Lasting Impressions | Fall 2014

18 © LASTING IMPRESSIONS Chris Phelps (’03), D.M.D., is a busy dental practitioner, seeing patients four days a week and overseeing 2 offices with 6 dentists and 40 employees in Matthews (outside of Charlotte), North Carolina. But his entrepreneurial spirit—nurtured at NSU’s College of Dental Medicine (CDM)—also has led him to start two supporting busi- nesses that help create success for him and fellow business owners. Phelps was a newlywed when he applied to NSU, and was excited about what he saw during his visit. Unlike other outdated facilities, “I found the school was brand new with state-of-the-art technology,” said Phelps, who became part of the CDM’s third graduating class. As class president three out of his four years, Phelps got to know the faculty well, working with Seymour Oliet, D.D.S., the CDM’s founding dean, and Robert Uchin, D.D.S., who recently retired as dean, among others. “Dr. Tim Hottel [D.D.S.] was a professor who stands out. He was an important business mentor for me. On Satur- days, he had speakers come to talk with the students. He gave us insight about the business side,” Phelps said. Alumni Impressions Alumnus melds dental practice with business acumen. caption By Jodi Noding Chris Phelps, who was a member of the CDM’s third graduating class, is president of the CDM Alumni Society Advisory Board.