Anna Blake

Now in its sixth year of recognizing exceptional women in the dental industry, Dental Products Report is thrilled to present the Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2015.

Related reading: The significance of Dental Products Report's Top 25 Women in Dentistry award

	The Top 25 Women in Dentistry award was designed to recognize women who excel in their fields. The honorees come from across the dental industry, including dental professionals, industry leaders and practitioners.

	“We are honored to announce this year’s 25 extraordinary women,” said Kevin Henry, group editorial director for 

Dental Products Report, Modern Hygienist, Dental Lab Products and Dental Practice Management

. “I was very excited to see this year’s impressive pool of nominations; these women have accomplished impressive things, and we are honored to give them recognition for those accomplishments.”

Related reading: Why women dentists in the current generation are indeed pioneers

	Click through the following pages, or on a name above, to read about these impressive women and their contributions to the industry. 

More on the Top 25 Women in Dentistry: How the role of women in dentistry has come a long way

Wearing many hats, Naomi Cooper is a president, CEO, chief marketing consultant, educator and founder every day, and she has stepped into each role with ease. As the chief marketing consultant for the Pride Institute, she works one-on-one with dentists to craft customized marketing plans and also teaches Pride’s marketing courses. She is the founder and president of Minoa Marketing, a consulting firm that works with dental companies in the virtual space to create strategies to help increase the effectiveness of a company’s marketing and awareness of her clients across the industry. As if that isn’t a full enough plate, Cooper is also the CEO and cofounder of Doctor Distillery, an inbound marketing lead generation company that aims to help dental companies connect with dentists who are interested in their products and services. That’s clearly a lot of responsibility.

	“I definitely look forward to hitting an objective metric or achieving a meaningful milestone; it’s an opportunity to show how real and tangible our progress is,” she said. “Plus, reaching a previously stated goal is incredibly gratifying, and when my clients get excited about the fruits of our labor, I can tell they’re happy, which is a highlight. I am privileged to work with people across the country and get to know them personally and professionally.”

	While very successful, Cooper does face challenges. Her role as a marketing consultant and business advisor has her on the phone almost all day every day. That means some tasks have to come second in between calls and consultations. However, Cooper knows it means her businesses are successful and that she’s contributed, in large part, to that success. 

	“It’s hard to be successful if you don’t have the raw materials, knowledge and skills to succeed,” she says. “But it’s impossible unless you believe in yourself.”

	To Cooper, every boss, employee and client is an inspiration and a driving force to succeed. “I’m truly inspired by my employees because they keep raising the bar and I have to keep up,” she said. 

	“I never want to be the smartest person in the room,” she says. “I like hiring people who have unique and incredible strengths and abilities that stretch me and that I can leverage to accomplish things that I couldn’t possibly do all on my own.”

	Whether she’s consulting, managing or teaching, she strives to inspire greatness in others. 

	“Keep your humility,” she says. “Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know and always be looking for people who can teach you. Teachers come in surprising packages, patients, employees, vendors and advisors, and finding the right ones is invaluable. At the end of the day, you can’t possibly be an expert in everything.”

When Laura Howerton started down the path to success, she definitely had a number of ups and downs ahead of her, but, throughout her journey, she’s taken every bump in the road in stride. Today, she has nearly 30 years of dental hygiene education under her belt, and she is proud to be a part of the dental community.

	Her path to dental hygiene education started as more of a requirement and less as a choice, but it’s one she is thankful for. When she started at Ohio State University, dental hygiene was only a certificate program, so to receive her bachelor’s degree, she had to choose an alternate major. She chose education, but after she finished, she didn’t pass the state board exam for licensure in dental hygiene. 

	Contrary to popular belief, success isn’t linear. It ebbs and flows, but it is always a learning experience. “Although I don’t advocate for it, failure has been a part of my life in different ways,” she said. “I enjoy working with students, especially when I see this same determination and desire to succeed. Although roadblocks inevitably arise, I feel a sense of gratification knowing that I played a small role in preparing them for a career in dental hygiene.”

	The teachers and mentors she has had throughout the years all had several things in common: They knew their subject matter extremely well, pushed and encouraged excellence, had a sense of humor, always made themselves available as a resource and always had a positive attitude. 

