PepperPointe Fortifies Leadership for Next Wave of Strategic Growth

LEXINGTON, Ky. – January 12, 2026 – PepperPointe Partnerships, a prominent dental service organization (DSO) distinguished by its 100% doctor-owned and doctor-led model, today announced a significant expansion of its senior leadership team. The creation of three new Vice President positions is a strategic move designed to bolster the organization's operational and financial infrastructure as it navigates a period of sustained, rapid growth in a consolidating dental market.

The newly established roles are Vice President of Operational Support, Vice President of Financial Operations, and Vice President of Strategic Finance. This expansion reflects a deliberate effort to deepen leadership capacity and ensure the organization can effectively support its growing network of partner practices across the country.

"These roles represent an intentional investment in leadership depth," said Dr. Greg White, President and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships, in a statement. "As we grow, it's critical that we continue to strengthen the teams and leaders responsible for day-to-day operational excellence and long-term financial health, while maintaining a clear and focused organizational structure."

A Calculated Response to Rapid Expansion

Founded in 2017, PepperPointe's growth trajectory has been remarkable. The organization, which began by uniting pediatric and orthodontic practices in Kentucky, has since expanded its footprint significantly. A major milestone occurred in October 2020 when it nearly doubled in size by adding 37 independent practices, pushing its managed revenue past the $100 million mark.

This momentum continued with its first foray outside of Kentucky in August 2022, adding practices in New York. That same year, the company's reported 175% revenue growth earned it a debut spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. By the end of 2022, PepperPointe had expanded into Virginia, bringing its network to over 130 office locations, more than 150 partner doctors, and over 1,000 team members serving more than 300,000 patients.

This expansion is occurring within the context of a seismic shift in the U.S. dental industry. The DSO market, valued at over $24 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of nearly 17%, with some industry experts predicting that up to 70% of the dental industry could be consolidated within the next five years. This trend is fueled by rising operational costs for solo practitioners and a wave of retiring dentists seeking exit strategies. PepperPointe's leadership expansion is a direct response to the complexities of scaling within this dynamic environment.

Bolstering the Operational and Financial Backbone

To manage this complexity, the organization has appointed three seasoned professionals to its new vice president roles. The promotions of two internal leaders and the addition of a new executive highlight a dual approach of leveraging institutional knowledge while infusing new expertise.

Alex Dotson has been promoted to Vice President of Operational Support. After more than six years with the company, Dotson will now oversee IT, Procurement and Vendor Relations, and Data Analytics. This role is critical for harnessing the economies of scale that a large DSO can provide. By centralizing procurement, PepperPointe can lower costs for its partner practices. Likewise, a robust IT and data analytics infrastructure is essential for ensuring operational consistency, security, and data-driven decision-making across dozens of locations.

Alisa Houp steps into the role of Vice President of Financial Operations, an expansion of her previous position as Director of Accounting. Houp will lead the finance, accounting, and revenue cycle management (RCM) teams. Effective RCM is a cornerstone of a successful DSO, ensuring efficient claims processing, billing, and collections, which directly impacts cash flow and profitability—a vital function for a rapidly growing, multi-state enterprise.

Nicole Nickels, CPA, joins PepperPointe as Vice President of Strategic Finance. An external hire with over 12 years of experience, Nickels brings a forward-looking perspective to the team. Her responsibilities include financial planning and analysis, supporting new growth opportunities, and managing doctor retirement and transition planning.

Reinforcing the 'Doctor-Owned' Distinction

This leadership enhancement is more than a response to growth; it is a strategic reinforcement of PepperPointe's core philosophy. The organization was founded as an alternative to the prevailing private equity-backed DSO model, which can often lead to concerns among practitioners about a loss of clinical autonomy and a shift away from patient-centric care.

PepperPointe's model is designed to preserve the legacy of doctor-owned practices, allowing dentists to retain ownership in their practice and the DSO itself. This creates a collaborative environment and provides a pathway for financial security and succession without selling out to a corporate entity. The new leadership roles are structured to support this unique value proposition.

The VP of Strategic Finance role, with its specific focus on doctor retirement and transition planning, is particularly telling. It directly addresses a primary concern for many independent dentists, offering a structured path to retirement that maintains the doctor-owned ethos of the practice for the next generation. This function helps formalize one of the key advantages PepperPointe offers over its competitors.

"Alex and Alisa have more than proven their capabilities, leadership, and commitment to our organization during their time at PepperPointe, and I am thrilled to elevate them into these new roles," Dr. White stated. "Nicole is an outstanding addition to our team, and her expertise will be instrumental as we continue to grow thoughtfully and strategically in support of our mission to protect patients, support doctors, and elevate care."

The creation of these roles signals a maturation of the organization, proving that a doctor-led model can achieve the scale and operational sophistication necessary to thrive. By investing in a robust central support structure, PepperPointe empowers its partner doctors to focus on what they do best: delivering exceptional clinical care to their communities.