Board of Directors
Marc Lerner, MD
Chairman of the Board
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Dr. Marc Lerner is a pediatrician specializing in developmental and behavioral medicine. He is past president of the Orange County, California Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and chairs the executive committee of national AAP’s Council on School Health. Dr. Lerner has taught and cared for patients at the University of California, Irvine for 35 years. He is served as consulting pediatrician at UCI’s Child Development Center and the UCI Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dr. Lerner was recognized as the AAP Chapter 4 Pediatrician of the Year in 2016 and an Orange County Medical Association ‘Physician of Excellence’. From 2011 until 2016 Dr. Lerner worked as the Medical Officer for the Orange County, California Department of Education.
Dr. Lerner has been a strong supporter and advocate of Healthy Smiles’ programs. He has been a monumental figure creating awareness of Healthy Smiles with community leaders. For several years, Dr. Lerner has assisted Healthy Smiles as we navigate school contracts and identify the resources necessary to serve Title I schools, child care agencies, and low-income children.
JoAnn Ashman
Board Member
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JoAnn is a PMP certified Manager in PwC’s Program and Portfolio Management practice, with expertise in Business and IT Strategy, Global Business and IT Transformation, Program and Portfolio Management, IT Governance, software driven solution implementations and how to effectively work with a C1A client.
JoAnn is a former Fortune 500 Executive and CIO who has worked in Asia, Europe and the US. She has 20 plus years of management, industry and consulting experience leading, motivating and mentoring distributed, cross-functional teams by translating vision and business goals into meaningful, achievable deliverables.
She has led the setup of PMO and Governance Programs and the development and re-engineering of numerous process improvement initiatives for Financial Services, Health Care, Technology, Apparel, and Media & Entertainment businesses. JoAnn has directed enterprise-wide technology projects, led change management, business acquisition and integration initiatives and built and right sized large global organizations.
JoAnn has a reputation for leading process initiatives to achieve “impossible” goals by forming trusted strategic internal and external relationships, using innovative, proven approaches and solving business problems to grow revenues, and/or significantly reduce operational costs.
JoAnn has spearheaded the Implementations of strategic Financial, ERP, HR, Business Intelligence, Retail and eCommerce solutions, outsourced and in sourced both business operations and IT services, integrated core operational systems for mergers and acquisitions and rapidly brought up complete solutions for a start-up. JoAnn’s work has consistently resulted in cost savings, new business capabilities, improved processes and organizational efficiency.
John Beaver
Board Member
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John R. Beaver was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BIOLASE on October 1, 2017. John was promoted to Executive Vice President and CFO following his brief role as Interim Chief Executive Officer of BIOLASE ending on August 8, 2018. He brings substantial leadership and technical experience in finance and business management in both public and private companies.
Prior to joining BIOLASE, John served as the Chief Financial Officer of Silicor Materials, Inc., a global leader in the production of solar silicon, from 2009 to 2013 and 2015 to 2017. John also served on Silicor’s Board of Directors from 2013 to 2015. While at Silicor, John led debt and equity fundraising efforts to finance the company’s transition from start-up to commercial production. He also supported revenue growth from zero to nearly $100M (annualized) in less than one year, and he developed and implemented many of the company’s business processes.
From 2013-2015, John was Chief Financial Officer for Modumetal, Inc., a nano-laminated alloy coatings company focused on oil and gas applications. Previously, John was Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Sterling Chemicals, a mid-sized public commodity chemical manufacturer, from 2007 to 2009. He also served as Vice President, Corporate Controller at Sterling Chemicals from 2001 to 2007 and as Financial Reporting Manager and Plant Accountant from 1987 to 1995.
From 1997 to 2000, John served as Vice President, Controller at Pioneer Companies, Inc., where he coordinated two major acquisitions which tripled the size of the company. Previously, John was Controller at Borden Chemicals and Plastics from 1995 to 1997. John started his career in Finance at Monsanto Company.
John holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Ria Berger
CEO and Board Member
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Ern Blackwelder is President & CEO of Onsite Dental, which he joined in January 2008.
