PACIFIC DENTAL SERVICES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- REGIONAL PARTNER
- PDS in 2010 As an Operations Manager
- Regional Partner - Orange County ( California )
Alex Creelman joined PDS in 2010 as an operations manager and was instrumental to the growth of multiple practices. She later assumed the roles of regional manager and regional director. She was a three-time Office of the Year award winner, two-time De Novo of the Year award winner, and Regional Manager of the Year in 2017. Alex received her Bachelor of Science degrees in physiology and chemistry from the University of Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Idaho Utah Reno ( Nevada )
Alicia Lowry joined PDS in 2012 and is the regional partner for the Idaho/Utah/Reno [Nevada] regions. She started with PDS as an operations manager in the Northern California region and was promoted to regional manager and then regional director. She was an XP award winner in 2021 and an XP Platinum award winner in 2017 and 2019. Prior to joining PDS, Alicia held many positions at Blockbuster from store manager to district training multi-unit store manager to district manager.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Strategic Market Development and Support
As Senior Vice President of Strategic Market Development and Support, Brady Aase drives critical initiatives that directly support PDS' growth objectives. Brady began his career with PDS in 1996 as the Controller for the inaugural Finance department. Over time, he took on greater leadership roles as Vice President and then CFO while establishing financial systems, structures, and teams integral to PDS' long term goals. Brady holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting and Finance from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - South Las Vegas ( Nevada )
- Regional Partner of the South Las Vegas
Cathie Wild-Pappas currently serves as the regional partner of the South Las Vegas region, where she plays a crucial role in driving its success. She has held various operational roles at PDS, including operations manager and regional manager, and is a two-time Regional Manager of the Year award nominee and a two-time Pinnacle Club winner. Cathie has a long history of leadership roles that include boutique director with Bare Minerals and a district sales manager with Steve Madden. Since joining PDS in 2011, she has been instrumental in delivering outstanding results within her region.
Job Titles:
- Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer and General Counsel
Dan Burke joined PDS in 2011. Prior to joining PDS, Dan held senior management positions at leading global retail, manufacturing and consumer products companies, including oversight of administration, strategy, legal, and human resources, as well as sales and new market-entry leadership positions. His current responsibilities at PDS include oversight of Enterprise Strategy, and Strategic Payor Relationships. Dan also serves as the General Counsel, overseeing the Legal, Legislative Affairs, and Compliance functions for PDS. Dan received his Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Dan has been recognized as one of the "Top 10 Innovative In-House Lawyers" in the state of California by The Daily Journal and "General Counsel of the Year" by the Orange County Business Journal. He has also received the Seven Seals Award from the U.S. Department of Defense for his leadership and support of those serving in America's National Guard and Reserve. In addition, Dan serves on the CDC-NACDD Medical-Dental Integration Steering Committee. Also, Dan moderates a multi-part webinar series on The Mouth-Body Connection® sponsored by Colgate Palmolive.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - North Los Angeles ( California )
Daniel Rodriguez joined PDS in 2011 and has since played a pivotal role in driving the results of the North Los Angeles region. Starting at the company as a regional manager, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and later advanced to become regional director. Under Dan's guidance, his teams achieved record-breaking annual gross revenue for the region. Dan received his bachelor's degree in business from San Diego State University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - South Florida
Daris Hondoy joined PDS in 2016 and is the regional partner for the South Florida region. He joined PDS as an operations manager in Miami followed by regional manager and regional director. Daris was an XP award winner in 2019 and a Pinnacle Club award winner in 2020. Prior to joining PDS, Daris worked for Target as an executive team leader of logistics. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Florida International University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
- Senior Vice President
- Chief Information and Digital Officer and Senior Vice President, Technology
As Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), David Baker leads Pacific Dental Services' Information Technology team in digitally empowering patients and further enabling clinicians through innovative technology solutions. Since joining PDS in October of 2016, David has focused on stabilizing the company's core IT services to ensure operational excellence, providing seamless scalability as the company grows, and implementing continuous innovation to ensure that PDS stays ahead of the technology curve. David was named 2017's "Innovator of the Year" by Orange County Business Journal and one of Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders in 2016. David is a proven international business and technology strategist with expertise in developing and leading world-class teams in building stable and scalable digital infrastructures. David has worked across multiple industries, including finance, telecom, eRetail, transportation, and health care and his experience ranges from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - North Inland Empire ( California )
Erin Ortega joined PDS in 2013. Prior to her role as regional partner overseeing the North Inland Empire region, she served the organization as a regional manager in multiple Southern California markets. She was also a member of the team that won back-to-back Region of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021. Before joining PDS, Erin served in various leadership roles at Enterprise Holdings. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications at Hofstra University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Tennessee
Jack Knudsen joined PDS in 2010 and is directly responsible for driving results in the Tennessee region. Prior to becoming a regional partner, he served as a regional manager and regional director in other markets. Before joining PDS, he held leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson and served as an officer in the U.S. Army. Jack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Portland.
