Skytale Insights: Recent Episodes

Skytale Group

Skytale Insights offers business, financial, and operational strategies for leaders in the dental and aesthetic industries. If you’re a DSO, MSO, or medical spa owner with an appetite for growth, tune into each episode for key insights on opening your next location, scaling your business, or positioning yourself to sell. Each episode features experienced members of Skytale team and other dental or med spa industry experts, providing tactical and strategic guidance for growing your business and helping it thrive.

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In this episode, Annie Robertson Hockey is joined by Dr. Nicole Rakowski to discuss what it really takes to build credibility, create meaningful patient relationships, and stand out in an increasingly crowded health and wellness market. From social media and influencer partnerships to patient feedback and transparency, this conversation is packed with practical insights for healthcare leaders, marketers, and practice owners looking to build brands that last.

Connect with Dr. Nicole Rakowski:

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Connect with Skytale Group:

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What does the future of skin health look like, and what does it mean for aesthetic practices?

In this episode of Skytale Insights, Annie Robertson Hockey is joined by Kelly Pennington, Senior Vice President of Sales, Americas at HydraFacial, to explore one of the biggest shifts shaping the aesthetics industry. From preventative care and comprehensive treatment planning to full-body skin health and patient education, they discuss how leading practices are moving beyond treating individual concerns to delivering long-term skin health.

Connect with Kelly Pennington:

  • LinkedIn
  • Hydrafacial Website
  • Hydrafacial LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • LinkedIn

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She's busy, high-performing, and results-driven and most beauty brands aren't building for her.

In this episode, Annie is joined by Kurt Kober, CEO of Glo Skin Beauty, to talk about the consumer the aesthetics industry keeps overlooking, why the professional channel is the most powerful growth lever you're probably underusing, and what it really takes to build a brand she actually wants.

This one's for every practice owner, brand builder, and aesthetics professional who's ready to stop guessing and start listening.

Connect with Kurt Kober:

  • LinkedIn

Buy Glo Skin Beauty Products

  • Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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Ben Hernandez is joined by Madison Dini to explore the regulatory realities of medical aesthetics, including the FDA's role, state-specific regulations, and the compliance misconceptions operators should avoid.

Connect with Madison:

  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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Everyone said 2026 was going to be the year the healthcare M&A floodgates finally opened. Five months in, they haven't. So what's actually going on?

Ben Hernandez welcomes Camilo Horvilleur, Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital, to get a candid, ground-level read on the healthcare deal market right now.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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Eric Casaburi built Retro Fitness into a national brand. Then he walked away to solve a bigger problem.

In this episode, Annie Robertson Hockey sits down with Eric, Founder and CEO of Serotonin Centers, to talk about what the fitness industry was always missing and how he built a health optimization franchise around that gap.

Connect with Eric Casaburi:

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Learn more about Serotonin Centers:

  • Website
  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

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Running a successful med spa or aesthetic practice is not just about clinical excellence. It is about what happens behind the scenes. In this episode, Skytale President Annie Robertson Hockey and Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery at Skytale, are joined by Niklas Hess, Founder of Medvelle, to unpack the role of inventory and procurement management in building a high-performing practice.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben sits down with Manny Rodriguez, founder and CEO of AlluraMD, a rapidly scaling, multi-location medical aesthetics, wellness, and longevity platform based in South Florida. Manny shares the origin story of AlluraMD, from a single suite in a Salon Suites location to five thriving clinics, and unpacks what it really takes to build a scalable platform, not just a collection of practices.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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Private equity is paying 10-15x multiples for home health and hospice businesses in a $150 billion market driven by the "Silver Tsunami." Tedd Van Gorden, Director at Skytale Investment Banking, breaks down why investors are aggressively consolidating this space, what makes businesses valuable, and how owners can prepare for a lucrative exit.

Connect with Tedd Van Gorden:

  • Email: tedd.vangordern@skytalegroup.com
  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Annie Robertson Hockey hosts McConnell Smith, Partner at VMG, to discuss trends shaping the consumer market and how investors are identifying the next generation of high-growth brands.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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From Army dental assistant to CEO of a 75+ location platform, Ray Caruso shares what it takes to scale with discipline and purpose.

Hosted by Annie Robertson Hockey, this episode explores leadership lessons, multi-site acquisition strategy, investing in people, and why expanding access to care must guide every growth decision.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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What does it really mean to live longer and live better?

In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez sits down with Dr. Ken Winnard, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of OneLife Health & Performance, to explore the evolving world of longevity and wellness. They discuss how modern healthcare is shifting toward personalized, proactive care, what fueled the wellness boom, and why patients must take ownership of their long-term health.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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What does it take to build a wellness brand in a rapidly evolving industry?

In this episode, Josh and Katy Whalen of Joi+Blokes join Miguel Mireles to discuss why they launched the company, how patient demographics and regulations are reshaping wellness, and what it’s like running a business together as husband and wife. A candid, insightful conversation on growth, partnership, and the future of wellness.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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The medical aesthetics industry is entering a new era of growth, innovation, and specialization. In this episode of Skytale Insights, we’re joined by Erik Haines of Qsight to break down the latest findings from our latest white paper collaboration, Defining the Future of Aesthetics, including the data trends shaping performance across today’s most important categories.

From the first time in years that surgical and non-surgical spending grew together, to the continued rise of biostimulators, weight loss programs, wellness integration, and microneedling innovation, this conversation is built for practice leaders who want to understand what’s driving demand now, and where the market is headed next.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Miguel Mireles, Greg Mahoney, Ben Hernandez, and Annie Robertson Hockey sit down to unpack the dental trends that will matter most in 2026. Drawing from transaction activity, operator conversations, and platform-level data, the team explores how years of operational discipline are beginning to pay off across the market.

From cosmetic and specialty services to AI-enabled operations and shifting consumer expectations, this episode offers a grounded look at what owners, operators, and investors should be preparing for as dentistry enters its next phase.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this Skytale roundtable, Annie Robertson Hockey, Ben Hernandez, and Judy Kozlicki unpack what is actually changing in aesthetics as the industry heads into 2026. The conversation explores personalized treatment strategies, shifting patient expectations, technology adoption, retention, and continued market consolidation.

This episode goes beyond surface-level trends to examine how leading practices are evolving for long-term growth, stability, and scale.

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • LinkedIn

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Thinking about selling your business in 2026? In this solo episode, Skytale CEO Ben Hernandez breaks down today’s M&A landscape, what’s happening in healthcare and consumer markets, and the key questions every owner should ask before entering a sale process.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Annie Robertson Hockey, President at Skytale, breaks down what the most successful healthcare and consumer businesses are doing to prepare for 2026. Drawing from Skytale’s work with hundreds of clients across the country, Annie explains what strategic planning is and what it is not, why disciplined planning separates top performers from average organizations, and how leaders can build a roadmap that drives measurable results.

She walks through the five pillars of an effective strategic plan, highlights the most common mistakes organizations make, and shares practical guidance on how to set goals that are realistic, aligned, and accountable. Annie also discusses the trends that are shaping the year ahead and how these may effect 2026 initiatives for business leaders.

Whether you are scaling, stabilizing, or repositioning your business, this episode gives you a clear framework to plan with confidence in 2026.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In our final episode of the Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey is joined by Will MacInnis, Co-CEO of Cliff Ridge Specialty Partners, for a candid conversation about founding a specialty dental platform, scaling with intention, and leading through the rapidly evolving DSO landscape.

Will shares his path into dental, the vision behind Cliff Ridge, and the lessons learned from building alongside a co-founder. The discussion covers what differentiates modern specialty platforms, how to balance autonomy with support, and the traits Cliff Ridge looks for in its practice partners.

They also explore industry-wide trends, including private equity’s role in dentistry, pediatric and orthodontic growth, and where the next wave of opportunity is emerging.

Whether you're an operator, clinician, or investor, this episode offers a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a specialty platform built for long-term success.

Connect with Will:

  • LinkedIn

Learn more about Cliff Ridge Specialty Partners:

  • Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

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This week on the Skytale Insights podcast: Annie Robertson Hockey is joined by Alyssa Shaw, CEO of The Aesthetic Syndicate, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, brand evolution, and building lasting impact in the aesthetics industry.

With more than 20 years of experience in beauty and wellness, Alyssa has scaled leading brands such as Ulta Beauty, Glowbar, and [solidcore], fostering growth through strategic vision and team empowerment. As she leads The Aesthetic Syndicate into a new chapter, including an exciting rebrand soon to be revealed, Alyssa shares reflections from her early career, insights into maintaining consistency in branding, and the importance of staying closely connected to her team and business.

Listeners will hear how Alyssa’s “people-first” approach, grounded in authenticity and accessibility, has shaped her values as a leader and fueled the company’s continued success. She also reveals what she’s most proud of as The Aesthetic Syndicate continues to evolve as a trailblazer in the medical aesthetics space.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Annie Robertson Hockey sits down with Matt Hendrick, Co-Founder of Elevate Dental Partners, for a thoughtful discussion on building scalable, data-driven dental organizations.