Prior to joining Onsite Dental, Ern served as Senior Vice President at Business Executives for National Security (BENS), where he was responsible for designing and leading the BENS Partnership Program, the nation’s leading model for mobilizing businesses to prepare with government to prevent and respond to catastrophic events. The Partnership began after 9/11 and encompassed seven regions including more than 200 corporations, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, and multiple federal and state agencies.
Prior to joining BENS, Ern was Division President of Vivra Specialty Partners, a healthcare services firm that managed physician practices and regional physician networks in selected medical and surgical specialties. Ern also served as Chief Operating Officer and board member of Ars Digita, a venture-backed, open source enterprise software firm. He started his career at Bain & Company, an international business strategy consulting firm.
Ern holds a BS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the Harvard Business School; he has served on several non-profit boards and is co-founder of Compass, a volunteer organization that matches MBA alumni consulting teams with non-profits in the Washington, DC and Philadelphia areas. He and his wife, Sheila, live in Orange County.
Ern Blackwelder
Board Member
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Ern Blackwelder is President & CEO of Onsite Dental, which he joined in January 2008.
Prior to joining Onsite Dental, Ern served as Senior Vice President at Business Executives for National Security (BENS), where he was responsible for designing and leading the BENS Partnership Program, the nation’s leading model for mobilizing businesses to prepare with government to prevent and respond to catastrophic events. The Partnership began after 9/11 and encompassed seven regions including more than 200 corporations, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, and multiple federal and state agencies.
Prior to joining BENS, Ern was Division President of Vivra Specialty Partners, a healthcare services firm that managed physician practices and regional physician networks in selected medical and surgical specialties. Ern also served as Chief Operating Officer and board member of Ars Digita, a venture-backed, open source enterprise software firm. He started his career at Bain & Company, an international business strategy consulting firm.
Ern holds a BS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the Harvard Business School; he has served on several non-profit boards and is co-founder of Compass, a volunteer organization that matches MBA alumni consulting teams with non-profits in the Washington, DC and Philadelphia areas. He and his wife, Sheila, live in Orange County.
Neal Crowley
Board Member
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With a background in law and management, Neal Crowley has over 30 years of experience as an executive health care leader with deep expertise in the multi-site dental health management services field. Mr. Crowley leverages a strong legal foundation, serving for six years as the Chief Legal Officer for Smile Brands Inc., where he was responsible for identifying and implementing legally compliant business solutions for general and multi-specialty dental practices. Crowley has also served as the company representative for the Association of Dental Support Organizations. Mr. Crowley currently serves as General Counsel for InterDent in Inglewood, providing a full range of business support services to independent general and specialty dental practices in multiple states.
Patti Dodge
Board Member
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Patti Dodge teaches fourth grade at Esqueda Elementary School in Santa Ana, where she is committed to making a difference in the lives of her students. Ms. Dodge was formerly a finance executive and held management positions in a range of financial services organizations, most recently as Chief Financial Officer at New Century Financial Corporation. Ms. Dodge holds a M.A. in Education from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Ms. Dodge has served as Board President of the Be Aware Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through the early detection of breast cancer. Ms. Dodge has received numerous awards, including being named a “Top CFO” by Institutional Investor magazine, “CFO of the Year” by the National Investor Relations Institute and an outstanding “Woman in Business” by the Orange County Business Journal.
Charles Golden, MD
Board Member
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Dr. Charles Golden is a board-certified pediatrician that currently serves as the executive medical director of the CHOC Children’s Primary Care Network. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at University of California, Riverside and attended Western University of Health Science College of Allied Health where he earned his certificate as a physician assistant. He attended medical school at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona. Dr. Golden completed his internship and residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Jeff Flocken
Board Member
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Mr. Jeff Flocken has a 30+ year successful career in health care services in a variety of organization settings. He recently retired after serving five years with Tenet Healthcare. He was SVP of the California/Nebraska Region with responsibility for a $2.6B operating budget and 12 acute care hospitals, six ASCs and nine diagnostic imaging centers. While in the region EBITDA growth occurred through restructuring, asset divestiture and cost management initiatives. He also successfully negotiated labor agreements with three different unions on a statewide basis. Physician integration strategies were implemented through clinics, PC structures and development of an Accountable Care Organization Pilot with a major insurer.
