Discus Dental - Continuing Education

Guest Lecturers

Andrea Clasen

Andrea has been involved in dentistry since 1967 where she started as a dental assistant. After 14 years, she became associated with the Pride Institute where she began her consulting career. Andrea started her own consulting practice in 1985 and she holds a part-time faculty position at the University of Southern California.

Lee Culp, CDT

Lee Culp is the owner of Mosaic Studios Inc., and the Institute of Dental Art and Architecture, and the former Director of Technology and a ceramic specialist in Research and Development at Ivoclar North America. He maintains an active teaching schedule at the Institute and many other post-graduate teaching centers in reconstructive and esthetic dentistry. Lee is on the editorial board of Signature, Signature International, and Practical Periodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry. He is a leading resource for many of the materials and techniques used in dentistry today. His writing, photography and teaching style have brought him international recognition, as one of today’s most exciting lecturers and innovative artisans in the specialty of dental ceramics and esthetics.

Michael Ditolla, DDS, FAGD

Mike DiTolla, graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. He is a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, and has been a featured speaker at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s annual scientific session. He is also the author of numerous articles for several dental journals including Dental Economics, Dental Products Report and Dentistry Today. Dr. Ditolla has spoken in over 50 cities since 1994, and as one of the nation’s strongest defenders of fee for service dentistry, has shown dentists how to build and maintain the practice of their dreams.

Jeff Gray, DDS, Planned Marketing

Jeff Gray is a 1986 alumnus of the University of San Francisco School of Dentistry. His children, Jamie and Kyle, along with his wife, Mary, are the true joys of his life. He also enjoys baseball, reading, racing motorcross, and the elusive pursuit of becoming a master dentist. For the past several years, he has been the lead presenter for Walter Hailey’s Dental Boot Kamp. He enjoys marketing, publicizing, and learning everything he can about making a practice grow as a business. With the help of Boot Kamp, and the mentorship of many, his practice has grown by $500,000 in the last 24 months. The beauty of it all is that dentistry has been the enriching, refreshing career he had hoped it would be.

Vicky McManus, RDH of Fortune Practice Management®

Since 1979, Vicki has been a part of the solution for the challenging facing dentistry and dental hygiene. After becoming a hygienist, Ms. McManus continued her education in business administration, marketing and communications. A practicing clinical hygienist from 1982-1995, she now empowers others to create success strategies in both their personal and professional lives. Vicki is Director of Fortune Practice Management- Connecticut, she coaches healthcare teams to decrease teams stress and increase profitability. She holds membership in the Institute of Management Consultants, National Speakers Association, Candidate Member - Institute of Certified Financial Planners, and the American Dental Hygienists Association. She is actively involved in speaker and presenting throughout the United States and Canada.

Linda O’Grady, RDA of Advanced Hygiene Concepts

Linda owned her own practice management consulting business from 1986 to 1996. Her background in dentistry includes: dental office manager, registered dental assistant, lecturer and writer. She brings our clients a wealth of experience and knowledge. Her keen abilities to analyze practice needs allow her to train and target specific areas to produce results and build enthusiasm within the team!

Alan and Sandy Richardson, Fortune Practice Management®

Alan Richardson - As a peak performance coach, Alan brings to the business of dentistry a refreshing, stimulating perspective based on more than 30 years experience in heavy industry and business management. As a Chairman and CEO of public companies and having lived and worked in many parts of the world, his insightful knowledge and experience adds a dimension unique to the field of dentistry ... a leader of large teams worldwide. Born in England and educated at King’s College, University of London and the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, his broad international experience adds vitality and energy to everything he does. Alan is Executive Director of Fortune Practice Management(r), a nationwide healthcare consulting company, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Fortune Practice Management in the northwest United States. His goal as a coach is to be a catalyst that moves people to action and achievement of their goals. Contributing editor and author in a new dental book: “FUNdamentals of Outstanding Dental Teams.”

Sandy Richardson - Sandy brings to her profession, a joy and loving presence that affects all whom she meets. Her lecturing, coaching and seminar leadership create within her participants, a desire to be better at everything they do. Specializing in enriching the human spirit, she has proven to be an example of what is possible. In addition to being President of Fortune Practice Management Northwest, she is the founder and President of Future Lifetrends, Inc., a company with wide ranging services including Power of 2 - a subsidiary company dedicated to enriching relationships between the sexes, both professionally and personally. Sandy has extensive experience in banking and management, including Trust Management for a large mid-west banking corporation, marketing for the Federal Reserve Bank System and Foundation Director for Shodair Children’s Hospital, Montana. Contributing editor and author in a new dental book: “FUNdamentals of Outstanding Dental Teams.”

Matt Roberts, CDT

Matt Roberts grew up working in his father’s dental practice, which resulted in his interest in dentistry. In 1979, he opened his own dental laboratory, CMR Dental Lab. He works closely with dentists and manufacturers to create natural looking restorations. He devotes most of his time to perfecting the use of various types of ceramic restorations. He also consistently consults with numerous manufacturers. Matt is an accredited member of the AACD and is on the editorial board of Reality, PP&A, the AACD Journal, and Signature. Photographs of his work can be seen in many of the leading dental journals. Mat and his wife, Kim and son Michael, live in southeastern Idaho and enjoy flying, rafting, snow and water skiing, and fly fishing.

Valerie Williams, RDH of Advanced Hygiene Concepts

Valerie has been in dentistry since 1974 as front office, dental assistant, dental hygienist since 1979 and consultant, lecturer and writer since 1990. Valerie’s experience and understanding of people enables her to balance the specific needs of hygienist, patient, Doctor and staff, creating a proactive environment conducive to team empowerment.