	“I always hope to be the same type of instructor, looking for the best in people,” she said.

	Howerton also derives a lot of inspiration from her family. She sees her parents as role models, and she is grateful to them for teaching her humility, the importance of helping others, faith, strength and kindness. To her, they taught more meaningful lessons solely based on their actions and the way they lived their lives than anyone could have with words. She is also thankful to her brothers, who instilled in her a competitive nature while also offering her guidance when she needed it. Today her biggest influence is her husband, who has had to overcome a number of life changing challenges. 

	“More than anyone I have ever known, he has taken adversity and turned it into achievement,” she said. “In his mid 30s, he went overnight from a healthy, active man to a quadriplegic. Instead of cursing life and floundering in self-pity, he looks to help others. He gets up every day with a smile and attitude to get it done. He spreads hope and optimism to strangers, and he inspires me to be a better person by the mental and physical strength he displays every day.”

	Howerton strives to pay his optimism forward and instill the things he has taught her in others, especially her students. 

	“I hope the failures that might come down their road open new paths and even better experiences in the long run, just as it’s done for me,” she said. 

Denise Burris, CDT, wears many hats so walking in to work every day is hardly ever the same as the day before. Some days she may be managing Oral Arts Georgia while the next day she’s on QC and shipping/receiving. The following day, the lab may be short-staffed so she will sit at the bench and keep her skills sharp as a ceramist. She also serves on the SCDL Board of Directors as current president and the NBC as fiscal officer. 

	With so many responsibilities to juggle, Burris has learned it is important to understand people’s personalities and accept they are constantly different and that everyone has their own story and is fighting their own battles.

	“It’s so complex yet I feel like reaching people based on their personality rather than my own is the only way to truly see things from their point of view,” she said. “I’m not saying I do a great job of it, but I work hard every day to be conscious of it.”

	Obviously, it isn’t always easy for Burris to be in the right place at the right time, but she has had a number of inspirational individuals throughout her career who have helped her overcome challenges and inspired her to always work hard and be at her best.

	“I’ve only worked at two labs my whole career, but, in both, I worked for a couple of the hardest-working, most dedicated, encouraging and committed people I know,” Burris said. “Johnny Fisher at Trippe Porcelain Lab gave me my start and a foundation to grow limitlessly as I had no idea a love for dentistry was in store for me. Currently, at Oral Arts Georgia, Phillip Gold has been the most significant driver in how broadly my career has expanded.”

	She attributes her knowledge of business and the value of being a relationship-driven partner to clients to the lessons she’s learned from Gold. He taught her how important it is to be a resource lab to clients as opposed to a commodity lab. 

	“He taught me that you are only as good as your last piece of work and that we should never compromise a client relationship over a dollar,” she noted.

	The network of professionals she’s come in contact with throughout her journey to success have influenced her immensely. She even claims they saw her potential before she was able to.

	“They never let me doubt if I was ‘ready for the next step,’” she said. “They just helped me simplify the process, which cultivated a confidence that we don’t have to have all the answers before we move forward.”

	For anyone looking to follow in her footsteps, Burris believes it’s important to first seek as much education as possible whether through formal means, certification or apprenticeship. It’s important not to limit oneself based on their current position. 

	“It is our responsibility to humanity to spend more time building one another up than contributing to the self-doubt that we are all trying to overcome,” she said.

As a crown and bridge dental lab owner, Carol Pilmer provides fixed restorations to her patients, but, to her, the job is so much more than its textbook definition. 

	“My passion is to share my time and talents to create a spirit of cooperation and harmony across all dental disciplines,” she observed. “When we do, we learn we have so much more in common than we have differences. It is important to take the time to learn about each other and work together.”

	Pilmer began her dental career chairside as a dental assistant, and, since then, she has become involved in both the clinical and technical areas of dentistry. Along her path, she learned a lot about the industry and where she could make a difference. 

	Throughout her journey, she volunteered with the Dental Lab Owners Association of California, where she served on the board and eventually held the positions of president and event and publication manager. Through this organization, Pilmer found many occasions to create synergy through educational and social opportunities. She was a member of the CDA ADHP Membership task force and later became the ADHP guest member of the CDA Board of Trustees, ADHP delegate to the CDA House of Delegates and, finally, her current position as lab tech lead with the CDA Cares program. She says the best part of what she does is the heartwarming experiences that come from knowing she had a part in making a new smile happen for a CDA Cares.

