![](https://www.groupdentistrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PK-DB-5893376-070125.jpg")
DSO People serves as your trusted source for staying current on key personnel movements. Whether you’re a vendor or part of a DSO team, staying informed about leadership changes within DSOs is essential for success. Keeping track of shifts at the executive and C-suite levels provides valuable insights needed to navigate the evolving landscape and improve performance.
Here is May’s DSO People list:
Christopher Johnson rejoined Guardian Dentistry Partners as VP of Corporate Operations, Strategy. He previously worked for GDP for nearly four years as the VP of Strategic Operations. He also worked got Reveal Dental Partners as well as ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers.
Michael Amerstein joined Peak Dental Services as Chief Executive Officer, bringing a wealth of experience in healthcare operations and leadership. With a strong background in multi-site operations, process improvement, and physician practice management, he has a proven track record of driving organizational growth and enhancing the patient experience.
Prior to joining Peak Dental Services, Michael was the COO of Axia Women’s Health where he spearheaded strategic initiatives and practice optimization to improve business and financial performance.
Barrett Straub, DDS is the new CEO of Smile Source. Founded in 2006, Smile Source® is a private practice dental community serving independent dentists by offering practice management, continuing education, and marketing support.
Tamara Cook has been appointed Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Smile Partners USA. She previously held business development positions at TEND, Peak Dental Services, and Pacific Dental Serivces. Her mission at Smile Partners USA is to expand their footprint in existing and new markets.
Positive Impact Dental hired Christopher Blann as Chief Operating Officer and Ed Dallwein as Chief Financial Officer. These strategic additions mark a significant milestone in the DSO’s seven-year history to expand resources and foster growth beyond the company’s current 24 dental practices in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.
With 32 years of experience in health care operations, Christopher Blann has successfully led the growth of companies such as national optical retailer Eyemart Express, which he helped expand to more than 200 locations, and health care provider startup Men’s Best Primary Care.
Ed Dallwein joins Positive Impact Dental with 22 years of financial leadership experience—primarily in the dental industry—having previously led financial strategy and growth initiatives as CFO at private equity-backed DSO Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry.
Abhi Nyatee has been named the new chief financial officer of Rock Dental Brands, the Little Rock-based dental services organization. In this role, Nyatee will serve as a strategic and operational adviser to the executive leadership team, championing financial stewardship, operational efficiency and scalable growth.
Most recently, Nyatee was head of finance and strategy at Advantage Dental Plus, overseeing several areas including financial planning and analysis, business analytics, accounting, transformation, business development, revenue cycle management and real estate.Prior to that, he was vice president of financial planning and analysis and corporate strategy at DentaQuest, where he led a major strategic realignment that resulted in the $2.5 billion acquisition of DentaQuest by Sun Life, one of the largest transactions in dental insurance history.
123Dentist, one of Canada’s largest dental support organizations (DSOs), announced that Jeff Lege has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective July 2, 2025. He will report to Founder and current CEO Dr. Amin Shivji who will assume the role of Executive Chair and actively focus on driving the company’s clinical strategy and vision.
Jeff, a pharmacist by profession, brings a critical understanding of the Canadian healthcare ecosystem. He spent nearly two decades with Shoppers Drug Mart, including seven years as President of the national network of more than 1,300 pharmacist-owned locations with over 50,000 employees—a cornerstone of Canadian healthcare.
123Dentist was founded in 2017 and it has grown from 14 clinics in British Columbia to more than 400 partner clinics nationwide.
Ray Scott, DDS, has joined North American Dental Group as Vice President of Clinical Operations. A veteran of the DSO industry, Dr. Scott previously served as VP of Clinical Operations at Heartland Dental and held various clinical leadership roles at American Dental Partners and Carus Dental.
Dental365announced the addition of David Neal to the team as VP of Revenue Cycle Management (RCM). With over two decades of leadership experience in revenue cycle operations, David brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of driving performance across diverse healthcare organizations.
David has held senior RCM roles in dental support organizations (DSOs), private equity-backed firms, and publicly traded healthcare companies. Most recently, he served as the head of revenue cycle at Dental Care Alliance (DCA), where he built and spearheaded a high-performing, tech driven RCM Operation focused on efficiency and scalability.
The Smilist announced the appointment of Axel Lapica as its new Chief Executive Officer. Axel’s appointment follows a year of significant expansion for The Smilist, marked by the addition of over 50 new locations and entry into several new states and regions. Axel brings over two decades of leadership experience in healthcare, most recently as a Senior Vice President with DaVita, with a proven track record of driving strategic growth, operational excellence and building high-performing teams. He has a culture-driven leadership style, a forward-thinking perspective and the strategic capabilities to scale organizations while driving long-term value for stakeholders. The Smilist is backed by Zenyth Partners.
- Dr. Jessica Buehler has been promoted from Sr VP of Clinical Operations to President & Chief Clinical Officer.
- Dale Hockel was promoted from COO to CEO, steering GEDC’s strategic vision and organizational growth.
- Nathan Smith has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Care Delivery, after serving as Division VP. He will oversee clinical operations.
- Sarah Beadling has been elevated to Vice President, Strategy & Operations. She previously served as Director of Operational Excellence. She will lead cross-functional initiatives to streamline processes and optimize outcomes.
- Theresa Neuhauser joined as new Chief Growth Officer. Theresa brings deep expertise in payor relations and strategic initiatives and will play a critical role in advancing partnerships and driving sustainable growth initiatives across the organization. Theresa previously worked for InterDent Service Corporation, Overjet, and Dentsply Sirona.
Julia Velazco joined Enable Dental as their Strategy and Operations manager. Enable Dental has developed a proprietary portable dental solution model to serve in-need populations including geriatric, special needs, and people who are better served in alternative settings. On-premise solutions have been delivered at independent living, assisted living, nursing homes, substance abuse centers, universities, group homes, healthcare institutions, hospitals, and personal residences.
Clyde Munro Dental Group promoted Jo Hood to Head of Recruitment and Development. Prior to this role, Jo was their Clinical Recruitment Manger. Clyde Monro is a nonbranded DSO with over 65 locations throughout Scottland.
DSO People is sponsored by Fidler and Associates, the premier nationwide advisory and executive search firm specializing exclusively in the multi-site healthcare industry and a proud partner of Group Dentistry Now. From regional managers to C-suite executives, we provide tailored solutions to address our clients’ most critical challenges. With a strategic, client-centric approach, we customize our advisory and recruitment services to meet the unique needs of each organization, ensuring the placement of exceptional leadership resulting in success. Whether you are looking to hire an executive or looking for a new career, please contact Fidler and Associates to discuss your next steps at www.fidlerandassociates.com.
Send your DSO’s new hires/promotions/awards
to DSO People at info@groupdentistrynow.com
