Clinic Volunteers and Staff

Tom Smith, DDS

Dr. Smith is our founding dentist and continues today as a real workhorse in the war on dental disease. Tom hails from Orlando, FL and has practiced dentistry for over 35 years. Today, in retirement, he passionately serves those who cannot afford dental care in our community.

Michele McDonald, DDS

Dr. McDonald has been a volunteer at the Clinic for three years. Originally from San Diego, she has lived with her husband in the mountain community of Cullowhee, NC since 2004. Michelle has practiced dentistry for 15 years and currently has an active practice in Cashiers, with a focus on pediatric and orthodontic dentistry.

Mel Livernois, DDS

Dr. Livernois grew up in Detroit and practiced restorative dentistry in Florida for 35 years. Licensed in both Florida and North Carolina, he is also certified by the International Society of Computerized Dentistry. Dr. Livernois now resides full time in Jackson County.

Christopher Dyer, DDS

Dr. Dyer has an active practice in Highlands, NC and began his service at the Clinic in 2008. His volunteer time each month allows more dental procedures to be performed, thereby reducing the ever-growing waiting list of patients.

David Silverstein, DDS

A California native, Dr. Silverstein now lives in Franklin, NC, where he has practiced family and implant dentistry for the past 32 years. Since Dr. Silverstein joined our team of dedicated dentists, the Clinic is able to open an additional day per week and treat 8-10 more patients.

Craig Ashton, DDS

Dr. Ashton hails from Rochester, NY and began practicing dentistry in 1963. A graduate of the State University of New York in Buffalo, his extensive career includes time as a clinical instructor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Ashton resides in Bonita Springs, FL and has a summer home in Cashiers.

David Jones, DDS

Dr. Jones graduated from the Emory School of Dentistry in 1974 and has been practicing in the Atlanta area since that time. An Olympic class kayak enthusiast, he still resides in Atlanta but has a summer home in Highlands, allowing him to be a valuable member of the volunteer dental team.

Karen Minton, Executive Director

Originally from Indiana, Karen is a graduate of Indiana University. While serving in the United States Air Force, she gained invaluable knowledge and experience in oral surgery and dental technology. After completing her armed forces career, Karen joined the Lincoln Financial Group in health care administrative services. In addition to her professional qualifications, Karen has excellent people skills and is a great asset to the Clinic.

Dental Hygienists and Technicians

The Clinic employs one hygienist and four dental assistants, all of whom work diligently to prepare the patients for various procedures and assist the dentists in their work.

Ron Keller, President

A graduate of Indiana University, Ron began his adult life with four years in Major League Baseball, including two years as a pitcher with the Minnesota Twins. In 1969, Ron established Keller Investment Management Company to serve individual clients as an independent Registered Investment Advisor. He is a full-time resident of Cashiers and has served on the Board since 2006.

Jim Smith, Vice President/Secretary

Jim practiced corporate and securities law in Atlanta for 40 years before retiring in 2008. He serves on the boards of several charitable and community organizations in Cashiers and Atlanta. Jim is especially interested in the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic because his mother’s family were prominent dentists in Denver, CO for many years.

Bill Jacobs, Treasurer

Bill enjoyed a 30-year career as a corporate/securities/finance lawyer in Atlanta, including 17 years in private practice and as General Counsel of EMS Technologies, a NASDAQ company with whom he maintains a consulting relationship. Bill is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Duke Law School and has been a full-time resident of Cashiers for five years. He is an original founding member and past President of the Board.

Lynne Keating, Director

A year-round resident of Cashiers, Lynne has served on the Board since 2007 and is responsible for the Clinic’s grant writing efforts. She is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and spent her professional career with Travelers Insurance Company in marketing and underwriting employee benefit plans. Lynne has served many charitable organizations including Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, Summit Charter School and others.

Cynthia Carson, Director

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Cynthia graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a degree in Education. Possessing a love of the Spanish culture, Cynthia lived in Spain for a period of time and taught Spanish at the high school level. Her background also includes national public relations for Van Heusen Company. Cynthia is a weekly volunteer at the Clinic. She and her husband Chris enjoy winters in Ponte Vedra, FL and summers in Cashiers.

Chris Carson, Director

Hailing from Westchester, NY, Chris is a graduate of Duke with a law degree from the University of Michigan. He practiced law for 42 years, including service for the United States Navy and private law firms. Chris joined the Board in 2006 and splits his residency between Florida and Cashiers. He is a weekly volunteer at the Clinic along with his wife, Cynthia.

Jennifer McKee, Director

Jennifer is a retired middle school teacher and has resided in Cashiers since 1974. She formerly served as public relations chair for the local Rotary Club and has also chaired local Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraisers. She spearheads the Clinic’s public relations initiatives and is an active volunteer, working closely with our hygienist.

Carl Norman, Director

Carl is a CPA and has served in capacities as CEO, Principal and CFO for several organizations including Mountain Top Resorts, The CFN Group, Metrotrans Corporation and CSX Corporation. He is a graduate of Georgia Tech with an MBA from the University of South Carolina. Carl resides in the neighboring town of Highlands, NC.

Toby Summerour, Director

Reverend Toby has been the Associate Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers since his graduation from the School of Theology at Sewanee in 2007. Toby and his wife Carroll lived most of their lives in New Orleans, where he was a CPA and she was a community volunteer. Toby is an active coordinator in the clinic’s relationship with local churches, who are great supporters of our program.

Chick Johnson, Director

A Board member since 2006, Chick is originally from Philadelphia. She earned a business degree from Rutgers and continued her education with the American Institute of Banking. Chick served as Vice President of National Bank of Westchester and was a consultant to Radice Realty in New York. She lives in nearby Sapphire and is a weekly volunteer at the clinic.

Andrew Angle, Director

Newly appointed to the Board, Andrew resides in Cashiers year-round. He was a general management executive with the Coca-Cola Company for 23 years. Andrew coordinated the redevelopment of the Clinic's website.