	“To me, there is an importance in forming symbiotic relationships with all those I serve whether it is our client dentist, their patients, the members of the organizations of which I am a part, the dental lab tech students for whom I advocate or the predental students with whom I work every day,” she said. 

	Pilmer also loves having the opportunity to work with great people every day. Whether she is interacting with the staff of the dental offices she serves or connecting with her own team, she is constantly learning from the experiences she has and treats every challenge like an opportunity to make things better for someone.

	“The number one driving force that keeps me going is my belief that everyone is entitled to have a beautiful smile,” she said. “Smiles change lives. Sometimes that is the only thing we have to give another person, and what a difference it can make.”

	She derives much of her drive and inspiration from her parents, her husband of 47 years and her two children, who have always supported and pushed her to be the best in everything she does. She is proud to be able to share that drive with her colleagues, team and students she mentors.

	“Whether my children, family, friends, professional relationships, spiritual teachers or casual acquaintances, each has taught me things I didn’t know but needed to learn,” Pilmer noted. “By doing so, they have helped make my life more meaningful, perhaps more difficult or maybe easier. Each has shared their knowledge and experiences with me, and, in the end, it all has made me a better person.” 

Articles

Dental Products Report's Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2015

	In the first of what will be a continuing series for Modern Dental Assistant, we take a look at an Indiana dental assisting instructor who is making an impact on her students.

As a Dental Assistant Program Director and Dental Assistant Instructor in Indianapolis, Amy Applegate is proud to deliver a solid education to her students.

	To her, providing the resources that prepare her students with knowledge of the most current trends and the most up-to-date technologies in the dental industry is most important. Applegate has been in the education field for eight years and she’s worked in several different states in that time. She is grateful for her students, new and old, and her ability to watch them grow both personally and professionally.

	“There is nothing better than handing our students their diplomas on the stage at graduation,” she said. “You meet these students at orientation and are with them at least 20 hours per week. You see them hurt, you see them struggle, you help them through life’s situations, but you also get to see them grow into these amazing professionals. It is quite rewarding and fulfilling.“

	While Applegate is proud to provide a top-notch education to her students, it can be a challenge to make sure they have access to every single tool necessary for success. In order for her students to graduate as well-rounded dental assistants who are competent enough in their knowledge and practice to pass their national board exams, she has to stay on top of trends in the industry constantly in order to ensure her students and their individual learning styles are accommodated and supported.

	“I have a true passion for what I do,” Applegate said. “I had an amazing experience in dental assisting school and I am very proud to say what school I graduated from. I want our students to feel the same way. I want all aspects of their schooling to be a positive one. I want them to plant their trees for success and watch them grow. I hope I have played, and will play, an integral part in their career accomplishments.”

	One of Applegate’s constant goals is to be a positive role model for all of her students. She believes that as a role model who is able to show her students, in person, that drive and passion leads to success that they will learn from her both in and outside of the classroom. Her program is very organized and it is structured so that her students are challenged with every lesson.

	“My parents always taught me to work hard and to never take no for an answer,” she said. “They taught me to be very respectful and to work hard for what I believe in.  They showed me to be compassionate and understanding. I have learned that nothing in life comes for free. Work hard for what you have, and be grateful.”

	When it comes to advising her students, Applegate hopes each of her students keep their priorities in order as the embark on their journeys in dentistry. She also hopes they keep things in perspective, and that they realize that everyone has a first day in a new career, and that it is OK to ask for help.

	“No one is perfect,” she advised. “You can’t learn if you don’t make mistakes. Keep going, and never stop learning."

Touching the future of the dental assisting profession: Meet Amy Applegate

The vista of dentistry has changed over the past 30 years, and I may say, it is a wonderful time to be a woman in dentistry. 

Since my graduation in 1983, women are on the road to being equity partners in this profession. My dental school class had 29 women out of a class of 151 graduates. Fast forward to 2014 to see a completely different class composition, with more than 50% of the predoctoral candidates now comprised of women.

