GT Thiagarajah - Chief Executive Officer
Gokulan brings over two decades of business management experience to New England Dental Group. With his entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Thiagarajah has made dental practice management a career specialty.
As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thiagarajah has created a vision through hands on experience that helps him to continuously keep New England Dental Group up to par with the ever-changing technological advancements.
He is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston where he majored in engineering. He currently resides in Southborough with his wife Margarita (Dr. Panajoti) their two sons, Theodore and Alexander, and their golden retrievers, Casey and Oliver. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and playing Scrabble.
Mike Anastasi - Chief Operating Officer
A professional in the field since 2002, Mike Anastasi joined us in 2022. After finishing Saint John’s Prep in Danvers, MA, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communication from Waltham’s Bentley University.
“I love the people and the culture here,” he says. It’s a great group that feels like an extended family…and family that most definitely includes our patients.”
Mike’s main role is expanding the orthodontic business segment across all of New England Dental Group’s current and future locations. A major motivation for him is patient satisfaction. “I enjoy seeing how a beautiful smile can — and does — transform a patient’s life.”
He, like his co-workers and our patients, appreciate the latest dental and orthodontic technology we use to provide the best treatment possible.
In addition to spending time with his family and friends, and golfing, Mike is active in his family’s foundation: Spectrum for Hope/Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation, which helps families affected by autism.
“The patient’s needs and wants should always be at the center of every clinical decision”
VEENA REDDY - Controller
Veena Reddy brings over fifteen years of financial management experience to the practice. Ms. Reddy graduated from Durban Indian Girls High School in Durban South Africa.
Ms. Reddy is certified in both CPR and OSHA.
Veena currently resides in Hopkinton, Massachusetts with her husband and son. She enjoys reading, cooking and traveling in her spare time.
Cheryl Demelo - Director of Human Resources
Cheryl Demelo ought to know how great our team members are …she’s the one who’s in charge of keeping them happy!
After more than thirty years in the long-term care field, Cheryl joined us in 2022.
Among her many tasks are employee recruitment, performance appraisal, and reward management. “My main focus is to make our practice successful through our people,” she says. “I enjoy the people I work with very much!”
In addition to her admiration for our team members, Cheryl appreciates — and believes our patients do, too — our clean and beautiful offices and convenient locations.
When not working, Cheryl enjoys spending time with friends and family. And here’s a fun fact: she’s a Justice of the Peace and loves officiating at weddings in her free time.
“What a great staff we have!”
Alicia LaClair - Director of Operations
Alicia LaClair uses her experience as a trained and certified dental assistant to help our client practices seamlessly integrate the necessary doctor and clinical team support by helping both new and existing assistants learn the correct processes of, in part: doctor and clinical team support in deploying new technologies such as 3D printing, “behind the scenes” clinical team support, clinical team education on the newest technologies and techniques, correcting (if necessary) any technical issues with dental equipment and communicating with all clinical team members to keep protocols consistent.
Emily Paul - Director of Business Systems
After studying business administration at High Point University, Emily joined us in 2022.
Emily’s busy day includes providing administrative and operational assistance to the management team. She communicates with each office on a regular basis, keeping protocols consistent, while implementing new business systems and fielding questions from various sources practice-wide.
“It’s my job — and my pleasure — to communicate to the public this vital message: that our extremely qualified staff will make sure that each patient’s needs are not only satisfied, but done so with care and the utmost respect,” she says.
During her non-working time, Emily enjoys reading, watching movies, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.
“Every patient deserves the best treatment possible.”
TORI HUTCHINSON - Regional Team Leader
Working in the dental field since 2016, Tori Hutchinson joined our team in 2017. “I love interacting with the best co-workers, and with interesting people every day,” she says. “And it’s a pleasure to help patients receive the best care available, and to put those who are anxious about their treatment at ease.”
Tori’s description of her daily routine includes greeting patients, discussing treatment and finance options, working with insurance companies…and making people smile!
“Our confident, knowledgeable doctors and staff members make sure our patients understand their treatment and why they need it…all in a very comfortable atmosphere filled with friendly faces,” she says.
After hours, you can catch me soaking up vibrant sunsets with my awesome son. When I’m not sunset chasing, I’m on a mission to outdo yesterday’s workout!
“My goals are simple: making sure our patients are comfortable…and leave with a smile!”
Kathleen Gurney - Team Leader
Team Leader Kathleen Gurney brings over 30 years of experience in the dental field to our practice. Kathleen graduated from Becker College with a Bachelor of Science. She attended Dental Assistant School at Springfield Tech. She is certified in CPR and OSHA.
When Kathleen is not working, she enjoys walking, reading and vacationing with her family.
TRICIA DEMAC - Standard of Care Specialist
Dental Hygienist Tricia Demac boasts over thirty-four years in the field as a hygienist and joined us in May 2005. Her certifications include: local anesthesia, Advanced Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy, and Zoom!® teeth whitening.
Tricia spends much of her professional time supporting NEDG in maintaining it’s high Standard of Care for both patients and the team.
“It’s my job — and my pleasure! — to listen to my patients, understand their needs and desires, educate them, and provide them with the best dental care possible,” she says.
About the practice, she continues: “The team at New England Dental Group is not only top-notch in education, skills and technology…we are warm, caring people with a simple goal: to make our patients happy and healthy!
Tricia currently resides in Shrewsbury and part-time in Newport, Rhode Island. In her spare time, she enjoys buying and selling real estate, property management, and home remodeling & decorating projects! Tricia also has a deep passion for traveling, and she seizes opportunities to explore new places whenever and wherever she can!
“Our goal? Simple: to make our patients happy and healthy!”
Nahara Collazo - Clinical Coordinator
Nahara Collazo, a practicing dental assistant, joined us in 2018 after training at the Porter and Chester Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is OSHA, CPR and Radiology certified.
Using her experience as a licensed dental assistant, Nahara trains and supports new and existing assistants. Amongst her daily duties are managing supplies, inventory tracking and budgeting.
In her free time, Nahara enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants and traveling.
“Our staff goes above and beyond to assure all patients are happy with their experiences here!”
Stanley Gong - Director of Information Technology
In the Information Technology field since 2014, Stanley Gong has concentrated on dental service organizations since 2019. He joined us in 2023.
Stanley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, with a concentration in Windows Administration.
“I firmly believe that I.T. is a very important aspect of every company — and especially in dentistry,” he says. “It’s our duty to hold a high standard in protecting patient health information.”
A self-described “jack of trades in I.T.,” Stanley provides end-user support to all of our locations, and deals with any situations that arise — from mice and keyboard issues to networking and security. He starts his day by checking to ensure that our systems are online and functional. He routinely spends his time resolving any issues with our advanced software and equipment.
“I’ve noticed that our doctors, hygienists, assistants, and the front desk staff are very kind and welcoming”, he says. “They take the time to listen, which helps them provide the best care possible.”
In his non-working hours, Stanley enjoys working out at the gym, trying new food, and acting as an occasional disc jockey for house parties.
“In a world where technology is constantly changing and being improved on, it is important that we provide the best tools and equipment for our patients.”