Our team members are the heart and soul of Northwest Center for Prosthodontics. They are dedicated to promoting and preserving the oral health of our patients and strive to create a comfortable and positive experience for everyone who walks through our door. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Joshua Manchester or Dr. Eman Almutairi, our prosthodontists in Olympia, Washington, and learn more about our services, give us a call at 360-459-4400! We are excited to meet you!

Ruthann

Office Manager

Ruthann has been with us for over 35 years! She maintains both doctors’ schedules, assists patients with financial arrangements, coordinates in-house and out-of-office lab procedures and, most of all, keeps patients happy! She loves helping people achieve a beautiful smile and enjoys coming to work with a group of fantastic colleagues, many of whom have been working together for more than 30 years. Team work makes the dream work!

Outside of the office, Ruthann loves to garden, entertain, travel and spoil her four adorable grandchildren. She also has three grown children of her own.

Elliott

Back Office Administrator

Elliott is our dedicated back office administrator, performing a wide variety of tasks behind the scenes to ensure everything is running smoothly day to day. Prior to joining NWCP and starting his career in dentistry, Elliott worked as a barista for 18 years, where he enjoyed bringing people together with good coffee and good food. A passion for serving the community and helping others motivated him to seek a career in a helping profession, and now he is proud to work alongside a dedicated group of professionals who practice dentistry with integrity and compassion.

Outside of the office, Elliott is an artist who enjoys traveling, camping, good food, dancing, making music and spending time with friends. He recently moved back to Seattle with his boyfriend and is currently learning how to play harmonica!

Katherine

Front Office Administrator

Katherine has more than 30 years of experience in the dental field, and has been with NWCP for nearly 10 years! She is proud to be part of a high-quality practice with such caring doctors and staff, and enjoys doing whatever she can to make each patient’s visit as pleasant as possible.

Outside of the office, Katherine enjoys gardening, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.

Leah

Dental Hygienist

Leah has been practicing dental hygiene for over 30 years with more than 12 of those in prosthetic dentistry. She began her career working with Dr. David Wands in his prosthodontic practice in Olympia. Interestingly, Dr. Rodger Lawton joined Dr. Wands in 1993 and then Dr. Josh Manchester joined Dr. Lawton in practice in 2017, so Leah has returned to practice where she started!

Leah attended Pierce College and earned her associate degree in dental hygiene in 1989. She values her relationships with patients and is proud of her ability to transform a patient’s oral health and see the impact it can have on their lives. She loves being a part of the transformation process and values the confidence and loyalty the patients have with her.

Her personal interests include interior design, cooking, yoga, traveling with friends and family and working on her farm, Glennwood Acres.

Marcie

Dental Hygienist

Marcie has been in the dental field for 50 years and has worked 43 of those years as a licensed dental hygienist! She joined NWCP in 2018, bringing a wealth of expertise and a passion for helping patients maintain great oral health. Compassionate patient care is at the heart of Marcie’s work, and she enjoys her days in the office working with a great team and wonderful patients.

Outside of work, Marcie enjoys spending time with her two horses and bull mastiffs, and is an avid hiker, horseback rider and traveler. She loves to visit new places and experience the beauty of nature, wherever her travels take her!

Samantha

Registered Dental Hygienist

Samantha is a skilled and compassionate dental hygienist dedicated to providing exceptional patient care. With a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Eastern Washington University and over a decade of experience in clinical settings, Samantha brings a wealth of knowledge to Northwest Center for Prosthodontics.

Her expertise spans preventive care, periodontal therapy and patient education, ensuring each patient receives tailored treatment in a welcoming environment. Samantha’s background as a Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) further enhances her clinical perspective, allowing her to collaborate effectively with prosthodontists and contribute to the center’s commitment to comprehensive oral health care.

When she’s not in the clinic, Samantha enjoys spending time with her family, repurposing household items and furthering her knowledge in functional medicine.

Candice

Dental Assistant

Candice is a dedicated dental assistant who strives to make her patients feel at home in the chair. She is passionate about ensuring that patients feel safe in the dental chair, and likes helping others improve their oral care. Candice joined the NWCP team in January 2025 and brings 22 years of experience in the dental field, including orthodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, and general dentistry. She loves being part of a dynamic team that strives for excellence and aims to provide every patient with a healthy, confident smile.