Looking over just the past 20 years, the percentage of women dentists has increased over 210%. Today, 37% of all practicing dentists are women. Remarkably, according to Dr. Kathleen O’Loughlin, the executive director of the ADA, in a recent presentation to the Dental Trade Alliance during this past 

, the market of women dentists continues to rise where as the market for male dentists is decreasing. The number of total women dentists in the U.S. has risen from 10.9% in 1993 to 26.2% in 2012. Over 79% of all women practitioners are practice owners. In addition, it is only getting better for us. Those are all great numbers!

Webinar: The dental practice management benefits of cloud-based system

Here are some thought provoking facts: in the next several years, since women are now 50% of the graduating classes, more women will be out in practice. Graduation surveys have shown that over 50% of women plan to own their practices. As many of the male baby boomer dentists sell their practices, there are now women to purchase them. The practice model may be two women working part-time in one practice, therefore covering the practice full-time or a woman buying the total practice outright.

Regardless, women will be in control of a good portion of practices, making many more major administrative and purchasing decisions. Shortly, 80% of all practices may be 100% women. Why, you ask? In a dental office, there are four “chairs” to fill: more women graduates translate to more women dentists. Well over 97% of dental office managers are women, as are dental hygienists and assistants.  With all four chairs having women in them, the offices will be trending towards women owned/women controlled in the near future.

When I started my practice life, it was impossible to acquire a business loan without the guarantee of my parents and my husband. Banks would not look at me. I was a doctor with a potential long-term business and earning power. Now, many more banks are willing, and even competing, to give money to women dentists as they definitely feel we are a good, stable investment. We repay our loans. Interestingly, although dental school indebtedness is always high, women are trending towards slightly lower indebtedness at the end of school, although the total amount is definitely significant.

Click here to keep reading about how statistics have proven that women dentists do practice. 

There have been many myths about women in practice. Statistics have proven that women dentists do practice. We may work slightly fewer hours than our male counterparts, but we do work! Women are purchasing practices, although some women prefer other practice options initially than full ownership. I have owned my practice for the past 30 years. I had always wanted to be a practice owner. I also had both of my children while I was in dental school, a feat many of my women dentist sisters may not have attempted. Women, as we have been doing for many years, do tend to balance our professional and personal lives strategically. This has not changed, as many women today are working, running their businesses, while raising children and sometimes caring for elderly parents.  

Recent Article: Cloudy with a change of computing 

Thirty years ago, women in dental school used the same equipment as the men and “liked it.” Once we graduated and entered into practice, we were not given any options with regard to a different hand size or body shape. Now, some forward thinking manufacturers are assessing the different ergonomic needs of the various dental end users by offering alternative options for handpieces, seating, and instruments. Women no longer have to enter into a “one size fits all” for capital purchases, office design or style; we now have options. Moreover, we know that women represent the largest purchasing market; hence, even though many manufacturers continue to market mainly to men, those who focus on women will be strategically placed for success.  

Although looking at the leadership of many of the dental organizations we see a vast majority of males, women are definitely on the rise. Women do have some impediments professionally, as we are now attempting to gain the same leadership roles as our male counterparts have had for decades. It takes drive and perseverance to break through the glass ceiling. Women are increasing their representation in national, state and local leadership in addition to dental school deans. Our current ADA president, Dr. Maxine Feinberg, is a perfect role model. It is not parity, but it has come a long way over the past 30 years. The American Association of Women Dentists, an organization approaching its centennial anniversary, is the only group that is comprised solely of women leaders. I am proud to be installed as the next president for the year 2015, 31 years after my graduation from a very male orientated class. AAWD is uniquely more diverse than any other dental organization by the virtue of its representing the wide variety of women currently serving in dentistry. Many of our members do go on to leadership roles in various local, state and national dental organizations.

Even though we have come a long way, women do still have some barriers in starting up a practice. There are major concerns for long-term practice longevity and comfort due to the current design of much of the equipment we are using. Men tend to use what they are given; women tend to create a more comfortable, ergonomically balanced workspace. Finally, even though 30 years has passed, women are still mistaken for “staff” at dental meetings. This may truly be a disincentive to attend these meetings if it continues into the future.   

One of the most interesting statistics about women dentists is that we are still making 75 to 80 cents on the dollar as compared to our male colleagues, a number that has plagued women throughout any industry. We may have to work on this one. But, for the most part, the scenery is beautiful now for a woman in dentistry. I am very happy to be enjoying the view.

