COOs serve a crucial role in aligning the clinical and operational needs at dental organizations.
Here are the COOs of four of the largest DSOs in the U.S.:
DeAnn McClain. COO at Heartland Dental (Effingham, Ill.): Ms. McClain joined Heartland Dental in 1997 as an accountant and served in several roles with the company before being appointed COO and executive vice president in 2020.
Erich Reutzel. COO at The Aspen Group (Chicago): Mr. Reutzel joined The Aspen Group as the vice president of finance in 2018. He was promoted to COO in 2023, and now oversees operations for the organization’s 1,000+ offices.
Jon Prod and Lorilee Schmidt. COOs at Smile Brands: Mr. Prod oversees operations for Smile Brand’s Northeast and Midwest regions, while Ms. Schmidt oversees operations for the DSO’s Pacific West region.
Jeffrey Cellucci. COO at MB2 Dental: Mr. Cellucci joined MB2 Dental in 2021 as the chief strategy officer, a role he held before being appointed COO in October 2025. He previously held leadership roles at Kindred Healthcare and Sonida Senior Living.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place November 12–14 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
