Partnering For Growth (PFG), which will be held Wednesday, September 26 – Friday, September 27, 2019, is designed to provide critical education and actionable strategies to small and emerging DSOs and group practices. ADSO holds its internal committee and Board meeting on September 25. PFG officially kicks off on September 26th.
During PFG, industry leaders will discuss lessons learned and best practices around scaling up operations using methods that are both successful and sustainable. The agenda (see below) will include moderated panel discussions on topics such as Dr. Onboarding & Training, Leadership in Emerging Markets, and Revenue Management in Growing Groups.
Partnering For Growth is designed to provide actionable education to small and emerging DSOs and group practices looking to develop their operations. This is the premier event for business professionals interested in starting or expanding their DSO who want to better understand the next step in their growth story.
This year each topic will be covered by a moderated panel of industry experts and will include audience Q&A, followed by breakout sessions led by the panelists. This format is designed to maximize the opportunity for registrants to obtain personalized guidance around their key growth concerns.
Read the Recap of ADSO’s 2018 ‘Partnering for Growth: Pathway to a DSO’ Summer Conference
Learn more about sponsorship opportunities HERE.
Become a sponsor of the premier event for emerging DSOs HERE.
Sponsors still need to register to attend. Please select “Complimentary Industry Partner” for dedicated complimentary registrations. Please select “Industry Partner – In Addition to Complimentary” for any additional team members after your complimentary registrations have been used. Industry Partner Sponsors are able to register additional people over and above their complimentary limit to a total (4) attendees per company.
Register to attend here. Use discount code GDN to receive a $100.00 discount!
Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate, 1500 Masters Blvd, Championsgate, Florida 33896
Guest Room Deadline: August 30th 2019, book your discounted room here!
Thursday, September 26, 2019
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM | Breakfast |
8:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Registration |
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome & Words From Title Sponsor |
9:15 AM – 10:25 AM | Panel Session: Growth Stories. Speakers: Sulman Ahmed, AJ Acierno, Alistair Madle |
10:30 AM – 11: 40 AM | Panel Session: Keeping Your Practice Compliant Speakers: Neil B. Krugman, Andy Lyness, Michael Williamson |
11:40 AM – 12:00 PM | Morning Coffee & Snack Break |
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Round Table Discussions: Growth Stories & Keeping Your Practice Compliant |
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | Lunch |
2:00 PM – 3:10 PM | Panel Session: Leadership in Emerging Markets. Speakers: Emmet Scott, Gennady Sirota |
3:15 PM – 4:25 PM | Panel Session: Banking & Financing for Growing DSOs. Speakers: Mark Denman, Todd Vernon |
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Round Table Discussions: Leadership in Emerging Markets & Banking & Financing for Growing DSOs |
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Talk Table Exhibit & Networking |
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Welcome Reception |
Friday, September 27, 2019
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM | Breakfast |
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Registration |
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM | Talk Table Exhibit & Networking |
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Welcome & Words From Your Welcome Reception Sponsor |
10:00 AM – 11:10 AM | Panel Session: Revenue Management in Growing Groups Speakers: Colleen Ayala, David Harris, Mike White |
11:15 AM – 12:25 PM | Panel Session: Regional Managers Speaker: Melissa Acevedo, Tarek Aly, Shawna Eury |
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Round Table Discussions: Revenue Management in Growing Groups & Regional Managers |
1:35 PM – 2:00 PM | Closing Session |
Speakers in order of appearance:
Dr. Sulman Ahmed, Founder & CEO, DECA Dental. Dr. Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of DECA Dental. He is instrumental in shaping and overseeing DECA Dental’s growth, strategy and culture. In 2008, Dr. Ahmed opened his first dental office and set out to create a truly patient centered model. His belief in putting patients first is the fundamental backbone of DECA Dental’s core values and patient care delivery model. Ensuring adequate training for doctors, the very best materials being placed in the patient’s mouth, weekend hours and multiple specialists working under one roof are just the beginning of his vision.
Dr. AJ Acierno, CEO, DecisionOne Dental. Dr. Acierno is a practicing dentist and the CEO of DecisionOne Dental Partners, headquartered in Schaumburg, IL. After receiving his D.D.S. from Creighton University, he practiced dentistry in both corporate and private environments, where he discovered the benefits and challenges of each practice. Compelled with a vision to make a difference in the way dentistry is practiced, Dr. A.J., together with his brother and fellow dentist, Dr. Michael Acierno, founded DecisionOne Dental Partners in 2011. Over the past seven years, DecisionOne has grown to 22 dental practices. As the company continues to grow, DecisionOne remains dedicated to the mission of changing the way dentistry is done to improve lives. This growth is a direct result of a focus on patient-centered care as a culture. When you have a culture of being an advocate for your patient, the possibilities are endless.
