When Opportunity Knocks, Some of us Need Amplifiers

About 22.5 years ago, my life changed dramatically for the better. I’d been in private dental practice for a little more than a quarter century. And I guess we all don’t gain wisdom at the same speed. In 2002, Temple City Dental Care had become my home away from home. And from what a slow study like me viewed as catastrophe, a miracle was born.

When Office Manager Diane and Admin Dalila and I returned from a memorable pre-Winter Olympics conference in Salt Lake City (rode an elevator with Scottie Pippin, met a survivor from the “Into Thin Air” Mount Everest disaster, and was around to hear Astronaut/Senator Jake Garn speak about leadership), only the three of us remained the Monday after.

I had written my first business plan, and just like that, four people quit. We had zero dental assistants and zero dental hygienists. And sometimes asking for help, being vulnerable, or taking a long scary look into the mirror can be revelatory.

Looking back, I realize my first non-Von Bulow mentor had really been my first dental assistant, Diane. Way back at the beginning, during the Carter administration, we expanded by 50%- from a two-person practice to three, with Diane becoming the Manager, customer service rep, consigliore, and adult. When the new dental assistant left for a new opportunity and I sulked for two weeks, Diane asked me about my target date for graduation from adolescence.

26 years later, an opportunity arrived, and I almost missed it. We had grown and learned clinically and had gained a sense of a welcoming, warm culture that would serve friends and family. And I’m not sure if it was some contentious lazy little gray brain cells or an emotional IQ that was stuck on “Semi-illiterate,” but l still had considerable maturity development to process.

When Registered Dental Assistant Dani Williams visited our office for the first time more than 22 years ago, I barely gave her the time of day. I was too busy being busy. All Dani got was a wave and, “Oh, hi.”

Diane implemented a one-woman intervention. “Seriously, you didn’t take the time for a five, I mean a one-minute conversation. If you don’t have her return for a legit interview, you’ll be looking at a labor strike buddy! Dani’s special.” Truer words.

A quote from Maya Angelou: “A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” And today, Dani is undoubtedly my last best friend/family member standing from my home away from home during 46 years of dentistry. And as of a couple of weeks ago, Dani has packed her bags and will begin a new career adventure.

After 22 years of class, honesty, patience, leadership, and friendship, Dani has left her dental “home” since March 2002. Dani will be coordinating home care and caregiving for the elderly, and she’ll be an empathetic, understanding, caring gift for the people she’ll be serving.

Dani’s Dental Assisting career began as the #2 dental assistant; a few weeks later, she was the only dental assistant. Next thing you know, Dani was doing stuff like assembling a comprehensive inventory of supplies and instruments…without being asked. Within a few years, Dani was named Dental Assistant of the Year by the Crown Council, a leading-edge national organization emphasizing progressive dentistry and community outreach. When we became the first office in California to implement Dental ToothPrints and Child Safety and Awareness for a school district, Dani led the project and managed our awesome team of Temple City dentists doing good.

When I was fortunate enough to be included on Pasadena’s Haven House Board of Directors (the first shelter for victims of domestic violence established in the U.S.), Dani was there the next day, with a car full of donated clothes. When we adopted families fractured by domestic violence over the holidays, Dani and I were there, sharing smiles and tears while we presented gifts (wrapped by Dani and her sister Denise.)

Dani also organized friends and family to help feed LA’s growing homeless population. And for most of the past decade, our practice worked with Pasadena’s Foundation for Living Beauty, an organization committed to support women and their families during their journey battling cancer. Again, Dani and her sister Denise had initiative, spirit, and energy enough to inspire our entire team.

But it was the everyday Dani experience that led to her becoming the Office Manager/Team Leader over the span of the past 12 years. Always listening. Always thoughtful. Always fair. And eloquent.

Dani is the kind of leader who looks for opportunities to acknowledge team members and patients for doing well, while offering flowers, hugs, or a welcome ear in offering support, empathy, and love for co-workers and patients alike.

When I sold Temple City Dental Care back in May 2022, I was fortunate enough to stay on for a year, finishing up my patients and consulting the new owner, Dr. Kyle Low. For the last two years, Dani and I have shared lunch Monday through Wednesday. And even if we weren’t planning a business together training dental assistants, who wouldn’t want to share quality time with a friend you’d adopt if you could.

Going on five years ago, Dani became a mom to a beautiful little girl, Tatiana. And Tati hit the mom jackpot. As an unofficial uncle, I can turn my day around on social media just by seeing the priceless mom-daughter videos.

Dani and my dad share December 2 birthdays; they also share our better angel’s virtues of generosity, positivity, and looking out for others. From what I’ve heard from Dani, she’s much like her dad. And I bet our dads could’ve been best friends too.

Love ya Dani, stay great.