Job Titles:
- TERRITORY PARTNER
- Territory Partner - Central Florida and South Florida Georgia Maryland Massachusetts North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia
Jacob Kramer joined PDS in 2015. Prior to being a territory partner, Jacob was a regional partner for South Florida, and regional manager in PDS' Arizona market. Over the course of his career, he has served in multiple leadership positions for retailers such as Verizon Wireless and Blockbuster Media, where he pursued operational excellence and managed several market expansions.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Massachusetts
Jerilyn Riley joined PDS in 2011 and is the regional partner for the Massachusetts region. She started with PDS as an operations manager in the Northern California region. She has held many positions during her time at PDS including regional support manager and revenue collections specialist. She moved to Massachusetts in 2019 as the regional manager for the region. She was a Diamond award winner in 2022. Prior to joining PDS, Jerilyn was the community education coordinator for Doctors Medical Center and the director of marketing, sales and admissions for Vintage Faire Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President, People
Joanna Rodgers joined Pacific Dental Services in 1995 and has served the organization in all levels of management including Director, VP of Operations and Regional Partner for the Southwest Region which won Region of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2015. Joanna has also received the PDS Career Champion Award in 2014. As the Sr. Vice President of People at National Support, Joanna is a key player in defining and harnessing the culture of PDS in a way that reflects the vision of the company and the skills of the people involved. The following departments are under her direction: People & Learning departments (OTD, People Services, Recruiting, Comp & Benefits, HRIS Systems) as well as Communications & Public Relations, Marketing, We Serve, Events, and the Pacific Dental Services Foundation.
Job Titles:
- TERRITORY PARTNER
- Senior Vice President, Clinical Technology Enablement
- Territory Partner - Eastern Arizona, North West Arizona and Southern Arizona Kentucky Ohio
Joe Feldsien joined PDS in 2004. His contributions encompass a wide range of areas, including clinical excellence, leadership development, partnerships, communications, and recruiting. Prior to joining PDS, he worked at 3M for 11 years in sales and marketing. Joe attended Northwestern College and holds bachelor's degrees in mathematics and biblical studies.
Joe joined PDS in 2004 and is directly responsible for serving the needs of the clinical professionals in the areas of clinical excellence, development, partnerships, communications, and recruiting. He also is responsible for supporting the PDS brand within the industry. Prior to joining PDS, Joe worked 11 years at 3M Corp in both Sales and Marketing capacities. Joe attended Northwestern College and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mathematics and Biblical Studies.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Virginia and Maryland
Joe Taylor joined PDS in 2013 and is responsible for the results in Virginia and Maryland. He has had various roles within the organization, including operations manager, regional manager, and regional director. Before joining PDS, Joe worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car where he was recognized for high profitability and customer service scores. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento where he studied business administration, accounting and finance.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Senior Vice President, Operations
Jon Thorne has been with Pacific Dental Services since its inception and he has served the organization in various leadership roles throughout Operations. Prior to his current role of Senior VP of Operations Support, Jon held the positions of Director of Operations and Vice President of Operations. His current responsibilities include supporting the regional partners for the operational results in their respective regions. He also oversees National Support departments including Patient Relations, De Novo and New Markets, Real Estate, Construction, and Purchasing. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Louisiana
Jonathan Snyder joined PDS in 2014 and has served in multiple capacities including operations manager, regional manager and, most recently, as regional director of the company's Louisiana market. Jonathan has been recognized as a Platinum XP Award winner and one of the offices under his direct support recently won Most Improved Office of the Year. Prior to PDS, he held multiple leadership roles in the retail industry with a focus on turnaround locations and training implementation. Jonathan earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston.
