Meet the Team

Amy Grebil

Hygienist

I am a registered dental hygienist and have lived in Santa Barbara since the mid 1960’s.

I graduated from Dos Pueblos High School, got my AA degree at SBCC, and after working as a dental assistant for 4 years, I attended and graduated from the Oxnard College Dental Hygiene Program. My step father was a dentist in Goleta, and he influenced me to go into the dental profession. I enjoy the relationships with my patients that I have developed over the years and get satisfaction from helping them to maintain good oral hygiene throughout their lives.

When I’m not in the office, I spend time gardening, riding my bike, hiking, walking my dog, and reading. I love to travel with my daughter and friends, as well as enjoying all that Santa Barbara has to offer.

Gloria Reid

Hygienist

I grew up in Santa Barbara and graduated from San Marcos High School. After high school graduation, I attended UCLA School of Dentistry and graduated from the Hygiene Program in 1993. I really enjoy working with my patients on the preventive aspects of dentistry to keep their smiles looking good and feeling good for lifelong oral health.

When I’m not working, I enjoy the ocean and watersports, especially outrigger paddling. I love to travel with my daughter and with friends and value the friendships I’ve made through paddling.

Luciano Rodriguez

Hygienist

I’m Luciano Rodriguez, and I’m a Registered Dental Hygienist here at the practice.

I’m a Santa Barbara native through and through—I grew up right here and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. My journey into dentistry actually started back in high school during a career day that sparked my curiosity. After graduation, I spent some time working as a dental assistant, which is where I really fell in love with the world of dental hygiene. To make it official, I attended SBCC and then earned my degree and license from Oxnard College.

I consider myself an educator first. When you’re in my chair, my goal isn’t just to give you a great cleaning, but to show you exactly how you can level up your home care routine.

When I’m Not in the Office…

Life stays pretty busy outside of work! Here is what I’m usually up to:

• Staying Active: On weekday evenings, you’ll usually find me at the beach playing soccer or spike ball.
• Game Nights: On the weekends, I’m undoubtedly at a table with friends and family, diving into one of my many board games.
• Family Time: When I’m not playing a sport or a game, I’m usually getting my cardio in by chasing my toddler around the park!

Magdalena Rodriguez

Hygienist

I was born and raised in beautiful Santa Barbara. I earned my dental hygiene license through the Oxnard College Dental Hygiene Program and have worked in several dental offices throughout the Santa Barbara area before joining Dr. Hepp’s practice in 2019. As a young child, my eldest sister taught me the importance of good dental hygiene. Later in life, she encouraged me to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. I am truly grateful to work in the dental field and to help others feel confident about their dental health.

My husband, Luciano, is also a dental hygienist and also works at Dr. Hepp’s office. Together, we have an adorable toddler, Damian, who definitely keeps us busy! In our free time, we love being outdoors—spending time at the beach, hiking, playing soccer, and exploring local attractions.

Marlena Tadeo

Dental Assistant

I grew up in Carpinteria and graduated from Carpinteria High School. I attended and graduated from SBCC with my Cosmetology Certificate. I was drawn into the dental field by visiting Dr. Hepp’s office with a family friend to see if this was the type of work I wanted to do. Since starting work at Dr. Hepp’s office in 2022, I have completed my x-ray and coronal polishing certifications and have gained a lot of experience in dental assisting. I enjoy working chairside with the doctors and creating a comfortable experience for our patients.

On weekends, I love spending time with my family and friends out in nature. The beach walks, hiking, and picnic spots in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria are among my favorites. I also am developing a travel bug and hope to continue to travel and see new places.

Julie Kittle

Dental Assistant

I am a proud Santa Barbara native. I graduated from San Marcos High School in 1992. I attended and graduated from SBCC’s Dental Assistant Program and have been a dental assistant with Dr. Hepp for 32 years. I love working with patients to make their experience in the dental chair as comfortable and positive as possible.

I am married to Norm and have twins, now 15, Nathan and Piper. When not at work, I enjoy spending time outside with family and friends and can often be found on a local high school field or court coaching or cheering them on.

Claudia Jimenez

Dental Assistant

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara as a Mexican-American. I graduated from Dos Pueblos High School and attended and graduated from SBCC with an AA degree in Biomedical Science. I plan to continue my education and am pursuing a dental hygiene degree. I’ve always had interest in working in the dental field and am happy to be able to pursue my long-term dream! I enjoy getting to know our patients and helping to create an atmosphere that is comforting and welcoming to all.

Outside the office, I enjoy reading, horseback riding, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.

Pam Raisin

Front Desk

I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa until I moved with my family to the Bay Area in high school. I attended and graduated from Chico State with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. After college, I moved to San Francisco and met my husband there, who was from Santa Barbara. We married and after we started our family, we moved back to Santa Barbara to raise our kids. I’ve been working at the front desk for Dr. Hepp since 2020 and I love my job! Our office has the best patients and I enjoy talking to every one of them when they come in. Being at the front desk helping patients and keeping the office flow manageable is what I was meant to do.

Outside of work, I love to hike, run, walk, and do yoga. My favorite downtime activities are reading and doing puzzles.

Rita Forbyn

Front Desk

I attended the University of California Berkeley and then moved to Oregon and attended the Rogue Valley Community College. My husband and I had a farm on our property in Oregon and ran a health food store in our community. We moved to Santa Barbara from Oregon and fell in love with the beautiful mountains, beaches, and the Santa Barbara community.

My sister and her husband owned and operated a dental lab in Santa Barbara, and after managing a Physical Therapy and Chiropractic office, I gravitated toward dentistry. I worked for Dr. Michelle Stivers for over 18 years running the front desk before Dr. Hepp purchased the practice. I have continued to work with Dr. Hepp and Dr. Dunlap for the past several years. I so enjoy working with our wonderful patients and working with my coworkers in both offices.

When not at work, you will find me in the garden, playing with my grandchildren, or hiking and traveling with family and friends.

Jill Petersen

Office Manager

I grew up in South Dakota, first in Rapid City and then in Pierre. I graduated from Riggs High School in Pierre and then attended and graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting. I became a CPA and worked in both public and private accounting.

I first visited Santa Barbara in 1991 and fell in love with it, so I moved here that year. I met my husband, Dr. Hepp, in 1996 and we married in 1998. I began to help with running his dental practice and eventually became the office manager. I love working in the office and getting to know all of our wonderful patients. We have such a great team, and I consider my coworkers my office family.

I’ve always loved the outdoors and have been a runner, hiker, and bike rider all my life. My first backpacking trip in the Sierras with Dr. Hepp got me hooked on that too. I’ve also been lucky to have landed in a fishing family, so I’ve been able to see the beautiful sea life and to hike and camp on the islands. I’m very grateful and happy to be here in Santa Barbara.