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Join Chris &amp; John McClure, Dr. Alex Gianinni and Blair Headley from <a href="https://aligneddentalpartners.com/">Aligned Dental Partners</a>, plus Bob Winder from <a href="https://logangrowth.com/">Logan Growth Advisors</a> on Thursday, Oct. 12th from 2-5pm as they walk you through exactly how to prepare to go to market. 
Build
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Learn how to create mergers that add EBITDA and drive enterprise value</li>
<li aria-level="1">Asses and rate the systems and infrastructure of your group or DSO</li>
<li aria-level="1">Discover how to affordably centralize management services</li>
</ul>
Maximize
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Learn what buyers &amp; investors want</li>
<li aria-level="1">Prepare to go to market and ensure the back end is in order</li>
<li aria-level="1">Discover techniques to deploy, pre-transaction, to grow revenue, EBITDA &amp; Enterprise Value</li>
</ul>
Monetize
<ul>
<li>Understand valuations, value enhancers, and detractors</li>
<li aria-level="1">Take a look behind the curtain of private equity’s investment thesis</li>
<li aria-level="1">Learn what levers to pull to as part of deal negotiations, to maximize the value of your dental company</li>
<li aria-level="1">Understand that economic terms on the term sheet are important, but only a piece of the puzzle. Choosing the right partner is crucial to the success of the deal.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Understand proper due diligence, uncover landmines &amp; “gotcha” issues, and eliminate poisonous deal terms</li>
</ul>
This workshop is designed for executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners who are considering or actively pursuing M&amp;A opportunities.
You&#8217;ll have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, ask questions, share experiences, and gain practical knowledge that you can apply immediately.
Don&#8217;t miss out on this opportunity to learn from experts and take your business to the next level.

Build, Optimize &amp; Monetize Your Practice is an optional event created exclusively for the DSO Leadership Summit in partnership with <a href="https://aligneddentalpartners.com/">Aligned Dental Partners</a> &amp; <a href="https://logangrowth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Logan Growth Advisors </a>.

An Interactive Workshop

Build, Optimize, Monetize

Our carefully curated group of experts will be available to meet with you in a private, confidential setting where you can discuss your business objectives and receive guidance on how to achieve them. Whether you&#8217;re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, these professionals can help you develop a clear and effective plan for growth.
You’ll get to meet with companies in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, traditional banking, legal, marketing, RCM, real estate and more.
To allow all attendees to meet with every company we are limiting the number of attendees.
Registration is first come, first serve and you must be pre-registered to attend.
<h6>Tech Connect</h6>
This speed dating session will introduce you to all the best, emerging technologies that you probably don’t know exist, but will catapult your group to the next level.
You’ll get to meet with companies in classic AI, but also revenue cycle management, patient payment, insurance verification, orthodontic tech and even AI for office administration.
If you’re ready to think outside the box, this is the session for you.
<h6>Building Blocks of Growth</h6>
This session will give you one-on-one time with a team of experts that will help you determine your plan for growth, or perfect the plan you already have.
You’ll get to meet with companies in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, traditional banking, legal and real estate.
We recommend you bring your business plan. If you don’t have one, all the more reason to sign up.

Speed Networking is back with a new and improved format for 2023. This year you will be paired with experts who can help you achieve your growth goals. During registration you will be able to choose different areas you would like to focus on and will then be matched with an expert in that area.
Choose from two exciting sessions ➡️

Practice Perfect:

Speed Networking for Success

Tech Connect

Practice Perfect: Building Blocks of Growth

This is not just another workshop. Embark on a transformative journey with your peers through the latest orthodontic market trends. Dr. Clifton Cameron (Chief Dental Office, Lightwave), Dr. Jason Gladwell (CEO, Gladwell Orthodontics), and Shannon Patterson (Partner, Benston Copple &amp; Assoc.) will discuss the key performance indicators (KPIs) that fuel growth and ROI, including integrating Invisalign, scaling RCM, and transforming the patient experience.
You&#8217;ll gain insights that empower you to meet the current orthodontic market head-on. Connect with fellow industry trailblazers, absorb their wisdom, share your own, and collectively carve a path toward success.
Presented by <a href="https://www.aligntech.com/">Align</a> &amp; <a href="https://orthofi.com/">Orthofi</a>.

Join orthodontic and DSO industry leaders in an exclusive seminar designed for visionary business leaders driving orthodontic excellence within Dental Service Organizations.
Learn more ➡️

Unlocking Smiles & Success: 

Mastering Scalable, Supported Orthodontics in DSOs

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Join us for the <a href="https://www.groupdentistrynow.com/dso-group-blog/emerging-dental-groups-to-watch-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 Emerging Groups to Watch Award</a> Ceremony at this year’s DSO Leadership Summit. Group Dentistry Now’s Emerging Groups to Watch Award is the preeminent recognition for growing group dental practices who are quietly changing the landscape of dentistry.
The Awards Ceremony will be held at <a href="http://speakeasyaustin.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speakeasy</a> followed by dinner and a celebration.