Job Titles:
- REGIONAL PARTNER
- Regional Partner - South Los Angeles ( California )
Kamaile Crowell joined PDS in 2014 and is responsible for the results of the South Los Angeles region. Prior to her role as regional partner, she held multiple roles including operations manager and regional manager. Kamaile received her bachelor's degree from UCLA where she was also a collegiate athlete and four-time national champion.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Midwest ( Kansas and Missouri )
Since joining PDS in 2014, Katie Dormagen has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, serving as both an operations manager and regional manager in various markets. She is directly responsible for the results of the Midwest region, which is comprised of Kansas and Missouri. Before joining PDS, Katie worked for Target in various leadership roles. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Inland Desert ( California )
Since joining PDS in 2005, Kimberly Valko has held various roles, including dental assistant, healthcare coordinator, operations manager, and regional manager. Currently serving as the regional partner of the Inland Desert region in Southern California, she takes direct responsibility for driving positive outcomes within her team. Throughout her tenure, Kimberly has consistently shown strong leadership skills and achieved outstanding results. Her contributions have been recognized through multiple awards, including Office of the Year, Office of the Decade, and an Award of Distinction for exceptional performance.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Southern Arizona
Larry Hoy joined PDS in 2018 and serves as regional partner of the Southern Arizona region. Prior to his current role, he served as regional manager and regional director in various markets in Arizona. Before joining the organization, Larry held leadership positions at Verizon Wireless. Larry received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University.
Job Titles:
- REGIONAL PARTNER
- Regional Partner - South Inland Empire ( California )
Lionel Clayton joined PDS in 2016 and is responsible for the results of the South Inland Empire region. Prior to his role as regional partner, he held several operational and leadership roles including specialty regional manager, regional manager and regional director. Before joining PDS, Lionel held leadership positions at Enterprise Holdings and Target and received his bachelor's degree in business management from San Diego State University.
Job Titles:
- PDS in 2015 As an Operations Manager
- Regional Partner - Washington and Oregon
Luis Gomez joined PDS in 2015 as an operations manager and has held numerous roles since including operations manager 2, regional manager, and most recently as regional director for the Greater Sacramento region. He was nominated for an XP award in 2019, 2021 and 2023 and won an XP Platinum award in 2019. Prior to PDS, Luis worked at Access Dental as an operations manager. He graduated from Sacramento State with a B.A. in communication studies.
