Meet the Team

Haleigh has been in the orthodontic field for 13 years and has been part of our Hometown Orthodontics family for all 13 of them. She completed the Brookwood Dental Assisting Program in 2013 and is CPR certified. Haleigh’s favorite part of orthodontics is being part of a practice that truly changes lives. Watching smile transformations and seeing the joy on patients’ faces, it never gets old. Her favorite part of being on our team is working alongside a group that genuinely cares about our patients and about each other. She grew up in Trussville, and now lives in Vestavia with her husband, Taylor. They have a two-year-old daughter and a sweet doggy named Riggs. Outside of work, Haleigh loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, working out, and curling up with a good book. A fun fact about her is that she owns a balloon and party rental business, where she gets to let her creative side shine. When it comes to all things party, she’s your girl! We are so thankful to have Haleigh as part of our Hometown Orthodontics family!

Shelby has been part of the orthodontic field since 2013 and has proudly been a member of our Hometown Orthodontics family for the past 10 years. She completed her dental assisting education through the Auburn Dental Assisting Program and is CPR certified. Shelby’s favorite part of orthodontics is getting to know each patient personally and watching their smiles transform throughout treatment. What she enjoys most about being part of the Hometown Orthodontics team is the amazing group of women she works with, her “girlies” as she would say, who feel more like family than coworkers. She grew up in Trussville and graduated from Hewitt-Trussville High School. She is married to her husband, Austin and they have two children, Dallas (5) and Charlie (2). Their home is full of life, shared with three dogs, one cat, and five chickens. Outside of the office, Shelby loves spending time outdoors with her family, relaxing at the lake, and staying active at the gym! A fun fact about Shelby is that she owns and operates her own photography business. If you ever need photos, she’s your girl! We are so blessed to have her!

Brooke has been with our office for an incredible 27 years and she has been in the orthodontic field just as long! Having someone as loyal, dedicated, and committed as Brooke is something we truly treasure. She completed her dental assisting education at Wallace State in 1998 and is CPR certified. Brooke’s favorite part of orthodontics is working with kids and watching their smiles transform. She loves being part of the Hometown Orthodontics team because, in her words, “we’re family!” and after 27 years, she absolutely is! Brooke lives in Argo with her husband, Andy. They’ve been married for 25 years and have two children: Layla, who is 21 and studying forensic science at Jacksonville State University, and Cooper, who is 12, attends Springville, and is proudly rocking an extra chromosome. He is a total hoot and brings so much joy! They also have two sweet doggies at home! In her free time, Brooke loves working out and spending time with her family. We are beyond blessed to have had her with us for nearly three decades!

Rachel has been in the orthodontic field since 2012. She is a graduate of the UAB School of Dentistry dental assisting program with many years of chairside experience; she is here to answer any of your orthodontic questions, from discussing your specific treatment recommendations to explaining your insurance and financial options. Rachel loves spending time with her wonderful husband, two precious children and three fur babies. When away from the office, you will likely find her at the ballpark or gym cheering her kids on, exploring new restaurants, attending music events and enjoying any adventure that she can share with her family and friends.
Psalm 46:10

Nancy Cervantes – Clinical Assistant
Nancy has been in the orthodontic field for 6 years and has been part of our Hometown Orthodontics family for the past 4 years. She completed the UAB Dental Assisting Program in 2021, is CPR certified, and has advanced training with Invisalign. Nancy loves orthodontics because she enjoys watching patients grow over time and being part of their smile journey. One of her favorite things about working at Hometown Orthodontics is how close our team is, in her words, “my coworkers truly feel like family.” Outside of work, Nancy loves spending time with her family and celebrating life’s little moments. With her family’s roots in Mexico, she cherishes staying connected to her culture. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, discovering new places, and going to concerts. A fun fact about Nancy is that she’s bilingual! We are so grateful to have Nancy a part of our family for the last 4 years!

Yessenia has been in the dental field for 6 years and joined our Hometown Orthodontics family about a year ago. She graduated from Wallace State Community College with her associate degree in 2020 and is CPR certified. Yessenia loves helping create confident smiles, and her favorite part of being part of our team is how loving, caring, and fun the office feels. She was born in Chicago and enjoys traveling whenever she gets the chance. She also has a 5-year-old Doberman/Great Dane mix named Sasha, who she adores! Yessi loves hiking and spending time with her friends and family. A fun fact about her is that she’s a twin, she can play the guitar, and she’s part of her church worship team — she also serves as one of the youth leaders at her church! We are so excited to have Yessenia as part of our Hometown Orthodontics family!

Haley began her career in the orthodontic field five years ago and has been a valued member of our team for the past year. She brings a calming presence to the office and is known for her incredibly sweet, soft-spoken personality. Haley completed her orthodontic assisting course online, is CPR certified, and has advanced training with Invisalign. She loves being part of each patient’s smile transformation and enjoys connecting with new people every day. Outside of the office, Haley enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling to the beach, and going on new adventures. She also has a dog named Mallard, who is a German Shorthaired Pointer. We are so thankful to have her as part of our team!

Shelli has been an essential part of our practice family for decades. She has spent her entire career in orthodontics, first working with Dr. Luther Cale for 12 years then has worked for Dr. Rape since 2007, totaling an incredible 31 years in the orthodontic field! While she now works behind the scenes from home as our bookkeeper, her impact is still felt every single day!
Outside of work, Shelli has been married to her husband for 46 years, lives on Logan Martin Lake, and finds her greatest joy in spending time with her four grandsons. She loves the outdoors, camping, and enjoys trying new things like pickleball and ballroom dancing! You name it, she’s there!! She also has a heart in leading Bible studies and gathering people around the table, which perfectly reflects the warmth, faith, and care she brings to our team. We are so grateful for Shelli and all she does!

Gabby is the newest addition to our Hometown Orthodontics family and brings four years of experience in the orthodontic field to our team. Her favorite part of working in orthodontics is watching patients gain confidence in their smiles as they complete treatment. She loves getting to be a part of that transformation and seeing the difference a new smile can make.
Originally from Mexico, Gabby is a proud dog mom and loves spending time with her family, nieces, and friends. Family means everything to her, especially her nieces! She loves being their aunt and cherishes every moment she gets to spend with them. With so many nieces to keep her busy, Gabby always has plenty of love, laughter, and fun in her life! When she’s not at the office, you can find Gabby at the gym, bowling, or enjoying time with the people she loves most.