Matt shares his career journey from private equity to co-founding Elevate and how his experience shaped his approach to operational excellence and partnership strategy. Together, Annie and Matt explore how Elevate uses data and an understanding of practice motivations to guide decision-making, the growing pains that come with scale, and what today’s dental providers truly need from their support partners.

The conversation also dives into the balance between consolidated and local marketing efforts, the strategic considerations behind adding new service lines, and the leadership mindset required to build a business that can transform an industry.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this installment of Platform Perspectives on the Skytale Insights podcast, host Annie Robertson Hockey speaks with Daniel Schacter, CEO of Cosmetic Physician Partners (CPP). Together, they explore the evolution of CPP, practical tips for preparing teams and culture for a successful transaction, and what it takes for aesthetics practices to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market. Dan also shares insights on how growth cycles vary across regions and how CPP approaches adopting new services and technologies to stay ahead.

Daniel brings a proven track record of scaling businesses. Before leading CPP, he successfully grew two companies from the ground up, most recently taking a business from $10M and 12 employees to $500M and over 400 employees as COO. Trained in accounting at Deloitte and operations and sales growth at McKinsey & Company, Dan has built a reputation for creating operationally sound businesses anchored by strong teams and resilient cultures. He holds a BComm in Accounting from McGill University and an MBA from Oxford University, where he graduated with First Class Distinction.

Connect with Daniel:

  • LinkedIn
  • Cosmetic Physician Partners Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics, Wellness, & Surgery at Skytale, is joined by Ryann Lavenia, CRNA, APRN, Founder and CEO of FIBB Aesthetics & Wellness. Together, they explore Ryann’s remarkable journey from starting in a one-room salon suite to scaling Face It Botox Bar into four thriving locations with over 25 employees.

Ryann shares her perspective on building the right service mix, the importance of advanced training, and the strategies that fueled her business growth. With over 22 years of medical experience, recognition as one of the nation’s top 500 Allergan Trainers, and a recent honor as one of AmSpa’s Distinguished Women in Medical Aesthetics, Ryann brings both expertise and inspiration to the conversation.

Connect with Ryann

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • FIBB Website
  • FIBB Instagram

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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Darcie Surinak joins host Annie Robertson Hockey for another installment of our Platform Perspectives series to unpack the playbook behind scaling high-performing aesthetics platforms. Now President & COO of AYA Medical Spa, Darcie draws on a decade-plus operating multi-site, consumer-facing healthcare businesses to share how patient experience, disciplined integration, and front-line leadership accelerate growth without sacrificing clinical quality. At AYA, a 25-year pioneer in medical aesthetics with expanding footprints in markets like Atlanta and Dallas, she’s leading the next phase of brand and operational evolution.

In this episode, Darcie shares her career journey into the world of medical aesthetics, reflecting on how her background in multi-site healthcare operations shaped her leadership approach today. The conversation touches on the growing importance of consumer experience in driving success, her perspectives on where the aesthetics industry is heading, and strategies for successful integration.

Connect with Darcie

  • LinkedIn
  • AYA Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this installment of Platform Perspectives on Skytale Insights, host Annie Robertson Hockey sits down with John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, to explore what impactful leadership looks like in today’s aesthetics industry.

John shares his remarkable journey from serving as a pastor to leading one of the fastest-growing aesthetics platforms. He opens up about the evolution of his leadership style, from the early days of Alpha to today’s national presence, and the practices that keep his team and partners connected — from monthly 360-degree check-ins to Slack channels that unite injectors across the country.

Together, Annie and John discuss the balance of being both a visionary and an executor, how to scale culture without losing authenticity, and why genuine connection is the foundation of sustainable growth.

Whether you’re building a platform, leading a team, or simply looking to grow as a leader, this conversation offers valuable insights into leadership with impact.

Connect with John:

  • Alpha Website
  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, we continue our Platform Series with Sam Schloss, CEO and Co-Founder of Annie Aesthetic. Annie Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale, is joined by Sam for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build and scale a platform in today’s competitive medical aesthetics market.

Sam shares how his background in investment banking and private equity shaped his journey into aesthetics, what inspired the founding of Annie Aesthetic, and how their team stays focused on differentiation. The two also dive into leadership lessons, M&A strategy, and the values that define Annie Aesthetic’s approach to building a lasting legacy.

Whether you’re growing your first location or leading a national platform, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of investing, operating, and leading with intention.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In the second episode of our Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale Group, is joined by Courtney Ellenbogen, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Aesthetic Partners. Together, they explore the business strategies and leadership philosophies shaping the next generation of aesthetics platforms.

Courtney founded Aesthetic Partners in 2018 while earning her MBA at Harvard Business School. Her career spans healthcare investment and operations, with experience at The Carlyle Group, Deutsche Bank, Johnson & Johnson, and the seed venture capital firm Victress Capital. She holds a B.S. in Economics from Duke University and brings a unique perspective to the aesthetics space, informed by years of investing in and supporting healthcare businesses.

In this episode, Courtney and Annie discuss the importance of alignment without uniformity, emerging trends in the aesthetics industry, and how platform leaders can create value without compromising what makes each practice successful.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In the first installment of our Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale Group, interviews Alyssa Rapp, CEO of Empower Aesthetics, a Shore Capital Partners portfolio company. Alyssa shares how her unique journey across entrepreneurship, private equity-backed healthcare services, and the public markets has shaped her approach to leadership and integration in the aesthetics space.

The conversation explores her time leading companies like Surgical Solutions, how she became involved in Empower, and the key factors she believes are driving the future of aesthetics. Alyssa also offers insights on what it takes to scale platforms successfully and how leaders can stay focused during periods of rapid growth.

Whether you are exploring a platform partnership or simply curious about what makes a great CEO in aesthetics, this episode offers a thoughtful look at leadership, strategy, and the business of beauty.

Connect with Alyssa

  • Alyssa Rapp's Website
  • Alyssa's Book: Leadership & Life Hacks
  • Empower Website
  • Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode, Skytale CEO Ben Hernandez sits down with Tami Vileta, founder and creative director of Pinpoint Strategic Communications, to unpack what truly makes a brand resonate in the world of aesthetics. With more than 30 years of experience and a client base spanning over 400 practices and companies, Tami shares her insights on building brand strategies that go far beyond visual identity.

Together, they explore when it’s time to rebrand, how branding shapes the patient experience, and why thoughtful brand touchpoints—from events to education—are crucial to patient retention. Tami also sheds light on how high-level branding and conversion tactics can work in tandem, offering a fresh perspective for owners, operators, and marketers alike.

Whether you’re a startup or an established practice, this episode offers an expert lens on turning branding into a strategic growth engine.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode, Skytale’s President and Head of Consulting, Annie Robertson Hockey, and Greg Mahoney, Associate Director of Management Consulting, discuss why revenue cycle management (RCM) is more than just back-office operations, and why it’s becoming a strategic priority for healthcare and dental organizations.

Together, they explore what strong RCM really looks like, where practices tend to leave money on the table, and how Skytale’s new RCM consulting services help organizations improve collections, reduce A/R, and build sustainable financial systems.

Whether you're managing billing in-house or through a vendor, this conversation offers clarity on how to approach RCM with intention, structure, and measurable impact.

Click here learn more about Skytale's Revenue Cycle Management Consulting Services.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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If you're investing in marketing but unsure whether it's actually moving the needle, you're not alone.

In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez sits down with Joshua Suchanek, Marketing Consultant at Skytale Group, to unpack one of the most common questions we hear from healthcare and aesthetics business owners: Is my marketing strategy really working for me?

With Joshua’s expertise and fresh perspective, they explore how to align marketing with business goals, which metrics truly matter, how to hold agencies accountable, and the red flags to watch out for. Plus, they dive into pressing topics like SEO, trends to expect in healthcare marketing, and how to determine whether it’s time to bring marketing in-house.

Whether you’re managing an agency relationship or evaluating your internal marketing team, this episode offers actionable insights to help you spend smarter and drive results.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this exclusive episode of Skytale Insights, we take you behind the scenes of the 2025 M&A Summit with a dynamic panel discussion on how preparing for an exit can lead to building a better business. Moderated by Bradford E. Adatto, President at ByrdAdatto, this session features expert insights from industry leaders, including:

  • Annie Robertson Hockey, President & Head of Consulting at Skytale
  • Jay D. Reyero, CFO at ByrdAdatto
  • Michael S. Byrd, CEO at ByrdAdatto
  • Tedd Van Gorden, Director, Investment Banking at Skytale

The panel explores critical strategies and practical advice for business owners on how to effectively prepare for a successful exit. Whether you're looking to maximize business value, streamline operations, or navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, this conversation provides invaluable guidance for shaping a business that's built to thrive long after the exit.

Connect with Skytale Group:

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Even the most successful leaders experience doubt—but how they manage it makes all the difference. In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Robin Pou, an executive coach, author, and speaker committed to transforming leadership by helping individuals become more confident, effective, and team-oriented. As the founder of a leadership development firm, Robin has worked with Fortune 500 executives and CEOs of high-growth organizations, guiding them to turn uncertainty into confidence.