Maha Said-Shariff joined PDS in 2011. While holding previous roles in the organization, Maha developed a management style that empowers fellow team members to enhance organizational performance and results. Maha earned her bachelor's degree, master's in public health and other advanced degrees from Loma Linda University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Ohio and Kentucky
Mark Dean joined PDS in 2003 and is responsible for the results of the Ohio/Kentucky region. Having held significant leadership positions, he recently held the position of vice president, responsible for overseeing operational activities, expansion into new markets, and the establishment of new offices. Additionally, he excelled as the regional director of the North Los Angeles market, where he spearheaded growth from one office to more than 20, generating a remarkable $48 million in revenue in 2011. Mark graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with bachelor's degrees in mathematics and economics.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Eastern Arizona
Since joining PDS in 2015, Mary Rossi has consistently taken on roles of increasing responsibility, progressing from regional manager to regional director, and currently serving as the regional partner of the Eastern Arizona region. Throughout her tenure, she has led and inspired teams to achieve remarkable year-over-year results by implementing operational excellence strategies. Before joining PDS, Mary held leadership positions at Knowledge Universe and Learning Care Group. Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Arizona State University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Bay Area and Central Valley ( California )
Since joining PDS in 2013, Matthew Ornelas has taken on various roles including operations manager, regional manager, and regional director in Northern California. He achieved recognition as a top-performing operations manager in both 2015 and 2016. In 2019, he was nominated for the Regional Manager of the Year award, and one of the offices under his direct support won Most Improved Office of the Year. Prior to his time at PDS, Matthew worked as a practice manager at Banfield Pet Hospital. He holds a degree from California State University Stanislaus and obtained his law degree from Humphrey's School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Gulf Coast ( Texas )
- Regional Partner of the Gulf Coast
Having joined PDS in 2010, Michael Hurley currently serves as the regional partner of the Gulf Coast region, leading and overseeing its operations. Prior to PDS, he worked as vice president of business development at U.S. Oncology, one of the largest community-based oncology networks in the United States. Michael studied finance at Texas A&M University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - North Carolina and South Carolina
- Team Member
Since joining PDS in 2007, Michael Roelandts has been a dedicated team member, assuming various roles such as operations manager, regional manager, and regional director. In his current role as the regional partner of the company's Carolinas region, he assumes direct responsibility for driving positive outcomes in North and South Carolina. Prior to his tenure at PDS, Michael developed his management style and achieved success as an operations manager at a prominent catering company. Michael attended Arizona State University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - San Diego ( California )
Mike Butler joined PDS in 1997 and has served the organization in many capacities including operations manager, regional manager and regional director prior to becoming regional partner. He is directly responsible for the results in the company's San Diego, Calif. region. Mike is honored to have served his country as a United States Marine.
Job Titles:
- TERRITORY PARTNER
- Territory Partner - Bay Area, Central Valley and Greater Sacramento ( California ) Idaho Oregon Reno ( Nevada ) Utah Washington / Regional Partner - Greater Sacramento ( California )
Nicholas D'Amico joined PDS in 2014. Prior to his roles as territory and regional partner, he served the organization in several operational and leadership roles including regional manager and regional director in the Georgia market. Before joining PDS, Nicholas spent 15 years leading store operations and talent management efforts in a variety of diverse markets for Target. Nicholas received his Bachelor of Science degree from Kaplan University.
Job Titles:
- TERRITORY PARTNER
- Territory Partner - Gulf Coast, North and South Dallas / Fort Worth ( Texas ) Louisiana / Regional Partner - North and South Dallas / Fort Worth ( Texas )
Nicole Brown has been with PDS since 2006. She initially joined as a healthcare coordinator, then advanced to positions including operations manager, regional manager, regional director, and regional partner. Nicole was honored in 2019 with both the Regional Director of the Year and Award of Distinction for her contributions to the company.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Georgia
Olu Majekobaje joined PDS in 2019 and is the regional partner for the Georgia region. Olu moved from Oregon to join PDS as a specialty regional manager for the South Florida region, and later became the regional manager. He was a Pinnacle Club award winner in 2022. Prior to joining PDS, Olu was a performance consultant and emergency manager for Oregon Health and Sciences University. He received his bachelor's degree in business and psychology from the University of Pittsburg.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Central Florida
- Regional Partner of the Central Florida
Having joined PDS in 2012, Ryan Stowasser currently serves as the regional partner of the Central Florida region, driving its growth and success. He has held numerous operational and leadership positions in different markets, including serving as a regional manager in the Central Florida region. Before joining PDS, Ryan garnered valuable experience in leadership roles within retail industry, including Best Buy and Microcenter.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman
- Strategic Consultant
Scott Beck has served as a strategic consultant to PDS® Founder, President and CEO Steve Thorne since 2005. In 2012, Scott increased his advisory role, joining the PDS team as Vice Chairman in 2012. With over 35 years of experience in serving and founding high-profile retail and technology companies, Scott assists in developing multi-unit expertise across PDS. In 1988, Scott served as Vice Chairman and COO of Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. Worldwide. In 1992, he was Chairman and CEO of Boston Chicken, Inc., and later was Chairman of Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp. In addition, Scott is an investor and board member of Ancestry.com, ServiceMagic.com and other tech companies. Scott is currently the Chairman of the Board for Family Life Ministries. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.
