Why We Exist

David has been the President of Accelerated Academy since its start in 2015. David's vision is to provide students with  more than an education. His heart is to develop students into quality people and incredible employees. He says it best himself, “I believe my mission in life is very clear; fear the Lord, lead my family, and mentor others to live a meaningful and productive life."

Mishaux, a South Louisiana native, earned her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from LSU and has worked with Dr. Bencaz since 2006. She is the original founder of Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy and still serves as a partner, as well as Secretary on the Board of Directors. Mishaux has built a successful dental practice and school alongside her team and has been an active Discovery member since 2014. Outside the office, she enjoys time with her husband Chanse and daughter Sophie, helps run a family bed and breakfast, serves on the Launch committee for children with disabilities, and is a proud foster parent. Her life is rooted in service to God and others.

Merten joined the team in February 2024 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Merten oversees day-to-day operations and drives strategic initiatives that streamline processes and foster sustainable growth. With a proven track record in operational excellence, Merten is dedicated to cultivating innovation and ensuring that the company remains agile and forward-thinking.

Ben joined the Accelerated Academy team in July 2023. Ben is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and has a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Business Management. Prior to Accelerated Academy, Ben was a financial advisor for 7 years with Series 7, 6 and 63 securities licenses and CFP, ChFC and RICP designations.  He also has an extensive background as an employee benefits broker. In his free time, Ben enjoys being with friends and family, golfing, swimming, boxing, and staying active.

Fun Fact: Ben knows the alphabet backwards and once made Samuel L Jackson laugh!

Emily was born and raised in North Carolina but has called Louisiana home since 2013. She is a proud graduate of Louisiana State University, where she earned a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Since joining Accelerated Academy in 2016, Emily has been dedicated to helping others reach their goals while creating opportunities along the way. Her passion lies in making a positive impact, and she finds joy in bringing smiles to those around her. Outside of work, Emily cherishes time with her husband and children, always embracing the moments that matter most.

From Baton Rouge, La., meet Carley Bissel. She has always aspired to work in the dental field in some fashion. After graduating from Louisiana State University in May 2019, she joined the Accelerated Dental team. Not only does she love her coworkers, but she thrives on helping students better themselves and meet their goals. She truly enjoys seeing the student's journey from start to finish!

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She enjoys spending time with her tight-knit family, friends, Husband Luke, and her dog, Stevie and her cat, Liz. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, biking, gardening, and cooking.

Meet Abby. Born and raised in Louisiana, she proudly calls Baton Rouge, LA her home. She graduated from Louisiana State University in 2018 with a Degree in Kinesiology. Abby loves to spend time outside with her husband, Dan, her friends, and her sweet dog, Gretchen.

Ashley joined Accelerated in June of 2017. As the Director of Operations, she is dedicated to fostering excellence in dental education across our multiple locations nationwide. Her role encompasses strategic oversight of curriculum development, faculty management, and operational excellence aimed at preparing students for successful careers in dentistry.

Outside of work, Ashley thrives on spontaneous adventures. She and her family love to be on the move, traveling with their three dogs, with the camper in tow. Her ultimate happy place is out on the water, saltwater fishing in the lakes of South Louisiana.

Kathryn is from Baton Rouge, LA and graduated in 2007 from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor in Science in Biological Sciences. After being an Environmental Scientist with the LA Department of Environmental Quality and a 13-year career as a real-estate Broker and Property Manager, she joined Accelerated Dental in October of 2021 as a Communications Manager.

She loves the fun and family first culture of ADAA. Her favorite part about working at ADAA is being able to problem solve and support students and instructors so they can have a successful experience.  She and her husband, Manny, reside in Baton Rouge, LA with their extremely spoiled cat named Jagger.  When she is not in the office she enjoys going to LSU and Saints football games, entertaining, and traveling with family and friends.

Kristi joined ADAA in 2020 in the Operations Department. She works diligently to ensure all operation details are complete in order for each school to run smoothly and effectively. Kristi loves being a support to the operations department, instructors and students. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has 15+ years of experience working as a registered nurse.

Outside of work, Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband, Russell, and their three children. They live in Baton Rouge, LA and their days are filled with long walks, reading, and supporting their children's activities.

Keith joined the Accelerated Academy team in June 2023 as our Compliance Renewal Specialist. Keith is from Chalmette, LA, attended LSU, and has over 25 years of management experience in retail and delivery services. He has been married for over 21 years and has 3 kids and 3 cats. When he is not working at Accelerated Academy, Keith enjoys reading, going to the movies, and backyard gardening. He also loves fishing and the outdoors.

Fun Facts: Keith grew up on a shrimp boat. His favorite place to travel is Scotland. He broke his ankle while visiting India, and Walt Disney World is his happy place.

