DIANE JOHNSON KRUEGER – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Diane founded NuSmile in 1991. Under her leadership, the company has become the world’s leading manufacturer of esthetic pediatric crowns with fifty international distributors. Throughout her career, she has had a passion for improving the clinical practice of pediatric dentistry and for pediatric dental education. Diane is deeply involved in the ongoing research of esthetic materials for crowns and other related restorative and preventative dental products. She enjoys interacting with customers and has been active with the ADA, AAPD, AAPD Foundation, and other international pediatric dentistry organizations for nearly 30 years. Diane lives in Houston with her husband, Ray, and has two grandsons.
MARK BINFORD, ChE – Chief Operating Officer
Mark oversees new product development, customer service, information technology, and U.S. sales operations. Joining his sister Diane at NuSmile in 2014, he brings 30+ years of experience in product management, business development, and marketing. Mark holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife Susan live in Houston and have three children and seven grandchildren.
JASON JOHNSON – Executive Vice President
Jason provides fiscal leadership and oversees quality assurance, product feasibility, and new product development. His background includes manufacturing, sales, and marketing roles in the dental device industry. He has been instrumental in developing NuSmile’s Quality System and in the management of NuSmile’s manufacturing operations. Jason holds a B.A. in Communications from Concordia University and lives in Houston with his wife Dandilei and their two sons.
MIKE LOESSBERG – Chief Revenue Officer
Mike Loessberg began his journey with NuSmile in 2016 and has worked in the Dental Industry for the last 12 years. Having worked for companies like Dentsply, Carestream Dental, and Henry Schein, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge to the NuSmile team. In his role, Mike manages NuSmile’s Sales and Customer Service Team worldwide. In addition, Mike also oversees our Dental Service Organization and University programs. Originally from Kingsville, TX, and a graduate of Texas A&M University at Kingsville, Mike spends his free time traveling and visiting friends and family.
GREG POMRINK – Vice President R&D, Quality and Regulatory
Greg is an accomplished medical device executive with 25+ years of experience developing products for dentistry, sports medicine, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. He holds 21 patents and has over 25 publications. Greg holds degrees from Temple University, Lehigh University, and Eastern University. He and his wife Polina live in Houston and have five children and one grandchild.
GABRIELA BRATTEN, MBA – Director of Operations
Gabriela (Gaby) is the Director of Operations, she joined the company in 2014 as a QA/RA specialist, eventually leading the QA/RA department and the manufacturing department. As the company grew, she focused on managing the manufacturing department. Gaby develops and implements plans strengthening the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel to accommodate the rapid growth objectives of the organization and oversees all manufacturing, purchasing, manufacturing engineering projects, contracts, and QC. She works closely with the COO and VP of Product Development to achieve new products’ goals. Gaby has an MBA from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a BA in Economics from the University of Texas Pan American.
ZEINA HANNOUN – Director of Product Marketing
Zeina joined NuSmile in 2019 and is currently the Product Marketing Director for NuSmile and Avalon Biomed (Endodontic arm). Zeina leads upstream and downstream marketing efforts and drives the product pipeline, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure impactful, results-oriented execution. Before transitioning to the U.S., Zeina worked as a Product Manager for Trauma at Johnson & Johnson in Dubai, UAE, where she worked on product launches, tradeshow events, and training. Her first six years of working experience were in finance and pricing with Ernst & Young, Baker Hughes, and Johnson & Johnson. Zeina received her bachelor’s degree in Finance & Management from the American University of Beirut (AUB).
CHRIS MALZONE – National Sales Manager
Chris joined NuSmile in October 2023 after more than a decade of success with Henry Schein, bringing extensive industry experience and a proven ability to lead high-performing teams. As NuSmile’s National Sales Manager, he oversees both the Inside Sales and Customer Service teams, working closely with leadership across the organization to support customers and strengthen NuSmile’s sales operations. Known for his strategic insight and results-driven approach, Chris continues to play a key role in advancing NuSmile’s mission.
ASHLEY COONER – NetSuite Project Manager/Administrator and Accounts Payable Manager
Ashley is the NetSuite Project Manager/Administrator and Accounts Payable manager. She graduated from the University of Texas – San Antonio, where she received a B.S in Public Health and a minor in Business Administration. She spent 6 years working on the clinical side of dentistry prior to moving into the manufacturing world in 2022. She focuses on creating streamlined processes, improving data clarity and a reliable system foundation that supports organizational growth. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and their 4 fur kids or playing pickleball.