Emerging Groups to Watch Awards Ceremony at the DSO Leadership Summit

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2023 Emerging Groups to Watch Award Ceremony at the DSO Summit

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Awards + Gala

As the saying goes, “dentistry is 51% dental health care and 49% business”. The clinical part, for most, comes naturally. 
Paying attention to business is much more challenging for dentists and dental executives.
Join Melissa Marquez of Jarvis Analytics at this breakfast roundtable of DSO leaders as they discuss the 2023 Dental Industry Benchmark Report.
The presentation will include relevant topics such as: 
 How Industry trends are influencing what DSOs are measuring today 
 The right KPIs for each department and role in the DSO  
 How innovations like Chat GPT, Artificial Intelligence and predictive analytics will affect the industry 
 What KPIs and data points you want to see the industry adopt and make available in technology solutions

[Roundtable] Beyond the Chair: Dental Business Focus 2023

Test Session for Polls & Q&A

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Join an exclusive seminar designed for visionary business leaders driving orthodontic excellence within Dental Service Organizations. Embark on a transformative journey through the latest orthodontic market trends. We’ll discuss the key performance indicators (KPIs) that fuel growth and ROI, including integrating Invisalign, scaling RCM, and transforming the patient experience.
Orthodontic and DSO industry leaders will create a dynamic atmosphere. You&#8217;ll gain insights that empower you to meet the current orthodontic market head on. Connect with fellow industry trailblazers, absorb their wisdom, share your own, and collectively carve a path toward success.
</div>
</div>

[Workshop] Unlocking Smiles & Success: Mastering Scalable, Supported Orthodontics in DSOs

Thank You

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You want to grow your firm and serve more patients. You know incorporating a specialty like orthodontics, endodontics, or sleep apnea will help get you there. What you don’t know are the key steps to make it happen. 
&nbsp;
This session is the holy grail of how-to guides, teaching you everything you need to know when it comes to incorporating specialties.
&nbsp;
Santosh Patel, Dr. David Ferguson, and Jeff Paz will give you the strategies and prerequisites for successful specialty integration. Learn when and how to bring in specialties, how to align your offerings, and how success can vault your valuation to the next level.
&nbsp;
Other panels just tell you to offer specialties and skip over the useful operations insights. Not this one. Discover exactly how you can supercharge your practice&#8217;s growth and gain a competitive edge.
&nbsp;
</div>
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The Specialty Supercharge: How To Incorporate Specialties Into Your Practice

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You need to make yourself LESS important. It seems counterintuitive, but it’s critical for growth. This panel shows you how to do it right.
&nbsp;
If you’re a solopreneur who’s built your practice from the ground up, it’s time to plan for the future. It starts with a support system. Discover the strategies you need to move from sole leadership to heading an exceptional C-Suite.
&nbsp;
This panel will dive deep into:
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<li>Why developing top-level executives and succession planning are important</li>
<li>How to define roles, identify the right people, and create a cohesive team.</li>
<li>How to empower your C-Suite to excel, build a collaborative culture, and communicate your mission</li>
<li>The talent development and succession planning strategies that ensure your practice will last long after you’re gone.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
This is your roadmap for building a high-performing C-Suite. Because when your practice grows without you, you can build your own future.
&nbsp;
</div>
</div>

From Solopreneur to C-Suite: Building Your Leadership Support System

Networking Break

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“Serve more people” is a goal, but it’s not a plan. It’s time to learn the nuts and bolts of how successful DSOs drive same store growth.
&nbsp;
That’s why we’ve brought together DSO leaders that know how to get and keep new patients.
&nbsp;
Caitlin Waters (Risas Dental and Braces) brings deep marketing experience. Kellie Cernobyl (Freedom Dental Management) knows all things operations. Together, they’ll discuss strategies like:
&nbsp;
<ul class="carina-rte-public-DraftStyleDefault-ul">
<li>Free treatment promotions tied to trackable revenue numbers</li>
<li>Community outreach, including attending events, positioning team members as spokespeople, and amplifying patient stories</li>
<li>Marketing strategies like geofencing and leveraging insurance coverage changes</li>
<li>Employee retention and happiness as an essential part of same store growth</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
They’re joined by technology experts McKenzie Fagan and Jessica Lamers. They’ll focus on how AI and practice management software can increase patient numbers without increasing overhead.
&nbsp;
When your marketing, operations, and technology are working together, nothing can stop your growth.
&nbsp;
</div>
</div>

