Meet Our Team

Hi, I’m Dr. Jeffrey Connell! I grew up in Franklin, a small town tucked into the western mountains of North Carolina, where I learned early on the value of community and connection. I studied Human Biology with a Business minor at NC State.

After undergrad, I went on to earn my Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. Since then, I’ve loved being able to help patients feel confident, healthy and comfortable — whether they’re coming in for a routine visit or something more involved.

I’m also lucky to share this profession with my wife, Lauren, who’s a fellow dentist. We have a daughter named Lucy who keeps us on our toes in the best way. As a family, we love spending time outside and taking trips to the Outer Banks whenever we get the chance.

Julie is originally from Southbury Connecticut and moved to Holly Springs back in 2005. Before moving down to NC, she earned a Bachelors’ degree from Plymouth State University and a Masters’ degree from Southern CT State University in the field of Human Physiology and Exercise Science/Nutrition. After working in the health field for over 20 years, she decided to go back to school to earn her certificate in dental assisting.

She has experience working with people of all ages and enjoys helping people and making a difference in their lives. She has had an interest in dentistry for many years and was so excited to have the opportunity to make the career change, having been working with people in healthcare for 25 years. She understands how important it is to have proper and consistent dental care for overall well-being and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with others.

Julie is married with two children, and when she is not working, she likes to spend time with her family as well as enjoy outdoor exercise such as jogging and hiking. She also enjoys doing projects around the house.

Emily was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, and now calls Willow Springs her home. She graduated from Wayne Community College with a Degree in Dental Hygiene in 2019. She has previous experience as a dental assistant and has worked in the dental field since 2016.

She aspires to help every individual patient seek good oral hygiene and make a difference in their life.

Emily is married with two little boys. Her hobbies include traveling to the coast, running and playing sports with her little ones. She is excited to be part of the dental journey with Avent Ferry Family Dentistry.

Julie is originally from West Jefferson, NC, but has lived locally for over 20 years. In 2017, she graduated from Wake Technical Community College with her degree in dental hygiene. Julie is married and has a daughter.

Julie hopes she can make the dental environment feel warm and welcoming, no longer making it a scary place. She feels it is important to get to know her patients and their families and make them feel at home. Often, she will crack cheesy jokes in attempt to hopefully get a smile from patients all while working together to improve their smile! In her free time, Julie likes to hang out with her family and friends and spend time in her garden.

Carrie resides in Harnett County with her husband Matt and son, Corban. She graduated in 2013 from the Wake Tech Dental Assistant program. Shortly after she received her Certified Dental Assistant certification from DANB. Carrie participates in at least 12 hours a year of continuing education courses to boost her knowledge of the dental field and keep her certification current. She has enjoyed working with Dr. Connell and the team since opening in 2014. Carrie loves everything involving teeth but her favorite part of being a dental assistant is the ability to help the most anxious patient feel comfortable and at ease while in the chair. Carrie enjoys playing piano at her church and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Linda was born and raised in North Carolina. She is a mother of two. Linda obtained her Cosmetology license from CCCC. While working at her mother’s hair salon, she developed her passion in the dental field. She then graduated from NC Dental U as a dental assistant in 2021. Linda joined the AFFD team in June of 2022. She deeply enjoys working with our awesome team and getting to know all of our amazing patients.

When she is not working, Linda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach, traveling and trying new restaurants. Her favorite part about working in dentistry is being a part of helping people achieve their dream smiles.

Mallory has been working as a dental assistant since 2021. She completed her dental assistant certification at Sandhills Dental Career Center as well as an associate in arts at Central Carolina Community College. She is also cross trained on the administrative side of our practice. Meeting and helping patients become confident in their smile is her favorite part of the job! In her free time, she enjoys painting, spending time with family, friends and her dog Merle.