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Group Dentistry Now is committed to the success of DSOs, dental groups, and the people who work for them. As the evolution of group dentistry continues to reshape the dental landscape, we consider the people who work in the DSO industry to be its most invaluable resource. DSO People shares updates on new hires, promotions and awards. Here is August’s list:
Frontline Dental Implant Specialists
— an emerging national Dental Implant Partnership Network (DIPN) focused on partnering with implant-driven practices — has selected Leigh Feenburg as its first Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Feenburg was CEO of Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners and was instrumental in the company’s rise to being one of the top DSOs (#4 in the Gator100) due in large part to their rapid growth to over 240 practices. Prior to Mid-Atlantic, Feenburg was VP of Operations at Great Expressions Dental Centers, helping them reach over 300 practices nationwide. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Frontline was founded in 2022 and currently has locations in six states.
Payam Ataii, DMD, MBA joins Aspen Dental® as Senior Vice President of Orthodontic Support. Aspen Dental is expanding their leadership team with this strategic hire amidst growing investment in aligner therapies. Dr. Ataii will be responsible for educating and supporting doctors and staff about the benefits of clear aligners to patients and develop improved strategies, processes, and procedures to deliver clear aligners. Dr. Ataii has more than 20 years of experience in the clear aligner space and has led on more than 3,600 clear aligner cases. Aspen Dental was founded in 1998 in New York by Bob Fontana and now has nearly 1,000 locations nationwide.
Sonrava Health welcomes Gregory C. Marotta as Chief of Staff. Gregory has more than 20 years of leading multi-state, multi-site, multi-specialty physician practice management organizations and operating proprietary provider networks throughout the U.S. Sonrava Health is a national family of health and wellness companies – including differentiated dental office brands, dental and vision benefit plans, provider networks, and consumer products and services. Sonrava Health, through its affiliates, supports more than 570 affiliated offices in 20 states coast to coast from California to Maryland and border to border from Michigan to Texas.
Dental Care Alliance (DCA) announced that Christine Heald has joined the leadership team as Chief Development Officer. She is replacing David Pegg who will take on the role of Chief Growth Officer. Christy has 13 years of experience in corporate and business development strategy, operations, and working with private equity. Previously, Christy served as Senior Vice President of Business Development for Surgery Partners. DCA currently supports over 390 allied practices with more than 775 dentists across 22 states. DCA’s allied practices represent all dental specialties and treat patients under more than 140 brand names.
Kellie (Bullock) Cernobyl has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Freedom Dental Management. Prior to being the COO, Kellie was their director of operations for over a decade where she worked hand-in-hand with the leadership team through coaching and mentoring. Freedom is headquartered in Newark, Delaware and was founded in 2015. Freedom Dental Management also owns Skye Academy of Dental Assisting.
Max Van Vliet has been promoted to Vice President of Partnership Development at Guardian Dentistry Partners. Max has been in various partnership development roles at Guardian Dentistry Partners for two years. His role as VP of Partnership Development will be to work closely with potential doctor partners. Prior to Guardian Dentistry, Van Vliet was at Guardian’s family office partner, NKP, as part of their health care group.
Jean Lind has been promoted to Chief Administrative Officer at Park Dental. Prior to being their CAO, Jean was the director of administration and also was involved in quality assurance. She has been with the DSO for over 41 years. The group was founded in 1972 and now has 50 practice locations throughout the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.
Cheyenne King has been promoted to Senior Manager of Strategic Sourcing at Smile Brands Inc. In this new role, Cheyenne’s Purchasing Help Desk and dental supply management responsibilities will now extend beyond their legacy Midwest offices to all of Smile Brands’ 700 dental offices. A Smile Brands employee for 22 years, Cheyenne will also assume the leadership role in providing support for all Strategic Sourcing related to de novo, relocation, closure, and acquisition activities.
Owen Lewis joins the team at MB2 Dental as Director of Operations. Prior to joining the DPO, Owen worked in operations for Pacific Dental Services for three years. Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, MB2 made the Inc. 5000 list in 2022 with 252% 3-year growth. The group also made the list in 2021, 2020 and 2018. The DPO is led by founder, Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva and was started in 2007.
Jeff Lynch who founded Esteem Dental Implants of McKinney Dentist, which is affiliated with Heartland Dental Care, is also their senior director. Heartland Dental was founded in 1997 by Rick Workman, DMD, who opened his first two dental offices in Effingham, IL. It currently supports more than 2,300 dentists in over 1,500 offices across 38 states.
Jim Smyros has been promoted to VP of Business Development at Affordable Care. Prior to this position, Jim was the Senior Director of Operations, Implant Services. Jim spent over five years with Implant Direct Sybron International and three years with Sybron Dental Specialties. Founded in 1975, Affordable Care, LLC is exclusively focused on tooth replacement solutions, serving affiliated dentists at ~400 practices in 42 states.
Clyde Monro Dental Group
, a Scottish dental giant with 500,000 patients, just created an in-house recruitment team to support the rapidly growing DSO. Jo Hood and Karen Diamond join Scotland’s biggest player with some 70 practices – bringing a combined 35 years’ experience in specialist recruitment and an in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector. The pair will look to build networks throughout the UK and target Europe and beyond to source dentists.
Veronica Werne has been promoted to Director, Human Resources at Specialty Dental Brands. Prior to this position, Veronica was their Senior HR Manager. She worked at SmileDirectClub for over four years in various human resources roles. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and founded in 2018, Specialty Dental Brands is a niche support organization focused exclusively on building a network of specialty dental practices.
Carli Kingsley has been promoted to Corporate Social Responsibility at Pacific Dental Services® (PDS). In 2020, PDS team members came together to serve and provided over $5.5 million worth of donated dentistry and volunteered over 23,000 hours of time through charitable events. Founded in 1994 by Stephen Thorne, PDS has been on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America 14 times.
Ken Kaufman joins Nuvia Dental Implant Centers as CFO & President. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Nuvia Dental Implant Centers currently has ten centers with six additional centers under construction which will open in the next six months. Centers are located in TX, AZ, UT, GA, CO, and NV. Prior to joining Nuvia, he was the CFO at CDP and Aribex.More DSO People:
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – July 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – June 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – May 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – April 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – March 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – February 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – January 2022
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – December 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – November 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – October 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – September 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – August 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – July 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – June 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – May 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – April 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – March 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – February 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – January 2021
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – December 2020
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – November 2020
DSO People! New DSO And Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards – October 2020
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