44 my practice. Initially, the goal was to simply get our first dental office established, but eventually, I asked her to join me full time to help build a formidable business. Richelle Peña: When the opportunity came to become partners with Will in his new business, I was excited, but also a tad worried. I was concerned with the financial ramifications of not having a steady paycheck. We would both be going into the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship, and there was no clear time line on when we could draw a salary or distribution. We also had a newborn at home, so making the decision to step outside my comfort zone to join Will’s start-up was not easy and definitely not for the faint of heart. Fortunately, we were living with my parents then, which helped us with our son Adrian and financially. WP: Establishing a company with my wife was the best decision we could have made, but not every married couple can make the entrepreneurial leap together. It takes a lot of humility, respect, and communication to make it work. In a business, there can only be one leader. Since we were establishing a dental business and I’m a dentist, we both agreed I should be the CEO. We established our roles and responsibilities William Peña: Richelle and I met at an NSU Health Professions Division (HPD) Halloween party in 2003. We saw each other across the room, and it was love at first sight. A few days after our initial meeting, we had lunch at the HPD cafeteria and have been inseparable ever since. Because we have been together so long and have experienced so much, we understand each other at a very deep, granular level and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This was a huge advantage when we went into business together in 2011. WP: I had an altruistic goal of using my skills as a pediatric dentist to help the underserved Medicaid and special-needs communities. Although I was confident in my abilities to provide quality care to my patients, and despite having graduated with a dual D.M.D./ M.B.A. degree from NSU, I felt uncomfortable building and managing my own practice from scratch. After graduating from her pharmacy program, Richelle worked at a Target pharmacy in North Miami Beach and became manager, where she was later involved in mergers and acquisitions. Although she was a rising star at Target, she did not envision a corporate career for herself. Because I was establishing a dental business but lacked business training, she offered to help me build Meet the Risk-Takers RICHELLE PEÑA, PHARM.D. Pharm.D. (’07) Co-Founder, HealthBiz Mastery Co-Founder and Former Director of Corporate Development, American Pediatric Dental Group Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy Richelle and William Peña, who met when they were students in the pharmacy and dental colleges at Nova Southeastern University more than two decades ago, established prosperous, intermingled careers that have brought them much fulfillment. In addition to co-founding American Pediatric Dental Group—a string of seven dental practices in the Miami, Florida, area they sold for a sizable profit in 2021—the Peñas formed HealthBiz Mastery, which helps clients achieve business success while teaching them how to live fulfilled, balanced lives outside of work. To learn more, visit HealthBiz-Mastery.com. Shark Encounters WILLIAM A. PEÑA, D.M.D., M.S., M.B.A. D.M.D. (’06), M.B.A. (’06) Co-Founder, HealthBiz Mastery Co-Founder, Former CEO, and Senior Director at American Pediatric Dental Group College of Dental Medicine H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship
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