September 2025 Edition: AADOM

If we haven’t met yet—I’m Susan Leckowicz, CEO of Dental Coaches, and I’m thrilled to welcome you to this special edition of our newsletter, created just for AADOM attendees!

Whether we had the chance to chat at the booth or pass each other between sessions, I want to say thank you for making this year’s conference so unforgettable. We’re sending you this newsletter as a warm follow-up and to celebrate the incredible community you’re now part of.

AADOM Was 🔥... Let’s Recap the Magic!

From the moment things kicked off with a Toby Keith Red Solo Cup tribute to the final closing remarks, the energy, connection, and celebration were palpable. This wasn’t just another conference—it was a reminder of how powerful this community of office managers and leaders truly is.

Some of the unforgettable highlights included:

• Judy Kay receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award—what a moment of legacy and inspiration!
• Brandi Williams was honored as Office Manager of the Year for multi-location practices—such a well-deserved recognition and Brooke Paul was honored as Office Manager of the Year for a single-location practice!
• Teresa Spence being honored with the Leave the Ladder Down Award—what a beautiful reminder of mentorship and giving back.

And can we just talk about how much FUN it was? Over 25% of attendees were first-timers, and every single one we spoke with told us how welcomed and empowered they felt. If you’re new to AADOM, we’re so glad you’re here. You’re in the right place.

We were honored to exhibit alongside 173 exhibitors from around the country, all of us united in one purpose: to elevate office managers and empower you with tools, connections, and inspiration to thrive in your practices.

Insight of the Month: Lessons from the AADOM Stage

What do laughter, boldness, trust, and emotion all have in common? According to this year’s AADOM keynote speakers, they’re the core ingredients of authentic leadership—and a thriving dental practice.

Here are the powerful insights we took away from the stage:

Tim Gard – Change the Game with Humor & Heart

Tim reminded us that leadership isn’t about checking off a to-do list—it’s about doing your best, showing up fully, and yes, even laughing at yourself. 

"Stress + humor = resiliency.” 

He encouraged us to embrace a comic vision, to recognize that laughter connects us in ways no script or system ever could. His message? Be in the now. Use humor to shift the room. And remember, words have power. (Also… did you get one of those itty bitty chickens? 🐥)

Fred Joyal – Be Bold, Even When It’s Uncomfortable

As the closing keynote, Fred brought the heat with a simple but challenging message:

“Be deliberately uncomfortable.”

Whether it's asking for feedback or giving it in the moment, true growth happens when we step into boldness. If you’ve tried being bolder this week—whether with your team, your patients, or even yourself—keep going. Bold leaders build brave teams. 

Carrie Webber – Trust is Visual

Carrie shared a truth we’ve all felt: 50% of people won’t trust unless they can see it. That means using clear visuals like Pearl AI or Overjet not just to explain treatment—but to build trust.

In a world full of noise, strong visuals speak louder than words. They make your recommendations real, relatable, and reliable.

Steve Anderson – Feelings First, Logic Follows   

Steve’s famous “shopping story” hit home with a message we live by at Dental Coaches:

"People buy with emotion and justify with logic."

This applies in your practice every single day. Patients don’t just need information—they need to feel good about saying yes to treatment.

So ask yourself: How are you making patients feel about choosing health? Because when they feel seen, heard, and supported—that’s when the magic happens.   

Prize Spotlight: Congrats to the Winners!

One of our favorite parts of AADOM was celebrating you with some fun giveaways! 

• Ray-Ban Meta AI Sunglasses – won during our table raffle drawing
• Stanley Cooler stuffed with swag – given away as our main stage door prize

Both prizes went home with some very happy winners—just look at those smiles!

A big thank-you to everyone who stopped by, entered, and shared in the fun with us. You made AADOM extra special!

Success Story: Tolley Dental Crushes the Call

We love watching teams grow in confidence—and that’s exactly what we witnessed with Tolley Dental after they completed our Crush the Call new patient phone training bootcamp.

Here’s what Steph, their Practice Administrator, had to say: “There’s a huge difference between the beginning of the month and the end. Everyone’s improved significantly. Role-playing felt awkward at first—now it’s easy. We’ve got it down!” 

Click here to hear Steph say it herself.

That’s what Crush the Call is all about—turning uncertainty into confidence, and giving teams the tools to connect, convert, and create trust on the very first phone call.

Steph’s team isn’t just answering phones—they’re inviting patients into a better experience from the very first word. 

Resource: Invite to Our Team Lead Community

Every month, we host a Team Lead Call—a virtual gathering of our clients' team leaders who come together to learn, grow, and support one another. It’s a space for real conversations, actionable strategies, and a community that gets it.

Normally, this call is exclusive to our clients—but for October, we’re opening it up to AADOM members!

• Tuesday, October 14 @ 1:00 PM EST

Whether you're a seasoned leader or just stepping into the role, you’ll walk away with ideas, encouragement, and new connections. Interested in joining us? Send me an email back and we'll send you the link to join us.

Insights from My Breakout Session

Thank you to everyone who joined my breakout session, Crush the Call: Elevating New Patient Conversion Over the Phone. It was such a joy to spend time with so many of you committed to creating great first impressions for your practices.

We explored how that very first phone call can make or break a patient’s decision to choose your office—and how to master it with confidence and purpose.

My biggest hope? That you walked away ready to transform every phone interaction into an opportunity to grow your practice and build trust with patients resulting in building relationships that last.

Did You Know?

Did you know that a patient will call 5-7 different offices when looking for a dental office even after they've booked an appointment at your office.

We loved connecting with so many of you at AADOM—and we hope this special edition newsletter gave you a boost of inspiration, insight, and encouragement to bring back to your practice. We hope this newsletter is valuable to you and if you don't feel it is you can email me back to ask to be removed from our list or simply unsubscribe.

If you’re looking for ongoing support, community, and strategies that actually move the needle, you’ve got options: Join us on the October 14th Team Lead Call—normally reserved for clients, but you’re invited!

Click here to schedule a call to explore how Dental Coaches can help you and your team grow, align, and reduce stress while increasing success. Let’s keep the momentum going. You’re not alone—and we’d love to walk alongside you in your leadership journey.

Warmly,

Susan