Join these awesome speakers throughout the event. They come from various working backgrounds and experience and will come with a wide array of thoughts and opinions.
Struggles and failures are not signs of weakness—they are inevitable steps in the journey toward growth. By normalizing these experiences, we empower ourselves and each other to rise stronger, wiser, and more resilient.
Dr. Farah Kar is a proud Iranian, Canadian, American orthodontist. She attended the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry for her DDS and Master of Science degree and Certificate of Orthodontics. She is double-board certified and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Dr. Kar has been an Invisalign certified orthodontist since 2014 and an Invisalign Diamond Plus Provider who has treated over 2,000 cases. She enjoys merging her background in fine arts, architecture, and project management with practicing orthodontics efficiently and with flare! Check out Dr. Kar’s Instagram for a snapshot of her life as an orthodontist: @the.ortho.queen
This talk explores why orthodontic partnerships sometimes fail, examining both general business pitfalls and challenges unique to orthodontic practices. It also highlights how to navigate partnership dissolutions positively, such as through planned buy-outs or retirements.
Dr. Emily Peppers has been practicing in Flagstaff, Arizona for over 12 years - as a "junior" minority partner right out of school, then as a 50/50 partner, and most recently as a solo owner and doctor. Over those years, she has learned so much about interpersonal relationships in our profession, and about business partnership in particular! She is excited and honored to share that knowledge with you at WIO 2026! When Dr. Peppers is not at the office, you can find her hiking or skiing with her husband and their 3 sons.
Dr. Kelly Morgan is a practicing orthodontist, wife, mother, and employer of 18. She founded Morgan Orthodontics in 2008 and built the initial location from scratch. It has grown to a very successful two location Northern Virginia practice.
Originally from Virginia, Dr. Morgan attended Mary Washington College and then the Harvard School of Dental Medicine for her dental training. Kelly completed her masters in orthodontics residency at the University of Louisville.
Dr. Kelly Morgan purchased her second location in the fall of 2019 and hired a full-time associate the beginning of March 2020…just prior to the COVID pandemic. Because of Kelly’s entrepreneurial spirit, ambition, and drive, she did not let the shutdown waiver her resolve. In fact, she was able to grow Morgan Orthodontics so much that she was named to the 2021 Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies! She has treated patients of all walks of life, including professional athletes, a Miss Virginia winner, and even a 9-year old Guiness Book of World Records holder for being the youngest patient to have wisdom teeth removed, which was Dr. Morgan’s finding.
Dr. Jessica Backinger is a private practicing orthodontist in Jackson Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree from Kalamazoo College, her DDS from Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and her orthodontic certificate from Rutgers University. Jessica purchased her first practice in 2013 and her second practice in 2014. Along with working in private practice, she also teaches a business management course for the orthodontic department at Detroit Mercy. Her passions include: team building, traveling, reading and spending time with her family. She has been married to her husband, Douglas, for 15 years and is the proud mother of a 10 year old girl, Sophia, and a 8 year old son Connor. You can follow her on TikTok @summitorthobraces.
Originally, from New York, Eric Lang ironically grew up believing kindness matters, which led him to complete an internship at Walt Disney World. Taking the world-class service lessons he learned from his time at Walt Disney World, Eric paired those with his six degrees in business, education, and medicine to create a career pathway in training the medical community.
Eric joined his wife as the office manager of Lang Orthodontics ten years ago. Since joining the team, the office has doubled in size and has added state of the art technologies. Their team enjoys a family-focused setting where a working mother’s schedule is prioritized, and they all enjoy low turnover. His passion remains in sales and personnel training.
Nicole McFarlane is the Office Manager of Dunn Orthodontics and a mother of two young boys. Nicole joined the Dunn Orthodontics team in October 2014 as a Scheduling Coordinator and quickly demonstrated her leadership and business acumen. By the summer of 2015, she had accepted the role as Office Manager. Nicole now manages a very busy two-doctor, four-location practice with 25+ employees. Dunn Orthodontics was listed among the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies and the Phoenix Business Journal’s Largest Family-Owned Businesses.
In addition to her duties for Dunn Orthodontics, Nicole is an accomplished consultant and speaker. She is a frequent contributor at Dunn Education events such as the Office Manager Workshop.
Dr. Tara Emerick is a board-certified orthodontist with a deep passion for transforming smiles through precise, personalized care. Her journey from patient to practitioner, inspired by her own experience with braces, led her to pursue a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Indiana University and complete an orthodontics residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Emerick specializes in modern orthodontic treatments, including clear aligners and advanced braces systems, and is dedicated to delivering exceptional results for patients of all ages in the Carmel area. She balances her professional expertise with a fulfilling family life, bringing a unique, empathetic approach to her practice
Angela Weber, Chief Marketing Officer at OrthoSynetics, transforms orthodontic practices into thriving brands. Combining her advertising expertise and healthcare experience, she blends creative vision with results-driven execution. A sought-after speaker and contributor, Angela has shared insights at Orthodontic Pearls, Ortho Evolution, Fully Engaged, and the MKS Forum, and has been featured in Becker’s Healthcare, OrthoTown, Bentson Copple Resource, and Progressive Orthodontist. With a passion for innovation and results, Angela ensures practices rise above the crowd.
Gain valuable knowledge on the art of leveraging credit card rewards to fund your travel adventures, all while managing a successful orthodontic practice. Learn how to transform your regular personal and business expenses into rewarding travel experiences.
Dr. Matthew Dunn is a board-certified orthodontist with 4 offices in the Phoenix/Scottsdale metro area. Dr. Dunn attended the University of Michigan for his Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Science in Orthodontics. He is the recipient of both the Thomas M. Graber Award of Special Merit and the Charley Shultz Resident Scholar Award from the American Association of Orthodontists. Dr. Dunn is Past-President of the Arizona State Orthodontic Association and currently serves on the AAO’s Council on Communications. Dr. Dunn’s practice, Dunn Orthodontics, was named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies and the Phoenix Business Journal’s list of the Largest Family-Owned Businesses in the Phoenix area.
Dr. Courtney Dunn is a practicing orthodontist, wife, mother of three, the Founder of Women in Orthodontics® and the Co-Founder of Dunn Orthodontics, a multi-location orthodontic practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Described as smart, ambitious, opinionated and a force of nature, Courtney has won the Milo Hellman Award, served as President of the Arizona State Orthodontic Association and been interviewed by such diverse media sources as National Public Radio (NPR) and Fox News Channel. Dunn Orthodontics was recently named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies and the Phoenix Business Journal’s list of the Largest Family-Owned Businesses in the Phoenix area.
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