Click here to check out the 25 women who have impacted the dental industry.

Maritza Alford recently celebrated 20 long, fruitful years working in the dental industry. Currently the National Sales Director for Henry Schein Surgical Solutions, she works closely with sales, marketing, finance and support teams to build a comprehensive customer experience for dental surgeons.

“I am proud of the specialized division and career opportunities Henry Schein Surgical Solutions has brought to our valued customers and Team Schein members alike,” Alford said.

There are many aspects of her position that Alford loves, like the people she works with. She and her coworkers call themselves, TSMs or Team Schein Members, and they share a special bond over the work they do as well as the opportunities that work affords them. She most appreciates the resources she gets to tap into thanks to her coworkers and their talents. She also loves the impact she gets to have on the dental industry as it grows and flourishes in a changing world.

“Modern medicine and social media have brought so much education to the importance of dental care,” she said. “Technology enhancements are improving the lives of patients and I get to drive part of that through the support I lend to customers and the overall industry in the various leadership and sales roles I have had in my career.”

Alford has always been able to pull inspiration and strength from her family. From a very young age, her parents instilled a strong sense of independence in her. Her father in particular was a big source of that independence. He always helped her to help herself and search for her own answers, and she attributes much of her early success to his teachings.

Her most influential mentor however, was the company president at her first sales job in the dental industry. As an individual obsessed with the ins and outs of human dental anatomy, Alford soaked up the science of teeth. The opportunity to work alongside the company’s president made a huge impact on her.

“He was very tough on me and forced me to find answers to solutions. Little did he know that I had many years of training from my Dad,” she remembered. “He challenged me to create business opportunities for myself which resulted in company opportunities. “

As a woman, Alford loves that she can use her job as a way to mentor other women in business. Whether she’s teaching them the ways of the dental industry or learning from them new ways to go about problem solving, being that resource is very valuable to her.

“Business can be intimidating and you have to believe in yourself and trust your decisions. When you make mistakes, pick yourself up, learn from them and move forward, to help you and the people around you grow,” she said.

In her 14-year tenure at DenMat, Hilary Brown has held several positions, but each taught her the lessons she needed in order to end up where she is today. As Senior Product Manager for all of the impression and restorative materials, Brown is most proud of the work she is currently doing.

“Managing DenMat’s Impression & Restorative product portfolio is a tremendous responsibility, which I am honored to take on,” Brown said. “To have the opportunity to work in a medical field and manage and develop products dentists use to help people live healthier, happier lives is rewarding and inspiring. It is what makes me passionate about the work I do.”

Brown is responsible for new product development and product management from concept to launch. For the past several years, she’s led the annual marketing plan including strategies, packaging development, R&D, forecasting, advertising and marketing collateral creation. Ongoing acquisitions and integration of new products into DenMat’s portfolio have added to her growing responsibilities.  

“The best part of my job is that every day brings a different challenge and with it an opportunity to learn something new,” she said. “Learning is key to personal growth, so I’m thrilled to have a job where things are constantly evolving. The daily challenges promote a work environment where collaboration with co-workers is critical to success, one idea sparking another idea. Teamwork is one of my favorite things about working in Marketing.”

However, in today’s ever changing world of new technologies and innovations, keeping current with industry trends and adjusting marketing strategies to provide DenMat’s customers with valuable information is a constant challenge. Brown works hard to ensure that her customers know she has their best interests in mind. She strives to share the passion she has for providing dentists with the support they need to be successful.

“I believe my drive to succeed at whatever I do and my passion for people is what has advanced me to this point in my career,” she said. “I also believe my relationships both within DenMat and the dental industry have shepherded me along the way. I’m thankful for management’s support and the talented team at DenMat.  I believe we can do much more when we all work together to accomplish goals.”

As a female professional, Brown feels that her self-confidence has contributed to her success and she advises other professional women to maintain confidence throughout their journey, no matter how difficult the outcome looks. Having that confidence allows one to take chances and try something new, and those opportunities are what eventually lead to success.

“Self-confidence is so important, yet many people struggle with this,” she said. “It is paramount for people to have confidence in themselves, their workplace abilities and life in general. People are only confident when they are true to who they are. New experiences build confidence and prepare people for dealing with the unexpected.”

