Board of Directors

Kevin Thomas - Chairperson

Oral Healthcare Consultant

Kevin Thomas began his dental career in 1982 with Johnson & Johnson Dental Care Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a Field Sales Representative. In 1992, following the sale of his Division to DENTSPLY International, Kevin was promoted to Endodontic Business manager DENTSPLY/Caulk in Milford, DE.  Within two years Kevin was promoted to Director of Sales for DENTSPLY/Caulk, managing 115 Sales Managers, National Account Managers and Field Representatives. In 1996 Kevin and two partners purchased OMNI Oral Pharmaceuticals based in Gravette, AR and set up the Sales, Marketing and Customer Care Departments in West Palm Beach, FL.  OMNI was first in dentistry with products like stannous fluoride oral gels and rinses and tray based tooth whitening gels.  In 2006 OMNI Oral Pharmaceuticals was purchased by 3M ESPE.  Kevin assisted 3M ESPE with the integration of OMNI into the 3M ESPE Division and in 2008 he moved out of the Prevention Business to a part-time position with 3M ESPE in Industry Relations.  Kevin has attended virtually every major dental prevention research, advocacy and policy meeting that has occurred since 1996.  In addition Kevin attends the European Organization of Caries Research annual meeting.  Kevin also serves on the Dean's Council for UC-San Francisco School of Dentistry, the AAPD Foundation Board and as a dental industry advocate for the Children's Dental Health Project.  

In 1996 Kevin and two partners purchased OMNI Oral Pharmaceuticals based in Gravette, AR and set up the Sales, Marketing and Customer Care Departments in West Palm Beach, FL. OMNI was first in dentistry with products like stannous fluoride oral gels and rinses and tray based tooth whitening gels. Identifying the need for a professionally focused prevention company, based on an educational model, OMNI expanded into new lines in the United States including unit-dosed fluoride varnishes. OMNI's prevention focused sales organization concentrated on educating dental offices on the latest advances, protocols and studies on oral disease prevention. Staff meetings educated over 25,000 dental professionals annually. In 2006 OMNI Oral Pharmaceuticals was purchased by 3M ESPE. Kevin assisted 3M ESPE with the integration of OMNI into the 3M ESPE Division and in 2008 he moved to a part-time position with 3M ESPE in Industry Relations. Kevin has attended virtually every major dental prevention research, advocacy and policy meeting that has occurred since 1996. In addition Kevin attends the Europe's Organization of Caries Research annual meeting. Kevin currently Chair's the Program Committee for the ADA Foundation's Give Kids a Smile effort, moderating all four Promising Practices Symposium. Kevin also serves on the Dean's Council for UC-San Francisco School of Dentistry. He has recently been asked to serve as a member of the AAPD Foundation Board. Finally, Kevin serves as the Executive Director of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, an organization focused on helping to solve the access to oral care issue in North America.

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Bill Busch - Co-Founder

DDS, MAGD, Northland Dental Group

Dr. Busch is the founder of TeamSmile and is a practicing general dentist. With 21 years of experience and over 150 hours each year of continuing education, Dr. Busch has acquired numerous accolades such as the Proctor & Gamble Award for Excellency and the Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry. As a specialist in high-tech dental topics, he has published articles in several professional journals, lectures nationally to practicing dentists, and is a consultant for the Dentrix software company.  He is considered one of dentistry's top opinion leaders and is a luminary for further volunteerism in dentistry through expansion of TeamSmile.

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Jason Krause - Co-Founder

MBA, Digital Clinic, Vice President

Mr. Krause received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire and his Master in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.  His background is in healthcare & dental sales.  In his current role as Vice President of Digital Clinic he is building a new company based upon digital patient engagement technology.  He has a background in Management and CAD/CAM for Henry Schein Dental.  He was responsible for a territory of Colorado and Wyoming and was also instrumental in the start-up of Henry Schein's E4D CAD/CAM Dental System.  His passion and expertise is in dental outreach as he has served in over thirty events in more than ten states.  These events have propelled him to become the co-founder of a dental non-profit, TeamSmile.  Mr. Krause and Dr. Busch have been working together in creating a new outreach program that makes volunteering easy and fun.  This program has been in eight major cities and has worked with the NFL, MLB, PGA, NBA and NHL.  Mr. Krause and his wife Betsie live in Milwaukee, WI with children Noah, Seth and Nai'a.