Fortify before you Multiply: Building Blocks to Drive Same Store Growth

State of the Industry

Breakfast & Exhibits

Emerging Groups to Watch Awards Ceremony + Gala

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Discover the secrets of effective marketing in this immersive workshop. Join industry experts Sarah Ruberg, Deneen Dismore, and Nicole Toudouze as they delve into the world of branding and marketing.
Learn how to create a cohesive brand, differentiate yourself and your practice, attract new patients, retain existing ones, and optimize recruitment efforts. It’s a crash course with real results.
Online Reputation &amp; Brand Power:
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<li>Harness the power of a robust online presence.</li>
<li>Emphasize culture and expertise to attract the right team members and ensure practices align with your brand values.</li>
<li>Address the financial strain caused by high turnover and the hiring-training cycle.</li>
</ul>
Optimizing Digital Marketing ROI:
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<li>Navigate the pitfalls of ineffective digital marketing where precious dollars are wasted.</li>
<li>Implement strategies to ensure that leads are relevant, ad rates are justified, and organic SEO is leveraged effectively, even in saturated markets.</li>
</ul>
Boosting Patient Loyalty &amp; Retention:
<ul class="carina-rte-public-DraftStyleDefault-ul">
<li>Embed effective internal marketing strategies to maintain patient loyalty.</li>
<li>Refine the patient experience from the first contact to post-treatment follow-ups.</li>
<li>Equip leadership with skills to continually attract and retain patients, thereby setting up repeatable patient systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>

Marketing Workshop: A Crash Course in Branding Yourself and Your Practice

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You might think you know the ins and outs of M&amp;A. You can check the sums and dot the i’s. But there’s a side of of M&amp;A that can break down a transaction that you might not have thought of.
&nbsp;
It’s culture and compliance.
&nbsp;
It’s simple: organizations with a strong culture and compliance foundation are more likely to make change work.
&nbsp;
Heidi Arndt, Kate Dobens, and Teresa Williams will cover how to:
<ul class="carina-rte-public-DraftStyleDefault-ul">
<li>Understand human capital management’s critical impact on culture and finances</li>
<li>Handle employee job insecurity and uncertainty through change</li>
<li>Avoid culture clashes and maintain alignment and collaboration</li>
<li>How to review turnover costs and forecast their impact on profitability</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
You’ll learn how to defuse the hidden landmines of M&amp;A before you step on them. Leading to a successful and profitable transition. And a strong culture that grows and grows.
&nbsp;
</div>
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Making M&A Make Sense: The Hidden Value of Culture & Compliance

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It’s a tough market. Funding options are tightening. Accessing capital is getting harder. Interest rates are rising. You need a new approach.
&nbsp;
Don’t just weather the storm, grow through it!. Empower your team and enhance your investor appeal with Key Performance Indicators and data analytics.
&nbsp;
Jonathan Moffat (founder of Aligned Advisors), and Jill Nesbitt (Optimize Dental Consulting) will share how they accelerate growth. To secure funding, you need to track the right KPIs, use data analytics to make informed decisions, and position your practice. They know how.
&nbsp;
They’re joined by Steven DeLong, CEO of Bluetree Dental. He’s navigated the funding landscape and come out on top. He’ll share the examples and best practices he’s learned from hands-on experience.
&nbsp;
Unlock the potential of your group practice and position it as an attractive investment opportunity. Join us and learn how to make your group practice truly &#8220;bankable.&#8221;
&nbsp;
</div>
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Unlocking the Vault: Strategies to Make Your Group Practice “Bankable”

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Let’s get ready to rumble! It’s private equity versus doctor-owned: A debating duel between two popular ways to grow your practice.
&nbsp;
Our panelists, Mike Panahi, Kerry Straine, and Dr. Greg White will cut through complexity and get to the core of what matters. Comparing models can be overwhelming. This format makes the matchup meaningful and fun.
&nbsp;
In one corner, we have the power of private equity to infuse your firm with capital. Access to investment capital means PE typically pays more upfront. And if you’re nearing retirement, you can cash out with a higher valuation. 
&nbsp;
In the opposite corner are doctor-owned practices. This alternative model helps doctors create 100% doctor-owned group practices. But does this model combine financial security with fewer risks and better practice culture?
&nbsp;
Moderated by Brian Colao, we’ll dive deep into the pros and cons of these different models. But what’s the right model for you? That’s for you to decide. 
&nbsp;
</div>
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Point/Counterpoint: Duel of the DSO Growth Models

Lunch & Exhibits

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Think HR due diligence is just a box to tick in an acquisition? Think again. It’s crucial to successful dental practice sales that maximize your sale price.
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Expert panelists in law and practice leadership will show you what HR due diligence really means for your practice. Get the practical knowledge and insights that will make or break your next sale.
&nbsp;
Explore:
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<li>The legal factors, potential pitfalls, and essential considerations</li>
<li>How optimizing schedulers, implementing new hire checklists, and managing leave of absence tracking makes the HR transition easier</li>
<li>How modernizing your HR operations makes your practice more valuable</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
HR due diligence is vital to a successful practice sale. You need to be able to navigate the process with confidence. This session is where you start.
&nbsp;
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People, Policies & Profits: Why HR Due Diligence Can Make Or Break Your Sale Price

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This is a rare opportunity that no DSO leader can afford to miss! Get your burning questions answered by industry experts in the DSO Diagnosis® panel.
&nbsp;
Join Ali Oromchian, Mike White, Theresa Yanicak, and Dave Salciccioli as they dive into topics ranging from executive recruiting to mergers and acquisitions to driving growth in dental practices.
&nbsp;
Three DSO practices will be on stage to grill the experts. Then it’s your turn. Take the mic and ask our experts about your challenges.
&nbsp;
This is your chance to apply cutting-edge knowledge to your practice. This is the insight you need to power up your growth. Don’t get left out.
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DSO Diagnosis®: Real stories. Real expertise. Real-time