Emily is the Career Coach at Accelerated Academy, where she blends her background as an educator with her passion for empowering students to succeed beyond the classroom. As a pioneer in our newest hybrid curriculum, Emily brings deep expertise in navigating our learning management system and guiding students every step of the way.

Throughout each semester, she connects with students to ensure they’re confident, prepared, and ready to launch their careers. And when they land that first job? She celebrates like it's one of her own.

Originally from Massachusetts, Emily now lives in Baton Rouge with her husband. She still loves visiting New England—just not in the winter!

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Misty joined Accelerated Dental in 2021 as a Communications Manager. Misty grew up in Oklahoma where she acquired her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She moved to Louisiana in 2018, married her husband Jeanluc and gained a stepdaughter, Abigail. She is a dog mom as well. Misty has a passion for helping others succeed in all walks of life. She loves the hardworking, fun culture ADAA has and watching instructors and students succeed each semester.

When not working, you can find her in Denham Springs, LA  spending time with her family and playing with her spoiled fur-kids, Cash and Pixi.

Abbey joined Accelerated Academy in April of 2023. She is originally from Chalmette, LA and grew up in Walker, LA. Prior to joining Accelerated, Abbey was a Certified Pharmacy Technician for almost 4 years and even taught a pharmacy technician class at her former high school! She has a boyfriend and two spoiled Golden Retriever pups named Daisy and Rosie at home! Her favorite part of working at Accelerated is being able to help guide students throughout their time with Accelerated Academy and watching them succeed in their new career!

With a dynamic career spanning 10 years in dentistry and 5 years in marketing across industries like finance and homebuilding, Whitney brings a unique blend of expertise to her role as Affiliate Marketing Manager and thrives on crafting authentic connections and driving growth.

Whitney is passionate about partner relationships and building an organic footprint in the dental field. An idea junkie with a knack for strategy, she loves blending creativity with bold moves. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending church, trying new restaurants, cheering on LSU baseball, and most of all, spending time with her husband and their newly welcomed son in 2024—her greatest adventure yet.

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Eduardo is a UX Engineer at Accelerated Academy, where he designs intuitive interfaces and develops user-friendly front-end experiences that make digital learning simple, engaging, and accessible. Working first as a freelance consultant he was inspired by the mission, programs, and people behind them, which led him to officially join the team. With a background in Communication, Graphic Design, and extensive experience as a Front-End Developer and Creative Director, Eduardo has built global brands, led creative teams, and seamlessly bridged design with development. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife and daughter, exploring new cultures together.

Michael is the Digital Marketing Manager at Accelerated Academy, where he leads all paid media initiatives with a sharp focus on data, performance, and measurable results. With a background in PR and Advertising and a Journalism degree from UNC, Michael brings a unique blend of storytelling and strategic thinking to the digital space. His approach to marketing is both analytical and creative—always aiming to drive impact while staying ahead of digital trends.

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Will is a Paid Media Specialist, with his focus being on paid advertising and marketing data. He has two degrees (MS and BS) from LSU, where he was a member of LSU's 2023 national championship baseball team as a student staff member. Will enjoys hanging out with his dog, Gunner, playing video games, and cheering on his LSU Tigers outside of work.

Autumn joined Accelerated Academy in May of 2021. She loves the fun, loving, family atmosphere of her

job. Her favorite part about working at Accelerated is being able to help guide students into their new careers

and seeing them become successful.

She and her husband, Cody, reside in Denham Springs, La with their 4 beautiful children and 2 spoiled dogs.

When she’s not in the office she enjoys fishing, boat riding, traveling and staying busy with the kids hobbies such as competition cheer and baseball.

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Lauren joined Accelerated Academy in July 2023 as an Admissions Representative. Lauren is originally from Denham Springs but lived in Powder Springs, Georgia, for 7 years. Before joining Accelerated Academy, Lauren worked as a dental assistant for 5 years. She has a fiancé and two dogs at home. When she is not working at Accelerated Academy, Lauren enjoys shopping, trying new restaurants, traveling, and reading.

Lindsay joined Accelerated Academy in October 2024 as an Admission Representative. Lindsay is originally from Houma, and now lives in Baton Rouge with her Husband and two dogs. Before joining Accelerated Academy, Lindsay worked in the Public school system with children with behavioral and emotional needs for 4.5 years. When she is not working, she enjoys playing beach volleyball, pickleball and fishing with her husband and two dogs! Lindsay dreams to have enough land one day to rescue abandoned dogs!

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Brittany joined Accelerated Academy in 2024 as an Admissions Representative. Originally from Walker, Louisiana, Brittany now resides in Denham Springs. With eight years of experience in sales and client relations, she previously worked as a client specialist in the Air Conditioning industry. At home, Brittany has a pitbull named Leia, who is named after Princess Leia from Star Wars. Outside of work, Brittany enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her dog.