Alistair Madle, CEO, D4C Dental Brands, Inc. Alistair Madle graduated from the University of Hull in England with a BS in Mathematics. He trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London, subsequently joining a national retail-franchising client as CFO. In 2001, Alistair relocated to Florida and became CFO to Women’s Care Florida, a newly consolidated group of 30 OB/GYN physicians. In 2008, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer, and the group grew to one of the largest single specialty physician groups in the country with 200 OB/GYNs, 55 medical offices, a central laboratory, and a highly functioning business operation. In 2015, Alistair was recruited to join D4C as Chief Financial Officer.
Neil B. Krugman, Partner, Waller Law. Healthcare, managed care and health insurance companies – and companies that blend all three – benefit from Neil Krugman’s deep experience in regulatory compliance and transactional matters. Health systems, dental and medical management service companies, managed care and insurance companies, and companies that invest in these businesses, rely on Neil for assistance with the formation of companies, the development and roll-out of new product and service lines, licensing and regulatory matters, and the negotiation of contracts, joint ventures and other transactions. Neil helps clients who are facing these opportunities and challenges answer the questions, “can we do this” and “how do we do this?”
On the payor side, Neil assists managed care companies in the negotiation of participating provider agreements and in disputes concerning out-of-network payment rates and other contractual and business issues.
Neil was recognized for his health law experience by Nashville Medical News in its “InCharge Healthcare 2013,” a “compendium of key decision makers and thought leaders” in the Nashville healthcare community. He is a frequent speaker on healthcare and insurance topics before a wide range of industry groups and professional associations, including the Tennessee Bar Association, the Practising Law Institute, the Physician Insurance Association of America, the Group Health Association of America, the American Academy of Dental Group Practices, and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Andy Lyness, General Counsel & Chief Compliance OFficer, D4C Dental Brands, Inc. Andy Lyness serves as General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer for D4C Dental Brands, where he provides legal support to the organization, and helps ensure and promote the Company’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Prior to joining D4C, Mr. Lyness worked for a publicly-traded international medical device company, where he helped develop and oversee the Company’s compliance program. Prior to that, he practiced law at King & Spalding, where his practice focused on advising clients on a range of corporate compliance matters and representing them through a variety of criminal and civil government investigations.
Michael Williamson, Chief Compliance Officer/Chief Privacy Officer, Pacific Dental Services LLP. Michael Williamson has been a compliance and ethics professional specializing in health care compliance for over 20 years. He is passionate about leveraging organizational values and culture to optimize risk mitigation. Michael is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the New York Bar. He has five years of law firm experience as a health care law associate. He founded a law practice that specialized in all aspects of health care compliance, served as Assistant General Counsel in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services, and has held Chief Compliance Officer, V.P. of Risk Management and Chief Privacy Officer positions in the private sector where he has successfully designed and implemented ethics and compliance programs rooted in the principles of values-based, self-governance. Michael has presented his philosophy and experiences on compliance and ethics in various forums including the 2018 Association of Dental Support Organizations Annual Summit in Austin, TX: Behavioral Compliance: Helping People Do the Next Right Thing; the 2018 NY HR People & Strategy (NYHRPS) Annual Meeting in New York City: Higher Purpose, Higher Performance; the 2017 Consero Corporate Compliance & Ethics Forum – General Session in Newport Beach, CA: Now That You Have Successfully Created A Corporate Culture of Compliance, What Are You Doing To Keep It?; and the 2016 Association of Dental Support Organizations Annual Summit in Las Vegas, NV: Compliance & Ethics Program
Emmet Scott, CEO, Community Dental Partners. Emmet Scott is Co-founder of Community Dental Partners (CDP), a DSO focused on creating Amazing Patient Experiences in underserved markets. Emmet has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive in the financial, construction, law, IT and healthcare industries. Emmet was CEO of an executive consulting company and host of the radio show The Entrepreneur Life before starting CDP. He is now the produces two podcasts: DSO Secrets and 2 Minds of a Dentist. Emmet lives on a small ranch in Sanger, TX with his wife and five kids.
Mark Denman, President, Genesis Credit. Mark Denman has been President of Genesis Credit, the private label credit card financing business unit of Genesis Financial Solutions, since January 2018. The programs offered through the Genesis Credit brand allows retailers to provide customers, who are typically turned down by prime lenders, access to high quality financing solutions with flexible payment plans and attractive programs. As President, Mark is focused on driving Genesis Credit’s long-term strategic development and immediate incremental growth, while building strong relationships with current and future retail partners. Genesis currently offers its services to over 400+ companies with over 16,000 brick and mortar locations as well as e-Comm and omni-channel companies. During Mark’s time with Genesis Credit, his team has originated over $2B in sales volume and is the largest second look financing company in the nation. Mark brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the consumer lending and finance industry. Prior to his current role at Genesis Credit, Mark served as Executive Vice President at AcceptanceNow, an entity of lease provider Rent-A-Center which specializes in kiosks within a retail setting. Prior to his EVP role at AcceptanceNow, Mark was Divisional Vice President for both Rent-A-Center and AcceptanceNow brands as well as Operations Manager at TRS (The Rental Store), which Rent A Center acquired in 2010. Mark’s extensive retail consumer-credit record proves his ability to understand partner needs as well as enhance the overall customer experience.
