Practice Administrator of the Year
Are You the Next Practice Administrator of the Year (PAOY)?
Do you know an exceptional dental practice management professional? Nominate them for the prestigious Practice Administrator of the Year award.
- Requirements to Apply
Tell us why you feel your Practice Administrator should win the AADOM Practice Administrator of the Year award in 1000 words or less in the form below.
Please note that nominations must come from the doctor or team member. Multiple nominations may be submitted from one office.
To be eligible, nominees must:
- Be an AADOM member who is the full-time Office Manager/Practice Administrator in the office.
- Attend the AADOM Dental Managers Conference to be held in Orlando, Florida, September 7-9, 2023.
The winner will receive $1,000, free conference registration to the 2024 conference and will be featured on the cover of THE OBSERVER magazine. Please assure that the nominee, practice principal, and team are aware of the nomination.
Deadline for submissions is July 7, 2023
Sponsored by CareCredit.The AADOM Practice Administrator of the Year award will be presented at the 2023 Conference.
- The PAOY Criteria
Must exhibit four out of six of the following:
- Exemplifies leadership
- Responsible for an increase in practice efficiency and revenue
- Community involvement (practice or personal)
- Actively pursues continuing education/professional development
- Implementation of technology within the practice
- Implementation of marketing strategies for the practice
- What will you win?
- $1000 prize
- Cover feature in The Observer magazine
- Practice Administrator of the Year Award
- Exposure throughout the dental industry
- Complimentary Lifetime AADOM Membership
- Free tuition to #AADOM24 in Las Vegas, NV
Nominate The Practice Administrator of the Year 2023
We will announce the winner on Thursday, September 7th at the AADOM23 Conference in Orlando, Florida. Application deadline is Friday, July 7, 2023.
You Can Join Our Wall of Practice Administrators of The Year
2022 Practice Administrator of the Year
Beverly Wilburn, DAADOM, is the full-time office manager of Karl A. Smith, DDS, LLC Periodontics and Implants in Alexandria, VA. She is also the owner of Magnifident™ Consulting where she trains dental teams on case acceptance and marketing. She has served as an expert witness for the administrative side of dentistry in several multi-million-dollar dental malpractice cases. Beverly serves as the Executive Administrator for the Virginia Society of Periodontists.
She received her AADOM Fellowship, (FAADOM) in 2019, her AADOM Mastership, (MAADOM) in 2020, and was inducted into AADOM’s first Diplomate, (DAADOM), class in 2021. Beverly is a lifetime member of AADOM and has launched AADOM’s Dental Spouse Business Network Chapter.
She was a 2021 Practice Administrator of Distinction prior to being named AADOM’s 2022 Practice Administrator of the Year.
2021 Practice Administrator of the Year
Teresa has worked in dentistry for over 30 years, and it continues to be her “lifelong passion.” She currently works in a 4-dentist and 9-hygienist office in Amelia Island, Florida. After her first experience at an AADOM conference, she helped to develop what is now the Northeast Florida AADOM Chapter.
Teresa earned her AADOM Fellowship, FAADOM) in 2012 and her AADOM Mastership, (MAADOM) in 2020. In September of 2021 Teresa was inducted into the first class of AADOM Diplomates, (DAADOM).
She has twice received the AADOM Practice Administrator of Distinction award prior to being named the 2021 Practice Administrator of the Year.
2020 Practice Administrator of the Year
Debbie Evans has been in the dental industry for almost 30 years. She has been the Practice Administrator for Wainright & Wassel, DDS in Raleigh, NC since 2005.
Debbie is a proud lifetime AADOM member and serves as Co-President of the AADOM Triangle Chapter. She received her AADOM Fellowship in the Fall of 2016 and most recently received her Mastership in September of 2020. In 2021 Debbie received her Diplomate designation. Her AADOM Triangle Chapter is the largest chapter in the country and has won the “Chapter of the Year” for the last 2 years. Prior to being named the 2020 Practice Administrator of the year Debbie was recognized as an AADOM “Practice Administrator with Distinction” for the past 3 years.
