Marilyn Handy
Dental Hygienist
Marilyn grew up in Chicago, IL. She became a certified dental assistant in 1982 while living in Colorado. She worked as a dental assistant for 5 years and then moved back to Chicago to attend Northwestern University. She graduated with her dental hygiene degree in 1987. She and her son, Joseph, moved to Arkansas in June of 2009. Marilyn has worked as a hygienist in a variety of roles and settings. Now that she is semi-retired, she is working at CAFD on Wednesdays and occasionally filling in when other hygienists need to be out. She loves doing volunteer work in her community, traveling, making pottery, and singing in her church choir.
Her life motto is, "Always be kind, you are here to serve and to love people". One of her favorite Bible verses is Deuteronomy 2:7a, "For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hands."
Marty Heard
Office Manager & Front Office Coordinator
Dr. Heard and his wife, Marty, work as a team to keep things running smoothly. Marty works as a Front Office Coordinator and also behind the scenes doing the accounting, insurance and billing, and marketing. She and Dr. Heard have been married since 1997 and they have three children: Grace, Leigha, & Noah. When she isn't working, Marty enjoys spending time with family & friends, participating in Bible studies, discipling other women and relaxing at Lake Ouachita or in their awesome treehouse! She and Dr. Heard are active members of The Summit Church in North Little Rock.
"I love working with my husband! I've been amazed at the artistic talent God has blessed him with and the compassion he has for our patients. He always does what is best for our patients, and he is a man of great integrity. Our patients are in very good hands!"
Gayla Landreth
Dental Assistant
Gayla was born and raised in Little Rock. She worked as an Administrative Assistant until 2000. She became a dental assistant while living in Oahu, Hawaii. She has two grown children, Kendall and Parker, and a granddaughter, Lilly. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, reading and walking. She can often be found walking the halls or neighborhood around CAFD over her lunch break!
"I started working at CAFD in February 2025 as a temporary dental assistant, and gladly accepted the offer to officially join the team in a part-time position. Dr. Heard is a very patient and caring dentist. I could not ask for a better staff to work with."
Jasmine Mitchell
Dental Hygienist
Jasmine was born and raised in Jacksonville, AR. She graduated from Jacksonville High School in 2017, and went on to college in Conway at UCA. She was accepted into dental hygiene school at UAMS and graduated in 2021. In 2024 she expanded her education to include esthetics. She has always had a passion for dentistry and taking care of people. She loves serving others and making them smile. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and being outdoors. She also enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her family.
"I started working at CAFD in January of 2025 and immediately felt at home. I feel so blessed to be a part of Dr. Heard's office. You can feel God's presence in the office and I love the way Dr. Heard and Marty put God first. I'm excited to be a part of this team and help care for the patients of CAFD!"
Sarah Phipps
Front Office Coordinator
Sarah grew up in North Little Rock and Conway and is a proud Arkansan. She gradutated from Missouri State University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science and in 2008 a master's degree in Natural and Applied Sciences. Sarah joined the CAFD team in September 2018 after transitioning back from living and working in China as an English teacher. She loves traveling and meeting people from other cultures, riding horses, reading, watching movies, and spending time with her husband, Kristofer, and her son Theodore and three step children Kristina, Alexis, and William. In her free time she also teaches horseback riding lessons at Dutch Acres Farm in Jacksonville.
"One of my favorite things about working at CAFD are the people. The staff is amazing, and I love getting to brighten each patient's day by welcoming them with a smiling, friendly face. Dr. Heard and Marty are great to work for; I am so thankful for the way they honor God in their personal lives and in their business."
Lori Roberson
Dental Assistant
Lori was born and raised in Arkansas. She graduated from Arkansas School of Dental Assisting in 2011. Lori has been working for over 6 years at a pediatric dental office in Searcy. She now splits her time working in Searcy and here at CAFD. Lori is married and has two children. She enjoys traveling with her family, playing video games with her kids, and doing musical theatre. She also enjoys taking horseback riding lessons at Dutch Acres where our very own, Sarah Phipps, is her riding instructor!
"I feel very blessed to be working at CAFD. I love being able to help children with their dental needs. Dr. Heard and Marty are incredibly kind and God serving people."
Meadow Yvon
Dental Hygienist
Meadow grew up in New England and recently moved to Arkansas from Connecticut. She attended the University of Bridgeport and received her bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene in 2023. She joined the CAFD family in the fall of 2024. She also works as a server at a local restaurant on the weekends. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends, family and her pet rabbit.
"I feel so grateful to be able to work with such a close knit group here at CAFD! The lovely patients and colleagues make for an incredible experience".