Our Staff
Many members of our professional staff have been with Kuwata Pan Dent for 10, 20 or even 30 years! Our customers can be confident that these employees have attained the highest levels of expertise in their fields. Please take a moment to learn a little more about these key staff members:
Yukio, President : Date of hire, 1981
Hobby: On and off-road motorcycling
Inspired by: Historical heroes who changed the world
Likes: Reading and studying Japanese history
Motto: "Fall Seven Times, stand up eight" –Japanese Proverb
Yukio is especially proud of the fact that he and Kuwata Pan Dent have helped people from different parts of the world make a good life for themselves and their families here in the United States. He is sincere in his desire to contribute to a better quality of life for not only his staff, but our customers and their patients.
Yoshinobu, Vice President : Date of hire, 1980
Hobby: Golf
Favorite food: Sushi
Likes: Good wine and single malt scotch
Raised in: Japan
Yoshi takes great pride when our work makes doctors and patients happy. He sees negative feedback as an opportunity to learn and positive feedback as motivation. His dream is to retire to Hawaii.
Ikuzo, Assistant Lab Manager: Date of hire, 1986
Assistant Manager
Hobby: Photography
Pet peeve: Remakes!
Favorite food: Tapas
Likes: Jazz and the color blue
Ikuzo was born in Japan, but says he grew up at Kuwata Pan Dent! His goal in life is to help other people and he is inspired when other people are happy.
Francine, Marketing Manager: Date of hire, 1980
Hobby: Reading and spending time with her many pets
Pets: 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5 parrots and whoever else asks to come in
Likes: Family, nature, motorcycling, learning new things and quiet times
Motto: "Whether you think you can or think you can't – you are right" –Henry Ford
Francine appreciates the unusual, the unique and the creative aspects of life. Her inspiration in life has always been her hard-working parents.
Jay, Lab Office Manager: Date of hire, 1999
Hobby: Watching movies, motorcycling & snowboarding
Favorite food: hamburgers!
Fan of: Kevin Smith
Raised in: Newark, NJ
Jay hopes to see the world and is inspired and motivated by his son. His favorite sports are baseball and football. He's also a really good dancer!
Lisa, Office Manager: Date of hire, 2003
Hobbies: Cooking and gardening
Pet: Shirley, a Toy Poodle and Teddy, a Malti-Poo
Fan of: Toby Keith
Likes: Classic Rock, horse racing and the color pink
Lisa is very proud of her daughters. In 2011, one will graduate from the University of Delaware and the other from high school to continue her education at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Mary Jo, Lab Office Supervisor: Date of hire, 1999
Hobbies: Does shopping count?
Pet peeve: Impolite people
Fan of: New Jersey Devils
Favorite Food: Italian, of course!
"MJ" was raised in Parsippany, NJ and really enjoys the Jersey Shore. She hopes for happiness in life, and if life is fair, she will surely find it. Mary Jo is a hard worker who brings smiles wherever she goes with her terrific sense of humor.
Maite, Denture Manager: Date of hire, 2003
Hobbies: International travel, photography, scuba diving & dancing
Pet peeve: Corrupt politicians
Fan of: Johnny Depp
Sports: Hiking, swimming & working out
Maite was born in Caracas, Venezuela where she graduated from the College of Dental Technology. She loves her two cats, Tiger and Minina and hopes for health and happiness in life.
Maria, Operations Office: Date of hire, 1983
Hobby: Going out dancing
Fan of: Bon Jovi
Pets: Her dog Sierra and a goldfish
Motto: "Say what you mean and mean what you say"
Maria is proud of her son, who always makes her laugh. She's a Kean University graduate and enjoys 80's disco, baseball and cheesecake. She seeks peace of mind and happiness in life.
Masahiro, Ceramist: Date of hire, 1991
Hobbies: Skiing and hiking
Favorite sport: Mogul skiing
Favorite Food: Japanese and Korean
Masahiro grew up in Hokkaido, Japan, where his love of winter sports was born. What does he want from life? "Lots of snow!"
