AADOM Member Stories: Tammy Coleman
Tammy Coleman, Consultant at TLC Dental Coaching in Montgomery, Texas!
🎧 Prefer to listen? Tune into Tammy’s story HERE.
“These Are My People”
Sometimes one decision can change the course of your career.
For Tammy Coleman, FAADOM, that decision was attending her first AADOM Conference in 2009.
Today, Tammy is a respected dental consultant and leader with nearly 20 years of AADOM membership. But before finding the AADOM community, she was preparing to leave dentistry altogether.
Feeling Alone in Dental Management
Tammy joined AADOM in 2006 after receiving one of the organization’s now-famous fax invitations. After years in dentistry, she felt there was education for everyone except office managers.
“There wasn’t anything for office managers,” Tammy recalled. “There was always something for assistants, doctors, and everyone else—but not for me.”
Although she joined AADOM, she didn’t attend her first conference until three years later. Feeling isolated and ready to return to retail management, she decided to make one last investment in herself.
One Conference That Changed Everything
Encouraged by her husband, who always reminded her that “education is education,” Tammy paid her own registration fee and drove from San Diego to Las Vegas.
She wasn’t sure what to expect.
Then she walked into the opening session.
“The energy in the ballroom was incredible,” Tammy remembered. “I looked around the room and realized, ‘These are my people.'”
For the first time in her career, she was surrounded by people who understood her challenges and shared her passion for dental practice management.
Instead of leaving dentistry, Tammy left Las Vegas inspired to stay—and determined to help others find the same sense of community.
Bringing the Experience Home
After returning to San Diego, Tammy helped launch one of AADOM’s early study clubs so office managers could connect year-round.
What started as a small grassroots group has grown into a nationwide network of chapters and study clubs.
“We care about each other, we help each other grow, and we continue to lift one another up.”
More Than Education
Over the past 20 years, Tammy has watched AADOM’s education continue to grow, but she believes the relationships are the organization’s greatest strength.
“If I don’t have the answer, I know exactly where to go.”
The friendships she made during her first conference have supported her through career changes, challenges, and personal milestones.
“The networking is absolutely amazing.”
Investing in Herself
Earning her FAADOM distinction remains one of Tammy’s proudest accomplishments.
After a patient once questioned her credibility because she didn’t have credentials after her name, she made it her goal to earn them.
“When the Fellowship program became available, I knew I was going to put letters after my name—and no one was ever going to say that to me again.”
Tammy personally paid for every step of her AADOM journey because she saw it as an investment in herself.
When she earned her FAADOM designation, her practice proudly celebrated the achievement by displaying her name and credentials at the front desk.
A Career Built Through AADOM
Tammy began her career as a sterilization technician before advancing into practice management and eventually becoming a dental consultant.
Looking back, she credits AADOM with helping her grow both professionally and personally.
“Dentistry is an amazing profession. You can start anywhere, work hard, and build an incredible career.”
For Tammy, AADOM provided more than education. It gave her a community, lifelong friendships, leadership opportunities, and the confidence to keep growing.
“Without AADOM, I would not be here today.”
Looking Ahead
Nearly two decades later, Tammy continues encouraging dental office managers to invest in themselves, attend conferences, and get involved in their local AADOM communities.
Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest career investment isn’t changing jobs—it’s finding the people who help you grow.
For Tammy Coleman, those people were AADOM.
Tammy Coleman:
Tammy Lee Coleman, FAADOM, is an accomplished dental leader, speaker, and coach with more than 40 years of experience in the dental profession. Her career began on the clinical side of dentistry and evolved into administrative leadership and team development across orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and general dentistry.
As CEO of TLC Dental Coaching, Tammy is passionate about helping dentists and dental teams create thriving practices through relationship-based leadership, elevating patient experiences, and meaningful team connection. Her philosophy is simple: patients are not transactions, they are people with stories, and every interaction matters.
Customer service has been part of Tammy’s foundation from an early age. Inspired by watching her grandmother manage and care for guests and employees in the hospitality industry. Tammy learned that everyone deserves an exceptional experience. Today, she brings that same belief into every practice she coaches and every stage she steps onto.
Tammy speaks nationally on topics including patient experience, doctor, and team relationships, increasing treatment plan acceptance, and developing team leadership, growth, and potential. She believes that trust within teams creates stronger leadership, stronger leadership creates meaningful patient connections, and those connections lead to lasting success.
Her professional recognitions include being named the 2021 AADOM Practice Administrator of Distinction, serving as a Founding Member of the San Diego Chapter of AADOM, receiving the 2025 Spirit of SCN Award, serving on the AADOM DPLN Advisory Board, and a Lifetime Membership in AADOM.
Tammy is an active member of the American Association of Dental Office Management, Speaking and Consulting Network and, Dental Entrepreneur Women.
When she is not coaching or speaking, Tammy enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children and spouse, grandson, and their two beloved fur babies. She believes everyone has a story, and if we can be the light in someone’s story, even for a moment, we can make a meaningful difference.
Not an AADOM Member Yet?
Now’s the perfect time to join the 10,000+ dental managers nationwide who rely on AADOM for real-world support, expert training, and tools to grow their careers and strengthen their practices. Join today for less than the cost of a daily cup of coffee and start unlocking leadership resources designed just for you!
