Group Dentistry Now (GDN) has been committed to the success of DSOs, dental groups, and the people who work for them since 2014. DSO People is the only comprehensive list of new hires, promotions and awards.
Here is June’s DSO People list:
Guardian Dental Partners welcomed two new executives:
- Xavier Dao joined the GDP Leadership Team as the Vice President of Marketing. Dao has over 20 years of marketing experience in multiple industries.
- Kai Zhao has started a new position as Vice President Operations (Mid Atlantic). Zhao has worked as Vice President of Operations at Riccobene Associated Family Dentistry from 2023 to 2024 and as a Chief Operating Officer at ProHEALTH Dental from 2021 to 2023.
Gemma Delgaudio started a new position as Brand Director at Dental Care Alliance. In this position, she will oversee development and evolution of brand strategy for Dental Care Alliance. Delgaudio was previously a Brand Strategist at the company up until June of this year. She has also worked at Ssun Heath LLC as a Director of People and Talent Acquisition. From 2019-2021 she worked as a Director of Marketing at Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners. Additionally, Delgaudio was employed at Pacific Dental Services as a Regional Marketing specialist and Pediatric Manager from 2014-2019.
Donnie McMaster joined Flagship Specialty Partners. Prior to joining the DSO, Donnie held operations positions at Guardian Dentistry Partners. He was also COO at both Charlotte Dental Implant Solutions and Ballantyne Center for Dentistry and Dental Implants. Flagship was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.
Straine Dental Managment has announced the appointment of Scott Jolly, DDS as its new Chief Engagement Officer. Dr. Scott Jolly is a second-generation dentist in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In March 2024 SDM affiliated with Jolly Family Dental, founded in 1967 by Dr. Robert Jolly and expanded in 1996 and 1998 with the addition of his sons, Drs. Brad and Scott Jolly.
Nikki St Lawrence, RDH was promoted to Director of Dental Hygiene at PepperPointe Partnerships. St Lawrence has been employed at PepperPointe Partnerships since January of 2022, and started as a Hygiene Program Manager. She also worked as a Registered Dental Hygienist for Slone Dental and Smart Dental & Hygiene Express. St Larence has also been employed at Heartland Dental as Practice Manager of Operations.
Jodi Maggin has joined Dentistry.One as the new Vice President of Business Development. Maggin has 15 years of experience in healthcare, previously serving as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Byte. Maggin will help to drive company growth by developing business opportunities and strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations committed to improving patient health outcomes.
Association of Dental Support Organizations announced the winners of their 2024 ADSO awards and second-class of inductees into the ADSO hall of leaders:
- The Presidential Award: This award focuses on the extraordinary service put forth by an ADSO member who has shown active engagement in the association as a leader, officer or committee member.
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- 2024 Recipient: Stephen Thorne, President and CEO of PDS Health
- The ADSO Service Award: This award is given to ADSO member companies which have shown excellence in meritorious service, corporate/social responsibility, and/or contributions to greater society over the last year.
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- 2024 Recipients: DentalXChange and Smile Brands, Steve Bilt. Steve Bilt is the CEO of Smile Brands. He co-founded Smile Brands and One-Smile and in 2016 combined the two businesses. Bilt also serves as Chairman of the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, which has established international outposts serving six countries in South America, Africa, and Asia.
- The ADSO Innovation Award: This award recognizes an Industry Partner servicing DSOs for their achievement in innovation. They will have contributed to the advancement of technologies and systems that raise the quality of processes and products; enhanced the dignity and status of the profession; or has been involved in a combination of these efforts.
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- 2024 Recipient: Dr. Wardah Iman, CEO of Overjet
- The ADSO Emerging Award: This award is given to a member DSO organization that has shown great innovation, growth or have emerged as a new leader in the DSO industry in the last year.
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- 2024 Recipient: U.S. Oral Surgery Management
The 2024 class of inductees to the ADSO Hall of Leaders include:
- Patrick Bauer, President and CEO of Heartland Dental
- Dustin Netral, President and CEO of Vista Verde Dental Partners
- David G. Slezak, Chief Legal Officer of Affordable Care, LLC
Membersy has introduced a new member to the Kleer and Membersy team, Theresa Yanicak. She will be joining the team as an Enterprise Customer Success Specialist. Yanicak has 25+ years of experience in the dental field and holds an AAS in Dental Hygiene, a BS in Applied Science with a Minor in Psychology, and an MBA in Healthcare Administration. Additionally, Kleer and Membersy have introduced Carli Mullen to the Customer Success Team also as an Enterprise Customer Success Specialist. Mullen has been in the industry for 10+ years
Michaela Muniz has shared that she is starting a new position as Vice President- Payor Relations at Specialty1 Partnners. Muniz has previously worked for Dental Care Alliance as a Senior Director, and a Director of Insurance Plan Managment. She also worked for Ameritas Group Dental for about 11 years as a Regional Director, Regional Manager, Project Manager, and Senior Provider Network Representative/Special Events Coordinator.