Robin shares insights from his Leadership Doubt Index, a groundbreaking survey revealing that 97% of high-achieving leaders struggle with doubt. He introduces the Confident Leader Framework, a powerful approach to shifting focus from uncertainty to confidence, enabling leaders to make better decisions, improve performance, and build thriving businesses.

Tune in to discover how to recognize and overcome self-doubt, leverage confirmation bias to your advantage, and cultivate a leadership mindset that empowers both you and your team. Plus, hear firsthand how Robin’s coaching philosophy has impacted Ben’s leadership journey—transforming doubt into clarity and action.

Connect with Robin Pou:

  • Website: https://robinpou.com
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinpou/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robin.pou/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@robinpou_tcl
  • Sign up for The Confident Leader newsletter: https://robinpou.com/newsletter/
  • Buy Robin’s latest book, The Reluctant Disciple: https://www.thereluctantdisciple.com

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, we’re joined by J.W. Oliver, Managing Partner of SupportDDS and Zimworks.com, alongside Skytale’s Director, Management Consulting, Eric Pastan. J.W. shares his expertise on how dental practices and DSOs can leverage virtual and remote teams to increase productivity, reduce costs, and drive growth. From addressing labor shortages and rising wages to improving patient scheduling and revenue cycle management, J.W. breaks down practical solutions that can make an immediate impact. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on how to scale your practice by outsourcing key roles and optimizing operational efficiency.

Connect with J.W.

  • LinkedIn
  • SupportDDS Website

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Marketing and branding—what’s the difference, and why does it matter? In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Erica Crawford, President at Influx Marketing, to break down the essential components of a strong marketing strategy for medical practices.

With over 15 years of experience in PR and digital marketing—including 5+ years focused on medical aesthetics—Erica shares expert insights on patient acquisition, retention, and sustainable growth. Whether you’re a solo provider or scaling to multiple locations, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways to help you attract and keep the right patients.

  • The key differences between branding and marketing—and why both are crucial
  • The most effective marketing channels for medical practices and how to leverage them
  • Strategies for retaining patients and maximizing lifetime value
  • How to future-proof your marketing strategy in a rapidly evolving industry

Tune in now to elevate your practice’s marketing game!

Connect with Erica:

  • LinkedIn
  • Influx Marketing Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez is joined by Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics, Wellness, and Plastic Surgery for Skytale Group's Management Consulting team. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of medical aesthetics, focusing on the integration of wellness services into medical aesthetic businesses.

Judy shares her extensive industry experience, providing listeners with valuable knowledge on the increasing demand for holistic healthcare solutions that enhance both appearance and overall well-being. In this discussion, she covers the most common wellness services being integrated into med spas, the benefits these services offer to patients, and the strategic considerations for med spa owners looking to expand into the wellness space.

What You'll Discover:

  • Understand the growing consumer desire for an all-inclusive approach to healthcare that improves both physical appearance and overall vitality.
  • Discover the most common wellness services in med spas and how they boost patient satisfaction and well-being.
  • Learn the critical factors for successfully integrating wellness services, including the need for a dedicated leader and financial considerations.
  • Explore emerging 2025 trends, and Judy’s predictions for the next 5-10 years in medical aesthetics, along with her top advice for med spa owners.

Connect with Judy Kozlicki

  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez and Miguel Mireles are joined by Vik Venkataraman, Middle Market Healthcare Services Lead at Provident Bank, to explore the evolving healthcare market, key regulatory trends, and strategies for growth in a dynamic environment. With extensive expertise in healthcare lending and business development, Vik offers a wealth of insights on M&A activity, sector-specific opportunities, and advice for founders and owners seeking funding.

What You'll Discover:

  • Insights from the McGuire Woods conference, including trends and takeaways shaping the healthcare industry.
  • Key regulatory challenges, including the implications of California’s AB 3129 veto and potential ripple effects across other states.
  • Predictions for M&A deal flow in 2025 and how founder-led businesses and larger platforms are preparing for the future.
  • Trends in healthcare verticals, including medical aesthetics, dental, consumer health, behavioral health, and multi-site care.
  • The impact of interest rate changes on lending markets and sector sensitivity to these fluctuations.

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
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  • LinkedIn

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Skytale Group CEO, Ben Hernandez, and Fifth & Cor CEO, Robin Dimond, open up about the raw realities of entrepreneurship in this compelling episode. Together, they explore the grit required to build and sustain a business, the sacrifices they’ve made along the way, and the emotional weight of pursuing a vision. Robin shares her personal story, revealing how her journey shaped her passion for the aesthetic industry and the invaluable lessons she’s learned about herself through the challenges of leadership. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

Connect with Robin:

  • Fifth & Cor Website
  • Fifth & Cor Instagram
  • Robin on LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Erik Haines, Managing Director, Head of Guidepoint Qsight, to discuss our recent collaboration, Evolution in Aesthetics, a white paper covering the trends and data shaping the aesthetics industry in 2023 and 2024. Together they discuss highlights from the white paper and the strategic objectives behind its release into the market.

Download the White Paper

Connect with Erik Haines:

  • LinkedIn

Connect with Guidepoint Qsight:

  • Website
  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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Mary Robb, CEO and Founder of Social Practice, joins Ben Hernandez on the Skytale Insights podcast to explore the latest trends shaping the social media landscape. From the impact of paid versus organic efforts to the rise of AI, they unpack the essentials that will help businesses tackle their social media with confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The "three C’s" of social media marketing—content, consistency, and community—and how they can transform your brand’s online presence
  • The difference between paid and organic social media, and when to leverage each for maximum ROI
  • How AI is changing the social media landscape and what business owners should know to stay competitive
  • Tips on creating content that resonates with your target market and boosts engagement
  • The future of social media marketing and how to stay ahead of emerging trends

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Colin Carr, CEO & Founder of CARR, to tackle one of the biggest decisions healthcare business owners face: should you buy or lease your practice space? Colin shares expert insights on how to navigate real estate decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and leverage smart negotiations for long-term growth. From understanding the psychology of landlords to financial strategies that fuel future expansion, this episode offers practical advice for scaling your healthcare business with confidence.

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez, CEO & Managing Director at Skytale Group, sits down with Tiphany Hall, Chief Growth Officer at Aesthetic Record and the voice behind For the Record. Together, they discuss the vital aspects of mastering patient retention in aesthetics. Tiphany shares her expert insights on innovative membership programs, the integration of new service offerings, and the essential role e-commerce plays in expanding your practice's reach. This conversation provides actionable strategies and best practices to ensure sustained success in an ever-evolving landscape. Join us to discover how to elevate your aesthetic practice and create lasting connections with your patients.

Connect with Tiphany:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Secure Your Ticket for Aesthetic Next

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In this exclusive episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez, CEO & Managing Director at Skytale, sits down with our new dental investment banking expert, Miguel Mireles, to explore the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions in the dental sector. With over a decade of experience, Miguel brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, offering invaluable insights into the historical, current, and future landscape of dental M&A.

Tune in to gain firsthand knowledge from Miguel on the latest industry trends, key challenges, and strategic advice for navigating M&A opportunities in the dental space. Whether you're a dental professional considering a sale, or simply interested in understanding the market dynamics, this episode is packed with expert-level insights you won't want to miss.

Why You Should Listen:

  • Expert Perspective: Learn from Miguel Mireles' extensive experience in dental M&A.
  • Industry Analysis: Stay informed on the latest trends and their implications for your business.
  • Strategic Advice: Get practical tips on how to approach M&A opportunities in the dental sector.

Don't miss this chance to elevate your understanding of the dental industry. Subscribe and listen now!

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, we are joined by Robin Dimond, CEO & Founder of Fifth & Cor, to explore the power of omni-channel marketing in the medical aesthetics industry. Robin shares her perspective on building a robust online digital presence, a critical element for any modern medical aesthetics practice. She also discusses the strategic use of social media, emphasizing its importance in connecting with potential patients and building brand loyalty.

Furthermore, Robin introduces the application of augmented reality, demonstrating how it can be used to educate injectors and enhance the patient experience. Hosted by Ben Hernandez, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their practice through omni-channel marketing strategies.

Connect with Robin:
Fifth & Cor Website
Fifth & Cor Instagram
Robin Dimond LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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While at the 2024 Medical Spa Show, host James Turcott, Partner at Skytale, had the opportunity to catch up with Alisha Merlo and Heather Goodchild, Executive Director and Vice President of Professional Relations at Colorescience.

In this episode, the three discuss the evolution of the aesthetics industry. Both Alisha and Heather touch on the role Colorescience plays in the industry and how they help their clients through their growth journey.

Shop Colorescience or Get in Touch:
Colorescience Website
Colorescience LinkedIn
Colorescience Instagram

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host James Turcott of Skytale Group sits down with Margaret McGuckin, Co-Founder and CEO of i3 Ignite, to discuss the vital elements of scaling your dental practice with dental implants. Margaret shares her expertise on the key considerations for implementing a dental implants service line and emphasizes the importance of providing an exceptional patient experience.

