Board of Directors

Chair

A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Mark Armstrong has been in private practice since 1989. His examining career began in 2005 following a gubernatorial appointment to the Ohio State Dental Board where he was President in 2009 and Vice President in 2007 and 2008.
Dr. Armstrong has served in numerous capacities throughout his membership, most recently as Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Finance Committee Chair. He was elected Chair in 2023. He was also a member of the Credentialing Committee and a Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors for two terms in 2012 and 2013.
Dr. Armstrong’s commitment to his field is demonstrated by his continued membership and active presence in the Western Ohio Dental Society and Ohio Dental Association, where he has led numerous committees over the years. He has also participated in medical-dental missions in South America and as a civil servant, donating his forensic expertise to identify victims of September 11th.

Vice Chair

Dr. Rudy Ramos graduated from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in 1990. Dr. Ramos has been in private practice since 1991.

Dr. Ramos was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Dental Board from 2009 to 2017 and served as president of the board from 2012 to 2017. Dr. Ramos has been involved with testing development and administration since 2010 and has served in several roles including grading examiner and Team Captain. Additionally, he served as the Chairman of the Endodontic committee and then served on the Dental Exam Review Board for the legacy WREB organization.

Treasurer

In 2013, Dr. Thomas was appointed to the District of Columbia Board of Dentistry and concluded his tenure serving as the Board’s Chairperson in February 2022. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He served as a Board Commissioner of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and ADEX’s Board of Directors before its merger with CWC.

Dr. Thomas is a Lieutenant Colonel in the District of Columbia Army National Guard and a practicing general dentist. Dr. Thomas has been an active examiner since 2014, serving on several committees. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors for Whitman-Walker Health Center.

He shares his talents by supporting his undergraduate alma mater, Morehouse College, and several D.C. area art programs, including the John F. Kennedy Center Circles, Washington National Opera, Washington Performing Arts, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and as an Ambassador for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Secretary

Diane Klemann, RDH, is a 1986 graduate of Carroll College with a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. Over the span of her career, she has been licensed and practiced in the state of Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota and Montana. Diane has also been an instructor at Lake Land College in Mattoon Illinois. She previously served two terms on the Montana State Board of Dentistry, serving terms as Vice President and President, and is the former Dental Hygiene member of the American Association of Dental Boards. Klemann was on the board for the Western Regional Examining Board from 2016-2019.

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Brian Kevin Collins graduated from NC State University in 1989 with a degree in biology and the UNC School Dentistry in 1993. Since then, he has maintained a private practice in Zebulon, North Carolina, actively serving the local community.

He has participated in dental testing since 2006. Dr. Collins served as  Treasurer of CITA from 2019-2022, and is past chair of the ADEX Dental Exam and Calibration Committees. He is married to Kelli Collins and has two sons, Tanner and Hudson Collins.

Dental Hygiene Member at Large

Heather Hardy has been a dental hygienist for 25 years, working in pediatric, periodontic and general practices. Heather was appointed to the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners in 2013 and served for 8 years, finishing the second term as board president. Heather served on a dental hygiene subcommittee to the dental board concurrently for 8 years and sat as chair for 7 years.

She is currently and adjunct faculty at Rio Salado School of Dental Hygiene while continuing private practice two days a week.

Heather began examining in 2015 and has served on many committees, including the Steering Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Hygiene Assignment Subcommittee, and Public Advocacy Committee.  Heather also participated in developing the Hygiene Manikin Exam best practices during COVID-19.

Heather has a passion for learning.  She is currently finishing a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and is self-taught in Spanish.  Heather has 3 college-aged children and loves to golf.

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Jonna Hongo received her DMD degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University in 1982.   Recently retiring from 39 years in private practice, Dr. Hongo previously served the WREB Board as the CWC/ADEX Finance Committee. Dr. Hongo served on the Oregon Board of Dentistry from 1908 – 1916 and began serving as an examiner for WREB and then NERB in 2010.  A past president of the Oregon Board of Dentistry, Dr. Hongo has served on multiple committees for both agencies and her state board.  She has served for many years as a volunteer for Compassion clinics and Medical Teams International.

Dental Hygiene Member at Large

With more than four decades of experience in clinical dental hygiene, education, regulatory leadership, and board examination administration, Susan has made lasting contributions to the dental profession. A former Vice President of the Ohio State Dental Board, she continues to advance excellence in oral health care through her current role at Merion Village Dental, where she leads staff development, continuing education programming, and school outreach initiatives. Susan has also served as a keynote speaker and committee chair with the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association and has devoted her time to volunteer service with Remote Area Medical and COVID-19 response teams.

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Melodie Marie Anderson Jones has over 32 years of experience in private dental practice, providing comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham, Alabama, she is a member of the American Dental Association, Alabama Dental Association, Second District Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, Alabama Academy of General Dentistry, University of Alabama School of Dentistry Alumni Association, American College of Dentists, and International College of Dentists. She is the Immediate Past President of the Alabama Board of Dental Examiners and Vice President of the Alabama Academy of General Dentistry.

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Rob Lauf graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and has been in private practice since 1989. He was the president of WREB aiding in the process to form CDCA-WREB in 2021. He served on the North Dakota Board of Dental Association for ten years, 2006-2016 of which he has served as its President. He served on the board of the North Dakota Dental Association for 8 years, serving as its President for the years 2000-2002. He is also past chair of CAPIR for the American Dental Association and had served as a delegate for many years. He has been a dental examiner for 15 years.

Vice Chair, Council on Examinations

Dr. Renee McCoy-Collins is a trailblazing oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a proud graduate of Howard University Dental School, where she made history as the first female to complete the program in her specialty. A respected leader in both clinical and administrative realms, she has held key positions such as Director of Dental Residency Programs at Howard University Hospital and Associate Chief Medical Officer at DC General Hospital.

Dr. McCoy-Collins has long championed equitable access to healthcare, leading initiatives that expand dental and medical services to underserved communities throughout Washington, D.C. and has served in leadership roles for ADEX, AADB, and the National Dental Association.

Chair, Council on Examinations

Dr. McVea graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans in 1987. After graduation, he entered private practice with his father, where they served the community together for more than 30 years.

Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Dr. McVea to the Louisiana Board of Dentistry in 2010. He served as President of CITA, the Council on Interstate Testing Agencies, from 2014 to 2018 and 2022. He was elected to the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Executive Committee in 2016 and served as its President in the merger with CWC.

Dr. McVea is a Master Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and continues to practice while examining nationwide.

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Merlin Young has served in a variety of roles supporting the administration of the ADEX dental examination. With six years of experience on the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, including terms as president in 2017 and 2019, Dr. Young brings deep regulatory insight and leadership to his work. He particularly values his role as a Chief Floor Examiner (CFE), where he takes pride in fostering a positive rapport with candidates and ensuring they understand that the ADEX examination process is fair and transparent. A graduate of Howard University College of Dentistry, Class of 1979, Dr. Young is licensed to practice dentistry in both North Carolina and New York.