What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?
Honestly, the most challenging and yet rewarding aspect of my job is the diversity of procedures I perform. As a general dentist you are asked to not only diagnose, but also provide treatment for a broad spectrum of conditions. The procedures I provide include fillings, crowns, cosmetic veneers, root canals, and implants. To be able to perform these procedures at a high level of quality requires countless hours of continuing education and research. I do believe, however, that this diversity provides me the most satisfaction at work because each day is diverse, challenging, and mentally stimulating.
Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?
I read a book recently by the name of Small Giants by Bo Burlingham. In his book, the author identifies a handful of unique businesses that stand out in quality and he tries to outline why these businesses are so successful and beloved by their employees. There were a few standouts in the book including Danny Melker from the Union Square Hospitality group in New York City and Fred Maytag of Anchor Brewing in San Francisco. The characteristic I admired most about both of these business leaders was their personal commitment to quality and a commitment to stay connected locally. The driving force behind the work that I do everyday is quality. I am not always the fastest dentist, but I can live with that as long as I know that what I am doing for my patients is of the highest possible quality every time. I admire these people because, by the author’s description, they have become successful largely because of their personal commitment to quality without exception. The other aspect that I admire is their commitment to the community around them. Each of them went out of their way to stay local rather than become corporate or chase more money. I think this is an admirable trait.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
Thus far in my career, the high point has not been a single moment in time. Rather, it has been the summation of many moments over the past couple of years when I have come to the end of both long and short treatment plans for my long-time patients. There is nothing quite like the feeling when you have someone finish their treatment and break down in tears over their new smile or tell you that you have changed their view of dentists due to their great experiences while working with you. These are the moments when I know that my hard work has been worthwhile. This is why I choose to be a dentist and continue to do what I do.
Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21-year-old self?
If I am being honest, I would have asked the 21-year-old me what the hell I was doing! When I was 21 I was caught up with Marquette University basketball, going to parties with friends, and pulling all-nighters to cram for organic chemistry. What I was lacking was perspective and humility. I would have urged the young me to travel abroad or do a study-abroad program to gain some worldly perspective. I would have told the young me to study before the night before the big exam and focus more on the practical knowledge. Don’t worry if you did not set the curve on the exam or got a question wrong. I would have told myself to get up earlier to enjoy the sunrise and go to bed earlier because nothing good happens after 11 p.m. Sadly, we cannot go back in time and gift ourselves the lessons that only time and life impart on us. What this question is really asking is what I have learned over the past decade. The answer would be perspective, but there is still more learning to do.
(Continued)
What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
The best aspects of being in Dane County are the people, the sense of community, and the numerous outdoor activities right in our backyard. My wife and I moved to Madison over four years ago from Milwaukee. At the time I was very sad to be leaving Milwaukee, where I had spent the past seven years. I had become very fond of living downtown near the lakefront. I was able to walk basically anywhere I wanted to go and there was always so much going on for entertainment. When I moved to Madison, it was a big adjustment because we lived in a more suburban neighborhood and we lost a lot of the attributes that we loved about Milwaukee. However, what I have come to appreciate about Madison is that we still have all of those big city attributes without many of the drawbacks. We now live in a house in a suburb of Madison and we can literally bike around Lake Monona or out to Mt. Horeb in less than an hour or two. We have become bicycling enthusiasts and enjoy the local feel it provides. We love going to the farmers market, Concerts on the Square, and Badger athletic events. What is so neat about all of these events is that it unifies the city and the people. The people of the Greater Madison area have so much pride in their city and at the same time are a very welcoming group. There is a vibe in Madison that is hard to describe, but easy to feel and embrace.
Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?
I don’t know if it is considered a talent, but I have a passion for gardening that has developed over the past two years. When I moved into my house I finally had some space to enjoy and so my wife and I decided to start a garden. Our first year consisted of a 4 foot by 8 foot planter box that we crammed just about everything you can think of into. We were up to our ears in tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and peppers. This forced me to learn how to make pickles, preserve tomatoes, and make homemade pesto. This past summer was our second year with our garden and it has quadrupled in size to 9 feet by 16 feet, and includes more diversity like a strawberry patch, broccoli, and more. I have come to appreciate what goes into growing food and I appreciate feeling connected to what I am eating.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I think you can consider trashy television a guilty pleasure and I am an admitted Bachelor and Bachelorette fan. I may get some pushback from Bachelor nation for labeling this as trashy. However, I don’t think it can be considered quality programming. That being said, our office had an NCAA basketball-style bracket challenge for the Bachelor last year. We filled out our brackets based on who we thought would make it to the end and who we thought would exit early. Sadly, I won.
Click here to sign up for the free IB ezine — your twice-weekly resource for local business news, analysis, voices, and the names you need to know. If you are not already a subscriber to In Business magazine, be sure to sign up for our monthly print edition here.