Todd Vernon, VP Client Relations, CareCredit. Todd Vernon brings over 23 years of experience within Synchrony Financial / General Electric to his role as VP Client Relations for CareCredit. Todd has held this role since early 2013, focusing on Dental Service Organizations and Veterinary large groups through negotiating long-term agreements, developing strong C-suite relationships, understanding our clients business strategies and increased analytic reports. His deep domain expertise, general management experience and proven relationship and project skills are critical to driving higher penetration and partner engagement. Prior to his current role, Todd served as Senior Sales Manager at GE Equipment Finance, providing overall leadership and coordination of a new finance product involving green energy. He had to work cross-functionally to create the business strategies, product and initiatives. Todd also has held leadership assignments in Marketing, Operations, FP&A, Underwriting, Collections and Quality in various businesses throughout GE, including GE Energy, GE Capital Consumer Finance, GE Capital Markets and GE Auto Finance.
Mike White, CPA, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. Mike White provides expert financial consulting services to the Healthcare industry, with over 12 years of experience in the field. He works with Physicians Groups, Dental Practices and other Professional Service Businesses as a Healthcare BizOps Principal from the Plano CLA office.
David Harris, CEO, Prosperident. A rule-breaker in his youth, David Harris changed his direction and has spent much of his adult life in the world of investigation and enforcement, where he uses his unrivaled ability to understand the criminal thought process to help educate and protect dentists. David is the Chief Executive Officer of Prosperident, the world’s largest firm investigating financial crimes committed against dentists. David is a licensed private investigator, a CPA, and is “dual certified” in fraud investigation. He has lectured at universities in four countries in the faculties of business, law and dentistry. David is a prolific author and frequent guest speaker at regional, national and international dental conferences and his vast wealth of experience, coupled with his keen sense of humor make David both an engaging and entertaining speaker.
Colleen Ayala, VP of Professional Services, CareStack. Colleen Ayala is on a mission to give dental practitioners the tools and understanding needed thrive and sustain profitable growth. With nearly twenty years of experience in field operations and central billing support functions, Colleen is known for spearheading initiatives in which electronic data interchange and patient finance solutions can be utilized to maximize collectible revenue. Colleen has a passion and track record for optimizing operational results with specific focus on increasing productivity, enhancing the quality and access to patient care, and reducing overall costs. Colleen is currently working to translate those years of experience into the software and product design of CareStack, a cloud-based enterprise software for dental practice management.
Melissa Acevedo, Director of Operations, Heartland Dental. Melissa is passionate about driving the mission and vision of Heartland Dental in her role as Regional Director of Operations. She joined the company in 2011 through an affiliation of two practices, which she supported as a manager. She transitioned through the positions of Practice Administrator, Regional Administrator and Senior Regional Administrator before assuming her current role.
Tarek Aly, Co-Founder & COO, OrthoDent Management LLC. Tarek practiced Dentistry and Periodontal surgery while simultaneously working in Management and Marketing. He graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University in Egypt. He has a graduate certificate in Periodontics & Oral Medicine from the same University and a Diploma in Sales & Marketing from the American University in Cairo. He has an MBA from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. Tarek has a CVA certification from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. His expertise includes Dental Support Organizations platform development and management, M&As, Business Valuation, Business Operations, Dental Organizations Management. He has written three publications and currently working on a book addressing Management of the Dental Practice and DSOs. He is currently the Chief Operations Officer/Co-founder of OrthoDent Management LLC (11 dental practice locations) and Modern Smiles (6 dental practice locations), President/Founder of Precision Advisory LLC and co-founder of M-Kenz Management Consulting. Tarek is also a public speaker and competes in Toastmasters International.
Shawna Eury, Director of Operations, Dental Care Alliance. Shawna began her career with DCA in 2009 as a Patient Service Representative; however, within two months she was quickly promoted to an Office Manager. Shawna’s passion for the profession, outstanding customer service and excellent business acumen allowed her to be promoted to an Area Manager within one year and she received a subsequent promotion two years later to the Regional Manager, Central Florida position. As a Regional Manager, Shawna was responsible for the largest region in the Florida division. She oversaw nineteen practices with a book of business exceeding $27 million in revenue annually. In addition to her fiscal responsibilities, Shawna successfully managed recruitment and retention efforts, patient satisfaction initiatives and cost control measures. In December 2018, Shawna was promoted to Director of Operations, Florida Division. In this new role, Shawna supports DCA by identifying, analyzing, developing and implementing best practices throughout the organization. In addition, Shawna is an integral member of the Business Development team as she is responsible for the successful integration of newly affiliated practices nationwide. Shawna is married, and has 2 children. In her spare time, she enjoys exercise and playing the piano.