead Dental Assistant

Brittany is lead assistant and back-office manager of both our Mount Vernon and our Bellingham locations. She started her dental career at the age of sixteen by volunteering at Community Health Center of Federal Way. After her volunteer work and training she accepted a full-time position with Community Health and worked with them for four years. She moved to Skagit County in 2011 and began her career here with us. Since beginning with us Brittany has become extremely knowledgeable in many areas of the dental field. In addition to general dentistry she is also skilled in orthodontics, implants and all on 4 surgeries. We are so pleased to have such a knowledgeable, versatile staff member.

Outside work Brittany enjoys spending time on her farm with her husband, 2 kids and her dogs Ruby and Goose. When she is not doing projects around the house you will find her cheering on her kids at their go kart races, riding quads and enjoying outdoor activities like camping, hiking, riding bikes and floating on a river. She also has a small business growing hanging flower baskets. Brittany is just as versatile in her personal life as she is in her professional one.

Paula Alvarado

Office Staff

Paula grew up locally in Whatcom and Skagit Valley areas. She originally joined our office back in August of 2018 at our Bellingham location before moving away to Alabama, in November of 2019, to help out in missionary work. She then moved back, and we gladly took her back on in January of 2024. She grew up knowing that she wanted to have a career where she could help people. Since then she has worked in the healthcare field for over 10 years, 6 of those have been dedicated solely to the dental field. She is very passionate about patient care and making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed when walking into the office.

When Paula isn’t in the office she likes to spend her time with family and friends. Going on road trips, trying different foods or things and cooking are some other things she likes to do in her spare time.

Robin Cedillo-Stachouse

Front Office Staff

As a kid Robin always wanted to be a dentist when she grew up. As she got older, that got lost behind other interests like wanting to become an educator. As she moved through the early phases of young adulthood, she tried a little bit of everything from working as a pastry chef for 2 1/2 years, to managing vacation rentals on the south end of Whidbey Island. She eventually found her way back to dental, working as front staff where she is able to learn more about dental treatments and help educate patients on taking care of their oral health. In her off time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her daughter and husband, crafting a handmade wardrobe through knit and crochet, and cooking/baking.

Marilu Bernal

Insurance Coordinator

Marilu has been working in the dental field for 17 years. She started working in Texas at her first dental clinic in 2003 as an administrative assistant. In 2020 she and her husband moved to Washington as newly empty nesters looking for a change of scenery. She began working at Diamond Dental as insurance coordinator and loves being able to help patients with treatment plans and making connections with our Spanish-speaking families. Marilu has 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren and 2 dogs that she loves very much. She loves Washington’s weather and enjoys being outdoors. She also enjoys reading and knitting in her spare time.

Skip to content