About ddsmatch - Professionals in Dental Practice Transitions

In a recent survey over 70% of dentists said that it would not be easy to sell their practice or find a partner, and a majority said it would take over a year to do so. We are the professionals who can help you find the perfect match.

About Our Company

Thad Miller, founder of ddsmatch.com, envisioned a better way for dentists to make practice transitions by pairing technology with a human touch to produce a professional and exacting match.  Our professional advisors serve their clients in their respective areas at the highest level.

ddsmatch specializes in connecting buyers and sellers by integrating tremendous relationship capabilities, using a unique process for dentists "The Trusted Transition Process,” supported by a robust website and professional advice.

We can assist with:

• Practice sales
• Practice mergers
• Dental partnership agreements
• Associate placements
• Dental office appraisals
• Dental Real Estate sales

We use the following tools:

• The Trusted Transition Process 
• An in-depth clinical practice analysis created by Dr. Charles Blair & Associates PracticeBooster®
• Fair, dependable Third Party Business Valuations and practice appraisals supported by accredited professionals.
• An interactive website that allows you to search for a practice buyer or partner for your practice.
• Kolbe testing to better assess the nuances of potential matches between dentists and their associates.

About Thad Miller, Founder and President serving Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky

Thad Miller is a dental industry leader with twenty years experience. His circles of influence span across the United States and include practicing dentists, dental schools, manufacturers, suppliers and beyond. Over the years he saw firsthand the difficulty dentists had when it came time to buy and sell a practice or find a partner for the practice. He wondered..."Could there be a better way? What if the process could be professional, streamlined and efficient? Utilizing technology, yet never losing the human touch?" These questions led him to found ddsmatch in 2009.

Miller brings to ddsmatch vast expertise in management, serving as Operations Manager for a national dental financial advisory firm. Responsible for marketing, partnerships and assisting dentists with practice transitions, he gained an intimate knowledge of the specific financial considerations dentists must take into account. Prior to that, Miller served as General Manager for Patterson Dental Indianapolis Branch, where he was responsible for $30 million in revenue, operations, budgeting and marketing the dental distribution business to more than 2,000 clients. He is Vice President and active Board Member of the Dental Lifeline Network and is on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Golf Foundation/The First Tee of Central Indiana, a Board Member of the Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Dad's Club and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Indiana University Student Foundation. He is a 1994 graduate of Indiana University.  He lives in Carmel, Indiana with his wife Paige and three sons, Jack, Parker and Charlie.

 

About Matt Conrad serving Southern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky

Matt Conrad is a 2001 graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, with a BS degree in Biology. Matt brings 13 years of dental experience to the team at ddsmatch. In his previous role, Matt was a top performer at one of the nation’s largest dental distributors selling and supporting dental technology, equipment, and supplies. With his work ethic and industry knowledge, he quickly became a valuable asset and team member within many of the dental practices in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky areas.

Through marketing and the strategic implementation of technology, he consistently helped offices achieve practice goals and ultimately grow their business. Matt’s guidance has helped many dental practices successfully navigate the process of starting, moving, expanding, and transitioning their businesses. His relationships, expertise, excellent communication and customer service skills serve our clients well. Matt represents and provides services for large parts of Ohio and Kentucky for ddsmatch.




 

About Steve Hipson serving North Texas including Dallas

Steve Hipson has committed the last 18 years working with dentists and physicians and is trained and equipped to offer a proven model as dentists consider their practice transition options. Steve brings to ddsmatch a high level of experience in critical areas for a smooth dental transition.  

Most recently he served as Vice President of a major bank originating loans to finance the purchase of private practices across Texas.  With an understanding of how to structure a practice sale, accompanied by the knowledge of how to properly finance the purchase.  Prior to that, he was General Manager for Patterson Dental in Oklahoma leading a team of professionals and serving over 1,500 dentists. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington.

Through relationships with the dental schools and partnerships with suppliers, manufacturers, attorneys, CPA’s and others, you will gain access to all of the best advisors for your practice transition.  Steve represents and provides services for North Texas including Dallas.