Tune in to gain valuable insights on how dental implants can transform your practice and drive growth, and how to increase lead conversion through patient experience. Whether you're looking to introduce dental implants to your services or scale an existing practice, this episode is packed with practical advice and strategies from one of the industry's leading experts.

Connect with Margaret:
LinkedIn
i3 Ignite Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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Join us for an insightful discussion on the latest episode of Skytale Insights, where we dive into the transformative power of technology in the dental industry. Hosted by Ben Hernandez, this episode features a special guest, Eric Pastan, Director of Consulting at Skytale Group. Together, they explore the vital role that technology plays in modern dental practices and share practical advice on how to seamlessly integrate these innovations into your operations.

Key Points Covered:

  1. The Importance of Technology in Dental:
  2. Discover why staying ahead with technological advancements is crucial for the success and growth of your dental practice.
  3. Learn about the latest tools and technologies that are revolutionizing the dental field.
  4. Implementing Technology in a Multi-Location Dental Practice:
  5. Gain insights into the challenges and solutions for integrating technology across multiple practice locations.
  6. Hear Eric Pastan’s expert tips on ensuring consistency and efficiency when implementing new technologies.
  7. Enhancing the Patient Experience with Technology:
  8. Understand how technology can significantly improve the patient experience without sacrificing a personalized approach.
  9. Explore practical examples and strategies for using technology to make every patient feel valued and cared for.

Tune in to this episode to uncover the strategies and insights that will help you harness the power of technology to elevate your dental practice.

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host James Turcott, Partner at Skytale Group, sits down with Ali Oromchian, JD, LL.M, the Founder & CEO at HR for Health and the Founding Attorney at Dental & Medical Counsel. Ali is a world-renowned employment attorney and a leading authority on medical and dental practice law. In this episode, Ali and James explore a myriad of topics from non-competes and their legitimacy to the importance of company culture.

What you will discover:
🔹The legality of non-compete agreements for employees compared to those for partnerships

🔹The importance of structure and benefits of establishing a Dental Service Organization (DSO)

🔹Key considerations when forming partnerships and Management Service Agreements (MSAs)

🔹Common pitfalls that business owners run into as they grow and scale

HR for Health: https://www.hrforhealth.com
Dental & Medical Counsel: https://www.dmcounsel.com

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, hosts James Turcott and Ben Hernandez are joined by industry partners Brad Adatto, President of ByrdAdatto, and Michael Byrd, CEO of ByrdAdatto, to discuss the legal landscape in medical aesthetics. The four discuss several common challenges with regards to legality and compliance in medical aesthetic practices and offer strategic insights on how to overcome these obstacles.

Skytale Group and ByrdAdatto are co-hosting the Mergers & Acquisitions Summit at the 2024 Medical Spa Show! Register today to gain insights from industry experts about the deal structure and process and hear from peers who have been there before.

Register for the 2024 Medical Spa Show, here.

Connect with ByrdAdatto:
ByrdAdatto Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
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This week on Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez brings in a special guest to dive deep into the dynamic world of dentistry. Joining him is Skytale's very own management consultant, Greg Mahoney, for an enlightening discussion on the innovative shift happening in dental practices – the integration of aesthetic service lines. Greg offers a wealth of insights drawn from his extensive experience within the dental industry, offering advice for dental practice owners seeking to expand their offerings to include medical aesthetic services. Tune in as Ben and Greg unpack the strategies and considerations that can propel dental practices towards greater success and patient satisfaction in this evolving landscape.

Connect with Greg Mahoney

  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In the latest episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez, Managing Director & CEO of Skytale Group, had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Gretchen Frieling, CEO & Owner of GFace MD, for a second time to discuss her journey to becoming a business leader and its impact on her business’s growth.

In their follow-up discussion, Ben and Dr. Frieling explore her experience of transitioning from hands-on management to leading her business, highlighting the steps needed to get to where she is now and the importance of trust and empowerment within her teams. Through practical advice, Dr. Frieling emphasizes the importance of personal growth, humility, and strategic delegation in effective leadership.

Key Takeaways:

🔹Learn about how Dr. Frieling was able to break through transitioning from being hands-on in every aspect of her business to truly leading her team.

🔹Understand what it means to shift from a founder-led to a vision-led business model.

🔹Discover the positive impact of investing in your business, even if it entails temporary setbacks.

🔹Gain insight into the steps of building a business capable of operating independently from its founder.

Connect with Dr. Gretchen Frieling:

  • GFaceMD Website
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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On this week's episode of Skytale Insights, host James Turcott welcomes Santosh Patel, President & Co-Founder of Complete Specialty Solutions, to the podcast. James and Santosh discuss a variety of topics in the dental industry to aid listeners as they try to grow and expand their practices in 2024.

Santosh shares insights and strategies aimed at driving growth and retention in the dental industry through three key areas: expanding services, harnessing AI, and implementing membership plans.

Connect with Santosh:

  • LinkedIn
  • Complete Specialty Solutions Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez engages in a dynamic conversation with Audrey Neff, the Director of Marketing at PatientNow, shedding light on the fascinating intersection of aesthetics and the millennial demographic. Dive deep into the preferences and beauty trends that define millennials, the first generation with a substantial digital presence from an early age. Audrey and Ben explore various aspects, including popular aesthetic procedures among millennials, the embrace of technological innovations, and the shift towards a holistic approach to wellness.

Key Discussion Points:

  • Industry Demographic Overview: Learn about the roles that different demographics play in the aesthetic industry and how millennial purchasing power will affect the aesthetic industry in years to come.
  • Popular Aesthetic Procedures: Discover some of the most sought-after aesthetic procedures among millennials, understanding the reasons behind their popularity and cultural influences.
  • Tailoring Marketing Strategies: Gain insights into how medical aesthetic owners can tailor their marketing strategies to resonate with millennials. Ben and Audrey discuss values of the millennial demographic and provide strategies for creating messaging that aligns with their needs.
  • How to Retain Your Millennial Patients: From membership programs to patient notes, discover tactics that will influence millennial decision-making and keep them coming back to your practice.
  • Personalized Experience: Understand the millennial desire for education around treatment plans and how owners can create a more personalized experience by involving millennials in decision-making processes.

Join Ben Hernandez and Audrey Neff on Skytale Insights as they unravel the intricacies of marketing to millennials in the aesthetics industry, offering actionable insights for med spa owners looking to connect with this influential demographic.

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez hosts Dr. Gretchen Frieling, MD, as they discuss her journey of entrepreneurship in medical aesthetics. As a triple-certified dermatopathologist and the founder of multiple aesthetic businesses, Dr. Frieling sheds light on the challenges of growing and managing a multi-location medical aesthetic practice alongside her other companies.

What you will discover:

✔️ Get an inside look at Dr. Frieling's unique transition into medical aesthetics

✔️ Discover key elements to building a beautiful business

✔️ Explore the delicate balance between entrepreneurship, leadership, and hands-on medical care

✔️ Listen in on Dr. Frieling's international experiences and observations, including regional differences and emerging trends in aesthetics

Click here to watch the podcast on YouTube.

Connect with Dr. Gretchen Frieling:

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • GFace Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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Welcome to another insightful episode of Skytale Insights, hosted by James Turcott and Judy Kozlicki. In today's engaging conversation, we're joined by Julie Accaregui, the visionary owner of Pure Medical Spa, and Business Development Director at Pure, Steve Frost. Together, they unravel the journey of building a multi-location practice, delving into the strategies behind Pure Medical Spa's expansion from a single location to a thriving enterprise with three establishments.

Julie and Steve share candidly about the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way, emphasizing the pivotal role of training in maintaining service excellence across all locations. Tune in to discover inspiring success stories from Pure Medical Spa and gain a deeper understanding of the passion and commitment driving their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Subscribe to Skytale Insights for more conversations with industry leaders, and connect with Julie Accaregui and Steve Frost for additional insights.

Connect with Julie and Steve:

  • Julie Acarregui LinkedIn
  • PURE Medical Spa Website
  • PURE Medical Spa Instagram

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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In this week's installment of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez, the CEO of Skytale, is joined by our esteemed President and Head of Consulting, Annie Hockey. With a rich history in consulting and the firsthand expertise of successfully establishing and managing a highly lucrative fintech enterprise, Annie brings her wealth of experience to the podcast. Tune in as she shares invaluable insights on the intricacies of scaling your business practices.

What you will discover:

  • Learn the common trends, challenges, and growing pains when scaling a business to multiple locations.
  • Learn how to navigate challenges inherent in scaling a business, as Annie discusses hurdles she faced and conquered, providing valuable insights for those looking to overcome similar obstacles in their professional journeys.
  • Understand why needing to constantly update your SOPs is a sign of growth.
  • Gain insight into Annie's extensive entrepreneurial and consulting background and why she decided to join Skytale Group.

