Webinar Speaker Bios

T.J. Blackmon  

TJ Blackmon Vice President of Managed Services and CIO with over 30 years of experience supporting small and mid-sized businesses. A hands-on leader and trusted advisor, TJ specializes in delivering tailored IT solutions that help clients grow, stay secure, and operate efficiently.  

With a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing small businesses, TJ has built a reputation for reliability, personal service, and long-term partnerships that drive success.  

Tom Brooks  

Tom Brooks is a Partner in Moore Colson’s Business and Financial Advisory Practice Area. Tom has more than 30 years of experience assisting public and privately held companies with valuation and litigation support. He has served as an advisor to his clients, working closely with owners and senior executives to assist them with strategic planning and goal setting to maximize value.  

Dr. Ellie Campbell 

Dr. Ellie Campbell is a graduate of University of Illinois, the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Medical College of Georgia. An author and internationally acclaimed speaker, she shares valuable information on blood pressure measurement, contributors and remedies in addition to medical and dental collaboration.  

Brenda Christmas  

Brenda Christmas is a Senior Manager in Moore Colson’s Business and Financial Advisory Practice Area. She specializes in financial statement preparation and analysis, tax compliance, budgeting and forecasting, payroll administration and outsourced accounting solutions, serving clients in healthcare, professional services and other privately held business sectors.  

Dr. William Claytor 

Dr. J. William “Bill” Claytor, Jr., DDS, MAGD, is Executive Director of North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals, a national speaker, author, and consultant specializing in general dentistry, mental health, substance use disorders, burnout prevention, and perfectionism, and recipient of the 2025 ADA Distinguished Service Award. 

Karen Comisi 

Karen Comisi,DISIPC, CDA, RDA, FAADA, Over the past 39 years, she has held almost every staff position in the dental office, except for dentist and dental hygienist. She has been an orthodontic dental assistant, oral surgeon dental assistant, general dentist assistant, front desk and insurance coordinator, Infection Control Officer, OSHA Officer, HIPAA Officer, Office Manager, CFO and Co-Founder of Dental Care with a Difference as well as CFO and Co-Founder of Sleep Focused Solutions. Karen is one of the first licensed, registered dental assistants in New York  State, a DANB Certified Dental Assistant, a member of the American Dental Assistants Association and the Association for Dental Safety (ADS) 

Michael Diehl 

Michael has had the privilege to help private practice owners reach their goals for 5 years with Bank of America. With assisting doctors at every stage of a private practice life cycle, he specializes in providing guidance for dentists starting their own practice, expanding their existing practice, renovating, relocating, and practice real estate transactions in Georgia & Alabama.  

Dr. Marie Fluent  

Dr. Marie Fluent is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Her dental career spans over 35 years and involves lecturing, writing, and consulting on infection control related topics including antibiotic stewardship and dental unit waterlines. Dr Fluent is a member of the Michigan Dental association, American Dental Association, and holds Fellowship in the American College of Dentistry.  

She is a recipient of the Association for Dental Safety Milton Schaefer and Service Leadership Awards. Dr. Fluent is passionate and deeply committed to improving the safety of dental visits and has educated thousands of dental professionals and students nationally and internationally.  

Aaron Gelmon  

Aaron Gelmon helps dentists and healthcare professionals eliminate hidden lease risks that can block sales, delay financing, or cost hundreds of thousands in practice value.  

As Partner at Acuity Negotiations, he specializes in dental lease strategy, tenant representation, and landlord negotiation, helping providers stay secure, sale-ready, and positioned for long-term growth.  

Aaron is the creator and lead instructor of The Good Leasing Guidelines for Dental Offices, a high-impact seminar that teaches dentists how to identify risky clauses, strengthen their leases, and protect equity before it is too late.  

Through this program, Aaron gives doctors what they need most: clarity, confidence, and control over one of the most important contracts in their career.  

Harris Gignilliat  

Harris Gignilliat is a Financial Advisor and Managing Director–Wealth Management with the Trillium Partners team. He also holds the internal designations of Senior Institutional Consultant and is part of the UBS Institutional Consulting Program. He joined UBS in 2000 and is an alumnus of the University of Georgia. Since 2002, Harris has worked with the Georgia Dental Association (GDA), fostering a long-standing collaboration built on trust and shared commitment to client success.  

Ellen Karlin  

Ellen Karlin currently owns and operates a nutrition consulting service. Previously, she was a nutrition consultant to dental healthcare professionals in Owings Mills, Maryland, and spent over 3 decades as a nutrition consultant at the Comprehensive Asthma and Allergy Center. Mrs. Karlin holds a Master of Medical Science degree in Nutrition Education from Emory University. In 1999, she became a fellow of the American Dietetic Association. Ellen is also a spokesperson for the American Dairy Association Northeast and for the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. 

