In addition to his dental expertise, Dr. Sanger is also a successful entrepreneur who founded The Sanger Group—a company that develops practice management seminars for national study groups and dental consulting companies. He is both a "wet fingered, in the trenches dentist" as well as a "leader in innovative practice solutions."

Bio

Dr. Roger Sanger is a highly accomplished pediatric dentist who has dedicated his life to helping children. After a successful academic career, he founded his own private practice, which soon became one of the largest regional pediatric dental groups in California. The group was a leader in establishing two children's dental surgicenters, and Dr. Sanger also co-founded a non-profit 501(C)3 foundation with private grant support for affiliated school-based mobile dental clinics. He is an expert in pediatric oral sedation and has treated over 15,000 cases. When Dr. Sanger sold his practice internally in 2011, this group was billing over $34 million annually through provider participation in Commercial Indemnity/PPO Plans, Medicaid, CHIP, Headstart, and Migrant Headstart. Dr. Sanger trademarked the terms "Pedonomics" and "Pedometrics," which conceptualize the financial impact of pediatric dentistry on overall practice profitability.

Role

A shining star in the dental industry, Dr. Sanger, lovingly referred to as Roger by his Execudent Talent Members, is the go-to expert for ambitious professionals looking to take their practices to the next level! His approachable and endearing attitude, coupled with his extensive experience as an entrepreneur and coach, makes him a veritable fountain of knowledge for colleagues. Roger has a wealth of wisdom from years of running a successful dental practice and loves nothing more than helping others achieve similar success. He offers invaluable guidance to those seeking growth in their endeavors and can provide insights to help any dental professional reach their highest potential.

Through his expert coaching, Roger assists in every aspect of dental practice expertise, as well as non-clinical opportunities for dental professionals. You can spot him with a beaming smile at numerous professional events, always ready to share his valuable insights with anyone willing to learn.

Tonja Hughes is the Chief Marketing Officer at Execudent, where she combines disciplined strategy with human insight to craft communications that are trusted, relevant, and resonant across dentistry and healthcare. With over two decades of global experience spanning wellness, technology, consumer goods, tourism, and design, she has led brand transformations that expanded markets and strengthened trust.

Bio

Tonja blends behavioral science with practical insight to build brands that connect rather than interrupt. Her career has taken her from American boardrooms to cobblestone piazzas across Europe, giving her a global perspective on how culture shapes communication. These experiences reinforced her belief that the most effective marketing is both evidence-based and human-centered.

She has led campaigns that drove double-digit increases in patient engagement, repositioned technology companies to expand into more than 15 international markets, and helped wellness and consumer brands earn long-term loyalty with millions of customers. Known for distilling complexity into clarity, Tonja transforms functional messaging into connections that inspire action.

At Execudent, she positions the company as both a partner in dental innovation and a trusted guide for practices, institutions, and product developers.

Role

Tonja is the architect of Execudent’s global brand strategy and experience design. She leads initiatives that reimagine how dental professionals grow, lead, and learn, integrating storytelling, behavioral science, and design into a seamless journey. Her approach balances meaning with measurable outcomes, ensuring that Execudent is seen as innovative, credible, and trusted across the dental ecosystem.

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Joel cultivated the idea for Execudent for over 20 years, drawing from his experiences as a visionary entrepreneur, industry-shaping connector, and thought leader. Following Execudent's May '23 launch, Joel is spearheading content creation via Execudent's in-house multimedia thought leadership platform, with emphasis on topics such as the future of dentistry, real applications of AI in the dental profession and beyond, and whole-person wellness. When not filming in Execudent Studios or contributing his expertise to Execudent's Services operations, he enjoys lifelong learning, practicing bass guitar, and spending quality time with Walden Berg, the Dog of Brand.

