Marquee Dental Partners

Marquee Dental Partners is a dental support organization (DSO) headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 2015, the company describes itself as "a different kind of DSO" built around collaboration, autonomy, and shared success. Its model is designed to give partner practices operational support — including billing, HR, recruiting, marketing, and growth strategy — so that dentists can focus on patient care and team leadership. The company states that it partners with over 70 general and specialty dental practices across five states, with each practice maintaining its local identity while benefiting from shared resources. The organization was launched in 2015 by acquiring Embassy Dental in Nashville, Tennessee, and soon entered the Kentucky market. It expanded into Alabama in 2016, and in 2017 and 2018 Fred Ward joined as Chief Operating Officer, later becoming CEO. Those years saw a strong focus on recruiting and retaining dentists and launching new practices. In 2019, Marquee entered the Chattanooga market, expanded specialty services in Nashville, and opened its third De Novo practice. In early 2020, it finalized five new partnerships and entered the Louisville and Northwest Arkansas markets; Andrea Metz joined as Chief Growth Officer. Later in 2020, it expanded into Florida and continued growing in Tennessee, and Dr. Alan Farrugia became its first Chief People Officer. In 2021, Marquee crossed the 50-office milestone, recovered from COVID-related disruptions, was named a "DSO to Watch" by Becker's, and established its Dentist Advisory Board. In 2022, it expanded into Tampa and surpassed 60 offices, deepened its specialty care model, and welcomed Kristy Rutherford as Chief Financial Officer and Andrew Sipes as Chief Administrative Officer. In 2023, it continued growing in strategic markets, reached its 80th partner office, and welcomed healthcare veteran Patrick Perodin as Chief Operating Officer. Marquee positions itself as a people-first DSO that supports what is working in each practice, fixes what is not, and leads with integrity. Its stated purpose is to empower doctors and support practice teams, and it offers career paths and benefits for both clinical and non-clinical team members. The company remains privately held and active, with its website at marqueedental.com and its main informational site at marqueedentalpartners.com.

Marquee Dental Partners was founded in 2015 with the stated purpose of giving dentists a partner that strengthens what makes their practice great rather than replacing it. The company launched by acquiring Embassy Dental in Nashville, Tennessee, and entered the Kentucky market soon after. In 2016, it expanded into Alabama, continuing its growth across the Southeast. In 2017 and 2018, Fred Ward joined as Chief Operating Officer and later became CEO. These years marked a strong focus on recruiting and retaining dentists and launching new practices. In 2019, Marquee entered the Chattanooga market, expanded specialty services in Nashville, and opened its third De Novo practice. In early 2020, the company finalized five new partnerships and entered both the Louisville and Northwest Arkansas markets. Andrea Metz also joined as Chief Growth Officer. Later in 2020, Marquee expanded into Florida and continued growing its presence in Tennessee. Dr. Alan Farrugia became its first Chief People Officer. In 2021, Marquee crossed the 50-office milestone, recovered from the disruptions of COVID, and was named a "DSO to Watch" by Becker's. It also established its Dentist Advisory Board to strengthen clinical leadership. In 2022, it expanded into Tampa and surpassed 60 offices. It also deepened its specialty care model and welcomed Kristy Rutherford as Chief Financial Officer and Andrew Sipes as Chief Administrative Officer. In 2023, Marquee continued growing in strategic markets, reached its 80th partner office, and welcomed healthcare veteran Patrick Perodin as Chief Operating Officer. As of its current website, Marquee Dental Partners describes itself as partnering with over 70 general and specialty dental practices across five states, with each practice maintaining its local identity backed by shared resources and support. The company emphasizes a model built around collaboration, autonomy, and shared success, handling business functions such as billing, HR, recruiting, marketing, and growth strategy so that dentists can focus on patient care, team leadership, and personal growth.

• 2023

  Continued growth in strategic markets; reached 80th partner office; welcomed Patrick Perodin as Chief Operating Officer.

• 2022

  Expanded into Tampa; surpassed 60 offices; deepened specialty care model; welcomed Kristy Rutherford as CFO and Andrew Sipes as CAO.

• 2021

  Crossed 50-office milestone; recovered from COVID disruptions; named a "DSO to Watch" by Becker's; established Dentist Advisory Board.

• 2020

  Finalized five new partnerships; entered Louisville and Northwest Arkansas markets; Andrea Metz joined as Chief Growth Officer; expanded into Florida; Dr. Alan Farrugia became first Chief People Officer.

• 2019

  Entered Chattanooga market, expanded specialty services in Nashville, opened third De Novo practice.

• 2018

  Continued focus on recruiting, retention, and new practice launches.

• 2017

  Fred Ward joined as Chief Operating Officer (later CEO); focus on recruiting and retaining dentists and launching new practices.

• 2016

  Expanded into Alabama, continuing growth across the Southeast.

• 2015

  Founded by acquiring Embassy Dental in Nashville, Tennessee; entered Kentucky market soon after.

A different kind of DSO where people and purpose come first, built on collaboration, autonomy, and shared success.

• Dental practice partnership model

  Partnership model allowing dental practices to maintain local identity while receiving shared resources and support.

• Operational support services

  Billing, HR, recruiting, marketing, and growth strategy support for partner practices.

• Specialty dental services

  Expanded specialty services in markets such as Nashville.

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