Steering Committee
MARIANNE RODEN (Chair)
Marianne has over 40 years’ experience as a Certified Dental Assistant working in both general practice dentistry and in Orthodontics as a treatment coordinator.
As a previous board member of the Central Island CDA Society, Marianne enjoys interacting with other dental professionals and being part of a professional team. She completed the Provincial Instructor Diploma (PID) in 2004 and a M.Ed degree from Simon Fraser University in 2017. Marianne has been teaching at Vancouver Island University since 2004. She is currently Instructor and Chair of the Dental Assistant Program at VIU, Chair of the BC CDA Articulation Committee and a Board member of Nanaimo’s CODE clinic.
Marianne enjoys spending time with her 3 adult children, her 2 grandsons and her husband. She likes to be outside walking and taking in the beautiful ocean and wilderness that is easily accessible in Nanaimo.
Marla Jones (At Large)
Marla is an experienced dental professional with over 10 years of practical experience as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) in general dentistry. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge in 1995 and went on to obtain her Dental Assisting certificate from East Kootenay Community College in 1997. Driven by her passion for education, Marla completed an Instructor Diploma from Vancouver Community College (VCC) in 2018.
Since 2007, Marla has been a dedicated educator in the CDA Program at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, B.C., where she currently serves as both faculty and program coordinator. Residing in Jaffray, a small town in the East Kootenay region, Marla enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle, engaging in activities like walking, running, biking, paddleboarding, and snowshoeing. She is also deeply involved in her local community, participating in various organizations and events that contribute to the vibrancy of her hometown.
As a member of the CDA Alliance Steering Committee, Marla brings a wealth of practical experience and a strong commitment to education, aiming to support and advance the dental assisting profession.
Harnet Berhe (At Large)
Originally from Eritrea, Harnet has made Vancouver “home” for over 22 years. She has been a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) since 2004, and has worked in three private dental practices in the downtown Vancouver area. Harnet is passionate about her work and enjoys connecting with patients and colleagues. She has had the pleasure of witnessing patients and families young and old develop life long good oral health practices.
Outside of her work, Harnet enjoys spending time in nature, chasing the sunshine in the summer, watching the waves come and go by the ocean, hiking, camping, and traveling throughout beautiful British Columbia. She is committed to spending quality time with her close friends and family members. She loves exploring indigenous spiritual practices from around the world. Here in Canada, Harnet has had many opportunities to partake in North American Indigenous Ceremonies and has grown a great respect for their earth-based teachings and culture. Harnet continues to learn and study holistic practices to develop a deeper understanding of our human nature, and how we can thrive at the spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical levels. Harnet Speaks four languages fluently and is currently learning Spanish for fun.
Harnet became a member of the CDA Alliance to assists this team bring forward the current issues and challenges the CDA profession is faced with and to ensure that the profession is adamantly well-represented at all levels of need. She is excited to assist this team of change makers in the co-creation of a strong foundation for CDAs and she believes that this in turn, will benefit all dental professionals and the public at large.
Kourtnee Thomas (At Large)
Kourtnee Thomas graduated as a Certified Dental Assistant in 2010 with a certification of excellence and has been loving her experience in the industry ever since.
After five years of assisting in general practice Kourtney decided to try Treatment Coordinating which led to Office Coordinating. For the past 5 years, she has been employed by the Blue Ocean Dental Group as an Operations Manager with a focus on Clinical Operations and Practicum Placements.
After spending lengths of time struggling to find CDA’s, Kourtnee is determined to shine a light as to why. She hopes to help others experience the opportunities this industry has to offer.
Samantha Funk (Junior Member)
Samantha grew up in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, where she valued family time, especially caring for animals on her family farm and spending time with her Nana baking pies. When not on the farm, she enjoyed skiing, boating, dancing, and volunteering in her community.
Ready for a change, Samantha moved to Prince George after being accepted into the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) program at CNC. While in her program, she became the student representative for the CDA Alliance and received the Outstanding Clinical Performance Award upon graduating in 2024. The bonds she formed with classmates and instructors influenced her decision to make Prince George her new home.
As a new graduate, and Junior member of the CDA Alliance Steering Committee, Samantha is excited to be part of the dental community. She values optimal patient care and a positive attitude toward oral health and is eager to keep growing professionally.
Hanita Lail (Junior Member)
Hanita Lail graduated as a Certified Dental Assistant from Camosun College in 2024. During her time in school, she was honored to serve as the student leader in her program. Hanita actively contributed to the CDA Alliance Steering Committee meetings, where she played a key role in discussions on advancing the dental assisting profession. Her passion for the dental field has only deepened since graduation, leading her to take on the role of junior committee member for 2024/2025.
With over five years of experience in the dental industry, Hanita is dedicated to delivering exceptional care, fostering strong connections with her patients, and collaborating closely with her colleagues to create a supportive and efficient clinical environment.
Outside of her professional life, Hanita enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, embracing the beauty of nature and exploring new destinations through travel.
Elder in Residence, Sheila Nyman
Sheila is a Syilx (Okanagan) Metis woman and a member of the Lower Similkameen Indian band. Her spirit name is “Stands Strong like a Rock BearWoman” and by the generosity of the Ancestors lives in the Interior of BC.
Sheila has worked extensively with women, addictions, mental health, HIV/Aids and well-being in and around Vancouver’s DTES from 1994 to 2007. From 2009 to 2014 she worked providing emotional and cultural support to former survivors of Indian Residential Schools and Truth and Reconciliation.
Sheila received a Fellowship from the University of Victoria and completed her Masters thesis in 2015; her thesis explored the link between ancient Indigenous Ceremony/Traditional Healing and Western models of therapy.
Sheila has been mentored and initiated into “Indigenous Healing and Ceremony” by Spiritual leader and Pipe Carrier, Aline LaFlamme, who is known as “Many Buffalo Running.” She has completed six “Spirit Quests” (vision quest, mountain fasts).
She has learned and earned the responsibility to hold a people’s Pipe. Conducting healing ceremonies such as Moon Lodge and Sweat Lodge keeps her connected with the traditions of the ancestors.
Her connection with Grandmother Moon has inspired her interest in learning and understanding the inter-connections of the energy of our great mother, the Earth.
Click here to hear Sheila’s story.
Staff
Shannon Wilson (CDA Lead)
Email: cda@bcdha.com