Bio

Joel has been a driving force in dental education, dental research, and clinical affairs for over two decades. As Chief Dental Officer for Willo, Inc., Joel is responsible for clinical affairs, clinical research, and related activities. In previous roles, he has overseen internal and external trials, managed regulatory affairs, and advised on clinical matters. He has held executive positions at some of the world's leading oral healthcare companies, including Philips Oral Healthcare Corporation, ESPE Dental AG, and ESPE America, Inc. Joel is highly regarded within the industry and has played a critical role in developing new dental technologies. A board-certified pediatric dentist, Joel has a long history of service to the dental community. He was President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) from 2012 to 2013 and President of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry from 2018 to 2019. Joel is also the former Dean at the University of Washington School of Dentistry where he served as Chair of the Board of Health Sciences Deans and was principal in the creation of a 26-chair, state-of-the-art facility that provides comprehensive oral health services to children. He's also the host of two highly successful AAPD-launched podcast series.

Role

Joel cultivated the idea for Execudent for over 20 years, drawing from his experiences as a visionary entrepreneur, industry-shaping connector, and thought leader. Through his commitment to personal growth and holistic wellness, Joel bridges gaps in the dental industry and helps people find the right place to be real. His indefatigable facility for helping others reach their fullest potential shines through everything he does. His passion for process combines with an empathy-driven raison d’être, making him a truly unique force for good in dentistry and beyond.

Nicole is a self-taught renaissance woman with a wealth of talents and abilities. She has a penchant for creativity that is matched only by her passion for innovation and technology. With her inquisitive mind, unflagging enthusiasm, and natural business acumen, she enjoys the freedom to move between various roles, such as intellectual, cultural visionary, and cross-functional entrepreneur. Artistic expression comes naturally to Nicole, but her strongest gifting is in performance, music making, and video productions.

Bio

Nicole Hopkins is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Execudent, Inc., where she blends thought leadership development, creative strategy, and brand innovation to help define the future of healthcare communications. With over 25 years of creative, strategic, and operational experience, Nicole ensures that Execudent’s creative outputs—from executive summaries to multimedia productions—embody prestige design, creative precision, and disruptive storytelling.

Nicole holds an A.B. in German from Princeton University, with a concentration in Media & Aesthetic Theory, and a J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Her unique career path spans creative technology, media production, brand strategy, and legal analysis, giving her a rare ability to shape content ecosystems that are intellectually rigorous, visually impactful, and strategically effective.

A self-taught creative technologist and natural cross-disciplinary thinker, Nicole moves fluidly between concept development, creative direction, hands-on production, and strategic consulting. Her work reflects a deep commitment to visual excellence and high-impact storytelling, always ensuring that every piece of content advances Execudent’s vision while raising the creative bar for the healthcare industry at large.

Role

As Chief Creative Officer at Execudent, Nicole leads the creation, curation, and creative evolution of the company’s thought leadership platform, as well as creative and brand services offered through Execudent’s venture-building and consulting partnerships. She ensures every touchpoint—whether a published insight, multimedia asset, or branded deliverable—adheres to the highest standards of aesthetic quality, brand coherence, and intellectual value.

Nicole’s role spans content strategy, creative production, and brand stewardship, where she works closely with subject matter experts, executives, and clients to translate complex ideas into prestige creative assets. Whether shaping a flagship video, overseeing a client’s rebrand, or directing educational media, Nicole ensures clarity, elegance, and creative excellence define the final product.

Her leadership ensures that Execudent’s creative voice and visual identity remain instantly recognizable, signaling both elite creative craftsmanship and deep professional credibility—a rare and powerful combination that defines Execudent’s competitive edge.

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Harish Maridi is an accomplished leader with just under two decades of experience in technology, operations, scaling teams, and building self-sustaining organizations. He is deeply passionate about designing processes that drive success and customer satisfaction. With a focus on operational excellence and strategic growth, Harish has a proven ability to align teams and resources to achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Bio

Harish Maridi is a Technology & Operations Advisor, guiding organizations in building scalable systems and operational excellence. With a rich background in engineering, operations, and executive leadership, Harish brings deep expertise in optimizing processes, implementing emerging technologies, and designing strategies that enable sustainable growth. Throughout his career, he has successfully led high-growth organizations through transformation, streamlining workflows, and empowering teams to perform at their highest potential.

Harish’s perspective blends technical rigor with business strategy, drawing from his master’s degree in industrial engineering with a concentration in process engineering, and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His diverse background allows him to provide pragmatic, technology-enabled solutions while shaping organizations into resilient, high-performing enterprises.