	Carrie Cliffel (District Sales Manager, Komet USA)

As the main face that doctors and offices see representing Komet USA, Carrie Cliffel has a huge responsibility as the company’s district sales manager. It is her job to represent the company as well as the products they sell.

“The products I sell are a necessity for dentists to perform their job,” Cliffel said. “I believe that I sell the best rotary instruments on the market because we carefully manufacturer and inspect every detail in order to make a superior product. What this means to doctors is less time in the chair, saving cost and making their job easier. In order to do any dentistry, you need rotary instruments, and that’s what I sell day in and day out.”

Cliffel excels in a multitude of aspects when it comes to her job, but her favorite part is forming, nurturing and maintaining the relationships she’s built with the doctors and their staff. Over the years she’s formed life-long friendships with professionals in the industry and those relationships have been as useful to her as they are meaningful.  

“I love when I get a phone call or an email from offices that I have helped that show their gratitude because I was able to make them feel comfortable,” she said. “I also enjoy getting to know people and their story. It forms the relationship needed to gain their trust with me and my company.”

Though her job does come with many joys and benefits, it’s not without it’s challenges. Cliffel strives to distinguish herself and Komet among the numerous other companies selling similar products. In her competitive field she’s proud to have overcome obstacles and persevered. She set her focus on creating a need, and then maintaining that need in order to create loyalty in today’s media driven, digital world. She picked up her sense of drive and perseverance from her parents, who adopted her as a child and have always been her unending source of love and support. “Had it been any other way, I know I would not be here doing what I am doing today,” she said. “I am extremely fortunate that I had the parents who taught me respect, hard work, dedication, passion, strength, and love to become the woman I am today. I am forever thankful.”

Her best advice to anyone looking to follow in her footsteps? Be strong and confident. The dental community is constantly changing but it remains a male dominated industry, which can be intimidating for young women. She uses the tools she’s been given to ensure her success through remaining flexible while also learning something new from each experience.

“Females are becoming more involved in dentistry than before, which is such a great sign,” she said. “My job is a hard, hit the pavement, type job. So I would tell her to have fun, embrace the challenges, form the relationships, and use your knowledge to sell the product.”

As the president and CEO of Midmark Corporation for the last 14 years as well as a physician by training, Anne Klamar loves that her position gives her the opportunity to work with great people. She also enjoys the fact that she’s in a leadership role where she can encourage people to be better dental professionals than they ever thought they could be.

For Klamar, working in healthcare and the different healthcare markets has been a learning experience that she embraces with both enthusiasm and curiosity.
	“I think the most challenging part of my job is finding areas where we can continue to grow,” she said. “We’re just always looking for opportunities to grow and to better understand the market as well as the needs of our customers.”

While she admits that some of the opportunities she’s gotten on her way to a successful career have been through luck, she said most of those chances she’s made reality through hard work and dedication. She attributes the bulk of her success to her passion for working in healthcare as well of her love for working with people.

“My dad taught me to work hard and always to be ethical and honest, and I think that’s a good foundation to start from,” she said.

Throughout her life, Klamar has had a series of mentors that she has learned from, and she’s grateful for each experience they’ve shared with her and each lesson she’s learned along the way. Through their teaching she learned to stay true to herself, while also learning who she is and who she wanted to be.

Today she looks up to her board of directors most as a model for the professional woman she wants to be.

“I have an incredible board of directors,” she said. “It’s eight other people who are incredibly smart and successful and who hold me accountable and I really look up to all of my directors because I have such tremendous respect for them.”

Networking with other professional women is a key element in finding success according to Klamar. It allows you to get to know other people in your field and to learn from their experiences as well as those you have to share.

“I think it’s really important, especially in the dental industry for women to mentor other women,” she said. “I’ve found that the women in the industry that have been role models to me have been tremendously helpful and I’m very grateful to them.”
	For any woman looking to follow in her footsteps, Klamar advises her to trust her gut first and foremost, as well as to be true to her values. She believes that every woman should maximize on the strengths that women naturally bring to business as well as to bring her best to every position and relationship that has the potential to make her better and push her.