LAYNE INGRAM – International Account Manager
Layne Ingram is the International Account Manager for NuSmile and Avalon Biomed, where she provides excellent customer service to international distributors in over 50 countries. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Supply Chain Management from the Mays Business School and has experience working in Sales, Account Management, and Supply Chain. When not at work, Layne enjoys travelling the world, scuba diving, and spending time with her friends and pets!
AFSHEEN ANWAR – Product Manager
Afsheen is a Product Manager at NuSmile, where she contributes to the development and optimization of dental products for pediatric dentistry. She collaborates with cross-functional teams on product planning and research to ensure NuSmile’s offerings meet the needs of dental professionals and patients. With a Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery from Pakistan and an Associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene from Houston, Texas, Afsheen brings both clinical expertise and a deep understanding of real-world dental applications. Her experience teaching dental students has given her valuable insight into the profession, which she applies to her work in product management. Outside of work, Afsheen enjoys traveling, discovering great coffee spots, and spending time with her husband.
ALEXANDRA PLAZA – Senior Product Manager
Alexandra (Alex) is a Senior Product Manager for NuSmile, where she plans and executes product launches and marketing campaigns. She joined the company in 2020 as an Associate Scientist working in Product Development. During that time, she played an integral part in developing new products, modifying existing products, and led testing methods, reporting, and quality checks on all NuSmile products. Alex has a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a focus in Microbiology from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, trying out new restaurants, and hanging out with her family.
ZOE KACHANTONES – Senior Global Events Coordinator
Zoe Kachantones is our Senior Global Events Coordinator, where she manages all Tradeshow and Events to ensure expectations are met and achieved. Oversees post-event analysis and ensures expenses remain within the original budget. Manage all logistical responsibilities for events. Travels to and supports onsite execution and management of events. Manages sponsorship applications and schedules, including working with internal partners on upcoming sponsorship activities and fulfilling logistical requests. Zoe is a born and raised Houstonian and spends her free time with friends and family in the city or by the lake.
ELENA PADILLA – Procurement, WIP & FG Inventory Manager
Elena oversees procurement, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods (FG) inventory management at NuSmile. Since joining the company in October 2013, she has continually transitioned into expanded roles as the company has grown. Her experience includes kitting, crown bagging, purchasing for Order Fulfillment, inventory management, physical inventory counts, NetSuite system implementation, and managing daily fulfillment operations. In her current role, Elena leverages her extensive knowledge of NetSuite, purchasing, inventory processes, and customer needs to eliminate backorders, ensure FIFO and shelf-life compliance, and maintain inspection-ready inventory in alignment with Quality System requirements. Known for her strong organizational skills, adaptability, and commitment to supporting both internal teams and customers, Elena plays a key role in strengthening operational efficiency across NuSmile.
JASMIN LARA – Director of Accounting and HR
Jasmin joined NuSmile in 2016 and oversees Accounting, HR, Payroll, and IT. With 20+ years of experience, she ensures daily operations run smoothly. She enjoys spending time with her family.
JOANNA NEVEU – Order Fulfillment Manager
Joanna Neveu serves as the Order Fulfillment Manager for NuSmile/Avalon Biomed, bringing over 10 years of experience in the customer service field. Throughout her career, she has learned that exceptional service isn't just about closing a sale, it's about fostering long-term relationships with both internal and external customers while driving efficient and reliable fulfillment operations. In her role, Joanna focuses on supporting team success, improving processes, and ensuring a seamless customer experience from order to delivery. Outside of work, Joanna enjoys reading, creating lasting memories with her children, and hosting cookouts for family and friends.
JORGE COTO – MTA Manufacturing Manager
Jorge is the MTA Manufacturing Manager at NuSmile, where he focuses on optimizing production processes, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring the highest manufacturing standards. With over 7 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, Jorge has developed a strong expertise in managing plant operations. He started his career as a supply chain intern and later became a Production Supervisor. Jorge then advanced to the role of Production and Safety Manager, where he was responsible for overseeing various functions such as maintenance, safety, waste stream management, and production. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics and Statistics from Texas A&M University – College Station. Jorge also holds Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing certifications, which further strengthen his ability to drive operational excellence. He joined NuSmile in 2024, and since then, he has been focused on improving manufacturing processes and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.