About Andy Edmister and Randy Kinnison serving Texas and New Mexico

Andrew Edmister and Randy Kinnison are passionate Dental Practice Transition Specialists serving most of Texas and New Mexico.  Andy's key competencies lie in the business aspect of dentistry and practice management. Combining his business know-how, with his integrity, and undeniable dedication to his clients, Andrew has been a top-performer in the Dental Industry for over 15 years with companies such as Dentsply, Henry Schein and Benco Dental.

He is a proud Board Member of “Smiles for a Lifetime,” volunteers for “Give Kids a Smile,” and Seattle Study Club and numerous other Dental organizations. He has spent over 500 hours training in Clinical and Practice Management C.E.  Additionally, he received his B.A. from Texas Tech University.

Andrew will lead you through The Trusted Transition Process to ensure a seamless transition.



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Randy Kinnison is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a General Business degree. He started his professional career in the mortgage industry as a loan officer then began an extensive entrepreneurial career from owning commercial Real Estate and small businesses to being involved in start-ups, acquisitions and transitions of multiple companies. In addition, he has been involved in the development of consumer products and managed sales to some of the nation’s largest retailers.

With Randy’s ability to build relationships and his diverse experience in the transitions of companies, along with his knowledge of real estate sales and leases, he has developed the ability to bring buyers and sellers together to their mutual satisfaction. His business expertise, work ethic and communication skills can help “successfully connect the dentist’s present with their future.”







About Ryan LaPrad serving Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle

Ryan has spent the last 14 years working with Healthcare clients throughout the Southeast and brings over 20 years of banking and finance experience.   Ryan has helped over a thousand doctors with their financing needs for all aspects of ownership from starting a first practice, buying a practice to relocating or expanding.  Throughout his 14 years with Bank of America, he was personally involved in financing over 600 new dental, medical, and veterinary offices and over $75 million in dental practice acquisitions. 

Ryan’s extensive knowledge of business financials, practice cash flow, new office budgeting, demographic analysis, and debt management brings the perfect expertise to the healthcare professionals throughout Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

Ryan is licensed to practice commercial real estate in Tennessee.  He holds a degree from The Ohio State University and currently resides in Brentwood, TN with his wife, two young sons, and new baby girl.



About John Kuriger serving Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle

John Kuriger, will represent Georgia and Tennessee.  With 24 years of dental industry experience with Patterson Dental in Georgia and Tennessee, John guided hundreds of dental clients in the building and growth of their practices.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and relationships to our business.  His customer service focus means the clients needs always come first. 

He holds a degree from Indiana University. John will be serving dental clients in the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  He resides in Dunwoody, Georgia with his wife Courtney, and two sons Grey and Cooper.






About Matt Poppert serving Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle

Matt Poppert, MBA, a dental industry veteran,will represent Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.  With 15 years of diverse dental industry experience with Midmark Dental and Karr Realty in the Southeast,   He brings a wealth of knowledge and relationships to our business.  His customer service focus means the clients needs always come first. 

He holds a degree from Upper Iowa University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. Matt will be serving dental clients in the states of Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.  He resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and daughter in the great outdoors hiking, biking and paddleboarding.






About Neal McFadden serving South Carolina and western North Carolina

Neal McFadden, representing clients in South Carolina and western North Carolina (including Charlotte).  Neal is a dental industry veteran with over 27 years of experience primarily within the Southeast.  Neal spent the last 21 years working with Patterson Dental as the Greenville, South Carolina Branch Manager, the Southeast Region President and the President of Strategic Accounts for the entire company.  He brings a wealth of knowledge to our team by working closely and understanding the needs of both solo practitioners, small groups and elite Dental Service Organizations.  Neal’s dedication to his clients, his transparency and relational approach to business is what drives his success. Neal is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of South Carolina and holds a Bachelors degree from Bob Jones University.  He resides in Simpsonville, South Carolina with his wife Isabel and his daughter Alexandra.