Connect with Annie Hockey:

  • LinkedIn
  • Annie's Skytale Bio

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this week's installment of Skytale Insights, we have the pleasure of hosting Michael Antosy, the Director of Practice Growth Consulting at MyAdvice. Join Michael and our host, James Turcott, as they delve into the critical aspects of establishing a strong foundation for your healthcare practice in the realm of marketing.

Michael brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, drawing from studies, personal experiences, and valuable insights that promise to revolutionize your perspective on marketing. Together, James and Michael explore various facets of marketing, empowering our listeners with the insights needed to make well-informed decisions about their marketing strategies.

Learn how MyAdvice will get you more clients at www.myadvice.com

Book a Meeting with MyAdvice! https://bit.ly/3LPvQx2

Let's Connect with MyAdvice on Social:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • LinkedIn

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In the latest episode of Skytale Insights, Senior Manager at Skytale Management Consulting, Greg Mahoney, and CEO of Medix Dental IT, Tom Terronez, discuss everything from technology adoption to cloud-based practice management systems (PMS).

Tom Terronez is a hands-on leader in the dental technology industry, helping practices their efficiency and IT security potential. Since founding two tech companies in the early 2000s, he has become nationally respected and an increasingly sought-after expert in the field. In this episode, Tom equips listeners with the information needed to make educated decisions about technology adoption.

What you'll discover:

  • The difference between cloud-based and local practice management systems.
  • Trends in the dental technology space
  • The role technology adoption plays in growing a dental practice or DSO
  • Advice from Tom about dental technology integration

Connect with Tom:

  • LinkedIn
  • Medix Website
  • Medix LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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On this weeks episode of Skytale Insights, host James Turcott delves into the world of marketing strategies in the healthcare space. He is joined joined by Cameron Hemphill, CEO of Growth99, to discuss marketing strategies in the healthcare space.

Together, they explore different marketing strategies, from website performance to patient referrals, that you can implement into your practice.

Connect with Growth99: www.growth99.com

Connect with Skytale Group:

  • Website
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On this week's episode of Skytale Insights, host Greg Mahoney is joined by Alison Farber, Vice President of Sales at Method Procurement Technologies. Alison shares with listeners about Method's inventory management and procurement platform and how it helps dental practices streamline their operations and increase efficiencies.

Method gives you the tools to easily request quotes from multiple suppliers and compare pricing, as well as ensure suppliers are held accountable to quoted pricing, correct shipments, and accurate invoices. Make sure to tune in as Greg and Alison explore Method's capabilities from inventory management to data reporting, and other advancements coming soon for Method.

Connect with Alison:

  • LinkedIn
  • Method Procurement Technologies Website
  • Method Procurement Technologies Instagram

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  • Website
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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Eric Pastan is joined by Harold Gornbein, Co-Founder and Partner at Apex Reimbursement Partners. Harold has worked in sales and account management for Ameritas, Dental Benefit Providers, PacifiCare Health Systems, and United Concordia, as well as managed his own insurance agency. His wealth of industry knowledge, experience, and relationships affords his clients with unparalleled strategic guidance and insight.

Tune in as Harold shares his expertise on multiple aspects of revenue cycle management, including insurance verification, UCR fee schedules, negotiating insurance fees, and more. He also sheds light on the continuously consolidating dental industry and how an acquisition can affect RCM if the right people are not put in place. 

Connect with Harold Gornbein:

  • LinkedIn
  • Apex Website
  • Apex LinkedIn Page

Follow Skytale Group:

  • Website
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In this week's episode of Skytale Insights, host Judy Kozlicki sits down with Gregory A. Buford MD, FACS, PCEO, a respected author, plastic surgeon, and practice owner.

Dr. Buford is nationally recognized for his skillful approach and personalized results in cosmetic plastic surgery. In this episode, he shares his journey in developing his surgical and non-surgical practice, providing listeners with insights into his strategies for success.

Connect with Dr. Buford:

  • LinkedIn
  • Beauty by Buford Website
  • Instagram

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  • Website
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Tune into the latest episode of Skytale Insights with host, Eric Pastan, and guest, Jon Fidler! 

In this episode, Jon Fidler, Founder and CEO of Fidler & Associates, shares his expertise with listeners about recruiting in the dental industry. He provides insights around what candidates should look for in a DSO, challenges and opportunities for DSO recruiting, and current trends in the dental industry. 

Tune into the latest episode of Skytale insights by following the link below, and make sure to subscribe to Skytale Insights wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with Jon Fidler:

  • LinkedIn
  • Fidler & Associates

Follow Skytale Group:

  • Website
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On this week’s episode of Skytale Insights, we welcome JD Schaub, EVP and Chief Operating Officer at RVL Pharmaceuticals, to the podcast! JD and Judy Kozlicki sat down to discuss Upneeq, an innovative FDA approved prescription eyedrop for acquired ptosis! 

Judy and JD talk about advances in ocular aesthetics and the making of Upneeq. Plus, JD gives us a behind the scenes look at RVL Pharma and the studies performed to create this new innovative prescription eyedrop. 

Connect with JD Schaub:

  • LinkedIn
  • Upneeq Website
  • RVL Pharmaceuticals Website

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  • Website
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On this week's episode of Skytale Insights, Skytale Director Judy Kozlicki sat down with Charlie Winn, Chief Revenue Officer at Liine, to talk about the importance of mastering lead management. 

Charlie and Judy discuss the ins and outs of lead management and offer practical strategies that business owners can implement into their practices to improve patient acquisition and retention. Plus, get a behind the scenes look at Liine and how it can help your practice track leads! 

In this episode, you will discover:

  • Lead management and strategies for implementation
  • How lead management can generate more revenue and growth for your practice
  • How to create a robust customer experience from beginning to end
  • An deep dive into patient follow-up
  • A behind the scenes look at Liine, and AI-powered lead management platform

Connect with Charlie:LinkedIn
Liine Website

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In the newest episode of Skytale Insights, join this week’s host, Greg Mahoney, Sr. Manager at Skytale Group, and guest, Brad James, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Kleer.

Brad is an expert in leadership and a liaison to key partners and accounts. He seeks to build strong partnerships with practices and organizations whose goals align with revolutionizing and modernizing the dental industry. He is passionate about helping practices leverage their focus toward creating a more successful and profitable business.

In this episode, Greg and Brad delve into the topic of dental membership programs, bringing to light the benefits a membership program can bring to your dental practice. Listen as Brad shares background on Kleer, a trusted dental membership program platform, and unveils effective strategies for seamlessly implementing these programs.

In this episode, you'll discover:

  • Insights into the Kleer platform and how it can help grow and retain patients
  • Strategies for implementing a dental membership program into your practice
  • Common challenges with practical solutions during the implementation process
  • Greg Mahoney's first-hand experience with implementing dental membership programs

Connect with Brad:

LinkedIn
Kleer Website

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This week, host Ben Hernandez is joined by Mary Pham, CEO of Lollipop Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. Mary is also a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is part of a small percentage of pediatric dental specialists who are board certified and have demonstrated exceptional knowledge and skill in the specialty of pediatric industry.

In this episode, Ben and Mary discuss Mary's journey with Lollipop Dental and how she has scaled her practice from a single location to multi-location dental enterprise. She provides insights into how she leads her teams, investing in the right technology, her experience with social media marketing, and much more.

What You Will Discover:

  • Why investing in technology is key to patient satisfaction
  • How to manage multiple teams of people
  • Social media marketing tips to help drive patient acquisition and growth
  • Key insights from Mary on how you can scale your dental practice

Connect with Mary:

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Lollipop Dental Website

Follow Skytale Group:

  • Website
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  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez and co-host Tedd Van Gorden engage in a discussion with guest Emmet Scott, co-founder of Community Dental Partners, about centralization and consolidation in dental industry.

Listen to Ben, Emmet, and Tedd as they analyze the intricacies in the centralization process, if and how consolidation is effecting the dental space, and what sellers are looking for. Tune in as these industry experts share their insights into the dental space and gain key knowledge that can help you grow or prepare to sell.

In this Episode, You'll Discover:

  • An understanding of consolidation in the dental industry
  • Key strategies to help you prepare to sell your practice
  • A honest perspective of what buyers are looking for
  • Why a fractional CFO can be crucial to getting the best deal

Episode Insights:

  • "...Your buyer's gonna know nothing about your clinical capability or the great culture you built initially, and they don't care and don't know about the blood, sweat, and tears that you've put into the business. They are investors, and if you're an investor, you don't care about all those things." - Emmet Scott, Co-Founder of Community Dental Partners
  • "Get a fractional CFO to really get things organized way ahead of time. So that when we go to market and that investor asks for stuff, it's like boom. It's in their inbox..." - Emmet Scott, Co-Founder of Community Dental Partners
  • "From a business perspective, people are looking at culture. They wanna know your turnover rates, right? Which is really tough right now, but they mostly wanna know what your dentist turnover rate is. So if you're a dentist who has high dentist turnover rate, you're probably gonna get a lower multiple or have a harder time" - Emmet Scott, Co-Founder of Community Dental Partners

Connect with Emmet:LinkedinInstagram

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On this week's episode of Skytale Insights, we return to the topic of injector recruiting and provider training with host Ben Hernandez and Skytale's Judy Kozlicki who are joined by industry expert Mary Beth Hagen, CEO and Founder of TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting.