“Be who you’re meant to be, don’t try to be somebody else, don’t try to be a guy,” she advised. “Be who you are and be the best at it.”

	Jeanne Hurlbut, RDH (ORMCO/Kavo Kerr Group)

Jeanne Hurlbut is the manager of New Owner Support for Ormco’s Lythos digital scanner: Product Launch. In her position she has set up and trained beta sites for FDA clearance, developed the Train-the-Trainer course, and helped hire and train full-time employees as well as contractors, and trained the company’s international teams. Currently, her day-to-day tasks include in-office trainings for initial offices and the company’s top doctors along with re-training offices and providing them with remote support for consistent and constant scan feedback and customer service.
	“The best part of my job is working for an amazing company, Danaher,” Hurlbut said. “The talented people they hire and employ are all on the top of their game, sharing the same passion for life my parents instilled in myself: strive to be the best in all that you do, do it right the first time (because) it takes less time to do it right then to redo, treat others in the same manner and respect you would like to be treated. Pay it forward.”

In her position travel is constant, which to Hurlbut can sometimes present a challenge. For example, travel plans can so easily go awry, leaving both Hurlbut and those waiting at her final destination scrambling for a solution. Flights get delayed, weather happens and it can create some frustration and hardship on all involved. However, she knows the end result, her ability to finally pass on the usable knowledge to doctors, is worth the wait every time.

Hurlbut is most grateful for the support of her loving family as they’ve played a huge part in her journey to success. She acknowledges that some facets of her career have been a struggle, but by leaning on each other for support she and her family have come through each challenge with new knowledge and a strengthened love for one another.

“We leaned, learned and loved each other in the good and bad times, proving to each of us if you put your heart and soul into something you believe in and love, it can and is possible,” she said. “They all bring out the best in me. No one gets to where they are alone. We all need the love and support of others. Surround yourself with these people and toss the others aside as chaff.”

Besides her family, Hurlbut attributes her success to her dedication and unending vigor. She does not settle for mediocre. She knows it takes hard work to be great, yet she refuses to be anything less. She knows if she keeps her eye on the end goal she has what it takes to get there, no matter the hurdles she has to get over.

“I have always strived to be a lifelong learner of the profession of dentistry and be exceptional at what I do,” she said. “There is not a person in the world that doesn’t have hardships. It’s what you make of your hardship that gets you where you’re going.”

Over 25 years ago, the Hayes family started Hayes Handpiece Company based on the idea that dental offices needed local, personal service for handpiece repairs. Today, Jo Hayes manages the administration of the corporate headquarters for Hayes, and trains and assists the franchise locations with the adminstration of their businesses­­-everything from billing and shipping to human resources and personnel management.

Hayes Handpiece offers ongoing education and staff training for the proper care and maintenance of handpieces, instruments, the operatory, sterilizers and other small equipment. The company works to help doctors make informed decisions about purchasing new handpieces while having created a convenient, state-of-the-art website that allows customers easier access to products.

“The best parts of my job have always been working with family, finding new ways to grow the business, and making sure Hayes remains an important asset to the dental office,” she said. “It’s challenging but fun to figure out how our company can continue to provide top-notch service to our customers, the type of service that makes them want to choose us rather than the competition.”

As a woman in business, Jo has always drawn inspiration from her mother while watching her work hard day to day. This was during a time when everyone was expected to participate in the jobs inside and out of the home in order to make it financially, and her mother’s work ethic made a huge impression on Jo, one that has stuck with her throughout her journey to success.

To her, knowing the significance of a united family, working together as a team to deal with the big issues and the stresses is very important, and thus Hayes Handpiece started as a family business and has continued successfully as one.

“We are where we are today due to the dedication and hard work of all of us as a family,” she said. “John and myself, our children, David, Jeanne, Diane and Joe, worked very long, and many times very stressful, hours. Our daughters-in-law, Kristy and Donna, along with our nephew Casey, my sister Mary and all of our grandchildren have been part of our success. We’ve also had many loyal employees and dedicated Hayes franchise owners across the country who have all helped us to achieve our goals and grow the business every year for the past 25 years.”

Jo attributes much of her personal success to her willingness to take a chance on an idea along with her strong work ethic and her ability to problem solve. The most important advice she’s gotten in her career came from a former boss, who told her that no one is irreplaceable. This advice was especially meaningful to her because it served as a reminder to work to the best of her ability, appreciate the job you have and never take a job for granted.

