Meet Our Staff

The Amazing and Caring Team At CopperMine Dental Studio

Doctors

Dr. Manalo, “Dr. K” is a Tucson native who began his career as a registered nurse caring for post-surgical cardiothoracic patients. After meeting with dentists that performed oral evaluations for potential heart transplant recipients and volunteering at a community dental clinic, he developed a passion for the art of dentistry and the profound impact oral health can have on overall health. Dr. K attended the University of Arizona for his bachelor’s degree before earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree summa cum laude from Midwestern University. He ultimately joined CopperMine Dental because of the friendly team’s commitment to providing excellent patient care. Outside of work, Dr. K enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, and moto-camping.

Leadership Team

When Perla was a teen receiving ortho, she felt so comfortable with the team treating her, that she realized she wanted to have a career that helped people smile and feel confident. She began her dental career in 2006. When CopperMine opened its doors in 2008, Perla was Dr. Dutton’s first employee, working as a Dental Assistant. Through her commitment, hard work, and grit, Perla advanced into management in 2015. Perla enjoys being a leader. She thrives on problem solving through using systems and processes. When not working, Perla enjoys physical activity like CrossFit. She also enjoys fun parties, family BBQ’s, shopping, DIY’s, and trying out new restaurants.

Dazia is the Office Manager and Treatment Coordinator at the CopperMine Dental Studio Madera office. She has over 15 years of dental experience. She joined the CopperMine Dental team in 2019. She loves being able to help our patients understand their insurance benefits and how to maximize them. It’s very gratifying for her to watch our team transform patients’ smiles into Happy. Healthy. Smiles. In her free time, Dazia loves spending time with her husband and daughter. She has found a new love for plants. She enjoys caring for them and watching them bloom and thrive. Dazia also loves chocolate, anything chocolate!

Hygienist

An grew up in Seattle, Washington. Go Hawks!! He moved to Arizona in 2005 and graduated from dental hygiene school in 2011. He has been working at Coppermine Dental Studio since 2012. What An likes most about dentistry is being able to provide optimal care to a wide range of patient demographics, anywhere from pediatric to geriatric patients. He enjoys building relationships with his patients. Outside of work, An enjoys cooking, spending time with his wife, walking his dog Sophie, and playing tennis, pickleball, and golf.

Amy graduated from Dental Hygiene School in Denver, Colorado in 2004. She joined the CopperMine Dental Studio Team in 2019 when she moved to Sahuarita. She loves trying to help patients feel comfortable being at the dental office. She enjoys working with patients to improve their oral health. Aside from being a Dental Hygienist, Amy also works as our Marketing Assistant. Amy stays busy outside of the office volunteering in the community and at her kids’ schools. She and her husband love cheering on their 3 boys at their various sporting events and activities.

Kim has been a Dental Hygienist since 2004. For the last 16 years she has worked at the Madera office. She worked with Dr. Sokal before we established CopperMine Dental Studio at this location. Kim takes pride in her work and in helping her patients improve their oral hygiene for overall better health and confidence. She enjoys catching up with her patients at each visit. Her patients are not just patients, they are like family. Kim enjoys hiking Tumamoc Hill and spending time with her family.

Alexandra was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. She graduated from the Pima Community College Dental Hygiene program in 2008. She enjoys putting her patients at ease and ensuring a positive dental experience. Alexandra likes to stay current with continuing education to educate her patients on their dental health. She resides in Sahuarita with her husband, two kids and their dog. She enjoys cooking and spending family time outdoors.

Admin Team

Sandy joined the CopperMine Dental Team in 2017. She is part of our Accounts Receivable Department. She has worked in the dental field since 2001. Sandy has dual Associate degrees in Accounting and Business Management. Even though Sandy is generally a homebody, in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her 2 kids and traveling.

Craig has been with Coppermine Dental Studio since 2014. He is part of our Accounts Payable Department. Craig earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Industrial Organization from the University of Arizona. Working with numbers aligns well with his interests and skills. Craig feels the best part of working for CopperMine Dental, is his co-workers. He feels there isn’t a better group of people to spend his work day with. Craig spends most of his free time listening to music, watching sports, and working on cars.