Since 2005, Mary Beth Hagen has served the needs of the aesthetic industry making her prominent figure and industry leader. Previously, Mary Beth has held positions at Galderma and Allergan in product and national account management. Throughout her time serving the aesthetics industry, Mary Beth saw pain-points in matching top-tier injectors with new practices. So in 2017, Mary Beth started TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting to help fill in the gaps between providers and practices.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

  • Trends in injector recruiting
  • Injector supply & demand
  • What makes TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting stand out
  • Advice for practices wanting to attract top-tier injectors
  • Candidate screening, injector training, and more!

Episode Insights:

  • "...I think the other thing that is very interesting trend is that so many of the injectors who have been injecting for 10 or 20 years have looked to start their own practices in the last couple of years. And so we're seeing a lot of the very experienced, very tenured aesthetic providers leave practices where they may have worked traditionally and start their own aesthetic practices." - Mary Beth Hagen, CEO & Founder of TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting
  • "You have to be able to follow protocols. You have to be able to look for adverse events. But, you also have to be a great communicator, and be able to not only listen to what the patient is expecting for their treatment, have the ability to educate them on the potential treatments, help create a treatment plan, and then to be able to see the art of the possible with aesthetic treatments." - Mary Beth Hagen, CEO & Founder of TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting
  • "It all goes back to the biggest problem that we still have that is every single state has different laws and guidelines on who can inject and what they can inject, and how the industry is looked at..." - Mary Beth Hagen, CEO & Founder of TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting

Connect with Mary Beth Hagen:

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Titan Website

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  • Website
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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez is joined by Ken Kaufman, dental industry expert, DEO Partner, and recently published author. Ben and Ken discuss his recent publication, “DEO's Financial Secrets to Grow Dental Organizations: The 9 Required Clarity Tools”, the current economic environment, and the challenges and opportunities of acquisition and de novo growth models respectively.

Ken Kaufman is the CFO & VP of Corporate Services at Nuvia Dental Implant Center. Since 2004, Kaufman has served in CFO and President roles in venture capital and private equity-backed high-growth organizations, helping to drive the growth of 3 to 10x during his tenure at each. Kaufman has received many accolades throughout his career, such as being awarded Utah Business Magazine’s CFO of the year, making their top 40 under 40, and being named V100 entrepreneur by Signal Peak Ventures.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • Insights into the economic environment and potential for a recession
  • Overview of acquisition growth models
  • Overview of de novo growth models
  • Pros and cons of acquisition versus de novo growth models
  • If a hybrid growth model is possible
  • The future of the dental space

Interested in going to the DEO Growth Summit 2023 in San Diego? Listeners can use Ken Kaufman’s promo code, DEOKEN, to receive $250 off registration and a free copy of Ken’s book! Head to www.deosummit.com and use DEOKEN at checkout!

Episode Insights

  • "If something's not going well, you want to be able to diagnose it quickly. So you need good data... in the de novo world, you've got more lever levers to pull to do so." -Ken Kaufman, CFO of Nuvia Dental Implant Center
  • "You're buying a new culture and if your strategy is to try to bring a bunch of practices together, you now have a lot of really intense decisions you're making about are how deeply you're going to implement your systems and processes into this group that you've now added to your business, and it's - on many fronts- a slippery slope" - Ken Kaufman, CFO of Nuvia Dental Implant Center
  • "In long-term, I'm optimistic... and the reason why is because I know so many amazing entrepreneurs, especially in the dental space, who figure stuff out and figure out how to create value and grow" - Ken Kaufman, CFO at Nuvia Dental Implant Center

Connect with Ken Kaufman

LinkedIn

Ken’s Book - DEO’s Financial Secrets to Grow Dental Organizations: The 9 Required Clarity Tools

Follow Skytale Group

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Eric is joined by Steve Markowitz, MD, MFD Dental Management founder and CEO. In this episode, Eric and Steve discuss MFD, a Dentist owned and led dental organization whose mission is to change how people feel about going to the dentist through creating amazing experiences. Dr. Markowitz shares what makes his business successful, and offers insight into how owners can build a resilient team.

Currently Dr. Markowitz and his team are lucky enough to lead 7 practices, 21 dentists and almost 140 team members, and, through their growth, they continue to strive towards offering the best patient experience.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  1. Key principles for establishing a healthy company culture
  2. The importance of trust in team dynamics and strategies for cultivating it
  3. Effective conflict resolution techniques for managing workplace disputes
  4. Best practices for integrating new acquisitions into your business operations
  5. Exploring MFD Dental Management; an insider's perspective on operations and growth strategies

Episode Insights

What is your view on failure and how has it impacted your personal and professional growth?

  • “I think from my own experience, I've had my greatest growth from failure. So failure is something that I embrace. I hate to lose and I hate failing, but I know that that's what has allowed me to get to this point” - Steve Markowitz, MD

How do you begin to establish trust with team members and foster a healthy working relationship?

  • “I think it's because I never question their intentions. It’s not that they come in with that trust. It's been earned on both sides from me and to my team” - Steve Markowitz, MD

How important is it for a business to clarify its intentions to achieve a smooth transition, and implement change that results in a healthy business?

  • The more that we can say sustain our intentions and stick to them, the smoother that transition will go. The quicker we'll get that trust and then the quicker we'll be able to implement positive changes that will result in a healthier business.

About Steve Markowitz, MDSteve Markowitz is a third generation dentist and the founder and CEO of MFD dental management. Steve’s love for the profession came from his father, an entrepreneurial dentist (before it was the cool thing to be). MFD is a tribute to his father, whose impact was measured not by profits but by the level of care shown to his patients and team. It is with this spirit Steve continues to find his passion in developing his team and creating new and innovative ways to improve the lives of the patients and team members he is blessed to lead.

Connect with Steve Markowitz, MD

  • LinkedIn
  • MFD Dental Management LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Eric Pastan is joined by Bree Black, Job Snob co-owner and aesthetics industry expert. In this episode, Bree and Eric discuss Job Snob, a talent and recruiting  platform for medical aesthetics businesses. Bree shares how her company has evolved with the industry, hiring trends in the aesthetics space, and tips for both business owners and candidates. 

Bree and her co-founder Kipper Doughty created Job Snob when they noticed there were nationwide staffing challenges for aesthetics practices. The two met working as reps in the Beverly Hills market, but between the two of them they’d covered a wide variety of markets. When they noticed that staffing was a universal challenge for med spas, they thought they might be able to find a way to remedy it. 

Now serving 38 states, Job Snob connects talented providers and professionals to opportunities. The company works with both employers and talent to support the hiring process, leading them to gain valuable insight from the aesthetics industry.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • Skills and qualities practices look for when they hire new employees
  • Compensation and benefits packages top candidates are looking for
  • Why talented injectors and providers leave their positions, and strategies to retain talent
  • What it’s like to work with a recruiting company to fill a position
  • Job Snob’s recent partnership with AmSpa
  • Job Snob’s data on compensation benchmarks for providers and aesthetics employees in various markets
  • The industry’s provider (specifically injector) shortage, and what practices can do to retain providers in a competitive market
  • What is an “acquisition matchmaker?” A new way Job Snob is making connections.

About Bree Black and Kipper Doughty

Founders Kipper Doughty and Bree Black bring a collective experience of over 20 years in the Medical Aesthetic industry, specifically within Seattle, Dallas, and the greater Los Angeles markets. They were selling Botox and dermal fillers for industry leader Allergan in Beverly Hills, CA, when they met. After years of hearing about the same staffing challenges from nationwide practices of every shape and size, they decided to solve the problem.

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In this episode of Skytale Insights hosted by Ben Hernandez, we delve into the world of medical aesthetics, and the challenges and opportunities that come with building a successful business in this industry. In this episode, we welcomed aesthetics industry leaders, Nicole Chiaramonte, CEO of Advanced MedAesthetic Partners, and Drew Fine, CCO of Advanced MedAesthetic Partners, to share their knowledge on building, selling, and buying medical aesthetic practices.

Together, they discuss the platform they are building, Advanced MedAesthetic Partners, and how it is transforming the medical aesthetics industry through consolidation and innovation. They share their insights on how the industry is evolving, the importance of building a great business, creating a strong team, and staying ahead of the curve in the highly competitive world of medical aesthetics.