Job Titles:
- REGIONAL PARTNER
- Regional Partner - Minnesota
Shyanne Boike joined PDS in 2014 and is responsible for the results of the Minnesota region. She believes the growth and development of her team is the highest calling of leadership. Prior to her role as regional partner, she served the organization in several operational and leadership roles including operational manager and regional manager in the Minnesota market. Before joining PDS, Shyanne held executive positions at Target and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Northern Colorado
Since joining PDS in 2014, Stephanie Ross has held various leadership positions including regional manager and regional director in the California and Colorado markets. Currently serving as the regional partner, she holds direct responsibility for driving positive outcomes in the Northern Colorado region. Stephanie brings valuable leadership experience from her previous roles at Starbucks and within the hotel industry. She earned a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Pennsylvania State University.
Job Titles:
- Territory Partner - Central Colorado, Southern Colorado and Northern Colorado Midwest ( Kansas and Missouri ) Minnesota New Mexico / Regional Partner - New Mexico and Southern Colorado
Since joining PDS in 2013. With a strong background in operations management and regional leadership, she has consistently led and inspired teams to achieve remarkable results through her clear vision and commitment to excellence. Prior to joining PDS, Stephanie held leadership positions in the retail industry and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- PDS Founder, President, and CEO
Stephen Thorne, BA, MHA, founded Pacific Dental Services® in 1994 when he entered into his first dental practice management contract in Costa Mesa, California. Steve received his BA from UCLA and his Master's in Health Administration from Chapman University. His approach is encapsulated in the Company Belief Statements.
Taylor Hawes joined Pacific Dental Services in 2019. With a leadership approach focused on collaboration and accountability, Taylor oversees all aspects of the organization's finances. With more than 30 years of experience in the manufacturing and software industries, Taylor played a key role in strategic plan development for the Microsoft Corporation where he designed and delivered business intelligence and reporting systems and also led planning, budgeting and forecasting. As CFO of Finance Systems and Operations as well as Intellectual Property during his tenure at Microsoft, he consulted on deal structures and developed pricing and valuation models for more than $2 billion in deals with major technology companies.
Taylor received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California and is a lifetime member of Financial Executives International, serving as chair in 2014. He is also a member of the International Accounting Standards Board Advisory Council and an Advisory Board member to USC's Leventhal School of Accounting.
Job Titles:
- Regional Partner - Central Colorado
- Regional Partner for the Central Colorado Region at PDS
Todd Pachello currently serves as the regional partner for the Central Colorado region at PDS, where he plays a key role in ensuring optimal operational performance within his teams. A member of the organization since 2011, Todd initially joined as an operations manager and subsequently advanced to positions of increasing responsibility, including regional manager and regional director. His notable achievements include receiving accolades such as the Most Improved Office in both 2012 and 2017, as well as Office of the Year in 2018. Todd holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.
Job Titles:
- PDS in 2009 As an Operations Manager
- Regional Partner - North West Arizona
Vicky Dyck joined PDS in 2009 as an operations manager and now serves as regional partner of the North West Arizona region. Over the past 13 years, Vicky has supported regions in both Arizona and Nevada as regional manager and regional director and has been recognized with multiple organizational awards, including the Diamond and Pinnacle awards. Prior to joining PDS, she was the vice president of operations for a greeting card and gift company. Vicky studied business at the University of Arizona.