Meet Our Staff
Courtney Berge
After more than 20 years in dental offices, Courtney says she’s loved Tripp D.D.S. most of all—and we’d have to agree! Married with a combined family of five children and a proud step-grandma to four little ones, she keeps busy both at work and at home. Courtney earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and even taught third grade for a year before deciding her true passion was in dentistry. She finds balance through yoga and running, which bring her peace and keep her centered.
Q: What is your favorite place to vacation?
A: San Diego and Cabo
Q: Have you read any books more than once?
A: Yes! To Kill a Mockingbird. I love it!
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: Yoga in the morning and hanging out with my two sons.
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Yoga in the morning and hanging out with my two sons.
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Cats!
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunrise
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Butter Chicken
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Reno
Q: What was your first job?
A: Childcare at the YMCA
Q: Nevada native?
A: Yes
Leah Saunders
Like many of her coworkers, Leah has called Reno home for most of her life. Before joining the team, she was a long-term patient of Dr. Tripp’s. With a career spent primarily in medical offices, Leah is well-versed in helping patients connect with the care they need.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: Hawaii
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: Hanging out at home with my family.
Q: Favorite Sports Team/Athlete?
A: San Francisco Giants
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Pizza!
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunset
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Reno
Q: What was your first job?
A: Baskin Robbins at Park Lane Mall
Ann Miers
Ann has two boys, Jackson and Lucas, with her husband, Paul. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene and is a mean baker at home. When she’s not whipping up sweet treats, she’s coaching Galena High School’s mountain biking team and staying (heavily) involved in the Northern Nevada Interscholastic Cycling League. If you have kids that want to ride a bike – she’s your person.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Q: What’s the last series you binge watched?
A: Derry Girls – so funny
Q: Have you read any books more than once?
A: “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” (a classic, for sure)
Q: Favorite Sports Team/Athlete?
A: Kateřina Nash
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Maui Onion chips
Q: What have you been listening to lately?
A: Lenny Kravitz
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs
Q: What’s an exotic pet you’d like to have?
A: Monkey
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Neither, I’m more of a 10-2 kind of person
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Any baked treat
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Reno
Q: What was your first job?
A: Lifeguard
Q: Nevada native?
A: No
Michelle Becker
Although born in Castro Valley, California, Michelle is a Nevadan through and through. After growing up in Carson City, she graduated from Carson High School and has dedicated most of her life to dentistry, aside from taking time off to raise her three kids. She and her husband, Brad, are embracing life as empty nesters—though their growing family keeps them busy. They enjoy spending time at Lake Tahoe, riding quads, boating, traveling, and making the most of their well-earned downtime.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: Croatia and Turks and Caicos
Q: What’s the last series you binge watched?
A: Virgin River and Landman
Q: Have you read any books more than once?
A: No
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: Lake Tahoe on the boat
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Mexican and margaritas : )
Q: What have you been listening to lately?
A: Country
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Cats AND dogs
Q: What’s an exotic pet you’d like to have?
A: Tiger
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunsets
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Spoon tacos
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Carson City and Bay Area
Q: What was your first job?
A: Taco Bell
Q: Nevada native?
A: No
Michele Whitten
Michele, like so many Tripp DDS employees is a world class dental assistant with some serious Nevada ties. This Silver State native was born and raised in Reno, graduated from Reno High School, and can usually be found at Lake Tahoe on the weekends with her family. She’s happily married with two grown children who have started their own careers, but she still cherishes every chance to spend time with them.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Q: What’s the last series you binge watched?
A: Landman
Q: Have you read any books more than once?
A: The Notebook
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: Hanging out with my husband on our boat.
Q: Favorite Sports Team/Athlete?
A: San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Alabama football
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Popcorn
Q: What have you been listening to lately?
A: Hair nation on XM
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs
Q: What’s an exotic pet you’d like to have?
A: Monkey
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunsets.
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Chicken Chili Enchiladas
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Reno
Q: What was your first job?
A: Arby’s
Q: Nevada native?
A: Yes!
Caia Bailie
Caia knew she wanted to work in dentistry since she was 7 years old. This may come as no surprise to her patients, as they see firsthand just how much she loves getting to know them and helping them with their oral health. Other things Caia loves: marrying her high school sweetheart and her three children. When she’s not keeping teeth sparkling white in the Tripp DDS office, she’s maximizing time with her growing family. That could be outdoors camping, swimming, and hiking with them, or at home doing everything she can to keep the Oreo ice cream out of reach.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: Definitely, Maui HI, I love the beach and the slow pace.
