Meet the Team

Patricia Casasanta
CEO

Patricia Casasanta has been the President of Strategic Practice Solutions and Strategic Dental Staffing Solutions since their inception in 2012. Prior, she was the President of Performance Plus Staffing from 1995 to 2012. Patricia began her career in dentistry when she graduated as a dental hygienist in 1988 from the University of Detroit Mercy.

With over 27 years of dental experience, Patricia is in tune with the ever-changing needs of the industry. Throughout her career, her goal has been to provide talent, tools and training to assist dental practices in building their team and to have the skills and business systems to run and grow their dental practice(s). Patricia has developed a Senior Management Marketing and Sales portfolio to accomplish this goal. Click to read full bio.

Sunshine Dietz
Professional Consultant/Coach

Sunshine Dietz, Professional Consultant/Coach, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science with an emphasis on Corporate Accounting from Cleary University, and has a well rounded dental background.  Sunshine initially began her dental career as an assistant, but has since evolved into the Human Resources Manager for a private practice whom she has been with for 11 years.

Sunshine joins Strategic Practice Solutions with private practice financial reporting knowledge and practice management experience.  Combined with her accounting background, this gives Sunshine a well-rounded foundation to assist our Director of Operations and our clients.

Jessica Oleskie
Human Resource Director

Jessica Oleskie is a registered dental hygienist with a passion for working with children, geriatrics and special needs. Jessica’s education includes a degree in Dental Hygiene and BS in Allied Health from Ferris State University and has been working in the dental field since 2005. Jessica’s belief is that oral health is key to one’s overall health. Her mission is to communicate and educate as many people as she can touch in the dental field.

When Jessica is not working, she is very active with the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). Jessica is very involved in assisting with a variety of community service/fundraising events for special needs. She currently travels for tournaments and hopes to go pro. Jessica finds time for hiking, music and football as well.

Jo Ann Buchheister
Instructor/Trainer

Jo Ann Buchheister, CDA, RDA, BS is a past member of the Michigan State Board of Dentistry and is the Dental Assisting Program Director at Wayne County Community College District.

She has over 40 years of experience as a dental assistant, office manager and educator.

Anna Russo
Instructor/Trainer

Anna Russo, one of the top certified trainers in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. With over three decades of experience, Ms. Russo has achieved international recognition for her development of many successful programs for individual behavioral change and enhancement. Among her clients are: corporate presidents, physicians, psychologists, lawyers, sales managers, as well as families and individuals seeking positive personal change.

In addition, Ms. Russo is the creator of Success Strategies, the author of Connecting with Resistant Teenagers-Ten Proven Steps, and the author of 30 Day Total Business Makeover.

Anica Burns, PM
PPO Credentialing/Negotiations Specialist

Anica has been active in the dental industry for 10 years. Her vast experience includes cross trained as a dental assistant and front desk receptionist, financial coordinator, treatment/scheduling coordinator, insurance coordinator, dental insurance consultant and coach. Anica has mastered scheduling techniques to keep a full productive schedule and has decreased insurance and patient aging accounts.

Anica holds a Dental Assisting degree from Everest Institute. She continues her professional development enhancing her skills with specialized training including Dale Carnegie training, coaching with Bill Blatchford, coaching with Charles Blair, orthodontic training, sleep apnea training, temporomandibular joint disorder training, medical coding for dental related services, and is x-ray certified.

One of Anica’s strengths is to aid dental practices through her understanding of the variables within the business that make it tick and apply her acquired knowledge with their unique situation to recommend “best practices” in a way that coincides with their vision. When Anica is not working, she enjoys planning adventures and traveling to new places with her family, cooking, and entertaining for her loved ones.

Beth Distefano, PM
PPO Credentialing/Negotiations Specialist

Beth has been in the dental industry for 28 years. She has held several positions including; dental assistant at a periodontal office for 4 years, dental assistant at a pediatric dental office for 10 years followed by front desk and insurance coordinator for 14 years at the same office. Beth has attended trainings and events to enhance her professional development including: x-ray course, CPR training, and OSHA Seminars.

Beth is very dedicated to a project looking to make sure each client obtains the best negotiated fees possible and assists the SPS team to orchestrate the paramount plan that will optimize a practice’s insurance reimbursements. Her knowledge of dental insurance is priceless.

Beth enjoys helping dental practices obtain the best possible outcome for their office. She also enjoys the challenge and to continue to learn more in the everchanging world of insurance. During her down time”, Beth enjoys spending it with her family, watching her daughter dance, and photography.