From 1997 to 2005 Mr. Flocken was with the St. Joseph Health System. He served in several capacities in the areas of health system development, physician practice management, and hospital management. From 2000 to 2005 he served as SVP/COO for the 14 hospital and ambulatory care clinics with an operating budget of $2.2B.The system had facilities in California, West Texas and New Mexico. During the five years, the SJHS achieved record operating results, improved cash flows, Moody’s rating, and had over $100M in philanthropy raised. Integrated inpatient and ambulatory electronic health records were implemented across the enterprise.
Prior to 1997, he spent 18 years with Unihealth, a not for profit health system as the CEO of Northridge Hospital Medical Center (1987-1989) and Vice President Medical Centers Division (1995-1997). While there he oversaw major facilities expansion and renovation projects, physician integration efforts, and service expansion.
Mr. Flocken is well regarded throughout the industry and has served on multiple industry trade group boards.
Ligia Hallstrom
Board Member
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Dr. Ligia Hallstrom began her career in education more than two decades ago. Her knowledge and experiences ranges from school counseling, site administrator at different levels (elementary, middle and high school) and district level administrator. During her tenure as Principal of Wilson elementary school with the Santa Ana Unified School District, she introduced Healthy Smiles as a preventive service to address the oral health needs of the students in this community. Dr. Hallstrom’s advocacy for oral health and overall health added value to the organization by joining the board of directors and later was named Chief Operations Officer (COO).
Dr. Hallstrom earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton. She received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Masters in Legal Studies with an emphasis in non-profit from Trinity International Law School.
Alison Kermode
Board Member
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Mr. Lee is a serial entrepreneur and has 33 years of business management and entrepreneurial experience, including 27 years in the dental technology arena. Mr. Lee is currently the President and CEO of Planet DDS, Inc. He founded Planet DDS, Inc. in 2004 and has successfully guided the company to become the leading Cloud-based Practice Management and Revenue Cycle Management company for the global dental industry.
Prior to Planet DDS, Mr. Lee served as CEO of Dental Connect, Inc., a dental connectivity company that launched the industry’s first internet-based, HIPAA compliant, real-time claims processing and eligibility verification system used by many major insurance carriers. In 2001, Mr. Lee successfully managed the sale of Dental Connect, Inc. to a consortium of insurance companies which included, United Healthcare, MetLife, Aetna, Guardian, Ameritas and several Delta Dentals.
Mr. Lee also served as the CEO and co-founder of dentalxchange.com, the leading portal, e-commerce, and premier application service provider in the dental industry. Dentalxchange built the industry’s most-trafficked website, the largest on-line continuing education library, and help launched the most sophisticated e-commerce shop for the industry’s largest distributor, Henry Schein, Inc.
Mr. Lee is well regarded in the Dental Industry and serves as an advisor to several dental companies. Throughout his career, Mr. Lee has become known for his unique ability to successfully adapt new technologies into volatile markets.
Richard Lee
Immediate Past President
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Mr. Lee is a serial entrepreneur and has 33 years of business management and entrepreneurial experience, including 27 years in the dental technology arena. Mr. Lee is currently the President and CEO of Planet DDS, Inc. He founded Planet DDS, Inc. in 2004 and has successfully guided the company to become the leading Cloud-based Practice Management and Revenue Cycle Management company for the global dental industry.
Prior to Planet DDS, Mr. Lee served as CEO of Dental Connect, Inc., a dental connectivity company that launched the industry’s first internet-based, HIPAA compliant, real-time claims processing and eligibility verification system used by many major insurance carriers. In 2001, Mr. Lee successfully managed the sale of Dental Connect, Inc. to a consortium of insurance companies which included, United Healthcare, MetLife, Aetna, Guardian, Ameritas and several Delta Dentals.
Mr. Lee also served as the CEO and co-founder of dentalxchange.com, the leading portal, e-commerce, and premier application service provider in the dental industry. Dentalxchange built the industry’s most-trafficked website, the largest on-line continuing education library, and help launched the most sophisticated e-commerce shop for the industry’s largest distributor, Henry Schein, Inc.
