Our Team

Gary Kadi,

World Authority on Dental Practice Management

For the past 15 years, Gary Kadi has served as an advisor to dental team leaders around the world. A recognized authority on leadership, management, organizational transformation, and performance, he has been honored consistently for his dedication and motivation to dental team success. Kadi has directly impacted the lives of thousands of dental professionals, their families, and patients. His ground-breaking, world renowned book, Million Dollar Dentistry is distributed in 37 countries with over 35,000 copies in 5 editions. Gary’s innovative sequel, Raise Your HDL: Healthy Deserve Level is on it’s second edition.

Gary Kadi is an author that challenges, a speaker that inspires, and an innovator in dental practice management. He is founder of NextLevel Practice, the primary mission of which is to profoundly and measurably enhance the quality of life for dentists, team members, and the patients they serve. Prior to dedicating his career to the advancement of dentistry, he owned several marketing and management consulting firms serving a broad range of industries.

Gary’s passion and expertise is in business and team accountability and development. Gary has had his formal education in business management from Rutgers University and the expertise he utilizes today in revolutionizing practice management comes from the thousands of businesses and mentors he has worked directly with. What makes Gary’s work in the dental field so special is that he comes from a business and team development background. He also spent an entire year working hands on inside successful dental practices in every role before designing his NextLevel methodology.

His genuine, straightforward approach to dental practice development is praised in workshop evaluations coast to coast. During his career he has appeared in CNN, Dentistry Today, Dental Ecomonics, Dental Tribune Worldwide, Private Dentistry UK, Aesthetic Dentistry, Dental Entreprenuer, and The Profitable Dentist.

 

 

Sara Fossen,

Director of Leading Dentists Curriculum

Sara Fossen is one of the fabulous facilitators with NextLevel Practice. For 20+ years, she has been working in the dental arena in numerous capacities. Along with her dental experience and knowledge, she has been studying Gary’s methodology for 6 years now.

Her degree in Organizational Communication from Arizona State University further compliments her coaching abilities. She comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Living with, learning from, and Listening to them, as well as obtaining a Business degree, contributes to her understanding of business and business owners—such as dentists.

From a young age, Sara knew it was her passion to create a profound and lasting difference not only in the world, but more so in the world of dentistry. What you can count on Sara for is to bring fun, organization (she loves that stuff), inspiration, straight talk, and grounded ease. She’s living her dream! And, so can you!

 

 

Heather Smith,

Director of Operations

A born leader (aka, the oldest of 7 children), Heather’s background is in business and marketing from Arizona State University and from coaching, training, development, and studying from hundreds of mentors in all aspects of the business and dental fields. She has traveled all over the globe producing results for dental teams. Heather is the type of person who makes doctors’ and teams’ dreams come true TODAY—not someday in the distant future.

As a Senior Facilitator, Heather is an innovator. You can count on Heather to say the thing in the room that everyone knows but is afraid to say. Her quick wit and get-her-done approach is what inspires her teams into action. But she’s not all business. Whether schlepping through the airport during a 6-hour layover from Vancouver Island to Phoenix or enjoying her favorite ride, Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, “fun” is the name of her game.

 

 

Paulette Gaffney,

Serving Beyond Your Expectations

As the type of person who has always persevered, Paulette ran her first marathon at age 55. Deciding to take a walk on the wild side, she left the health and dental insurance industry after 20 years in sales and management to join the NextLevel Practice Team.

Paulette handles the day-to-day operations of Gary’s NextLevel Practice. She makes it happen and is rock-solid dependable. Her wit, generous listening, and intelligence have her serving you beyond your expectations day in and day out without skipping a beat. Paulette may often be imitated …but she’s NEVER duplicated!

 

 

Pamela Jackson

Curriculum Registrar

** LIVE WELL** LOVE MUCH** LAUGH OFTEN** is Pamela’s motto.

As the first girl born in her family in 26 years, she’s definitely a ‘girly girl’!! Born outside of Cleveland Ohio she brings that good Midwestern work ethic to our group. Now a valley resident for 14 years, she loves ‘the dry heat’!

With a strong sales and customer service background and 10+ years in medical offices, she’s eagerly making the transition to the ‘dental world’! Pam is our first contact with clients; provides team support; and definitely thrives on giving support wherever needed.

Outside the office she’s very involved with her church. Pam attends a Lutheran group with an older congregation who get a kick out of her quick wit and over the top enthusiasm. In her spare time she loves scouring thrift stores and antique shops looking for old furniture to refurbish. These new found treasures add to her shabby chic collection.

 

 

Mary Serke

Senior Facilitator

A third generation native of the S.F. Bay Area, Mary lived all over California before relocating to northern Phoenix with her husband in April of 2003. A mother of two children, two cats and a dog, Mary has settled quite well into the warm Phoenician lifestyle.

With a background of 25+ years in Corporate America Mary has worked in Privately Owned, Start ups and Fortune 500 Companies. She has 15 years experience as a classroom facilitator mostly in the leadership development arena. “I am passionate about having people succeed in what matters most to them.” This poem has been in the background of what drives me for about 15 years now:

Go to the People Learn from them Love them Start with what they know Build on what they have But of the best leaders When their task is accomplished Their work is done The people will remark “We have done it ourselves”