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CATEGORY AQUISITIONS

approachable,” Dr Wallman attests. “He is very knowledgeable and willingly shares it. e team, as a whole, performs admirably under his leadership. Particularly during challenging phases, such as the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, their collective e orts and dedication proved invaluable.” As Dr Wallman embarks on his retirement journey, it is undoubtedly the remarkable teamwork and camaraderie within the team that will leave indelible memories. Moreover, the enduring relationships he has forged with his patients over the years will be cherished re ections as he enters this new phase of life. “Having been prepared for retirement, I haven’t encountered signi cant di culties during this transition,” Dr Wallman says. “Nevertheless, the practice still reaches out to me whenever they require assistance, particularly with procedures like IV sedations and implants and I am delighted to be of service, ensuring that I remain connected with the team. “Of course, it is hard to leave behind the patients that you have been treating for years and the sta you have been seeing every day for years. I was very touched by the gifts and comments I received from some of the patients and sta .” Deborah, Geo ’s spouse, was actively involved in the administration of the practice, leading to the establishment of a harmonious and well-coordinated work environment. e couple’s focus has now shifted beyond dentistry, onto their family life with two beloved children. ese days, they can be found in serene locales, indulging their passion for golf and shing. “I am a golf tragic so am devoting my time to improving the handicap,” he remarks, hinting at a leisurely retirement. Following a lengthy but contrived transitional phase, Geo is enjoying his extended time out. “We will also be doing a bit of travelling and playing a little more bridge.” u Cherishing memories and new pursuits

identity. is approach enables the acquired practices to continue operating as they did before the acquisition, preserving their essence and integrity. “I didn’t reallywant a corporate that was going to come in and change the name of the practice and to all intents and purposes, make it into a “preferred provider” type of practice,” Dr Wallman states. “I felt that we had spent some time and e ort on building up “the brand” and it would be to our detriment changing it.” On the other hand, there were times when the “corporate” elements of Ekera Dental became an asset. “Selling to a corporate also took out the parts of the practice that were quite frankly getting too complicated and time consuming – such as HR and Accreditation – for a single practitioner,” Dr Wallman admits. “It o ers a viable and secure succession plan, ensuring pro tability. I had always contemplated retiring around the age of 65 or 66, and this approach provided me with a sense of assurance and certainty about my future.” e former practice principal of Blackwood Dental was notably attracted to Ekera Dental’s exceptional capacity to Ekera Dental’s comprehensive support

furnish comprehensive support for the myriad of demanding responsibilities they encountered. “ ey took on the burdensome tasks like HR, bookkeeping, social media (whatever that means!) and bill payments, leaving the enjoyable aspects to us. It was quite a relief,” Dr Wallman enthuses. “Most importantly, they allowed me to focus on dentistry.” Viable succession plan In response to the inquiry regarding the factors in uencing his decision to prolong his tenure beyond the initially contracted ve-year term, he expresses: “At that point, I was approaching retirement age, and that had always been my overarching plan. e aspiration of establishing, purchasing, and selling dental practices had been ful lled. “I knew that ultimately, I would sell to a corporate entity and remain in that capacity for as long as required until the time came for a gradual transition or my eventual retirement.” Another factor that made Dr Wallman continue his association with Blackwood Dental was the remarkable Ekera team, led by Tony Coulepis. “I had no issues with Ekera Dental – they were truly exceptional people. Tony is a wonderful leader who is always

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