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AI is changing dentistry. But what tech will give you a competitive edge, and what will turn out to be smoke and mirrors?
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For the first time EVER, we’ve brought together the three leaders who know best. 
&nbsp;
CEOs Florian Hillen of VideaHealth and Ophir Tanz of Pearl, along with Dr. Chris Balaban, VP of Clinical Affairs at Overjet, focus on the trends and applications they see from the top of the industry. They’ll also give their expert POV on new solutions for AI in dentistry.
&nbsp;
Moderator Tanner Applegate will run the session in a quiz format designed to draw out new angles and insights.
&nbsp;
This is your chance to be a part of history. 
&nbsp;
You’ll get the knowledge you need to make smart choices. And the tools to use AI for better diagnostics, treatment planning, patient management, and practice efficiency. Get smart so your practice can get innovative.
&nbsp;
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The Future of AI: A Roundtable with Overjet, Pearl & VideaHealth

Welcome Remarks

Welcome Reception

Registration

Are you automating your insurance verifications? Are you confident you can survive a cyber-security attack? When you hear &#8220;AI&#8221; do you think &#8220;on it!&#8221;?
If the answer is no to any of these &#8211; then this session is for you. You&#8217;ll get the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with experts in these fields, plus staffing, RCM, referral software and more.
New Technologies for Growth will introduce you to the best emerging technologies that you probably didn&#8217;t know existed &#8211; but that have the power to catapult your group to the next level. 
Don&#8217;t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and take your group to new heights!

Speed Networking – New Technologies for Growth

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Tech, financial, and management consultants are expensive. But what if you had access to all that expertise, and it was all focused on you?
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Speed Networking is back for 2023. This year you will be paired with experts who can help you achieve your growth goals. During registration, you pick the areas you’d like to focus on and we match you with relevant experts.
&nbsp;
Our curated experts will meet with you in a private, confidential setting. You’ll discuss your business objectives and get guidance on how to achieve them. You can meet with companies in private equity, AI, venture capital, investment banking, traditional banking, legal, marketing, RCM, real estate and more.
&nbsp;
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to accelerate your business, these professionals can help you develop a clear and effective plan for growth.
&nbsp;
Registration is first come, first serve and you must be pre-registered to attend.
&nbsp;
</div>
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Speed Networking for DSOs

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Are you ready to sell your practice?
Are you looking to create more EBITDA?
Have you run out of capital and don&#8217;t know where to turn?
If you answered &#8220;Yes!&#8221; to any of these questions (even if you’re still trying to remember what EBITDA stands for), then this workshop is for you.
This half-day workshop is a rare opportunity for hands-on teaching from the leaders of Aligned Dental Partners, Dykema, and Logan Growth Advisors. 
Build
<ul class="carina-rte-public-DraftStyleDefault-ul">
<li>Learn how to create mergers that add EBITDA and drive enterprise value</li>
<li>Assess and rate the systems and infrastructure of your group or DSO</li>
<li>Discover how to affordably centralize management services</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Maximize 
<ul class="carina-rte-public-DraftStyleDefault-ul">
<li>Learn what buyers &amp; investors want</li>
<li>Prepare to go to market and ensure the back end is in order&nbsp;</li>
<li>Discover techniques to deploy, pre-transaction, to grow revenue, EBITDA &amp; Enterprise Value</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Monetize
<ul class="carina-rte-public-DraftStyleDefault-ul">
<li>Understand valuations, value enhancers, and detractors</li>
<li>Learn what levers to pull as part of deal negotiations, to maximize the value of your dental practice</li>
<li>Understand that economic terms on the term sheet are important, but only a piece of the puzzle. Choosing the right partner is crucial to the success of the deal.</li>
<li>Understand proper due diligence, landmines &amp; “gotcha” issues, and eliminate poisonous deal terms&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>

[Workshop] Build, Maximize, Monetize

Ali Oromchian

Amol Nirgudkar helps dental practices grow and reach their revenue and profit goals. As a certified public accountant, business consultant, author, and inventor, he has 20 years of experience working 
with dental practices and groups. He is the co-founder of Patient Prism, an award-winning call and lead tracking software that leverages the power of artificial intelligence improve marketing performance, 
sales delivery, and operational efficiencies within dental support organizations.
Patient Prism employs advanced artificial intelligence to optimize dental marketing strategies, ensuring the acquisition of the most valuable patients. This technology not only facilitates patient conversion into scheduled appointments but also promptly identifies and addresses any operational challenges, guaranteeing the successful completion of patient treatments.
Amol has five patents to his credit. He is also one of the most well-known and highly followed thought leaders in dentistry and shares his knowledge abundantly via social media platforms.
On a personal note, Amol has traveled around the country and the world accompanying his piano prodigy daughter for concerts and competitions. Last year, in the midst of war, Amol and his daughter 
Ovie took a humanitarian trip to Ukraine and helped refugees that were affected by the war.