Tsutomu, Temps and Implant Technician: Date of hire, 1991
Hobby: Fishing
Favorite colors: White and blue
Raised in: Tokyo, Japan
Tsutomu is our Man Friday, a well-rounded technician who handles everything from the unusual model request to diagnostic wax up and specializes in custom abutment design.
Naoya, Ceramist: Date of hire, 1995
Hobby: Riding and customizing motorcycles
Favorite food: Rice
Favorite color: A-2
Motto: "Do or do not. There is no try."
Although he shares his home with many different pets, Naoya is truly a cat person. He was raised in beautiful Hokkaido, Japan where he learned to love and respect nature.
Elwira, Wax Technician: Date of hire, 1998
Hobby: Crocheting
Pets: A dog, Taffy and a Koi Pond
Motto: "Whoever has a heart full of love always has something to give." Pope John Paul II
Likes: Classical music, Jazz, pastries, the color green and soccer
Elwira take inspiration from the harsh life her parents lived in Poland. With great satisfaction, she tells us that all of her own children have finished college. She is very proud of her mother, who saved the lives of 16 Jewish orphans from the ghetto in Czestochowa, Poland.
Victor, Metal Technician: Date of hire, 1998
Hobbies: Boating, snowboarding and working out
Pet peeve: Being taken for granted
Fan of: Boston Red Sox
Fond memories: As a youngster in the Dominican Republic, he and his friends "borrowed" horses for midnight rides, and then set them free in town!
Victor is proud of the man that he has become in spite of his difficult start in life. He hopes to own his own business one day.
Junji, Ceramist & CAD/CAM: Date of hire, 1999
Hobbies: Fishing, watching movies and mixed martial arts.
Raised in: Tokyo, Japan
Pets: His Chihuahua Bruno and his Iron Horse
Motto: "Never give up."
Jun would like to enjoy his entire life in the company of nice people.
Fumi, Ceramist: Date of hire, 1999
Hobbies: Fishing and snowboarding
Fan of: Japanese soccer
Raised in: Yokosuka, Japan
Likes: Sushi, rock music and the color white
Fumi beams with pride when he talks about his two small sons. Inspired by nature, his future goal is to travel the world.
Yong, Wax & Metal Technician: Date of hire, 2000
Hobbies: Snowboarding, water skiing and basketball
Pet peeve: Short margins
Fan of: J-E-T-S go, go, go!
Motto: "I'd rather aim high and miss my mark than aim low and make it."
Yong takes pride in how dental technology can enhance a person's look and make a difference in their lives. He is inspired to be the best he can be by positive feedback from doctors, patients and his peers.
Rafael, Lab Office: Date of hire, 2000
Hobbies: Gardening, playing congas and bongos
Favorite quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." -JFK
Fan of: NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Knicks
Fond memories: His 1970's Afro
Rafael is proud of coming to the USA and making a better life for himself and his family. His dream is to be happy and healthy, enjoying good times (especially summer barbecues) with family and friends.
Daniel, Metal and Wax Technician: Date of hire, 2001
Hobby: Painting
Favorite sport: Body building
Fan of: Aventura, Guns N' Roses, U2
Pets: Fish
Danny grew up in the Dominican Republic. His life goals are to be a better person, and be successful no matter what he does.
Diana, Lab Office: Date of hire, 2007
Favorite food: Seafood
Inspired to do good by: Her Princess Genesis
Fan of: NY Yankees
Likes: Danceable music, baseball and the color purple
Diana takes pride in her ability to multi-task, particularly being able to work and care for her baby, while juggling many other responsibilities. She grew up in Paterson, NJ and hopes to pursue her nursing diploma in the future.
Kayellen, Lab Office: Date of hire, 2010
Hobbies: Swimming and hand making jewelry
Favorite food: Seafood, especially crabs, shrimp and lobster
Likes: Jazz and the colors orange and yellow
Motto: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Kayellen loves spending time with her dog, Terror and cat, Jazzy.