Mrs. Karlin is an internationally recognized keynote speaker at healthcare conferences. She has presented to many dental and dental hygiene groups including New York Dental Society, Arizona Dental Society, American Academy for Oral and Systemic Health, Florida Dental Association, American Dental Association, Pennsylvania Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association and American Dental Hygiene Association. Ellen is the co-author of “Dental and Oral Considerations in Pediatric Celiac Disease.” Additionally, she has collaborated as co-author  

Dr. Sara Karlin 

Dr. Sara Karlin is a board-certified pediatric dentist currently working in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia and as an attending pediatric dentist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park and completed her D.D.S. at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Dr. Karlin pursued her specialty training at New York University and Bellevue Hospital Center, earning a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Karlin is the primary author of “Dental and Oral Considerations in Pediatric Celiac Disease,” published in J Dent Child, May 2016, and has co-authored numerous online continuing education courses for oral healthcare providers. 

As a keynote speaker, Dr. Karlin presents an array of nutrition and oral health topics to dental and dental hygiene organizations across the continent. Notable engagements have included the American Dental Association, New York Dental Society, Arizona Dental Society and American Dental Hygiene Association.   

Jeremy Kendrick 

Jeremy Kendrick is Director of Sales at Digital Technology Partners (DTP), a Managed Service Provider with more than 20 years in business and a primary focus on the dental industry. With over 18 years of experience and hundreds of completed dental projects, Jeremy helps practice owners make technology investments that support their goals and enhance the patient and staff experience. 

His work spans new practice startups, renovations, and existing offices, aligning technology with the infrastructure, workflows, and ongoing support needed for successful implementation. Jeremy brings a practical, people-focused perspective to evaluating technology, helping practices ask the right questions, plan thoughtfully, and choose solutions that make a meaningful difference in daily operations.  

Dr. Beomjune B. Kim 

Beomjune B. Kim, D.M.D., M.D., F.A.C.S., is a head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstructive surgeon at City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta. Dr. Kim 
has been with City of Hope since 2019, relocating his practice to Atlanta in 2021. As a head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Kim extensively addresses the complex surgical needs of head and neck cancer patients, and those needing head and neck reconstruction. 

Founder of NU Real Estate Advisors and NU Dental Advisors, Ed Pease has built a distinguished career in commercial real estate. Specializing in the development of neighborhood and community shopping centers, he has worked with major retailers such as Kroger, Lowe’s Home Centers, CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens, and more.  

Beyond retail, Ed’s expertise extends to the medical sector, where he has developed facilities for dental practices, gastro practices, women’s cancer centers, cardiovascular, and internal medicine practices, with projects spanning 11 different states.   

Matt Poppert 

Matt has spent the last 21 years working with dental clients across the country and brings over 21 years of real estate and dental business experience. In his career he has helped over a thousand doctors with their real estate, transition, office design and buildout needs for all aspects of ownership from starting a first practice, buying a practice to relocating or expanding.  

Throughout his career with DDS Match South, Carr Healthcare Real Estate and Midmark, he was personally involved in hundreds of new, existing, expanding and transitioning dental offices. In 2021 Matt was awarded his Certified Business intermediatory designation from the international Business Brokers Association.  

Dr. John B. Roberson 

Dr. John B. Roberson received his B.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi, his dental doctorate from the University of Mississippi and his Oral & Maxillofacial surgery training from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Dr. Roberson writes and lectures extensively about Medical/Sedation Emergencies and Emergency Drugs in the Dental Office.   

He has co-authored a book on Medical Emergencies, has written almost 100 articles on the subject, has over 50 Online CE courses, and co-developed the Emergency Response System for dental offices. 

Ryan Rouille 

 Ryan Rouille is a partner at a financial planning firm WealthMade, where he brings his expertise in wealth management, investment strategies, and financial planning to help clients achieve their financial goals. With a strong background in finance and a commitment to providing personalized solutions, Ryan plays a key role in guiding both individuals and businesses toward sustainable financial success. His dedication to building long-term relationships with clients and delivering tailored advice has made him a valued figure in the financial planning industry.  

Ryan gives back to his professional and personal community in a variety of ways: he fundraises for the DDD Foundation, a local initiative that brings dentistry services to special needs children, and he volunteers with Special Olympics. Ryan is also a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and has been on various committees in the financial services industry. 

Chris Sands 

Chris Sands is a consummate Entrepreneur, business & financial Consultant, sought-after keynote Speaker, Podcaster, and Owner of multiple privately held companies serving Dentistry’s small business needs in America. With great success in growing dental practices, accounting firms, financial services businesses, and real estate portfolios, Chris is a champion of the entrepreneurial spirit and embraces the pursuit of complete Financial Freedom. He holds the designations and experience of an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)®.  