Debbie and her husband Ron, have two married children, Ryan, and his wife Emily, who reside in Overland Park, KS, and Brittany, and her husband Kevin, who live in San Clemente, CA. Debbie has 3 grandsons, Carson, Jack and Logan, and a 1 granddaughter, Ila Marie. Debbie loves being “NaNa” and she proudly says that she’s going to be one of “THOSE” grandparents – and she loves every minute of it.
2020 Practice Administrator of the Year
Jennifer Steadman has been with Dentistry by Design in Andover, MA since 2009. she obtained her bachelor’s degree from Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Upon joining Dentistry by Design as a dental hygienist, Jennifer’s role grew significantly. Through extensive training and continuing education courses, she now acts the director of operations where she oversees the dental team and keeps them up-to-date on the ever-changing advances within the field.
Jennifer has taken on a true passion for dentistry, and continually strives to advance her education, and pass on her knowledge and charisma. She became a Fellow of the American Association of Dental Office Management (FAADOM) in 2015, and most recently was inducted as an AADOM Master (MAADOM) in September of 2020. In 2021 she was inducted as an AADOM Diplomate, (DAADOM). Jennifer was the founder of the Boston Chapter of AADOM and remains actively involved in the chapter today. In 2019, she was recognized for her on-going hard work and dedication, as she was nominated and honored by AADOM as a Practice Administrator of Distinction.
During her time away from the office, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband Dominick, and their two daughters Addison and Caroline. You can find them taking trips to the lakes region of New Hampshire, and spending time with their extended family and friends!
2019 Practice Administrator of the Year
2018 Practice Administrator of the Year
Betsy is the office administrator for Ryan F. Mueller, DMD in Downtown Portland, Oregon. Single-handedly, she runs the front office of Dr. Mueller’s busy private practice; analogous to an octopus, with a hand in all areas of patient care and practice management. Betsy’s experience in dentistry began in 1997 in dental assisting school in Virginia Beach, VA. She spent two years in the clinical setting with Dr. Ira Langstein, increasing her knowledge in patient treatment, then transitioned to the front office as a patient coordinator. In 2009, she returned home to Oregon and was quickly recruited by Dr. Mueller’s young, growing practice. Committed to self-improvement, Betsy earned her CDPMA designation through DANB in 2002, and FAADOM designation in 2014. In September of 2020 Betsy achieve her AADOM Mastership designation and in 2021 she was inducted as an AADOM Diplomate, (DAADOM).
Through specialized training, she has had the opportunity to learn from some of the best management groups in the industry, and she loves to pass on the wisdom that she has gained. With consideration to all the different aspects of her career, she says her true passion lies in customer service. She is always designing new ways to make patients feel at home in the office, and never too busy to drop what she is doing and make you a cup of coffee. Her dedication to constant learning, and growth in business and in her personal life has helped her motivate her team to achieve continuous success.
- Terri Lenihan, FAADOM, 2017 Practice Administrator of the Year
- Jamie Perryman, 2016 Practice Administrator of the Year
- Cecilia Mescain, FAADOM, 2015 Office Manager of the Year
- Lisa Spradley, 2014 Office Manager of the Year
- Cindy Sooter, FAADOM, 2013 Office Manager of the Year
- Deanna Alexander, FAADOM, 2012 Office Manager of the Year
- Robyn Rossetter, FAADOM, 2011 Office Manager of the Year
- Melissa Meredith, 2010 Office Manager of the Year
- Kay Valentine, FAADOM, 2009 Office Manager of the Year
- Melanie Duncan, FAADOM, 2008 Office Manager of the Year
- Mindy Altermatt, 2007 Office Manager of the Year
- Jennifer Russell, 2006 Office Manager of the Year
- Connie Elwell, 2005 Office Manager of the Year
