About the Team

Dr. Rhonda Savage began her career in dentistry as a dental assistant in 1976. After 4 years of chair-side assisting, she then took over front office duties for the next two years.

Dr. Savage graduated with a B.S. in Biology, Cum Laude, Seattle University 1985; she then attended the University of Washington School of Dentistry, graduating in 1989 with numerous honors.

She was then active duty as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy during Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal and an Expert Pistol Medal.

Dr. Savage was in private practice for 16 years, has authored many published peer reviewed articles and has lectured internationally. She is active in organized dentistry and is a past President of the Washington State Dental Association. She is an affiliate faculty member of the University of Washington School of Dentistry. In addition, she is a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the American College of Dentistry and the International College of Dentists.

Rhonda Savage, DDS is the CEO for Miles and Associates, an internationally known practice management and consulting business. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and the Institute of Management Consultants. Dr. Savage is a noted speaker on lectures on practice management, women's health issues, periodontal disease, communication and marketing, and zoo dentistry. See Dr. Savage's curriculum vitae.

Linda Miles, founder of Linda Miles and Associates, an INC 500 Company, is a true pioneer in the field of practice management consulting.

Her career spans four decades in dentistry and 30 of those years as a professional speaker. Consulting has kept her speaking topics fresh and speaking has attracted the top clinicians as clients. Linda recently teamed up with the new owner/CEO of Linda Miles & Associates, Dr. Rhonda Savage, to take the dental consulting business across the globe and help dental practices worldwide. Many Linda Miles and Associates dental consulting clients rank in the top percentile of successful practices in North America with the best-trained team members in dentistry.

In addition to being a member of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants, Linda is a 26-year member of the National Speakers Association, earning her CSP award in 1983. She also earned her Certified Management Consultant designation of the Institute of Management Consultants in 1993. She is the founder of the Speaking Consulting Network, an annual conference (since 1997) for those wishing to enhance their exposure and business skills as a speaker and consultant. Linda has presented in all 50 states and on four continents to thousands of dentists and team members. She has written three books and produced numerous DVDs, CDs, and videos.

In March of 2005, Linda was bestowed the highest honor of her career when she received the Distinguished Service Award at the Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta. In 97 years of Hinman, this award has been presented only 24 times. Other recipients include Dr. Peter Dawson, Dr. LD Pankey, and Dr. Gordon Christensen, to name a few.

Lee Tarvin, Executive Director for Linda Miles and Associates recently celebrated 22 years with the firm. After Lee joined the company in 1984, LLM&A became an INC 500 company in 1987 with a 544% increase over the previous five years. Lee has been instrumental in directing each new phase of the business from the two-day Dental Business Conferences, to the SunFun Seminar cruises, and the Speaking Consulting Network. Lee's background in dentistry, her attention to detail, and her love of people makes her the ideal speaker/consultant's "partner". Lee is the mother of three grown children, the wife of a retired Navy CWO, and the proud grandmother of six grandchildren.

Teresa Dobbins has had a career in dentistry since 1991. She worked as a Certified Expanded Function Dental Assistant for 6 years and then worked as a Scheduling Coordinator for several years. Teresa expanded her talents, serving for many years as a highly skilled Financial Coordinator and Office Administrator. She worked for Dr. Rhonda Savage from 1992-2007.

While Teresa specializes in developing effective front office systems, she is also a talented trainer for hygiene and restorative staff. Her personalized training sessions increase case acceptance, develop effective collection techniques, reduce broken appointments and boost productivity. She has many years of experience with insurance submission. Teresa has the unique ability of teaching teams how to communicate with patients, explaining one on one how to talk about dentistry in lay people's terms. She is a motivator and an enthusiastic teacher. She has attended hundreds of hours of continuing education, including comprehensive full mouth dentistry, esthetic dentistry and practice management.

Teresa is a ballet instructor, a Zumba instructor and choreographer in her spare time and enjoys traveling with her husband, Kevin, and her two children, Heather and CJ. They reside in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Char Sweeney began her career in dentistry in 1979 as a chair side dental assistant. She attended Ferris State University and the University of Alaska, and received her degree in Allied Health Science Dental Technology. She returned to private practice as a business assistant, and eventually, a practice administrator. She was an independent practice management consultant prior to joining Linda L. Miles & Associates in 1992.

Char has lectured on numerous dental meetings, including the Greater New York, Masters of Dentistry in Australia, Hinman Dental Meeting, the American Dental Association Meeting and the Seattle Study Club National Symposium. She is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Institute, a member of the Academy of Practice Management Consultants, the Speaking/Consulting Network, and has been published in numerous journals and newsletters throughout the country.

Char's experience and enthusiasm for dentistry, as well as her love of people, enable her to offer concrete solutions to the daily stumbling blocks all practices encounter. She has worked in both the business and clinical aspect of dentistry, and understands the unique challenges that both areas face. Her goal is to help clients create a sound business plan and assist everyone in reaching their true potential.

On a personal note, she has been married to Dr. Dale Sweeney, a periodontist, for 23 years, and has two daughters, Taylor, 14 and Alexa, 12.

Susan Kulakowski has more than 30 years of experience in dentistry, which is the foundation of her success as a leading dental management consultant. She has an innate ability to relate to both doctor and staff challenges. Susan has helped many practices achieve their goals through empowering and motivating individual team members to become extraordinary leaders in all aspects of todays dental practice.

Susan is an active member of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants, the Institute of Management Consultants, and the Speaking Consulting Network. She has spoken for the Holiday Dental Conference, the American Dental Association, and Yankee Dental Congress. In addition to speaking, Susan has written articles for prestigious dental publications such as Dental Practice Report, Insurance Solutions, and Trojan Newsletter.

A proud senior dental consultant with Linda Miles and Associates, Susan is honored to be one of two consultants selected by the US Air Force to serve on the DCO, Dental Clinic Optimization, project in 2003-2004.

Dr. Tanya Brown, a leader in healthcare management, founded The Center for Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry in 2001. Dr. Brown began her career in dentistry at the age of sixteen as a dental assistant and office administrator. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, and then completed her studies at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, receiving a Doctorate in Dental Medicine.

Dr. Brown is one of a select group of dentists (1% nationally) who have completed the core curriculum at the Dawson Academy of Advanced Dentistry in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Brown is an active member in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Dental Association. In addition, she is also a member of the National Speakers Association and the Speaking Consulting Network.

She is dedicated to supporting dental and health related initiatives and regularly involves her team in activities including the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Walk, Dental Access Days, Toys for Tots, and Children's Dental Health Month. Dr. Brown is a member of the Rotary Club of Great Bridge, Executive Women International, and serves on the YMCA South Hampton Roads Board of Directors as well as the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Executive Board. Most recently, Dr. Brown was awarded the 'Health Care Heroes' award and the "Entrepreneurial Excellence" award for Hampton Roads.

Dr. Brown has authored many published articles and has lectured to dentists and other professionals across the country. She is the Executive Director of the Dental Division for Absolute Business Consultants. Her experience in clinical dentistry and business offers her clients solutions for success. Dr. Tanya Brown will reignite your passion for dentistry, your practice, and your life.

Jim Stephens, Products Manager, recently retired from Udelhoven Corporation where he worked in Pruhoe Bay's Alaskan oil fields. With a degree in electrical engineering, Jim has enjoyed a long and fruitful career and makes a great addition to the LLLM team. In his free time, he enjoys boating, traveling, and has an interest in cars.