Amol Nirgudkar

Blair Headley is a Senior Consultant at Aligned Dental Partners and provides consulting and management support to dental practices, dental groups, and dental support organizations throughout North America. Blair’s focus is on implementing customized growth plans, providing systems and training, and applying industry best-practices to Aligned Dental Partner’s clients.
Blair brings a decade of experience supporting entrepreneurial dentists to accomplish their goals. Prior to joining Aligned Dental Partners in 2019, Blair held roles at two esteemed consulting organizations. Most recently, Blair was the Director of Business Development for a dental consultancy where she assessed dental offices and dental groups for operational inefficiencies. She tailored growth plans for these clients that provided systems, training, reduced stress, and increased income for her clients. Prior to that, Blair was a practice management and marketing consultant and offered consulting and advisory support to hundreds of dentists throughout the US and Canada.
Blair holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. Blair can be reached at blair.headley@aligneddentalpartners.com

Blair Headley

Bob Winder

Brian Colao is the Director of Dykema’s Dental Service Organizations Group. He has been serving the dental industry for over 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities in the United States on DSO formation, DSO business structures, DSO related mergers and acquisitions, and the full array of regulatory compliance requirements for DSOs. Brian was named a “2019 DSO Influencer” by Group Dentistry Now and the “2023 Thought Leader of the Year” by Planet DDS.

Brian Colao

Caitlin Waters

Chris Balaban

Chris co-founded and jointly heads Aligned Dental Partners, providing consulting and advisory services to dental companies throughout North America. Chris leads engagements with DSOs and large group practices to help grow their business, build infrastructure, and facilitate M&amp;A activity. Chris and his team support dental companies throughout their lifecycle while driving EBITDA, reducing costs, and growing enterprise value. He oversees the operations of the firm and manages its team to best support individual client goals.
Chris has supported dentists and their businesses for over a decade and brings extensive experience in both consulting and executive leadership in the dental field. He has served various executive roles including CEO and COO for several client dental groups, including the founding COO for a New York-based dental support organization he started with a dentist investor. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Consulting for the then-largest consultancy to dental practices in the country. In that role, Chris oversaw a team of consultants who worked with hundreds of the country’s top dentists whose focus was to grow practice revenue and increase efficiency.
Chris started his career as a Big 4 Management Consultant where he advised leading Fortune 500 companies and the Department of Defense. His experience includes facilitating mergers and acquisitions, implementing ERP systems as part of major supply chain transformations, and developing and implementing enterprise performance management systems.
Chris has a B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business, and holds various consulting and management certifications. Chris resides in Chagrin Falls, OH with his wife, two young daughters, and a beloved dog. He can be reached at: chris@aligneddentalpartners.com.

Chris McClure

Clifton Cameron

Dave Salciccioli

David Ferguson

Deneen Dismore, the outgoing CEO and Founder of Dismore Consulting LLC, serves as a New Patient Acquisition Specialist for the dental community. While she offers services as a Fractional CMO, Mentor, and Marketing Strategist, she is known for teaching dentists how to attract and retain new patients to boost profits. 
Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Deneen is familiar with working in fast-paced environments that prioritize business growth. Although she began her career in dentistry as the Marketing Director for two practices in Manhattan, she discovered her entrepreneurial calling after achieving two significant milestones. Deneen was thrilled when she nearly doubled the number of new patients in one practice. Additionally, she led the marketing initiatives of another practice that was featured on Inc. 5000&#8217;s list of America&#8217;s fastest-growing companies.
Her mission as a dental marketing strategist, specializing in new patient acquisition, is to provide immense value by effectively communicating your organization&#8217;s story to your target audience. Deneen also enjoys delving into the story behind the statistics in your dental software, as valuable insights and opportunities can be found within the data. By sharing your brand&#8217;s story and refining your marketing program based on metrics, proven processes, and insider industry knowledge, she maximizes your team&#8217;s potential for success.
Having achieved remarkable results in various industries beyond dentistry, Deneen has learned that the path to success remains consistent. Merely investing in marketing and advertising is insufficient to ensure prosperity for any organization. It is also inadequate for a few key leaders to possess knowledge and passion for the practice&#8217;s marketing plans. To optimize all marketing efforts, the entire team needs to be aware of upcoming initiatives, willingly embrace revised systems with enthusiasm, receive training to maximize growth opportunities, and consistently replicate these systems.
To connect with Deneen or to inquire about additional services, please visit www.deneendismore.com or email consulting@deneendismore.com.