Jacque has been in the dental field since 2019. She joined CopperMine Dental Studio in the Spring of 2023, working with our Admin Team as an Insurance Coordinator. She is a Tucson native and has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona. In her spare time, Jacque loves baking anything sweet, spending time with her 3 dogs, and traveling with her family.

Shelsea joined the Administrative Team at Rancho in 2022 as the Hygiene Coordinator. Her calm demeanor helps patients feel at ease as she greets them in to the office or talks to them on the phone. Outside of work, Shelsea is an avid CrossFit trainee. A fun fact: Dr. Dutton did Shelsea’s braces several years ago. What a beautiful smile she has!

Arielle is our Hygiene Coordinator at CopperMine Madera. She has worked in the dental field since 2022 and joined our team in 2024. She chose to work as part of our Admin Team because she loves helping people and being the first face they see when they come through the door. She will do whatever she can to help others smile. Arielle loves that CopperMine Dental is so team oriented; that we build each other up and have fun together. When Arielle is not working, she relaxes by watching movies, playing video games, and taking spontaneous adventures with her wife.

Dental Assistants

Kelly is a Tucson native, born and raised. She graduated in 2010 from Pima Medical Institute where she completed the Dental Assistant Program. She joined the Coppermine Dental Studio team as a Dental Assistant in 2014. Kelly is X-ray and Coronal Polish certified. She loves the challenges and the excitement that come with working in the dental field. When Kelly is not working, she loves to find new baking recipes to try, participate in outdoors activities, and take her boys out for a movie.

Sandra is a Certified Dental Assistant and started her dental career with Coppermine Dental Studio in 2019. She is X-ray and Coronal Polish certified. She chose to be a Dental Assistant because she loves dentistry and helping patients. Her favorite thing about being at the office, is the people she is surrounded by every day. When Sandra is not working, she loves to spend time with her family, especially her granddaughter. She also enjoys camping and travel.

Cristina has been a Dental Assistant since 2014. She completed Dental Assisting school in Odessa, Texas then decided she missed Arizona and moved back to her home state. She has been with CopperMine Dental Studio since November 2019. She is a Certified Dental Assistant and is X-ray and Coronal Polish certified. Her favorite part about working in dentistry is that she can be part of helping people achieve their dream smiles. When Cristina is not in the office, she loves going to Baseball games with her baseball loving family. Cristina also enjoys traveling with her family or taking road trips with friends.

Denise has worked in the dental field for over 18 years. She has been part of the CopperMine Dental team since 2020. Denise loves to make a positive impact on our patients to endure they have the best experience in their dental journey. When she is not working, Denise enjoys spending quality time with her daughter and family. You can also fine her at the gym. Her favorite food is steak dinner or Mexican cuisine. Denise loves to explore new ventures that help her grow and expand her skills.

Luci completed her Dental Assisting Externship with CopperMine Dental in 2023 and joined the team upon graduation. She chose a career in dentistry because she knew she wanted to work in healthcare and help people feel happy and confident about their smile. She enjoys working at CopperMine Dental because everyone is hardworking and knowledgeable. When Luci is not at work, she likes to hike, travel, try new restaurants, and spend time with her friends and family.

Glori graduated as a Certified Dental Assistant and joined CopperMine Dental in 2023. She is X-ray certified. She became a dental assistant because she wanted to help people learn more about their oral health and how important it is. She really likes working at CopperMine Dental because the Team is so helpful and cheerful. When Glori is not at work, she likes to jog and workout, spend time with her family, and go shopping.

Dayanna has been a Certified Dental Assistant since 2023. She joined CopperMine Dental in 2025. She became a dental assistant because she liked being able to interact with and help people. She knew she wanted to work in the medical field, but not in a hospital. Dayannaa enjoys working at CopperMine Dental because the environment is welcoming, helpful, and the Team is a true TEAM. When she is not at work, Dayanna likes to relax with skin care treatments, spend time with her family and fur babies, and travel.

Abril has been a Certified Dental Assistant since 2024. She joined CopperMine Dental Studio in 2025. She became a dental assistant because she knows how important a great smile is for someone to feel confident. Abril’s favorite part about working at the office is the supportive, upbeat spirit of her colleges and the excellent care they provide. When she is not at work, Abril enjoys shopping, trying new coffee recommendations, and spending time with her family and friends.