Join Ben, Nicole, and Drew as they explore different strategies and trends in the aesthetics space, and learn from the experts on how to build a successful business in this dynamic and exciting field.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • Behind the scenes of Advanced MedAesthetic Partners (AMP)
  • Insights on building your business and preparing to sell
  • Determining what you want out of selling your business
  • Future trends of the aesthetic space for sellers
  • Finding the right fit when selling your business

About the Guests:

Nicole Chiaramonte

Known for her business philosophies of “profits with integrity” and “profit optimization through collaboration,” Nicole Chiaramonte developed AMP, a superior alternative to the traditional private equity acquisition model. A serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of medical and business management, Nicole holds 19 years of Management Service Organization (MSO) ownership and executive management in the legal and medical industries. Through Nicole’s leadership, AMP is redefining the aesthetics industry by partnering with practices to provide innovative and industry leading support that grows practices beyond their current potential.

Drew Fine

Drew is an award-winning marketing and business leader with 8+ years of experience in the aesthetics industry and 18+ years building brands, businesses, and teams. He was previously Vice President of Marketing for Allergan’s Facial business and prior to that was Vice President for Galderma’s US aesthetic franchise. Drew has received the Aesthetic Industry Association leadership award (2022), been named DTC perspectives' top 25 DTC marketer of the year (2018), and been named a launch master (2016) by PM360. He has an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School and Business and an undergraduate degree from Duke University.

Connect with Nicole Chiaramonte:

LinkedIn

Website

Advanced MedAesthetic Partners Website

Connect with Drew Fine:

LinkedIn

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Mergers and acquisitions exist in the healthcare industry too, and just like in any other industry, there are a LOT of concepts to consider, one of them is business valuation.

In selling a business we ask, what is the value of this business? In what position is this business in a wide scope of the business industry? What methods can we try to make this business more valuable than it has ever been?

In this episode, Mike White gives fresh insights about these questions we pondered and shed light on concepts that could help sellers appeal to their potential buyers while understanding these buyers’ perspectives.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • Mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare industry
  • Effects of inflation, recession, and layoffs on mergers and acquisitions in healthcare
  • How are businesses usually valued— and how to increase it
  • The different components of a deal, such as cash at close, rollover equity, and earnouts
  • Long and complicated process of selling a business
  • Significance of having the right partner
  • Importance of understanding the tax implications and legal considerations when selling a business

Episode Insights

  • That’s one of our big struggles— quality of data. Because if there's not good quality, it's very difficult to propose to a buyer that the seller has everything handled in their business and therefore makes it more valuable. - Mike White
  • You're gonna take things personally. You have the emotional side and the reality, as we all know, we still have to run our business day to day. So having somebody run alongside you will help you through. - Benjamin Hernandez
  • Always build your team internally and externally to your organization. Hold the team accountable but make sure you have the advisors that are helping you through those conversations. - Benjamin Hernandez
  • Make sure we're not just spending everything because our CPA told us to do that. There are good ways to get the same tax impact with better-looking financial statements. Make sure you're looking for those opportunities to improve your cost structure, whether it be staffing, advertising, or supply and look for those opportunities to pick up your own multiple valuation. - Benjamin Hernandez
  • I think, for me, it would be, if you're thinking of selling, do your homework early on. Really think about what it is that you need. Envision yourself in that position and go down the line of “what is my number?” “Am I willing and wanting to work at least four years or at least longer than that?” If not, make sure you reconcile that. - Mike White

About the Guests:

Mike White holds a BBA and MSA from Texas Tech University. He has spent the majority of his career in public accounting, helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals and vision. He has had the opportunity to work with many different industries, including lawyers, consultants, and marketing and media companies.

Recently, they have spent most of their time working with DSOs and MSOs, along with individual dental and physician clients. His primary focus is on telling the right story within the financial statements and helping to set goals to drive performance within the business.

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Being an entrepreneur is an exciting venture, but it can also be daunting. They face numerous challenges that sometimes, it becomes too difficult to find the right way to move forward. They’re left with an impending question: Do my decisions make sense?

But with the right guidance, entrepreneurs can turn their vision into a profitable and sustainable business.

In this episode, Neekan Rivera will be sharing her journey with us as she grows from being an aesthetic leader to a successful entrepreneur who has scaled her company from a single location to multi-location practices through Skytale.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • Neekan’s journey of how she became a leader in the aesthetic industry
  • Motivation to keep going on your business
  • Why transparency is important in business
  • How do we remain profitable amidst dealing with the recession
  • Knowing when to ask for help in making decisions

Episode Insights

  • If I don't have someone guiding me, holding my hand along the way, and saying we can help you get there, this is what you need to do, I might have made a lot more smaller-scale decisions. – Neekan Rivera
  • It's great to have someone that you can talk to, have honest conversations with, and then we'll take the information to heart and make the necessary changes. – Eric Pastan
  • To stay in the realm of motivation, keep following your dreams. – Neekan Rivera
  • An entrepreneurial life can be lonely at times. – Eric Pastan
  • It's important that we never stop looking at new services and new companies that we could partner with. – Neekan Rivera

**About the Guests:

Neekan Rivera** is a Physician Assistant with advanced experience and knowledge in both clinical and cosmetic dermatology. She specializes in full-face rejuvenation and passionately provides a wide variety of aesthetic treatments for her clients. Neekan prides herself on her comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and safety, her honesty, her strong attention to detail, and her keen eye for recognizing each patient’s natural beauty.

Neekan serves as a trainer for Allergan Medical Institute, Galderma, and PDO Mint Threads and spends much of her free time traveling around the country training other injectors. She uses a variety of techniques to help patients feel lifted, restored, and highlighted while reversing the signs of aging and maintaining natural-appearing results that are true to each individual’s unique beauty.

She is constantly advancing her own skills by seeking the best training programs in the world to ensure that she always delivers the highest quality and most effective treatments.

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There are various reasons why we create businesses in the field of medical aesthetics. But at the end of the day, we could all agree to this—we want to give the best service to our customers.

But how can we do so? Of course, we need them to stay. We need them to keep wanting our services.

Setting up a membership program is a proven way to keep our clients loyal. But creating one could be tricky. There should be a delicate balance where both the clients’ and the business’s objectives are satisfied.

In this episode, we are visited by Judy Kozlicki and Ashley Carter once more, both proficient when it comes to medical aesthetics topics, to give us their tips about structuring the membership program that fits you and your clients.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • What a membership program is in the medical aesthetics space
  • The reason to start a membership program from the perspective of a business owner
  • Tips and advice to implement a membership program
  • Pitfalls to avoid when setting up a membership program
  • How to measure the success of a membership program

Episode Insights

  • An aesthetic membership program is similar to any kind of subscription. It's where a patient has the option to break up payments across the period of time to receive specific services and treatments rather than paying all upfront at once. - Ashley Carter
  • Providing these memberships really can help patients who want to obtain their skincare goals.- Ashley Carter
  • One of the key benefits of a membership program is really building loyalty and then rewarding this loyalty in a way… It's also a great way to really promote a full comprehensive skincare regimen.- Judy Kozlicki
  • Med spas should totally be results driven.- Ashley Carter

About the Guests:

Judy Kozlicki is a Strategic Advisor of Aesthetics for Skytale Group. Judy Kozlicki’s extensive experience gives her a deep understanding of the aesthetic space. She gets to know each client’s practice individually, identifies the opportunities for growth, adapts best practices, and works alongside owners to bring their vision to fruition.

A trailblazer in the business of aesthetics, Judy has held executive-level positions in solo practices, small group practices, and large-scale national med spa operations for over 16 years.

Ashley Carter is a consultant at Skytale Group. She has worked in the medical field for over 10 years and provides her clients with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the aesthetic world. She has a deep understanding of both the clinical and financial sides of the med spa business. Her experience has taught her how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the industry.

Previously, Ashley worked in plastic surgery and quickly became their Lead Nurse Practitioner and Cosmetic Injector. She has also had experience as a Lead Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Director overseeing nine Medspa locations, maintains her registered nursing license, and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner in several states. She also holds one of the most challenging certifications in the aesthetic industry as a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS), held by less than 1% of aesthetic nurses in the US.

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Recently, the medical aesthetics world was filled with buzz, excitement, and anticipation as the new neuromodulator that promises youthful-looking skin that lasts longer is now FDA approved—Daxxify!

Is Botox really out now that a new and better promising competition has arrived? How will Daxxify change the medical aesthetic market and how should we approach this lead?

In this episode, we talk to Judy Kozlicki and Ashley Carter to hear their thoughts and assessment about Daxxify and how it will revolutionize the world of medical aesthetics.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • What Daxxify is
  • What Daxxify’s edge is in comparison to other neuromodulators like Botox, Xeomin, Jeuveau, etc
  • How medical aesthetics businesses should approach the implementation of Daxxify
  • Why Daxxify is a great investment for clinics and medical aesthetics businesses
  • Early concerns for medical aesthetics business owners and how to tackle these
  • The community’s response to Daxxify
  • Addressing the fear of consumers

Episode Insights

  • Each neuromodulator differs in formulation and has different components that hold their peptides to create a stable, active, complex absorption... So one of the main reasons for the longevity effects is the peptide it's made up of. - Ashley Carter
  • Comprehensive consultation, how important that is, and really educating your patients on a full good skincare routine—it involves all those elements. So, I think there shouldn't be a worry about not seeing your patients.- Judy Kozlicki
  • Providing your med spa with education, even your front desk being able to explain, that is going to be essential to being successful with this new neuromodulator.- Ashley Carter
  • Make sure you are working with a very experienced, knowledgeable injector, somebody who has not only experienced this product and had training on this, but also someone with highly advanced injectors.- Judy Kozlicki

**About the Guests:

Judy Kozlicki** is a Strategic Advisor of Aesthetics for Skytale Group. Judy Kozlicki’s extensive experience gives her a deep understanding of the aesthetic space. She gets to know each client’s practice individually, identifies the opportunities for growth, adapts best practices, and works alongside owners to bring their vision to fruition.