Mr. Lee is well regarded in the Dental Industry and serves as an advisor to several dental companies. Throughout his career, Mr. Lee has become known for his unique ability to successfully adapt new technologies into volatile markets.
Dr. Harvey Lee
Board Member
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Dr. Harvey Lee is the Chief Dental Officer for Healthy Smiles for Kids of OC. He is a pediatric dentist by specialty training and board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Harvey obtained a Masters of Public Health with the emphasis in Healthcare Administration at Loma Linda University, prior to earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Dr. Harvey also holds an MBA from the Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University.
After receiving his DDS from Loma Linda University, he completed a pediatric dental residency program at the Cornell University-affiliated St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, New York.
After residency, in conjunction with private practice he also held a faculty appointment at Columbia University and served as the Chief/Program Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Harlem Hospital, New York. During his employment at Harlem Hospital Center, he served on the medical executive board as the Treasurer.
Dr. Harvey is active with organized dentistry, currently serving as Past President of the Board of Directors at the Orange County Dental Society.
His connections in the dental industry, and more importantly, his experience as the Chief Dental Officer of a successful multi-location DSO is invaluable.
At Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, Dr. Harvey oversees all clinical programs, including Smiles X-Press Teledentistry, an innovative new dental initiative serving classrooms and community sites. Before serving as Chief Dental Officer for Healthy Smiles, Dr. Harvey served on the Board of Directors of Healthy Smiles.
In addition to his dedication to Healthy Smiles, Dr. Harvey has a private practice in Irvine with his wife who is an Endodontist. Weekends are just as busy if not busier than the week by keeping their three boys entertained.
Jeff Miller
Board Member
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Jeff Miller serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Western Dental, where he oversees all legal matters, including corporate governance, acquisitions, regulatory compliance, litigation, and government affairs.
Jeff’s professional career has focused on supporting health care organizations to deliver the highest quality patient care, including hospitals, dialysis facilities and radiology practices. Prior to joining Western Dental, Jeff spent several years as Vice President-Deputy General Counsel and was named Acting General Counsel at DaVita, a leading provider of kidney care with over 2,000 dialysis centers across the United States. At DaVita, he oversaw legal affairs and managed the company’s 75+ member legal team. More recently, Jeff served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Imaging Advantage, a radiology practice management company. Before going “in-house,” Jeff was an Associate with Latham & Watkins, where he represented large health insurance companies, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. He also worked at RAND Health where he advised state governments in connection with health care financing initiatives aimed at increasing access to care.
Jeff earned a J.D. from Georgetown University, a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins and a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University.
Dr. Richard Mungo
Board Member
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Dr. Richard P. Mungo, a founding board member of Healthy Smiles For Kids of Orange County, is a pediatric dentist practicing in Huntington Beach. Dr. Mungo currently serves as the Medical Director for the clinical practice at Healthy Smiles. He also serves as part time faculty in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at USC School of Dentistry and as a guest lecturer in the Department of Hospital Dentistry at UCLA School of Dentistry. Dr. Mungo is a graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry. He completed his pediatric residency at Boston University (Goldman) School of Graduate Dentistry and completed a fellowship at USC/Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Craniofacial Anomalies. Additionally, Dr. Mungo received his Master’s degree in Medical Education from USC School of Medicine. From 1978 to 1993, Dr. Mungo served as the Department Chair of Pediatric Dentistry at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles associated with USC School of Dentistry. Dr. Mungo has published in areas of cleft palate therapy, conducted original research and published protocols for use of lasers in dentistry, and published in various areas of hospital dentistry and oral complications of AIDS in the pediatric population.
Branden Nelson
Board Member
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Branden L. Nelson is a well-versed Human Resources executive with over 15 years of experience in HRIS technologies, business and organizational development, mergers and acquisitions, leadership development and diversity and inclusion initiatives in multi-cultural, multi-site locations in the United States, Latin America, Mexico and Europe.