About Cameron Elrod serving Michigan

Cameron is a dental industry veteran with over 24 years of experience and represents the entire state of Michigan.   Cameron spent 23 years working with Patterson Dental, most recently as the Southeast Michigan General Manager. His past experience includes consulting dentists with practice management, marketing, building new dental offices, and helping dentists transition their dental practices.   Cameron speaks at several local dental events and also serves as the Treasurer of the Michigan Dental Association Foundation.

Cameron's large network in the dental industry combined with his management, consulting, and leadership experience make him uniquely qualified to help doctors ready to transition their practice as well as those looking to begin their dental career.  Cameron resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with his wife Dana. 








About Ed Ferrero serving New England

Ed has been in the dental industry for 31 years. His passion for his clients and their patients has been his driving force and reason for his success.  Ed was consistently one of the  top account representatives in the nation and later lead the Boston Branch with Patterson Dental as their General Manager. Most recently Ed was the Healthcare Specialist for TD Bank where he worked with dentists throughout New England with their lending needs.

Ed was invited to the GE Crotenville International Leadership Program, he completed the Mercer Business of Dentistry, Transitions and Leadership programs. Ed has spoken nationally to dental sales professionals and continues to coach select clients in leadership.  His experience has offered him expertise across all aspects of the dental practice.  

Ed's relationships and reputation make him uniquely qualified to facilitate successful matches to realize his client’s dreams and visions. He will be focusing on Boston and New England Markets including all of Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.




About Joe McGonigal serving Philadelphia, Delaware and southern New Jersey

Mr. Joe McGonigal has been in the dental industry for over 16 years and has worked with practices and teams across the country in a variety of roles. Joe spent more than a decade in successful sales and management roles with Patterson Dental in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Connecticut. Recently Joe has served as Vice President of Sales for RevenueWell Systems Inc, helping dentists implement digital technology to create more connected relationships with their patients and communities.

Joe also completed an Executive Coaching Program at Columbia University and has worked as a coach, consultant, and speaker helping several organizations and individuals reach higher levels of performance.

Joe’s large network in the dental industry combined with his management, consulting, and leadership experience make him uniquely qualified to help doctors ready to transition their practice as well as those looking to begin their dental career. He will be focusing on the the Greater Philadelphia area including Southern New Jersey and Delaware.  Joe lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with his wife and three children.



About Rex Plamann serving Chicago and Northern Illinois

Mr. Rex Plamann, a dental industry veteran will represent ddsmatch in Greater Chicago and the northern lllinois market.  With more than 25 years of experience, Rex brings a passion for the dental profession.  During that time, Rex has built a strong knowledge base of how a dental practice operates by studying thousands of practices and practitioners.  He is a licensed Business Broker in the state of Illinois and is ready to uncover opportunities for clients he serves in the Chicagoland area.

Rex is a 1993 Graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and lives in Elmhurst with his wife and two children.










About Sheryl Garfinkel serving Metro Washington D.C.

Mrs. Sheryl Garfinkel brings to ddsmatch more than 30 years of in-depth dental industry experience and knowledge.  Sheryl started her career as a crown and bridge lab technician.  She then moved to the dental office as a business manager where she learned firsthand the business of dentistry while continuing to advance her clinical knowledge and soon joined Patterson Dental as their software and technology trainer.  She has also worked privately with dentists in a consulting capacity focusing on profitability, efficiency and team building.  

In helping her clients navigate the transition process, she believes in guiding them with care and respect.  Given her extensive industry experience, Sheryl is well-prepared to serve as a trusted advisor in transitioning your practice.

Sheryl currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and business partner, Todd, where she enjoys hiking, yoga, landscaping and flower gardening in her leisure time.  Together Sheryl and Todd provide services in Washington D.C., and soon Maryland and Northern Virginia.




About Todd Garfinkel serving Metro Washington D.C.