Role

As a Technology & Operations Advisor, Harish partners with executives and leadership teams to strengthen operational frameworks, scale business models, and leverage technology for competitive advantage. His advisory role includes:

• Operational Strategy: Guiding organizations in designing processes and systems that enhance efficiency, agility, and long-term scalability.
• Technology Integration: Advising on the adoption of digital tools, platforms, and data-driven decision frameworks that support innovation and measurable outcomes.
• Leadership & Team Empowerment: Coaching leaders and teams to align around execution, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Growth & Transformation: Helping organizations navigate transitions, scale sustainably, and prepare for future opportunities.

Through this role, Harish ensures that businesses are equipped with the right strategies, technologies, and organizational structures to thrive in evolving markets.

Michael Grant is one of the most versatile and connected individuals in the Dental Industry. His decades of relationship building and unparalleled connection to leaders at the forefront of dentistry and oral health make him an indispensable member of the Execudent Board of Directors and the ideal fit as our Industry & Client Liaison.

Bio

Michael Grant is a global pioneer in the dental industry and a true international entrepreneur, with a professional career spanning from America to Australia and Asia. After being sponsored by Siemens to pursue German studies, he got involved in Seoul's first American-owned Guttapercha and Paper Point manufacturer. This experience opened many doors, including his time spent with a German dental materials manufacturer in Seefeld, Bavaria where he was part of the export team. After that, Michael was sent to Sydney Australia as sales and marketing manager for Australia, New Zealand and Asia before moving on to serve as president of a newly formed joint venture between Espe/Premier in the USA. Eventually, Espe sold to 3M and Michael started Pagoda International—an independent international dental consultancy. Most recently, Michael has exemplified Execudent’s values as a lifelong learner and cross-functional entrepreneur, leveraging purpose and experience into starting a Certified Organic Farm in Thailand. Green Me Organic Farm offers farm tours, providing hands-on educational opportunities for agriculture students, and also functions as a Thai FDA-Approved food processing plant, cafe, and restaurant. Michael acts as farm stay host, financier, and Board Member.

Role

Michael’s role at Execudent is part of what makes our organization truly unique: his connections to the Dental Industry range from major dental products manufacturers and distributors to cutting-edge innovators bringing first-in-class products to the international market. His versatility as a facilitator of strategic partnerships and international go-to-market opportunities is unsurpassed in the dental and oral health industry and beyond.

Obi Amaechi is a Product Manager at Execudent with experience spanning healthcare research, consulting, and product management. She combines thorough research with clear communication to make complex insights accessible to practitioners, innovators, and academic partners in dentistry and healthcare.

Bio

Obi began her career in healthcare research at Princeton University, where she examined cultural competence, hospital performance, and health system disparities. This work earned Princeton’s Thesis Prize in Clinical Psychology and shaped her commitment to advancing equity in healthcare. She later joined Trinity Life Sciences, advising Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies on market strategy, patient insights, and revenue forecasts. At Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Obi managed a multimillion-dollar hospital product portfolio, led product launches, and developed digital health tools that improved both access and commercial performance.

Today, Obi contributes to Execudent’s thought leadership by conducting literature reviews, synthesizing data, and developing visual analyses that help professionals and institutions make evidence-based decisions. Her work ensures Execudent’s publications are trusted resources for clinicians, innovators, and academic partners navigating dentistry, healthcare, and technology.

Obi holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Global Health from Princeton University and completed post-baccalaureate studies in Public Health and Healthcare Management at UNC Chapel Hill. She is also a 2024 Olympic track & field athlete, a mentor for youth in academics and athletics, and an advocate for equitable access to healthcare.

Role

As Product Manager at Execudent, Obi ensures that all publications are grounded in reliable research, clearly structured, and relevant to both clinical practice and innovation. She synthesizes literature, analyzes industry data, and develops visuals that bring clarity to complex topics. Working closely with the Chief Creative Officer, she helps create articles and multimedia that strengthen Execudent’s reputation as a trusted partner to dental practitioners, innovators, and academic institutions.

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