1. How long have you been with MB2 Dental, and what were you doing before this?
After being recruited by our President, Justin Puckett, our founder and CEO, Dr. V, invited me to join MB2 Dental’s leadership team in May 2015 (8.5 years ago). Before joining MB2 Dental, I worked in several roles for DentalOne Partners for 12 years.
2.Tell us a little about your role at MB2 today. What are your main responsibilities?
My journey at MB2 Dental began when the company was affiliated with 60 dental practices, 57 of which were de novos, built from the ground up. In my original role as VP of Business Development, I focused on scaling, enhancing, and growing our orthodontics business. Working in that position, I knew I needed to create strong, trusting, and sustainable relationships with our doctor partners and Operations team, which led me to become the VP of Operations. While in that role, our growth strategy consisted of building new dental practices to expand existing brands and help associate dentists become owners. It was at this time we also began acquiring dental practices, which led to my current role as Chief Integration Officer.
I am the executive leader of the Integration, Facility, and Event teams, which all have one purpose: to allow our MB2 Dental doctor partners to keep control of their practices while tapping into the resources of the larger organization. The Integration Team partners with Business Development to acquire dental practices and owners. The Facility Team builds de novos and manages facility projects at the dental practice and MB2 home base. The Events Team creates opportunities for our team members and doctor partners to stay engaged, involved, and connected.
3. MB2 Dental was founded on de novos, but more recently, your team has ramped up the number of de novos opening. Tell us the biggest driver to success behind opening a de novo practice.
MB2 Dental pivoted as a growing, nimble, and evolving organization, from only building de novos to also acquiring dental practices in 2015. Although acquisitions have skyrocketed in the last eight years, we continue to build practices from the ground up for doctor partners who wish to expand their access to care or allow their associate dentist to step into ownership. The biggest driver to success in opening a de novo is preparation. From market studies and site selection to floor plans, equipment purchases and construction, to marketing and staffing, De novos only succeed when there is meticulous, timely, and documented planning and collaboration.
4. Tell us about the quickly growing MB2 Dental Events Team and why this team’s work is so crucial to the culture of MB2 Dental?
Believe it or not, when I joined MB2 Dental, our President, Justin Puckett, and I planned our doctor partner events. From annual mission trips to large events including spouses, Justin and I planned it all. As we’ve grown, we needed to formalize a true Events department with goals, accountability, and expectations. They have done a fabulous job creating engagement opportunities for both our doctor partners (and their spouse) as well as our MB2 Dental home base team members. The Events team executes Dr. V’s visions, ideas, and strategies – which almost always include marvel references, really good food, contests, and, more importantly, fellowship and fun!
5. Part of the Integration process is easing the fears and concerns that new doctor partners and their team members may have due to the incoming changes. How does your team address these sensitivities?
Our upcoming doctor partners are most concerned with how their team will react to MB2 Dental’s involvement in their practice. I have lovingly coined our pre-close practice team meeting the “Warm Hug.” The Integration team has built a workflow that addresses the technical planning and changes in management. We are constantly making improvements in our department and have learned the psychology of the dental practice team member through a spectrum of emotions and how each will react within their roles. Following a process, guiding the doctor partner through communication with their teams, hosting the Warm Hug, and addressing questions and concerns of individual team members allows the doctor partner to not just retain their team but gain their support.
6. What plans does the Integration team have in place in order to scale to the fast-paced growth of MB2 Dental’s new partnerships?
The Integration team is never complete. In other words, we are constantly improving processes, checklists, documentation, and published material while hiring coordinators, and directors, and promoting within to meet our growth needs. The Integration team balances the technical components of our process with critical thinking and relationship building with the doctor partners. Our job is to create and execute a seamless process while gaining trust and setting the doctor partner up for success in partnership with their long-term operations lead. Although our broker network continues to give us feedback that we have the best integration process and team in our consolidating industry by far, the Integration team doesn’t rest on being the best. Their collaboration, process improvement, and brand ambassadorship is what I am most proud of.
7. Lastly, one fun question:
What is the most recent book you’ve read / podcast you’ve listened to?
I have four teenagers (7th, 8th, 9th & 10th grade). I recently re-read “To Kill a Mockingbird” so that I could refresh myself on this high school reading assignment and discuss this story with the kids. I plan to read my way through the high school syllabus to support each of them through their high school reading assignments.