Nelson was previously the Senior Global Human Resources Manager at Glidewell Dental, the world’s largest dental laboratory that provides high-quality dental lab products and services worldwide. Nelson worked at Glidewell for 10 years, in which he fast tracked his HR career to management as he excelled in positions such as Talent Acquisition Partner, Employee Relations Supervisor and HR Manager in just 5 years. Nelson spent his last 5 years at Glidewell in the Sr. Global HR role partnering with executive management as Glidewell fulfilled its mission of “bettering the world one smile at a time” for its employees and customers by doubling its’ employee headcount from 2500 to over 5000, adding more than 25 locations worldwide and opening two state of the art dental training, education and demonstration centers, the Glidewell International Technology Centers, that offers cutting-edge technology-focused education to healthcare professionals.
Nelson is currently the Vice President of Human Resources for Terra Tech Corp., a publicly traded vertically integrated hemp-based medical solutions company. Joining the organization in 2018, Nelson joined the team to develop and implement an HR infrastructure and company culture that would produce great talent, drive revenue and make Terra Tech an employer of choice in Orange County and beyond! To date, the company is thriving and looking forward to new business opportunities and growth; with HR at the nucleus of all said initiatives. During his time at Terra Tech, Nelson has not only blazed a trail with his efforts focused on the business (the heart) and maintaining synergy with its’ people (the pulse), but was also named one of three finalists for the 2019 NHRA (National Human Resources Association) HR Executive of the Year Award.
Due to his passions for people, community and achievement, Nelson also founded his own non-profit organization, I AM FRESH, Inc., which partners with high schools in underprivileged communities to provide youth mentorship and scholarships for higher education. Nelson is equally passionate about serving his church community. He mentors the youth at Antioch Church of Long Beach, oversees the media ministry and partners with the Senior Pastor as the church’s HR Advisor. Nelson believes that the field of Human Resources found him at an early age as he has always had a passion for people and their advancement journeys. Nelson’s life mission is “to endorse, enrich and guide individuals through the various stages of human development; in hopes to ultimately produce and/or awaken great minds, talents, abilities and an acceptance of self.”
Nelson holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from San Diego State University.
Dr. Richard Spaulding
Board Member
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Dr. Richard Spaulding is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He graduated from the USC School of Dentistry and earned his Master’s Degree in Medical Nutrition from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Dr. Spaulding completed his pediatric dentistry residency training at Children’s Medical Center-Dallas/Baylor/ College of Dentistry, with a medical staff appointment at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Dr. Spaulding’s private dental office, Torrance Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, offers nine chairs for consultations and operative care for infants, children, and special needs patients.
Susan Wongso
Board Member
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Susan Wongso is an accomplished accounting and internal audit professional with extensive global and hands-on experience in technical accounting, risk and controls management, system conversions, business process re-engineering, financial and operational audits (including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance), regulatory audits and SAS 99 reviews.
Susan attended the University of New South Wales where she received her Master of Commerce, Accounting and Taxation as well as her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics for Management. She is a certified CPA and CFIRS (Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist).
Susan has applied her extensive accounting and audit skills at positions with Banc of California, Hyundai Capital America, Citigroup Inc, and JP Morgan in London.
Gary L. Van Arnam
Board Member
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Gary L. Van Arnam is a Senior Vice President with Northern Trust. In this role he oversees comprehensive financial and fiduciary services for high net worth individuals, families, foundations, and non-profit relationships for the Newport Beach and Rancho Mirage offices. Gary has over 20 years of experience in financial services as a private practice financial planner and senior trust officer.
Mr. Van Arnam received his B.S. in Business Administration & Finance from California State University, Long Beach. Gary completed the Financial Planning Program at USC, and the National Graduate Trust School of the American Bankers Association with Honors.
Active in the community, Gary was Past President of the Board of Healthy Smiles For Kids of Orange County, Member of the CHOC Professional Advisory Council, former President of the Board of Human Options, former President of the Board of the Estate Planning & Trust Council of Long Beach, former President of the Board of the Planned Giving Round Table of Orange County, former Adjunct Faculty Member for the College for Financial Planning, and a Certified Financial Planner.
John C. (Jack) Shaw
Emeritus