Q: What’s the last series you binge watched?
A: These days I don’t have much time to binge watch anything.
Q: Have you read any books more than once?
A: When I was younger, I read the Twilight series a few times.
Q: Favorite Sports Team/Athlete?
A: Football, the Dallas Cowboys
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Oreo Ice Cream
Q: Describe a favorite childhood memory.
A: My family used to go camping at Round Valley Reservoir every summer.
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs for sure!
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Love sunsets
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Spanish Springs
Q: What was your first job?
A: Jamba Juice
Q: Nevada native?
A: No.
Michelle Twichell
Michelle’s career in dentistry began at just 15 years old as a dental assistant, paving the way for her to pursue a degree in dental hygiene at the University of Colorado. Drawn back to Reno by the beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains, family, and her future husband, she has built a long and fulfilling career in dental hygiene. With years of experience (she likes to joke with her patients that she’s been a dental hygienist for longer than most people have been alive) Michelle remains passionate about her work and stays up to date on the latest advancements in dentistry. Outside the office, she enjoys getting lost in a good book or exploring Reno’s scenic trails with her two dogs, Sophie and Koda.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: Germany, that is where my parents are from.
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Dark chocolate
Q: What is something you may not know?
A: My sister Sylvia is also a dental hygienist, and she occasionally fills in for us at the office.
Q: If you weren’t in dentistry, what would you be doing?
A: Probably nursing because I enjoy helping people get healthy.
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: In the wintertime it’s reading snuggled up with my dogs by the fire.
In the summertime it’s outside gardening, camping or hiking.
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunset
Q: What was your first job?
A: Round Table Pizza
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Chicken piccata right now but I love to try new recipes all the time.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Sparks
Q: What’s something that most people don’t realize about dentistry?
A: We are finding that so many diseases (heart, diabetes, dementia, etc.) can be linked
to periodontal disease so it’s important to come in regularly for your cleanings.
Gracie Clark
Gracie isn’t one to stay in her comfort zone. When Dr. Tripp encouraged her to pursue dental assisting school, she took it to heart—quickly transitioning from the dental chair to working confidently at the doctor’s side. That may seem like a big leap, but for Gracie, taking bold steps is second nature. She loves spending time outdoors with her husband, Alex, and their German Shepherd, Zoe—whether it’s hiking or enjoying a day at the beach. In the kitchen, she’s always experimenting with her new favorite, homemade sourdough bread.
Q: What’s your favorite place to vacation?
A: DisneyLand
Q: What’s the last series you binge watched?
A: Dexter
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: Going to the park with husband Alex and pup Zoe and making bread
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Any lemon dessert
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Both! We have 3 kitties and a dog
Q: What have you been listening to lately?
A: The Last Podcast on the Left (True Crime podcast)
Q: What’s an exotic pet you’d like to have?
A: Bamboo Shark
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunset
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Sourdough cheddar jalapeno bread
Q: What was your first job?
A: Gymnastics Coach
Q: Nevada Native?
A: Yes
Yun Ahmadiantehranian
Yun was born in South Korea, but that doesn’t make her any less of a Renoite. She’s been here longer than some of our staff have been alive, all the while watching the area, the industry, and her patients flourish. Outside the office, Yun’s solving the case with a good murder-mystery, diving into historical fiction, or giving her two granddaughters quality grandma time.
Q: What’s the last series that you binge-watched?
A: Ozarks
Q: What’s your ideal Saturday look like?
A: Morning walks, lazy brunches, watching movies, and simple dinners
Q: What food is your guilty pleasure?
A: Maple bars (doughnuts), cakes
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: I like animals, but I’m not responsible enough for pets.
Q: Sunrise or Sunset?
A: Sunrise
Q: What’s your favorite recipe to make?
A: Kimchi and Korean-style glass noodles (jap chae)
Q: What was your first job?
A: Strawberry picking at 13 years of age (1975)
Q: Describe a favorite childhood memory.
A: Going to the beach and digging for clams.
Q: If you weren’t in dentistry, what would you be doing?
A: Teaching grade school