Meet The Team
Bethany Simpson
Office Manager
Bethany joined the Evergreen Dental team in 2020 after being a stay-at-home mom for over 10 years, and has been our office manager since early 2021. She is dedicated to making our office run smoothly and taking care of our patient’s insurance and financial needs.
Her family consists of her three daughters, her wonderful finance', and his two children, and their two fur-babies. Being a native Oregonian, she loves spending time adventuring outdoors, camping, and hiking. In her free time, she enjoys CrossFit, working on home projects, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Kara Bartlow
Patient Coordinator
Kara is a long-time friend of Dr. Travelstead and started at Evergreen Dental in 2021. She is our scheduling specialist, and she works hard to make your visits at our office easy and convenient. She is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and supports our staff with her therapeutic bodywork. Kara is a lifetime Oregonian and currently lives with her partner, Isaac, in Corvallis.
In her free time, she enjoys ecstatic dance, meditation, soaking in hot springs, attending community events, and cooking healthy meals for her family and friends. She was raised in Philomath and is very close to her family, especially her identical twin, Teri.
Nicole Sequoia
Dental Assistant
Nicole is an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant here at Evergreen Dental. She loves her job and has been working as a dental assistant for over 25 years. She was born and raised in a small community in Northern California and moved to Corvallis in 2003. She has three adult children and a beautiful grandson – all who she loves very much! She lives with her fur baby, Beanie, who she loves to adventure with. When she is not at work she can be found gardening, hiking, backpacking, or spending time with her family.
Tara Hurley
Dental Assistant
Tara has been working as a dental assistant since early 2008. She has been a personal friend of the doctor for as long as she has been in the dental field and joined the Evergreen Dental team in 2021. She currently lives in Portland with her husband Garrett, his son, Jameson, and their two cats.
Tara enjoys attending concerts, camping and exploring Oregon, sewing and making clothes, painting and sculpting. Tara’s creative strengths and energetic personality allow her to connect well with patients and contribute to the warm atmosphere of the office.
Katie Bray
Registered Dental Hygienist
Katie was born and raised in Corvallis, Oregon. She has been working for Evergreen Dental since 2010 and has been practicing as a hygienist for over 15 years. She cares deeply for her patients and has formed lovely friendships with many. Katie has two grown children that live in the area and a granddaughter she adores.
She loves spending time with her family, her husband Russell, and her two big rescue dogs, Chester and Remi. She enjoys adventuring Oregon, traveling when she can, and visiting Estate Sales, thrifting and treasure hunting on the weekends.
Elizabeth Silbernagel
Registered Dental Hygienist
Liz is a seasoned dental professional with over 20 years of experience. Starting as a dental assistant in 2002, she excelled for 12 years, including eight years alongside Dr. Travelstead. Liz pursued more education with support from Dr. Travelstead and her family. She graduated with honors in Dental Hygiene from MHCC in 2018.
Today, she's a licensed Dental Hygienist, certified for local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and restorative restorations. Liz has strong ties to Corvallis, having moved there at 13 and graduated from Corvallis High School. Her family includes her husband Jason, their two teenagers, Leah and Cooper, along with two dogs, two cats, and some chickens. Beyond dentistry, Liz loves outdoor activities like gardening, camping, and hiking, making her mark climbing mountains and exploring waterfalls.
Melody Kernats
Registered Dental Hygienist
Melody is the newest addition to our hygiene team. She graduated from the dental hygiene program at Lane Community college in 2016 and feels that it was the perfect career choice for her. Her inspiration came from her late adoptive dad who instilled the importance of taking care of your dental health by saying “you only get one set of teeth, you better take care of them.” Melody has found that she cherishes getting to know her patients and building trusting relationships with them.
Melody was born and raised in Albany, Oregon where she still resides. Her free time is spent with her family, and her fur-baby, Scout. Trips to the coast, mountains, and Sunriver are some of her favorite places to explore. Melody also loves trying new foods and restaurants. She loves anything cow print and her favorite animals are manatees and highland cows.