Mr. Todd Garfinkel is a dental industry professional working with doctors for over 17 years.  As a top performer with one of the largest dental distributors in the country, Todd’s main objective has been to explore and understand his client’s unique needs and circumstances.  Successfully serving doctors in establishing, building, and growing their practices has been a benchmark of his own professional success.  Applying a proven, systematic process and utilizing a trusted circle of influence including CPAs, lawyers, valuation specialists and suppliers, Todd successfully guides his clients through the sometimes unfamiliar world of selling and buying practices. His primary focus is to facilitate a smooth and harmonious transition for all involved.  

Todd earned his Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Geneseo. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and business partner Sheryl.  They have two grown daughters and he enjoys boating, home improvement projects and fishing.  Todd and Sheryl provide services in Washington D.C. and soon Maryland and Northern Virginia.






About the Trusted Transition Process, click here to learn more...

Step One in The Trusted Transition Process is The Conceptual Transition Experience which will begin with a comprehensive interview so we can determine both your financial and emotional needs for the match you are seeking for you, your staff and your patients. We will work directly with you to set objectives, identify the transition options for your particular situation and implement plans to meet those objectives. You are in total control of the process.

About the Trusted Valuation Analysis (dental practice appraisal)

The ddsmatch.com appraisal process determines the fair market practice value based on factual information you provide paired with economic conditions and their relevance to your practice and the industry as a whole. Unique to the industry...at ddsmatch.com, we use only Certified Valuation Analysts by Blue & Company to provide the most comprehensive appraisal of your practice. These analysts are highly-trained Certified Public Accountants who specialize in evaluating businesses, further concentrating on medical and dental practices.

Blue & Co. has provided valuation services since the late 1970s. Their professional staff are known experts in the field,support attorneys in all areas of litigation and hold key certifications including Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA)- Business Valuation member of the American Society of Appraisers and the AICPA’s specialty designation for business valuators (ABV). 

Your report will be fair, factual and detailed, with information on the scope of work performed, how the calculations were completed, and in conclusion, the calculated value. In addition, we provide on-site inventory and valuation of your equipment, and if need be, we can arrange through our professional partnerships to have your real estate appraised as well. Our goal is to provide you with a realistic and complete Fair Market Evaluation of your practice, based on the experience and knowledge of qualified professionals.

About the Clinical Opportunity Blueprint

We believe that knowledge is power. To that end, you will be provided with a proforma forecast of your practice. Clients will also receive a seventy-page customized report detailing your practice opportunities through the use of Dr. Charles Blair’s Clinical Treatment Analyzer as part of ddsmatch's Clinical Opportunity Blueprint.

Specifically, the Clinical Treatment Analysis can reveal:

• A comprehensive 70+ page report encompassing over 50 clinical procedure tendencies of the practice's procedure mix
• Fifteen areas of potential within a hygiene department
• Twelve doctor procedure ratios
• At least sixteen monitors that reflect the dentist’s service mix intensity level

Potential matches for your practice will benefit from this practice knowledge by:

• Understanding your practice mix from the beginning
• Assessing their practice philosophy in relation to yours
• Identifying areas for potential growth
• Making a fully educated decision based on the facts of your practice

When ready, your practice will be posted on ddsmatch.com. You will have a complete understanding of your practice transition options and direction on how to proceed and stay the course.

About the Kolbe System (for Associateship Matches)

The Kolbe System uses a distinctive approach to personality testing, going beyond the cognitive (IQ) and the affective (personality) parts of the mind and on to the conative (instinctive) part of the mind. Understanding how instincts combine with intelligence and personality will help optimize the match. The Kolbe A Index is a thirty-six question assessment that measures and describes the natural way a personal takes purposeful action, known as Action Modes.

Numerical values indicate how a person uses their instincts to:

• Prevent problems
• Respond to opportunities
• Initiate solutions

Taking it a step further, Kolbe has a Rightfit system, that measures each individual within the context of your environment. This is a valuable tool when searching for a partner match-measuring how close the candidates match the ideal profile you have helped to generate. Additional Kolbe testing is available to assess staff strengths and improve performance.