When you hear the term “family dentistry,” you may think of a place that caters to both children and adults. That’s true of Three Rivers, but the day-to-day operations are also a family affair. Dr. Mark Connolly, DDS, and his wife, Sarah Ryman, MBA, are the real “family” behind Three Rivers Family Dentistry. Mark is the chief dentist and Sarah is the operations manager. Together, they have built a very successful clinic and have recently expanded the practice. But, as with anything, it has taken years to reach that level of success.

Dr. Connolly began his private practice 10 years ago. Recently, he stated that the initial stress of starting a new clinic was all worth it. It is a common theme in business for the technician or professional to be so tied up with routine business that they are not able to do what they do best.

“It’s like I was always just starting the business. Beginning from scratch, it never really felt like it arrived until Sarah started helping out,” Dr Connolly said.

He emphasizes the importance of being able to practice the art of dentistry while his partner, Sarah, runs the actual business.

Connolly says he views dentistry as an art. “I’ll see something that requires a lot of work, like a smile that embarrasses someone, and I’ll go in and do a lot of procedures and I can really change their lives and how they feel about themselves and how they interact with others.”

He also relates stories in which family members had never seen a loved one’s smile until they became a patient at Three Rivers Family Dentistry, because the individual was ashamed to smile.

A couple of years ago, Sarah Ryman came on board with the business as operations manager. At that time, the clinic had the challenge of remaining fully staffed. She places an emphasis on making certain the individual employee is a good fit for the company culture.

“If I have to micromanage someone, I would much rather just do it myself,” she says.

Since the managerial change in 2017, the business owners estimate that the company has almost doubled in revenue.

Ryman also keeps marketing on target, both internal and external. Online, the clinic maintains a social media presence and of course its website. Traditional marketing is also in the mix with advertising at Stones River Mall and print ads in the Murfreesboro Pulse. But community outreach is also a big factor in allowing the clinic’s presence to be known. They help with several fundraisers and charitable causes, and you can also see Sarah at several business networking events.

Teamwork is a big part of the clinic. Like Mark, Sarah knows when to reach out for help by calling on other professionals for specific guidance in various areas. From marketing to business development, Three Rivers pulls together an external team in order to take the business to the next level. I have had the pleasure of helping Three Rivers Family Dentistry with its professional development. So, I know firsthand how important it is for the company to invest in its people.

Perhaps the most important aspect of teamwork really is internal, however. Ryman manages a dozen employees, but says she does not feel the need to over-manage.

“We trust our employees are here to do a good job and they have their own reasons for being here,” she says. She states that trust with her employees is something that goes a long way. “We could not do any of this without the team and the employees being so committed,” Sarah adds. “If they’re happy about being here, the rest of it just falls into place.”

And things are falling into a much larger place as well. With an expansion into another part of its building earlier this year, Three Rivers grew its facility by over a third. They have even brought on another dentist, Dr. Darren Songstad, to the staff. As Murfreesboro continues to grow, so will the practice.

When asked, “What is it that gives you momentum?” Sarah states: “For us as a family, it makes way more sense for us to both be here and provide a really wonderful work environment and give back to our community.”