Since 2005, I have been honored to be included in Dentistry Today’s notable list of dentistry’s Who’s Who. I will never forget the look of my parents when I showed them my picture on the cover in 2005. Let’s be honest. They probably were in shock!
Looking at the faces on the cover this year and I am honored now to call most of them not only my trusted colleagues, but also friends. Some of them I have known the entire span of my career working with dentists.
For most of them, I can directly speak of their integrity, their commitment and their passion to serve this community. We all experienced the challenge of 2020 but these faces were in the trenches, not being paid, trying to forge a clear path ahead for the practices.
Dental Influencers
John and Cathy Jameson were among the first dental consultants I met 28 years ago, when I first started in this industry. Their daughter, Carrie, is among my favorites now too! Yes, they are from across the Red River in Oklahoma, but they hold a very special dear place in my heart.
Debbie Castagna, Jenny de St. George, Sandy Pardue, Karen Davis, Cindy Ishimoto, Teresa Duncan, Mary Govoni, Katherine Eitel, Debra Nash, Dayna Johnson, Kevin Henry – these amazing colleagues have been not only practice influencers, but my own career influencers. They are considered both trusted colleagues and dear friends.
Debbie greatly influenced the Practice Management Chart of Accounts that I created and is being used by thousands around the globe. Jenny encouraged me to join the National Speaker Association and gave me encouragement regarding my speaking story telling style during a time when original content was being pilfered by others. Sandy has been my Southern sister – our conversations are often long and hilarious. We need that break a lot! Teresa encouraged the book, Money In, Money Out, from my brain on to paper, then TOLD me she was writing the Foreword. Dayna Johnson and Kevin Henry were in the realm of joy givers. Always encouraging at the base of their hearts, the laughter is great when the three of us convene. And Kevin and I enjoyed the Texas Ranger’s World Series win this year. Somehow, I had to work that in!
Dental Consulting and Speaking Community = Family
The ones I mentioned, and so many more NOT shown on either the front cover and enfold, helped mold the direction my consulting business took by letting me know what has been needed, and not needed. One of these called and tenderly suggested I take a post down. I remember it was written out of frustration but cannot actually remember what I was frustrated about. They were right to do so.
All of the ones I know, which is probably 80% or more of the faces on the cover, is a community. We often speak at the same conferences. I love it when one of them pops their head in and waves, while I am presenting. This gesture can be translated, “Hey Friend. Just wanted to say Hi and you got this!”
At most of the conferences, you will see a group of the speakers going out to dinner, or meeting for Happy Hour. For some, conferences may be the only time I see or talk to them all year. It does not mean we are not friends, or do not care. And we know that. Some I talk to quite often, and others just when I see them, but we pick up the conversation where we left off.
Again, there are many more in the dentistry consulting realm that are not on these covers that are making a phenomenal impact. I am grateful for every one of them as well.
So, in essence, Dentistry Today’s December issue covers could be considered a family group photo. And I am blessed and honored to be a part of that family.