A trailblazer in the business of aesthetics, Judy has held executive-level positions in solo practices, small group practices, and large-scale national med spa operations for over 16 years.

Ashley Carter is a consultant at Skytale Group. She has worked in the medical field for over 10 years and provides her clients with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the aesthetic world. She has a deep understanding of both the clinical and financial sides of the med spa business. Her experience has taught her how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the industry.

Previously, Ashley worked in plastic surgery and quickly became their Lead Nurse Practitioner and Cosmetic Injector. She has also had experience as a Lead Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Director overseeing nine Medspa locations, maintains her registered nursing license, and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner in several states. She also holds one of the most challenging certifications in the aesthetic industry as a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS), held by less than 1% of aesthetic nurses in the US.

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Even before the turn of the new millennium, the power of data and information has been apparent. But in the last few years, we’ve seen how data analytics have driven various industries to advance and scale, particularly the medical and dental industries.

Data allows DSOs and MSOs to provide the appropriate response, services and patient care, which allows for better operations management and growth projection.

In this episode, James Turcott talks with Eric Pastan, David Wilson, and Greg Mahoney about the success stories on how the power of data and how using analytics and key performance indicators drive and scale DSOs, and what it really means to be a data-driven DSO.
In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • How the quality of data input into the system matters
  • The practice management system as a crucial tool to drive data
  • Data tracking in different fields of the medical and dental industries
  • How leadership and a culture of excellence ties into being data-driven
  • Analyzing performance and success indicators
  • Setting up data collection infrastructure to back up data

Episode Insights

  • What being a data-driven DSO means is creating leadership and creating a culture of excellence around what the data is saying and that everyone is all in all the time and always looking to improve and more accurately predict and forecast performance. - James Turcott
  • From inside the four walls of our office, what's gonna dictate success is our people understanding what they need to do in order to create success in their role for the organization. And those are what those KPIs are intended to do. - Eric Pastan
  • Typically what I've done when I've come in and looked at a situation is I've tried to simplify it and take the noise out of it. Because ultimately, companies, as they move through time, have a tendency to go down the rabbit holes and collect more and more information. Keep it simple. Keep the focus on the data on the four corners of the page and communicate that throughout the entire organization so that everybody's operating on the same page. - David Wilson

About the Guests:

Greg Mahoney is a management consultant at Skytale Group. He joins the Skytale team with broad experience in building infrastructure and strategic planning in the dental industry. Utilizing experience from individual locations, emerging groups, and a DSO with more than 100 locations, Greg expertly builds strategies and helps executive teams reach their goals.

David Wilson is a consultant at Skytale Group. David serves Skytale clients with over 30 years of vast experience and leadership in the healthcare industry. He relies on his experience to drive our healthcare clients toward operational efficiencies and to help them meet key business and financial objectives.

Before joining Skytale Group, David served as Chairman, President and CEO of a large Dental Service Organization that supported 119 dental centers across 19 states. He was also the owner and founder of a boutique DSO servicing six locations.

Eric Pastan is a strategic advisor at Skytale Group. He joins the Skytale team with vast, hands-on experience scaling businesses in the dental industry. Leveraging his years of experience building a Dental Services Organization from the ground up, Eric helps business owners strategize during crucial stages of growth to carry out their vision.

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Albert Einstein once famously said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” As we are seeing a lot of macroeconomic headwinds brought on by the reaction to inflation and a looming economic recession, there is foreseeable growth in the med spa and aesthetic industry.

New technology in the form of digital platforms and physical equipment has brought new excitement to this space, and many private equity firms have shown a huge interest in acquiring businesses that have the right mix of assets and opportunities.

Listen as Ben and Tedd Van Gorden, VP of M&A at Skytale Group talk about the growing demand and attraction in the med spa industry and how business owners looking to sell can strategically add value to their businesses.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • The state of the medical spa and aesthetic industry
  • What buyers and private equity groups are looking for in the aesthetic space
    • Cash flow
    • Service Mix
    • Pricing
    • Scalability
    • Owner’s story/reason for selling
  • How med spa owners can add value to their organization

Episode Insights

  • The market is expected to grow from 13.9 billion to 23.4 billion. So 10 billion in growth by 2027. That equates to a compounding growth rate of around 11%. And they expect it to grow an average of 11% per year until the year 2027. That's an incredible amount of growth, especially in comparison to some of these more established healthcare industries that a lot of investors are already saturated with. - Tedd Van Gorden
  • Investors want to know about you as the owner. What's your story? Why did you start this business? What do you think about your business? What is your day-to-day impact on the business? What are your roles and responsibilities? They really just want to get to know about you and what you do that's unique. Why do you think your business is great and what do you wanna do going forward? - Tedd Van Gorden
  • If you're thinking about selling and if you're thinking about talking with investors, they'll wanna know why you're selling and what your personal goals and interests are. Investors really dig in on this. - Tedd Van Gorden
  • Med spa owners should surround themselves with trusted advisors: a good lawyer, consultant, or even an M&A advisor. These trusted advisors are outside people that you have faith in to give good advice and perspective. - Tedd Van Gorden
  • I've always been baffled by anyone who would sell their business without some help, being that it's typically your largest income-producing asset. And for most of us, if we do ever sell, it'll be one time that we do so in our life. - Ben Hernandez

About the Guest:

Tedd Van Gorden is Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions at Skytale Group. He helps lead Skytale’s M&A advisory engagements, allowing clients to achieve the full value of their businesses and identify new opportunities for growth.

Prior to joining Skytale Group, Tedd was a Vice President at Ziegler Investment Banking, where he worked with mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory, capital formation engagements, and agency (FHA/HUD, Fannie/Freddie) financing programs for senior living and healthcare providers and investors.

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With a lot of advisory firms in the healthcare industry, it’s crucial to choose to work with one that scales and builds your business through multiple lenses.

At Skytale, we treat our clients’ businesses as our own, making sure we are developing and growing with them all the way. May it be strategic, financial, or operational, we make sure that we’ll be able to not only give advice but also become a partner in championing their challenges.

We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. Our experienced team customizes our strategies for every client, ensuring that we deliver deep industry insight with a plan for execution. We work to understand exactly what your organization looks like, listen to your vision for growth, and create a roadmap to help you reach your goals.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

  • The people behind Skytale Group and what inspires them to be a part of the team
  • How Skytale helps dental and aesthetics clients
  • What sets Skytale apart from other advisory firms
  • How competitive Skytale is in the market
  • Why Skytale focuses on healthcare

Episode Insights

  • What we do is that we take the financials and we create a plan based on our client’s goals, where they want to go, and then create that backward map to show them every step of the way. - Eric Pastan
  • At the end of the day, we are team members for the groups (clients); we want to be viewed as a team member. - Eric Pastan
  • It's very important to partner with an investment bank that knows what they're doing and that is able to represent you well. - Ben Hernandez
  • To maximize value, step one is that you can think from the perspective of fully understanding the organization, the owners, the people behind it, as well as educating our sellers as to what deal structures look like for various potential investors. - Ben Hernandez
  • Step two is the marketing phase where we're showing the business to various investors, trying to get them the right partner for what our sellers have indicated to us is important.
  • We do a combination of protecting our clients’ time to being on every phone call or dinner site visit all the way through close. - Ben Hernandez
  • We walk with our team every step of the way. - Ben Hernandez
  • We truly focus on scaling and building efficient organizations through multiple lenses. - Ben Hernandez
  • We take deep, deep care of our clients to make sure that we position our sellers in the best possible space that we can whenever they do transactions. - Ben Hernandez
  • We have partners and consultants across the country, which allows us to really offer all of that combined knowledge to our clients. - Eric Pastan
  • Skytale doesn’t send you a box and we pop out of it or plug something into your computer and boom, there's Skytale on your screen! We are the blood, sweat, and tears that we put into creating those solutions for the various organizations that we work with. - Eric Pastan
  • We are passionate about growth, and so we are excited to share what we do using both de novo growth and acquisition strategies. - Eric Pastan

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Skytale Insights offers business, financial, and operational strategies for leaders in the dental and aesthetic industries. If you’re a DSO, MSO, or medical spa owner with an appetite for growth, tune into each episode for key insights on opening your next location, scaling your business, or positioning yourself to sell. Each episode features experienced members of Skytale team and other dental or med spa industry experts, providing tactical and strategic guidance for growing your business and helping it thrive.

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