Maribeth Marsico

Owner, Bay View Dental Laboratory, Chesapeake, VA; 40 technicians LMT: What has most influenced your approach to creating a strong laboratory culture? Shafer: My 30-plus years studying alongside Dr. Peter Dawson had the biggest impact. Not only was he one of the greatest teachers of dentistry, he was brilliant in his business philosophy: focus on long-term success in the service of others rather than profits for owners.

Co-Owner, Renstrom Dental Studio, St. Paul, MN; 70 employees LMT: What’s the most important thing you’ve done to enhance your culture? James: Adjusting our hiring mindset to look for the best attitude versus the best technical ability. Now we always talk about culture before skill; the work can be taught. We’ve found that initially focusing on those qualities leads to stronger, more cohesive teams over time. For both parties to assess fit, we may offer internship opportunities.

Associate Director, Corus Byrnes Dental Laboratory, Wheatley, England; 46 employees LMT: How would your team describe your culture and how is it consistently reinforced? Byrne: They would likely describe it as relaxed but driven, fun but hardworking, empowering and united by a shared mission to change dentistry for the better. Culture is something I work on every single day. It’s a living thing. Take your eye off it for too long and it can fade quickly.