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Kirby Kavanaugh-Buzard - Vice President

BA, DDS, Owner-Zona Rosa Dental, LLC

Dr. Kirby Kavanaugh-Buzard has been practicing dentistry for over 17 years in the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri. She was born and raised in Gladstone, Missouri and comes from a dental family background, as her father and brother are well-respected orthodontists in the Kansas City area. Dr. Kavanaugh-Buzard graduated from the University of Missouri's six year accredited dental program with a Bachelor of Arts/Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree. She owns and operates Zona Rosa Dental located in the heart of Zona Rosa, a unique shopping and entertainment destination. Dr. Kavanaugh-Buzard strives to be on the leading edge of dental technology. Her office is equipped with an onsite milling center, the E4D CAD/CAM Dental System, and she is able to provide state of the art dental care to patients. Dr. Kavanaugh-Buzard is a member of many professional organizations, including the Missouri Dental Association, American Dental Association, Greater Kansas City Dental Society, Clay-Platte Dental Society Lake Waukomis Civic Women's Club, Park Hill School District Parent Teacher Association, and BNI. Dr. Kavanaugh-Buzard has two daughters, Madison and McKenzie.

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Dr. Richard Gist

Principal Assistant to the Director of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department

Dr. Gist's responsibilities include strategic planning, organizational development, and serving as liaison between the Fire Department and a wide range of agencies with whom we interact in the provision of our services. He is widely recognized in emergency services venues for development and execution of innovative projects, programs, and service initiatives to enhance the impact of fire and rescue services for communities and their citizens in both daily missions and catastrophic events.

Dr. Gist is a public health educator trained in behavioral epidemiology, community education, and analysis/evaluation of service delivery systems. He has held teaching and research appointments at a number of colleges and universities worldwide, and has been an invited lecturer in a wide range of settings here and abroad. He has provided consultation and assistance to disaster response agencies, service organizations, and major corporations in preparing for and responding to disaster and emergency. Widely known author and speaker, he has published a wide range of refereed articles, text chapters, and edited books. He has also created a number of innovative, award winning community partnership programs to improve the health and safety of our community.

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Don Hobbs

Henry Schein Dental, Vice President Equipment

Don is responsible for the Henry Schein Dental sales, marketing, and operational strategies as they relate to the dental capital equipment and hi-tech equipment categories. He is also responsible for all aspects of professional sales and technology sales training. In addition, Don oversees the National Design team and Special Markets Equipment sales group, and acts as a company leader with respect to vendor relations for all equipment vendors.

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Kate Parrish

Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Operations Manager

Kate joined the Global Marketing Division of Colgate in 2001, managing professional relations and the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures oral health outreach program. She was promoted in 2005 to the Oral Pharmaceutical Division of Colgate focusing on developing the division's Business Operations that include business process, reporting, event management, professional relations, and oral health outreach. She oversees the execution of Colgate's Children Dental Health Month activities and has been an active participant in the TeamSmile Oral Health outreach program for the last 5 years, winning the Spirit Award in 2008.

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Candy B. Ross

Danaher, Director of Professional Relations

Ms. Candy Ross is Director of Professional Relations for ISI/Gendex/DEXIS/ Marus/Pelton & Crane/KaVo. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Rhode Island. Ms. Ross initiated her career in a research capacity having the opportunity to work at Forsyth Dental Research Institute and then Monsanto Company. Ms Ross worked with Teledyne Water Pik for 23 years working from educational consultant—calling on dental and dental hygiene schools—to Director of Professional Relations and Clinical Research Worldwide. Ms. Ross is now working with the Danaher Imaging Group as Director of Professional Relations for the three imaging companies. She has had the opportunity to serve on multiple boards and committees with ADA, AAP, ADHA, AADA, Dimensions Corporate Council, ADA GKAS Expansion Program, JADA Industry Advisory Board, UK College of Dentistry Dean's Advisory Board, ADEA National Oral Health Advocacy Committee, ADEA Board of Directors as Vice President of the Corporate Council, and Team Smile Advisory Board. Ms. Ross lives in Marietta, GA with her husband and two standard poodles.

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Eric Shirley

Midmark, Vice President and General Manager

Eric Shirley is the Vice-President & General Manager for the Dental Division of the Midmark Corporation. A 21-year veteran of the dental industry, he held positions for Sybron Dental Specialties and Dentsply International before joining Midmark. Born and raised in Southern California, Eric has a BA in Journalism from Long Beach State University, and received his MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA. Eric is married and the father of four children, and lives near Dayton, Ohio.

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