Deneen Dismore

Dr. Alex Giannini has founded and served as CEO of several dental groups and DSOs. With over 29 years of experience in the clinical, administration, and management of dental practices in over 10 states, including related businesses as well as real estate development/management, Dr. Giannini has doubled and quadrupled dental practice revenue and profitability within a year while creating a platform and national prominence. Dr. Giannini was the founder of Comfortable Care Dental Group’s initial office in 1989 which in turn became the first group in Florida as part of the Heartland Dental growth at the turn of century. In 2008, he founded Dynamic Dental Partners Group (DDPG) which in 2014 was listed at #14 on the Inc. 5000 list for the fastest‐growing private companies in America.
Dr. Giannini practiced high‐end fee-for-service dentistry in Florida for 9 years, after which time he co‐owned and managed dental practices in Florida, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. In addition, Dr. Giannini has been featured as a guest speaker at many Practice Management conferences throughout the nation. Dr. Giannini has worked with institutional, private equity and family‐office investors. He has turned around 100s of practices including distressed Dental Groups and DSOs.
His role is strategic and includes shaping the philosophy and delivery of quality dental care along with implementing Clinical and Operational Policies, Structure, and Protocols for his management team to deliver productive and profitable dental offices. He is also involved in Doctor recruitment, complete business development, marketing, strategic planning as a business analyst to oversee the financial operations including the dental systems, forecasting, budgeting, and goal setting of each individual affiliated office and company. Dr. Giannini is currently President of the AAGDP (American Academy of Dental Group Practice www.aadgp.org) and part of the ADSO as well.

Dr. Alex Giannini

Dr. Jason Gladwell

Elizabeth Voss

Eric Pastan

Florian Hillen is the Founder &amp; CEO of VideaHealth, the dental AI platform trusted by DSOs and dental practices. VideaHealth’s FDA-cleared AI-powered technology analyzes and annotates x-rays for dentists to help them more effectively and efficiently detect disease. 
Previously, he conducted research projects at the intersection of engineering and social science at MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems and Society and Harvard Business School. Florian has previously worked for McKinsey &amp; Company and founded ninu, a digital healthtech start-up. He holds two Master’s degrees from MIT in Computer Science and Technology &amp; Policy, a Bachelor’s degree in Management &amp; Technology, and the first State exam in Medicine.

Florian Hillen

Dr. Greg White is one of the founding partners of White, Greer &amp; Maggard Orthodontics, formed in 1991 and currently part of one of the largest, privately-owned pediatric and orthodontic group practices in the country. He actively practiced orthodontics for more than 25 years. Dr. White values building meaningful and lasting relationships, has a high propensity for action, a commitment to excellence, and an entrepreneurial spirit. He co-founded the company that invented, produced, and sold what is still the world’s top-selling custom breast prosthesis for post-mastectomy breast cancer survivors. He has also owned multiple restaurant concepts for more than 20 years. 
He is proving to be a visionary in the dental industry, specifically in his specialty, with a deep understanding of the market and the ever-increasing consumer demands. Dr. White serves as the president and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships, which currently serves more than 135 dental locations and more than 150 doctors throughout Kentucky, New York, and Virginia.

Greg White

Heidi Arndt

Ian McNickle

Janet Hagerman

Jeff Paz

Jessica Lamers is a dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience in the dental industry. Throughout her career, she has held various roles and demonstrated her expertise in supporting dentists, leading regions, and driving companies towards success. Jessica&#8217;s true passion lies in empowering others to achieve their goals through education, training, and personal development. She understands that while solid dental operations are crucial, embracing innovation is essential for long-term success. As the Director of Strategic Events at Dental Intelligence Inc., the industry&#8217;s leading software for managing and growing dental practices, Jessica is committed to pioneering innovative solutions and connecting DSO customers with the developers who can transform the way they do business. With her expertise and dedication, Jessica strives to help practices thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of dentistry.

Jessica Lamers

Optimize Dental Consulting provides dental software implementation leadership so DSO’s can successfully roll out technology solutions. DSO’s invest in software solutions to achieve standardization, centralization and to increase efficiency for their team. They find that changing dental software is stressful, impacts every single team member and sometimes fails to be adopted, slowing the DSO leadership team from achieving the original goal of purchasing technology in the first place! Bringing in professional management with enterprise-class expertise allows the DSO to realize the benefits of technology, provide a white glove experience for their doctors, while avoiding hiring a FTE or having to train an internal resource.
We align people and processes to optimize dental software technology. For DSO’s looking to implement practice management software, analytics/ KPI platform, RCM solutions, etc. we offer professional project management and technology initiative leadership services. To achieve the successful adoption of dental software technology across all locations, we share best practices, manage the project and support your team with change management communications and SOP creation.
Services include: 
•	Project Management starting with an onsite assessment to observe current state and identify opportunities. 
•	We create change management communications such as flyers, slide decks and emails tailored by role. 
•	We answer the question “How will we know this is a success?” by creating KPIs and success metrics that serve as measurable outcomes for successful adoption. We understand that go live is not success, actually achieving the DSO’s goals is the success. 
•	We guide the decision making for software set up at a global and per location level and identify resources for the efficient transfer and auditing of data at conversion. 
•	We guide the creation of SOPs (standard operating procedures) custom to the organization to provide for documented resourcing for each office’s utilization and new hire training. 
•	We run a pilot and capture learning that informs future go lives and improves our SOPs and once the full team feels confident then we rapidly roll out to all locations.

