IRVINE, California, February 11, 2019 – Executive search firm McDermott & Bull successfully placed Frank Wang as the Vice President of Information Systems for Smile Brands, Inc., in Irvine, CA. Leaders from McDermott & Bull’s Healthcare Practice conducted a nationwide search for a technology trailblazer with deep expertise in IT infrastructure and operations who could support the growth of Smile Brands’ 400 dental offices in 16 states across the country.
The executive search was directed by Partner, Craig Lipus; Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Chris Bull; Managing Director, Garrett Lipus; and Senior Recruiting Associate, Tara Steven. According to the search team’s lead, Craig Lipus, “Frank’s diverse experience in information technology and infrastructure will play an integral role in the continuous growth of Smile Brands.”
As the head of information systems and technology, Frank will report directly to the CIO and will lead all IT infrastructure projects and technology operations. He will also be responsible for integrating new acquisitions while supporting the organic growth of Smile Brands and its infrastructure. His exceptional technology background coupled with his experience providing cloud-based EHR, billing, and practice management and marketing solutions for multiple locations, made him the perfect choice to oversee Smile Brands’ IT Department.
Prior to joining Smile Brands, Frank held senior information technology positions at Arbonne International, Kareo, Molina Healthcare, Bally Total Fitness, and DirecTV. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics and Accounting from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
About Smile Brands
A pioneer among DSOs, Smile Brands was founded in 1998 by a management team that included co-founder and CEO Steve Bilt and CFO Brad Schmidt, combining three West Coast dental companies to form Bright Now! ® Dental. Through two large acquisitions – Monarch Dental Corporation in 2003 and Castle Dental Centers, Inc., in 2004 – the organization, which was renamed Smile Brands in 2009, became a dominant player in the dental space. Today the organization, which continues to grow through acquisitions and opening new dental offices, supports approximately 400 practices in 16 states. Smile Brands provides comprehensive business support services through exclusive long-term agreements with affiliate dental groups, so dentists can spend more time caring for their patients and less time on the administrative, marketing, and financial aspects of operating a dental practice.
Smile Brands’ primary equity sponsor is Gryphon Investors, a leading private equity investment firm focused on investing in physician-centric healthcare businesses. Gryphon’s strategy is to partner with outstanding management teams and build value for its investors through a combination of operational improvements, internal growth initiatives, and strategic acquisitions.
About McDermott & Bull
Founded in Irvine by two entrepreneurial search consultants in 2001, McDermott & Bull now has more than 50 employees serving ten offices across the US and abroad including: Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Sun Valley, Nashville, New York, Amsterdam, Madrid and Vancouver. The Firm partners with leading companies to identify and recruit key executives for permanent and interim roles. All of the practice leaders have deep executive experience and are uniquely positioned to address the dynamic leadership demands of public and private companies across a variety of industries. McDermott & Bull’s Executive Network provides valuable resources and networking opportunities for thousands of senior level executives throughout North America each year. The Firm has been recognized for its expertise, client-centric approach, efficiency, value, and responsiveness and has received industry designations from Hunt Scanlon and Forbes.