Northern Illinois Academy of General Dentistry Presents:

CEO Workshop: Understanding the Business of Dentistry

& Building Financial Clarity

Featuring:
Justin Larson, Founder and CEO of UpLevel Partners

Friday, September 25, 2026
Northern Illinois University Rockford Convention Center
8500 E. State St. Rockford, IL 61108
The NIU Rockford Convention/Education Center is conveniently located off I90 W at State St. (one hour from O’Hare)
*NIAGD room rate available at The Rockford Radisson, 815-226-2100. Must be booked by 8/25/2026*
CAN’T ATTEND A LIVE COURSE?
WE ARE NOW OFFERING OUR COURSES ON ZOOM!
No recordings will be available at this time.
Please choose the ZOOM option in the registration section below.

Speaker Bio:

Justin Larson is a dental practice administrator and the Founder and CEO of UpLevel Partners. He helps dental practice owners and leaders improve financial clarity and performance by connecting daily operations to profitability. He also co-leads a private dental practice alongside his wife, a practicing dentist, and shares these insights through speaking engagements, study clubs, and leadership workshops.

Course Information:

A CEO-level, interactive workshop designed to bring clarity to the business side of dentistry. While most dentists spend years mastering clinical excellence, few receive formal education on the financial and operational systems that drive practice profitability, cash flow, and long-term value. Through practical, real-world examples, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how money flows through a dental practice—from production and insurance reimbursement to collections, overhead, and profit. We will explore how the practice business model influences daily operations, financial performance, and strategic decision-making while identifying the hidden profitability leaks that often go unnoticed.
Using KPI alignment, benchmarking, financial analysis, and operational gap assessments, attendees will learn how to interpret key financial reports, evaluate the true impact of insurance participation and adjustments, strengthen cash flow systems, and focus on the metrics that matter most. Together, we’ll separate financial fact from industry fiction and create a clear roadmap for improving profitability, strengthening practice value, and supporting intentional growth.

Participants Will Learn How To:

• Interpret and utilize key financial reports, including the Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and production and collection metrics.
• Understand how insurance reimbursement, contractual adjustments, and fee schedules impact true revenue and profitability.
• Identify gaps between production, collections, cash flow, and profit.
• Uncover operational and financial profit leaks that limit practice performance.
• Evaluate accounts receivable systems and improve cash flow management.
• Monitor and manage the key performance indicators that drive financial success.
• Apply benchmarking and gap analysis to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop practical strategies for overhead control, budgeting, supply management, and annual fee analysis.
• Make more informed business decisions that support sustainable profitability and long-term practice value.
Key Takeaway
Participants will leave with greater financial clarity, a stronger understanding of the business systems driving their practice, and actionable strategies they can immediately implement to improve performance, profitability, and practice value.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this course, participants will leave with:
• Financial Statement Confidence – A practical framework for interpreting Profit & Loss Statements, Balance Sheets, and production and collection reports to better understand practice performance.
• Production-to-Profit Roadmap – A clear understanding of how production flows through the practice and how adjustments, collections, and overhead ultimately impact profitability.
• Cash Flow & A/R Assessment Tools – Practical strategies for evaluating accounts receivable systems, strengthening collection processes, and improving cash flow management.
• CEO KPI Scorecard – A framework of the key financial metrics and benchmarks every practice owner should consistently monitor to drive performance and accountability.
• Profit Leak Action Plan – A structured approach for identifying financial and operational breakdowns that limit profitability, along with actionable opportunities for immediate improvement.

CE Credit:

7 hours of lecture credit may be used towards FAGD, MAGD, or re-licensure for dentists and hygienists.

When:

Schedule

Friday, October 2, 2026

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Lecture

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lecture

For registration or further information: Jamie Petras, NIAGD Executive Secretary 815-541-3795

Send check, made out to NIAGD, to:
Stephen Petras, DMD, MAGD, FICOI
120 W. Front Avenue
Stockton, IL 61085
Phone: (815) 947-3700
Fax: (815) 947-9058
[email protected]
For credit card payment/registration or further information:
Jamie Petras, NIAGD Executive Secretary 815-541-3795

REGISTRATION FORM Copy and send this form, with a check made out to NIAGD, to Dr. Petras. If paying with a credit card, Jamie will register you over the phone.
AGD                                Non-AGD
Dentist or first person                                             $225.00                         $275.00
from office
Each additional non-dentist staff member         $100.00
Dental Resident                                                        $50.00
Total Number Attending Live ________
Attending via LIVE ZOOM ___________________
Amount Enclosed _________________________
Signature ________________________________
Please Print:
Name: ______________________________________
AGD No. _______________________________
Address: _____________________________
City, State, Zip: _______________________________
Office Phone: _________________________________
E-Mail Address: ______________________________

_______________________________________
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Presenting a program of this nature is a group effort, and would not be possible without the assistance of many individuals and companies. A complete listing of contributing companies will be available at the program site.