Many Minds, One Mission: Mastering Co-Leadership in Dentistry, Presented by: Penny Reed, Brittany Allen, Vanessa Escobar, Laurie Spitz, and Estella Go

Penny Reed is a speaker, coach, and author of the book Growing Your Dental Business. She coaches dentists and their teams to increase their performance and create an office culture where the entire team looks forward to coming to work.

Penny has been coaching dentists and their teams since 1994. She has been named a Leader in Dental Consulting by Dentistry Today, from 2007 to 2017. She is a member of the Speaking Consulting Network, the National Speakers’ Association, and the American Association of Dental Office Managers.

Penny lives in Tennessee with her husband Rob and is the proud mom of Brooke and Savanah.

Brittany Allen, MAADOM, is an accomplished business director with a passion for both creativity and leadership. Holding an MBA (and Interior Design degree) from Baylor University, she works alongside her husband to manage a thriving multi-location private practice in East Texas. With a keen eye for detail and a strategic business mindset, she helps lead their practice to new heights while ensuring their mission of excellent leadership in both the office and the community is always at the forefront. 

In her free time, Brittany enjoys traveling with her family, playing mahjong, and lounging with her beloved Persian cats. She believes in the power of family, leadership, and a strong sense of community to create lasting success both professionally and personally. 

Vanessa Escobar, DAADOM, is a seasoned dental office manager with over 13 years of experience leading one of Central Florida’s most dynamic multi-provider dental practices. Since joining Winter Garden Smiles during its startup phase in 2011, Vanessa has been instrumental in growing the practice from two to fifteen operatories and leading a team of 30+ employees across both general and pediatric locations. 
In her role, Vanessa oversees operations, finance, marketing, team development, and strategic growth. She is passionate about building strong office culture, enhancing the patient experience, and implementing systems that improve efficiency and accountability. Vanessa also brings a project management mindset to dental leadership, with a focus on scalable systems, process improvement, and leadership training. 
Vanessa is the Founding President of the Central Florida Chapter of AADOM and was inducted into the prestigious DAADOM class of 2024, a national recognition for top-performing dental office managers. She remains actively engaged in the dental community and is a strong advocate for education, collaboration, and elevating the role of the office manager. 
Outside the office, Vanessa enjoys spending time with her husband Ricardo and their children. She’s a proud dog mom to Zero and finds joy in singing, indoor cycling, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.

Laurie E. Spitz, MAADOM, is a rising DAADOM, and the entrepreneurial force behind Smileboston Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, a premier three-doctor practice she co-founded with her husband, prosthodontist Dr. Steven D. Spitz, outside Boston, MA, 28 years ago. Leveraging her business, marketing, and public relations degree, Laurie has mastered every non-clinical aspect of practice management through formal education and hands-on experience over nearly three decades. 
As an AADOM spouse, Laurie brings a distinctive dual perspective that enhances her practice management and organizational leadership approach. Her career trajectory includes building Smileboston from the ground up, successfully acquiring and later selling a second location, and strategically transitioning to an out-of-network business model—all while balancing life as a dedicated mother who once raised young children from a pack-and-play behind her desk. 
When not driving practice excellence, Laurie pursues her passion for photography as an empty-nester of three adult children (30, 27, and 24), two rescue dogs, and an eclectic collection of reptiles and birds—including a Senegal parrot that has been part of the family for 40 years. Laurie and Steve just celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary in August 2025, marking another milestone in their personal and professional partnership. 

Estela Go, MAADOM, is the Chief Operations Officer of Go Family Dental, where she has spent the past 18 years driving growth and profitability through strategic business leadership. Known for her hands-on approach, Estela has optimized core operations—from patient scheduling to financial systems—resulting in a remarkable 100% reimbursement rate on dental claims.

Before entering the dental industry, Estela built a strong foundation in corporate finance, serving as both an Accounting Manager and Cash Management Manager. Her career is distinguished by a consistent ability to craft and execute business strategies that boost efficiency and deliver long-term success. Outside of her professional role, Estela is deeply committed to community engagement and leadership development. She serves as an Ambassador for the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, sits on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove, and is an active member of the Executive Association of Orange County.