Meet the Team

Ely Family Dental is seeking to expand our team. We experience a high volume of new patient inquiries, but our providers are currently at their maximum capacity. We are looking for an additional dentist or dental therapist so that we may serve more members of our community. Our facility can accommodate additional providers; all we need is you! Email info@elydental.com to start a conversation about joining our team today.

Dr. Chopp has been working in the dental field since 1998. She assisted briefly before going into hygiene school. After four years of practicing hygiene, she knew she wanted to further her education to become a dentist. She worked full time and went to school at Indiana University. Dr. Chopp obtained her Doctoral of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2015. Her goal in coming up to the Iron Range was to bring modern dentistry and compassion; Dr. Chopp is driven to do her part to support our community.

Spencer Wihlm grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, for his undergraduate career. Spencer was then accepted to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry where he obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree with a public health distinction in 2023. He was drawn to Ely, Minnesota, for its close-knit community and adventurous culture; Spencer looks forward to officially joining the Ely Family Dental team this summer.

Mariah graduated as a licensed dental hygienist in 2016 from Lake Superior College in Duluth. She knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, thanks to an older sister who is a registered nurse. Mariah ended up pursuing dental hygiene, and has loved her career ever since. She is passionate about oral health care and enjoys helping patients love their smiles.

Stephanie went to Moorhead technical college to pursue her degree in dental hygiene where she worked on a wide variety of the population. She enjoyed practicing dental hygiene in both the school clinic and a couple public health clinics. She was born in International Falls where she practiced dental hygiene for over 6 years before deciding it was her time to take the next step in her future. In her spare time, she loves being outside and spending time with family, friends, and her dogs. One of her favorite places to go to is her family’s cabin on Rainy Lake. She believes Ely Dental will become a close knit team like she is used to. She is happy to serve the Ely community, helping one mouth at a time.

Amber grew up in Fargo ND and always enjoyed working in a medical field. A love for the outdoors and animals brought her to Ely to attend VCC and she acquired an A.A.S degree in both Wilderness and Park Management as well as Veterinary Technology. She worked an hour outside of Ely in the veterinary field for some time but wanted to be closer to home with work. Her love for new adventures and education has brought her to us here at Ely Family Dental. Amber enjoys learning all about the dentistry world every day and looks forward to improving her education.

Emily loved going to the dentist growing up. Since then she’s always planned to do something dental related. After high school she attended Vermilion Community College for 2 years graduating with her AA. She attended Hibbing Community College and graduated in May of 2024 from the dental assisting program. Emily plans on taking her board exams to earn her certification and becoming an LDA while working for Ely Family Dental. One day she hopes to go back to school for dental hygiene as well.

Ever since Erin was a little girl she’s always had an interest in teeth. Erin graduated from Northeast Range High School in Babbitt, where she completed PSEO courses in school. Erin attended Hibbing Community College where she completed the dental assisting program. After interning for Dr. Chopp she fell in love with dental assisting and what Ely Family Dental can offer. She strives to understand patients feelings and make them as comfortable as possible.

Christine went to Mesabi Community College generals and then to Lake Superior College for a degree as a medical administrative assistant. She interned at a community mental health center in Duluth and ended up working there for 17 years, working her way up from secretary to office manager to practice manager. When the opportunity to work with Dr. Chopp arose, Christine was eager to learn all about the dental field. She loves working in Ely, and with the exceptional team at Ely Family Dental.

Jocelyn went to college in Madison, Wisconsin for psychology, and went on to work for several different companies. She spent the last 20 years working in insurance. Her experience working in insurance has prepared her well to tend to the Ely Family Dental front desk. Jocelyn manages our complex appointment schedule and supports patients by helping them understand their insurance benefits.

Kayla is a well-practiced registered nurse of 12 years. She decided to make a job change to be better available to raise her young family. Kayla’s nursing background makes it easy for her to develop a quick rapport with our patients. If you call the practice, it is likely you will speak to Kayla at the front desk! When not at work, Kayla enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, hunting for agates and gardening.

Terri brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing, coupled with a deep passion for health and wellness. She has joined the team to lead our marketing efforts and serve as the Technician for our latest rejuvenation equipment, EMFACE and Exion. When she is not spearheading marketing initiatives or treating a patient, you’ll find her warmly greeting you at the front desk. Terri finds immense joy in treating her patients and making their well-being her top priority and boosting their confidence through transformative rejuvenation treatments. She is also a dedicated board member of the Spiritwood Foundation, committed to enriching the lives of those battling Alzheimer’s and dementia. Outside of work, she finds calm and serenity at their RV on Lake Vermilion with her husband, grown children, and their senior rescue dog, Daisy.