The CEO and cofounder of Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics, Dr. Saam Zarrabi, has been named one of Forth Worth‘s 400 Most Influential People. Dr. Zarrabi worked as a dentist for 9 years, and in 2009, he co-founded Rodeo Dental.
Star Dental Partners’ Chef Dental Officer, Stephen Bennett Hill, has passed away. Hill was known for his strong faith in God and his involvement with Suncreek United Methodist Church and Centenary College of Louisiana. He held a Doctorate in Dental Science from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry and practiced dentistry in Sugar Land, Texas before establishing Hill Dental Studio in Allen, Texas. He later transitioned the studio to Star Dental Partners, where he served as Chief Dental Officer and mentored dentists in Texas and the southeast. Hill was also a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry.
Nate Tchaplia has stepped into the role of President at Dentalcorp. Dentalcorp is the largest IPO in the Canadian healthcare sector. Tchaplia has worked for Dentalcorp for the past 9 years as a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Development Officer, Senior Vice President, etc.
DECA Dental Group have welcomed Scott Wasikowski to the DECA Dental family as their new Chief Operating Officer. Wasikowski worked for over 30 years at CVS Pharmacy, and held key leadership roles, including introducing new markets in Florida and running operations for a decade in the Northeast. After leaving CVS, Scott also led the expansion of urgent care and veterinary medicine models with PE backed and founder led companies. Scott graduated from Purdue University as a pharmacist and enhanced his leadership skills by completing the Wharton Executive Development program. Additionally, DECA Dental has announced an addition to their marketing team, Nikki Baulish. Baulish has nearly a decade of digital marketing experience including Audio & Video Production, and Digital Marketing Managment.
Rouzana Hares, DDS MBA MAGD, has started a new position as Dental Director at North American Dental Group (NADG). Hares has been working for NADG as a Lead Dentist since July of 2023. Previously, she was an adjunct Clinical Assist Professor of Dentistry and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. In being a Dental Director for NADG, Hares will be a clinical supervisor, a mentor, an educator, and many more hands-on roles/leadership roles.
Cherie Score has begun a new position as Director of Hygiene at Elite Dental Partners. Score has had ample experience in the dental industry, previously working as a Smile Consultant at Nuvia Dental Implant Center and a Division Director of Hygiene Support for The Aspen Group.
Corus Orthodontics has introduced their new Vice President of Practice Operations, Tracy Moawad. Moawad had been an Operations and Management Systems Consultant at Hummingbird Associates. She also serves as an instructor and coach for AAO-Wharton MBO program. With a proven track record spanning 25 years, Moawad is known for her adeptness in optimizing practice operations and cultivating effective leadership teams. Corus Orthodontists was founded in 2019 by a group of 18 orthodontists across North America.
Ivoclar has announced an organizational update for its North American operations by promoting Scott Welch to Vice President of US Sales. In his new role, Welch will serve as a member of Ivoclar North America’s executive team and will be responsible for the overall performance of the US sales organization. Collaborating with key industry partners on new opportunities will also be a priority for Welch. Welch joined Ivoclar in 2016 as Director of National Accounts. He brings 33 years of sales leadership experience to the position, working as a healthcare executive for major companies including Independent Health Association, HealthNow New York/Bluecross BlueShield, and Pfizer Inc.
Enjoli Figueroa announced her new position as Director of Hygiene at Elite Dental Partners. Figueroa has been working for Elite Dental Partners since 2021 in multiple different roles. Additionally, she worked for Heartland Dental as a Registered Dental Hygienist and Sub- Regional Hygiene Mentor of Operations, along with many other positions across different industries.
George Maney has started a new position as Chief Financial Officer at Chord Specialty Dental Partners. Maney used to be President and CFO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in Phoenix, Arzona, and work as a Chief Executive/Financial Officer at Jefferson Dental Clinics.
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