Leading Executives in Dental Practices, Clinics
Bob Fontana
Chairman & CEO, The Aspen Group (TAG)
Founder who scaled Aspen Dental into TAG, now supporting 1,400+ locations across Aspen Dental, ClearChoice, WellNow and more; named the 2025 Dykema Dental Titan for reshaping the DSO landscape.
Patrick (Pat) Bauer
President & CEO, Heartland Dental
Veteran DSO operator who has led Heartland’s expansion to 1,800+ supported offices and 3,000+ doctors, repeatedly recognized among dentistry’s most influential leaders.
Stephen E. Thorne IV
Founder & CEO, Pacific Dental Services (PDS)
Pioneer of the DSO model and advocate for dental-medical integration; founder-CEO who continues to influence industry policy and research (e.g., Forsyth Institute board).
Steven C. Bilt
Chief Executive Officer, Smile Brands
Co‑founder who built one of the nation’s largest DSOs (700+ locations) and a culture of access/charity via Smiles for Everyone Foundation; multiple CEO-of-the-year accolades.
Dr. Larry Benz
Chief Executive Officer, Dental Care Alliance (DCA)
Appointed CEO in 2025; leading one of the largest DSOs (400+ practices in 24 states) with renewed focus on provider engagement and growth.
Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva
Founder & CEO, MB2 Dental
Dentist‑founder credited with creating the DPO (doctor partnership organization) model; now 750+ practices across 44 states with new PE backing in 2024.
Preet Takkar
Chief Executive Officer, Sonrava Health
Elevated to CEO on March 10, 2025 to lead a 500+ location multi‑brand platform serving diverse, often underserved, communities.
Dale Hockel
Chief Executive Officer, Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC)
Promoted to CEO in 2025 to drive the next chapter of growth and clinical excellence at the Roark Capital‑backed DSO.
Rahma Samow
Chief Executive Officer, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers (a TAG company)
Appointed CEO in 2023; expanded the network past 100 centers and launched an industry‑leading Lifetime Zirconia Warranty for full‑arch prostheses.
Dr. Sulman Ahmed
Founder, Chairman & CEO, DECA Dental Group (Ideal Dental)
Founder‑CEO who scaled Ideal Dental nationally while championing clinician‑led culture; active philanthropist recognized by UT Dallas in 2024.
Thomas Marler
President & CEO, Sage Dental
Turnaround and growth leader who doubled the platform since 2020 and expanded into new Southeast markets past 120+ locations.
Pete Bridgman
Chief Executive Officer, Affordable Care, LLC
Named CEO in 2024 to lead America’s largest tooth‑replacement focused DSO (440+ affiliated practices) after years leading major optical networks.
Matthew Wickesberg
Chief Executive Officer, InterDent Service Corporation (Gentle Dental, SmileKeepers, Blue Oak)
Finance‑operator elevated to CEO, steering a 160+ location West Coast network with renewed focus on quality management and growth.
Website | Patient brand | LinkedIn
Dr. Scott Asnis
Founder & CEO, Dental365
Practicing dentist and founder who built a fast‑growing, dentist‑led group across the Northeast through clinical innovation and strategic acquisitions in 2025.
Saam Zarrabi, DDS
Chief Executive Officer, Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics
Entrepreneur‑dentist CEO known for a high‑engagement, pediatric‑friendly model; expanded to 48+ practices across CO, AZ and TX in 2025.
Graham Rosenberg
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, dentalcorp (Canada)
Founder‑CEO who led Canada’s largest DSO through the country’s largest healthcare IPO and continued governance/expansion in 2025.
Website | Investors/IR | LinkedIn
Paul Reda
Chief Executive Officer, North American Dental Group (NADG)
Operational leader and cultural‑transformation CEO heading a multi‑state DSO with dentist‑partner led operating model.
Bill Becknell
Chief Executive Officer, Mortenson Dental Partners
CEO of one of America’s largest employee‑owned dental groups (140+ practices), known for ESOP‑driven culture and sustained multi‑brand growth.
J. Hedrick
Chief Executive Officer, Smile Doctors (Orthodontic Support Organization)
PE‑backed, multi‑site veteran CEO leading the largest OSO in the U.S. (460+ locations across 32 states) into its next phase of scale and innovation.
Website | Partnerships/News | LinkedIn
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