Aubrey joined Accelerated Academy as an Admissions Representative in January 2025. Before that, she spent four years as a dental assistant and later transitioned into a role as a training coordinator, where she honed her skills in communication and organization. Outside of work, Aubrey enjoys traveling, playing the harp, and embracing new experiences.

Ashlee, a seasoned professional from Walker, LA, joined Accelerated Academy on December 11, 2023, bringing 12 years of experience in staffing, specializing in interviewing and recruiting. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband of 13 years, Joey, and their three children, Brody, Aubree, and Harper, along with their beloved dog. An avid animal lover, Ashlee is actively involved in her children’s sports activities, which include baseball, basketball, football, and cheerleading, reflecting her commitment to family and community.

Taylor joined Accelerated Academy in June 2023 as an Admissions Representative. She is from New Orleans, LA and has been in the sales industry for over 7 years. Taylor got her bachelor's degree and her Masters in Business Administration from LSU. She is married with a son and 2 Australian shepherds. When not working at Accelerated Academy, she enjoys hanging out with her family and being outdoors.

Joseph is a Data Engineer, where he designs, builds, and maintains scalable data pipelines to help teams make smarter, data-driven decisions. With three years of experience in professional software development, he brings a strong foundation in backend systems and a deep curiosity for solving complex technical problems. Whether he's streamlining data processes or untangling code, he’s motivated by a passion for creating elegant, efficient solutions. His work blends precision and creativity—always focused on creating tools that are as reliable as they are efficient.

Lisa joined Accelerated Academy in January of 2025. After graduating from LSU, she worked for eight years in curriculum development, tutoring students, delivering professional development to teachers, writing textbooks and test prep material, and more. After a pandemic career switch, she worked as software developer in the EdTech space for two and a half years before joining our team. Lisa is passionate about access to education and job training, and as a coding boot camp graduate, she is especially interested in both supporting and normalizing alternative routes to traditional college and university education paths. She’s excited to be a part of a team that shares these values and to be doing work that opens doors for people seeking agency and upward mobility in their lives. When she’s not behind the computer screen, she enjoys painting, open-water swimming, surfing, reading, playing drums, and yoga.

Misty joined our team in June 2019 as one of our financial representatives. She enjoys serving our students to help them be able to afford our program and set them up for success to be debt free once they graduate. Misty was born and raised in Louisiana. Misty and her husband, Robert, reside in Walker, Louisiana. They have three beautiful children, Colton, Alexis, and Kalli along with two spunky dogs, Turbo and Ella. Misty attended Southeastern Louisiana University where she received her Bachelors in Business Administration. When she's not working, Misty enjoys attending church and spending time with her family. Fun fact, Misty loves the Crossfit life.

Kailey is an Inventory Specialist at Accelerated Academy, where she ensures students and instructors are equipped with the tools they need for success. Before joining the team in May 2025, Kailey spent a few vital years working in a dental office, which sparked her passion for supporting hands-on learning in the dental field.She was drawn to Accelerated Academy’s mission and is excited to play a role in helping future professionals start strong. Outside of work, Kailey loves spending time with friends and family, exploring new places, and creating memories wherever life takes her.

Brittany brings more than 20 years of experience in the dental field to her role at Accelerated Academy, where she supports students every step of the way—from enrollment to graduation and beyond. With 13 years as a dental assistant and 7 years as an instructor, she’s passionate about helping future dental professionals reach their goals with confidence and care. Brittany chose to join Accelerated Academy because she believes in the power of education to change lives and loves being part of a team that empowers students to build brighter futures.

Outside of work, Brittany loves sport fishing, traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with her family.

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Jamie graduated from LSU with a degree in creative writing and took the scenic route through a rewarding career in publishing, advertising, and freelance writing before finding her groove at Accelerated Academy in 2023. Her favorite part of the gig? Teaming up with a bunch of energetic, student-obsessed humans who are all about breaking down barriers to education. Off the clock, Jamie is a professional dog cuddler (aka foster mom), power-walking enthusiast, interior design DIYer, and thrift store treasure hunter with a sixth sense for scoring the good stuff. Fun fact: she once furnished an entire room with thrift finds for under $100.

Amanda joined Accelerated Academy in January of 2025. She is a proud mom of three and a Denham Springs, LA native. She and her husband, Dustin, love watching their kids do amazing things—Macy crushing it in college, Brooke rocking beauty school, and Colt excelling in sports. After 18 years in the insurance industry, Amanda decided to leave that behind and pursue new opportunities, currently working with the compliance team. When she's not busy with family or work, you'll find her near the water, soaking up the sun and relaxing. Amanda finds fulfillment in her family, career, and the simple pleasures of life.