When not at work, Candice works and volunteers at her church as both a Youth Leader and Preschool Coordinator. She also loves going on mission trips to help give back to others. Candice also enjoys spending time with her son and their dog Jasper and is currently working toward her degree to become a licensed marriage and family therapist!

Jojo

Dental Assistant

Jojo is a dedicated and compassionate dental assistant with over five years of experience in the dental field. She started as an intern and has been with us ever since! Jojo’s passion for patient care and health advocacy emerged after a decade-long career as a professional chef and baker, which included formal culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu. Following a career pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jojo found her true calling in healthcare, where she could directly make a difference in peoples’ lives.

She is CPR/BLC certified and is currently furthering her education in EMT school with the goal of providing care as a first responder. Jojo is dedicated to serving her community and has also volunteered on a mobile dental bus, providing care to underserved communities. She is known for her warm demeanor, strong work ethic, and commitment to patient wellbeing.

Outside of work, Jojo is a passionate CrossFit athlete, triathlete and endurance runner. She enjoys traveling, camping and creating adventures with her husband and five children. They also run a small business together. Whether in the clinic, on the trail or in the classroom, Jojo is always striving to grow, give back and live life to the fullest.

Susie

Dental Assistant

Susie has been a part of our team for over 30 years and brings a wealth of experience to share with our clients and staff. She loves being part of a highly skilled and dedicated team and providing quality dental services to our patients. Knowing that patients return for continued care gives her a sense of gratitude that she views as the best compliment she could ask for. Her warm and caring personality assures each patient is going to feel comfortable and have an excellent experience. She looks forward to coming to work knowing that she will serve her patients to the best of her abilities.

Outside of work, Susie enjoys traveling with her husband Mike and entertaining family and friends. They have four children and two granddaughters who they love vacationing with!

Alf

Lab Technician

Alf has been our in-house dental technician since 1993. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology, an Associate of Arts degree in dental technology and has been certified in ceramics for over 30 years (CDT). He meets personally with patients and is able to make their new crowns right in the office. Alf loves seeing the high quality of care that patients receive and enjoys having co-workers that are like family.
Outside of work, Alf enjoys gardening and car restoration. He has been married for 43 years and has one adult child.

Theresa

Dental Assistant

Theresa has worked in the dental field for over a decade, bringing both skill and heart to every patient interaction. She began her journey in 2015 as a lab technician, then transitioned into sterilization before stepping into the role of dental assistant. Originally trained on the job under Dr. Lawton (now retired), she continues to grow within the practice and has remained a vital part of the team throughout the years. Theresa is known among patients and coworkers for her warm personality, dedication and ability to form lasting connections.

Theresa’s passion for wellness and patient care led her to pursue a license as an esthetician, which she now practices part-time alongside her continued role in dentistry. Whether assisting in the operatory, in the front office coordinating patient care, or helping clients feel their best through skincare, Theresa thrives on making people feel comfortable, cared for and confident.

Outside of work she enjoys an active lifestyle and enjoys paddleboarding, longboarding, hiking, snowboarding, attending music festivals, traveling and cozying up with a good book. Theresa is a dog lover and nature enthusiast who enjoys finding a balance between adventure and relaxation.

Roland

Lab Technician

Roland has been reproducing dental products since graduating from dental laboratory school. He completes ongoing continuing education classes from masters in the field both as an owner and employee since 1987. He has great appreciation for his peers and co-workers, from our reception to the laboratory, as each has chosen to broaden their knowledge in the field to best accommodate each individual patient. It is a pleasure for him to see the gratitude of each patient as a result of our efforts as we unite our skill sets and experiences. He values the opportunity to share experiences in the field with his colleagues and team members, which has allowed him to approach each case systematically, ultimately benefiting patients with the outcomes they desire. Witnessing this outcome enhances Roland’s desire as a technician to continue to learn and provide the best results from his studies.

Roland is married with two daughters. His daughters both have spouses who honorably serve our country, and a grandson is on the way. Roland is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys the great northwest through hiking, boating or riding, and he has an appreciation for fine dining and listening to music.