Brent Saunier 

Brent Saunier is a 25-year Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)® who advises business owners on all aspects of accounting, finance, tax, operational strategy and best practices. Brent’s proactive and hands-on approach has built long-lasting relationships and trust with his clients. He has extensive experience identifying and implementing tax strategies for small-to-medium-sized businesses with expertise in medical, dental and veterinary practices, professional service firms and real estate.   

Grayson Scanlon 

Grayson Scanlon is a dental office designer focused on creating efficient, functional spaces that help private practices with performance, whether that’s by improving workflows, increasing patient capacity, or making the most of their location. 

Debbie Seidel-Bittke 

Debbie (“SI DAL BIT KEY”) Seidel Bittke, is a highly accomplished dental hygienist and a leading expert in our dental profession, specifically empowering doctors, dental hygienists and the entire team, helping them to elevate their patient care. She has a strong desire to share her knowledge so dental professionals stop feeling the stress of working in the fast-paced environment of a dental office. There is a way to do dentistry, so we enjoy our days at the office and love what we do as dental professionals.   

With 30 + years of hands-on experience, as a practicing dental hygienist, consultant, and educator, Debbie has a deep desire to pass along her knowledge, clinical experience as an educator, and practice management skills from coaching dental offices so other dental professionals love and enjoy working in our profession of dentistry.   

As the founder of Dental Practice Solutions, Debbie has dedicated her career to coaching her colleagues to manage their time with patients, teaching other hygienists and dental professionals that we are not cleaning teeth, but we are ambassadors for our patients’ total health.   

Debbie’s impressive background as a hygiene department program director and former assistant professor at the University of Southern California has earned her numerous accolades and speaking engagements across North America.   
She is known for her engaging and informative presentations, where she shares practical strategies and actionable insights to help dental professionals take their practice to a new level of patient care.  Her dynamic and interactive teaching style ensures that participants leave her courses with practical tools and knowledge they can implement immediately.    

Angela Simmons 

Angela Simmons, CHPC, CCSA, BS, Compliance & Risk Management Expert, Founder Simmons Safe 

Angela Simmons, CHPC, CCSA, BS is a seasoned Compliance Professional with a remarkable 35-year career in the dental industry based in Richmond, Virginia. Angela is the founder of Simmons Safe, a trusted partner in compliance known for unwavering dedication, innovative solutions, and a deep commitment to organizational success. 

Her expertise spans a range of critical topics, including OSHA, Infection Control, Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office, HIPAA, and Information Security. 

Michelle Strange 

Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH  is a practicing dental hygienist, educator, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the dental field. She began her career as a dental assistant and then a dental hygienist earning a Bachelor’s degree in health science from the Medical University of South Carolina, followed by a Master’s degree in dental hygiene education from the University of Bridgeport. Her commitment to excellence is demonstrated by ongoing professional development, including earning a Certificate in Dental Infection Prevention and Control, Myofunctional Therapy, Interim Restorative Therapies, and Neuromodulators.  

Michelle is the founder of MichelleStrangeRDH  and  Level Up Infection Prevention, two platforms dedicated to empowering dental professionals through education, hands-on resources, and practical strategies for success in clinical care and compliance. Most recently, she became the proud owner of  SmileLogic, a dental hygiene practice in Colorado that delivers value-based, patient-centered care.  

Dr. Scott Tomar 

Dr. Scott Tomar is Professor and Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.  He currently serves on the American Dental Association (ADA) National Fluoridation Advisory Committee and is the ADA spokesperson on community water fluoridation. Dr. Tomar has published about 180 journal articles and book chapters and contributed to seven reports of the US Surgeon General.  He is a former editor of Journal of Public Health Dentistry and Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice and has received numerous awards, including International Association for Dental Research (IADR) H. Trendley Dean Distinguished Scientist Award.  Dr. Tomar has served as President of the American Board of Dental Public Health, Oral Health Section of the American Public Health Association, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, and the IADR Behavioral, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research Group.  Dr. Tomar received his B.A. and D.M.D. degrees from Temple University, M.P.H. degree from Columbia University, and certificate in Dental Public Health and Dr.P.H. degree in Oral Epidemiology from The University of Michigan.  Dr. Tomar served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health.  

Dr. Bobby Tran 

"Bobby" Duc Q. Tran, MD, MSc is the inaugural Chief Medical Officer at Hemophilia of Georgia, Inc and provides scientific guidance on strategic and operating decisions. He is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa where he also served as Chief Resident. He then completed a fellowship in hematology at Emory University. He has clinical research interests in the fields of hemophilia and bleeding disorders and was the Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator on multiple clinical trials. He currently serves as the Medical Director for the Southeast Region US HTC Network and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Thrombosis & Hemostasis Network (ATHN).