Working with a non-profit organization is hardly ever a walk in the park, but for Therese Long its rewards far outweigh its trials. Long works as the executive director for the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP,) a non-profit with a vision of safe dental care for people everywhere. OSAP’s mission, according to Long, is to be the world’s leading advocate for the safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. Long is proud to work with a group of dedicated and committed people who represent every facet of oral healthcare from clinicians to lab workers to educators and beyond.  

“OSAP has a strong leadership team and it is so energizing to work with them and with other organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, International College of Dentists and others on strategies to advance the organization’s goals, amplify the mission and contribute to the health and safety of patients and the oral healthcare community,” she said.

Long’s role in the organization is to help keep the team focused on OSAP’s mission and goals through the delivery of superior education designed to raise the bar on performance with authoritative infection control standards. Her professional philosophy includes what she calls the four P’s: purpose, people, passion and prevention. Through these driving factors she finds inspiration, motivation, and the source of her seemingly unending ambition.

“I deeply believe and support the purpose of OSAP, I am inspired by the people who are involved in the organization. The passion of the OSAP community to protect their patients is unparalleled and the purpose, people and passion creates an amazing capacity to help prevent the pain, trauma and heartbreak of disease,” Long said. “This is what drives me.”

Throughout her life, Long has always envisioned the next hurdle or goal she wanted to achieve, and then she would focus her energy on making it happen. She is a strong believer in hard work and “sweat equity.” There are a lot of innovations to be had in the dental community, especially in the non-profit realm, but none of those innovations will replace passion and a strong willed work ethic.

“It’s energizing and sometimes overwhelming to do whatever one can to marshal the resources required to accomplish one’s goals,” she advised. “Surround yourself with good people. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned from a long list of fantastic colleagues, friends and family members. Life matters. Don’t squander it by frittering it away on things that don’t matter to you.”

	Barbara Nordquist (VP of Academic & Professional Relations for Kavo Kerr Group)

Barbara Nordquist is the Vice President for Academic and Professional Relations for KavoKerr Group, the dental business unit for Danaher Corporation and the largest manufacturer of dental products in the world. She is responsible for the business and professional relationships with all 65 dental schools in the United States for the 19 operating companies of KavoKerr.

“By partnering with dental schools, our mission is to align sales, marketing, communication and technical support to help establish, nurture and expand our relationships with dental schools,” Nordquist said.  “As such we not only help schools fulfill their product needs efficiently and cost effectively, but we also develop unique solutions to support their individual approaches to the education of their students, their delivery of better patient care, and their support of their faculty and health care associates.”

In her career spanning more than 28 years, Nordquist has worked closely with dental schools, their deans, faculty and students as well as having been involved with and participated in many of the significant changes that have occurred in how dental education is delivered. She’s proud to have had a hand in those changes and to have touched the lives of so many budding dental professionals and their mentors.

“I love working with very smart individuals to advance new ideas and education approaches, to develop new products, and to better address relationship issues, all while working on widely differing projects,” she said. “I believe that I am very good at inspiring and motivating teams, and building and supporting relationships, at both the corporate and institution levels.”

Her position is one filled with complex processes and obligations, many of which are routine when heading a large corporation, and others are more specific to a business that caters so strongly to institutions of education. Nordquist attributes her accomplishments in her career and her life to her desire to be successful as well as her intense drive and leadership instincts. She began her journey chair-side as a registered dental nurse in England, but soon found that sales was a better fit for her personality as well as her future goals.

“I was always highly motivated and wanted to achieve more,” she recalled. “When I was given the opportunity and the encouragement to have higher expectations and achieve more, I succeeded.”

If she’s learned one important thing on her journey to success, it’s that people are the most important factor when it comes to success in both business and life. Not the technology or products she innovates and sells, but the people she comes in contact with every day who inspire her and constantly teach her new things.

Nordquist has made many friends and nurtured many relationships in her career, and she strives to learn something new from each person and to get to know what is most important to them whether it be at home or at work.

“Everyone has their own story and they are all important,” she said. “I love being able to share their stories and delight in my relationships.”