Jill Nesbitt

Jillian Hasselmann

John co-founded and jointly heads Aligned Dental Partners LLC, after spending the last decade working directly with 2,000+ dental practices. John focuses on the analytical aspects of each new client and develops customized solutions aligned to the goals of each individual practitioner.
Prior to this role, John served as the Chief Development Officer for a New-York-based DSO which he co-founded with a dentist investor. He handled all aspects of the due diligence and the acquisition and transition phases for affiliated dental offices. John developed a strategic acquisition plan that was used to successfully acquire and assimilate the DSOs practices, and also oversaw dentist recruitment, identifying top tier, high-talent practitioners to provide outstanding patient care.
Prior to co-founding the DSO, John spent 9 years with the nation’s premier dental consultancy. As the Director of Business Development, John oversaw a team of analysts that assessed 1,000s of dental practices, both domestically and internationally, each year. Additionally, John personally performed in-depth analysis for many of the largest and most-premier dental offices in the country.
John is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in business management.

John McClure

Jonathan Moffat

Kate Dobens

Kellie Cernobyl has been working with the same dental group since 2010, when it was only two practices. She became Director of Operations in 2015 when Freedom Dental Management was formed. Her role as COO was established in 2022.
Kellie is a Pennsylvania native and was raised in Lancaster County. She moved to Delaware in 1997 to attend Goldey-Beacom College, a small business school in Wilmington, and graduated in 2002. She has been married to her amazing husband for 20 years and has three awesome children, ages 4, 8, and 10. She attributes her success to the support she has at home and strives to set a good example for her children, demonstrating that through hard work and dedication you can achieve anything you set your mind to. In her spare time, she enjoys vacationing at the beach, reading, baking and listening to podcasts.

Kellie Cernobyl

Kerry Straine, CEO of Straine Dental Management, is the most sought-after thought leader in the country. After earning a degree in Business Administration in 1978, Mr. Straine began a career providing tax and business advisory services to dentists before creating the Straine Management System in 1992, which became the premier practice management platform in the dental industry.
Mr. Straine has consulted with numerous dental support organizations and dental supply companies to increase their “business of dentistry” knowledge, improve their operational efficiencies, and deliver significant financial results. Mr. Straine’s clients range in size from start-up practices to many of the largest private equity backed DSOs in the market today. Having overseen consulting services for more than 4,000 dental practices and participating in over 15,000 complimentary practice assessments, he is one of the most admired dental professionals in the entire dental industry today.
Mr. Straine is called “The Data Whisperer” in the dental analytics software field for his validated research and optimization formulas and “The Secret Weapon” by Private Equity firms who’ve engaged Straine to help them understand how to support clinical providers and optimize performance of their organizations.

Kerry Straine

Maria Melone

McKenzie Fagan

Dr. Panahi has founded and served as CXO of several multisite, specialty dental groups as well as DTC dental products.
Track record of innovative solutions during 15 years of healthcare industry DSO experience, 10 years of private equity owned CXO experience in the Endodontics/Oral Surgery/DTC Orthodontics space and board director experience in both PE and private companies.
Most recently, with Blue Sea Capital and its flagship investment Beacon (BeaconOralSpecialties) from a BayArea OMFS one state acquisition in 2020 under private ownership to currently a 90+ locations oral surgery platform. Started Affinity dental management (MidOcean Capital) with its co-founder and chairman Dr. Craig Saltzman a leading Endo Specialty + SuperGP DSO with 45+ locations across the northeast providing specialty dental services.
After completing post-doctoral education from Cornell university hospital, founded PDA a dental/DSO management consulting firm. University of Pennsylvania graduate at the school of dental medicine and an honor member of Penn Psi Omega program.
● Award-Winning Dental Service Organization Influencer / thought leader. 
● Supporter of and investor in companies bettering the lives of patients across all healthcare value chain. 
● Deep understanding of managed care and payer related drivers and technical. 
● Over 2 decades of experience as a clinician, operator, advisor and investor in bringing together Csuite, decision makers, clinicians, investors and family funds to positively transform dental healthcare companies. 
● Guest Speaker at various national / international healthcare conferences on DSO strategy and clinical operations.

Mike Panahi, DMD

With over 15+ years of experience, Mike serves as a principal within the health firm’s health care industry. Truly passionate about his work, he strives to provide strategic business intelligence by identifying complex, financial, operational, and technical issues while developing comprehensive solutions to enhance the client’s business operations. Mike is one of the national leaders for CLA focused on building teams and financial structure, specifically Dental, MedSpa and Aesthetics groups.
Technical experience 
•	BizOps 
•	Financial Consulting 
•	Budgeting and Forecasting 
•	Business Development 
•	Strategic Planning 
•	Buy/Sell Side Support 
•	MedSpa and Aesthetic Groups 
•	Medical Service Organizations and individual Physician Practices 
•	Dental Service Organizations and individual Dental Practices
Education and professional involvement 
•	Master of accounting science from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 
•	Bachelor of science in accountancy from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 
•	American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 
•	Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas 
•	Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants

Mike White

Nicole is an industry leading marketing strategist specializing in growing businesses with custom, evidence-based marketing programs. Nicole has an extensive background in advertising, with a career in the ad agency space, she has managed marketing strategy for brands like Bank of America, 7-Eleven and H-E-B. In 2012, she transitioned to dentistry and became Marketing Director of DFW Family Dentistry. In 2014, Nicole launched Breakaway Marketing, an extension of Breakaway Practice support services and DSO. As Marketing Director of Breakaway, Nicole oversaw the branding and marketing of all entities of Breakaway and directed the marketing services of over 300 dental practices nationwide. Additionally, Nicole is well versed in merger and acquisition rebrands, and was on the marketing team that implemented a billion dollar rebrand for San Antonio Credit Union to Credit Human in 2017. In 2018, Nicole began building Transcendental, which is now a seven figure startup agency. Transcendental is a strategic marketing agency that fosters growth for practices utilizing data-driven insights and a unique, proven dental marketing methodology.

Nicole Toudouze

Ophir Tanz

Paige Mead is the CEO of Paige Mead Recruiting and the go-to connector in the dental industry. Whether it’s in the context of Executive Search, Sales &amp; Commercial Operations recruiting, or Board &amp; C-suite Consulting &#8211; Paige helps change-makers and critical thinkers navigate the fast-moving &amp; reputation- sensitive dental landscape to find and sustain their perfect industry relationships – and do so with authenticity, clarity, and confidence.
Paige began her recruiting career 25 years ago with the global staffing firm, Adecco. She joined the dental industry in 2007 with Burkhart Dental Supply and officially launched Paige Mead Recruiting to serve the trade side of the dental industry in 2015. Over the last 15 years, she has grown a network that spans across all corners of the industry and every market segment. In the last 3 years, Paige has worked with 18 start-up companies making waves in the industry talent pool. Because of this, her brand has become deeply trusted enabling her to make highly qualified connections among industry companies and the talent that will fuel them.

Paige Mead

Ralf Tomandl

Santosh Patel

Sarah is a seasoned professional in the dentistry industry, specializing in building connections and fostering growth. With a decade of experience at the Dentist Entrepreneur Organization and two dental marketing firms, she held significant roles including Director of Culture and Engagement, Account Manager, Project Manager, and Business Development. Sarah&#8217;s passion for the DSO community, developed during her tenure at the DEO, led her to transition from Intrapreneur to Entrepreneur. Recognizing the need for social media as a tool for relationship building in both practice and vendor sides, she uses her industry knowledge and strategic skills to craft custom strategies. As the founder of Our Thrive Tribe, Sarah empowers her clients to focus on their passion by serving as a growth catalyst and strategic partner.

Sarah Ruberg

Shannon Patterson

Steve has been in the dental industry since 2009. He began as an 
administrator for a pediatric dental group in Reno, NV where he focused his time, education, and professional experiences on relieving the owner providers of the stresses associated with managing both the clinical and business operations of the group. It wasn’t long before he and the owners started to see the benefits of professional administrative support and began to explore the creation of a company with the goal of expanding these support services beyond a single practice and seeking out like minded clinical professionals to partner with. It was then Bluetree Dental and Bluetree Practice Services was born.
Prior to dentistry Steve spent time in various private, non-profit, and corporate roles.
Steve completed his BS in Accounting and his MBA at Utah State University while working FT and raising four children with his beautiful wife JoAnn.

Steven DeLong

Tanner Applegate

Teresa Williams

Theresa is a clinical dental hygienist with an MBA in Healthcare Administration. 
Theresa is a performance-driven healthcare executive leader with 30 years of experience, focused on optimizing operational/program functions and leading large-scale projects from inception to successful completion while executing sound strategic decisions and utilizing excellent communication and people management skills to meet critical objectives by offering innovative, personalized solutions, and targeting specific client needs. She lead with integrity, grace, and authenticity.
Theresa continues to provide leadership and education as a C-Suite executive and brings experience as an educator, main-stage speaker, consultant, recruiter, and clinician.
Theresa&#8217;s passion is connecting the dental community with what they need through strong relationships.

Theresa Yanicak

Vanessa Buchheit is the Chief Operations Officer for Smalltown Dental and has devoted nearly 20 years to the dental industry. Before becoming a COO, Vanessa spent years developing dental teams by working side-by-side with them, as a treatment coordinator with a 90% case acceptance rate and then as an office manager who led high production practices. An opportunity to help dental teams nationwide with Henry Schein, brought her into the world of consulting where she quickly became one of the most respected professionals in the industry. Successfully sewing the consultative approach into the thread of sales, she later became a Regional Manager overseeing the sales team in Nebraska and South Dakota. Over the last decade, she has lectured extensively on several dental topics related to leadership in the practice, implementing periodontal programs, increasing case acceptance, or how to increase your New Patients. Vanessa has several published articles such as “All it takes is leadership” in dental economics. Using her real-world professional experience coupled with her mastery of the business and attention to detail, she is able to guide practices to identify areas of growth and implement winning systems.