The Fireside Story: Why Build a Community?

What happens when two entrepreneurs and a pediatric dentist connect over drinks?

When Dr. Jeff Flannery met with friends John Bell and Bart Yancey, the conversation turned to his practice. A question came up: What’s the biggest challenge facing pediatric dentists today?

Dr. Jeff didn’t hesitate. “Staying independent feels like rowing alone in a boat, upstream.”

The group wondered: What would it take to help pediatric dentists grow their practices while staying independent and lessen the feeling of being isolated?

Staying Independent

Owning your practice means having control over everything that matters: your treatment philosophy, patient care, and the welcoming vibe that keeps families coming back.

But independence comes with challenges:

• Hiring and retaining an all-star team
• Managing HR and operational headaches
• Negotiating vendor pricing
• Marketing and growing the business

The weight of running a practice—and growing it—can feel overwhelming.

Not Isolated

Dr. Jeff knew independence shouldn’t mean going it alone. What if pediatric dentists could connect in a strong community, supporting each other without selling to corporate dentistry?

And that’s where the story of Fireside began.

Together with John and Bart, Dr. Jeff envisioned a membership community offering:

• Group purchasing power for clinical supplies and payment processing
• Access to experts in the field
• And most importantly, a community of like-minded pediatric dentists to share in every part of the experience.

Your Practice, Your Legacy

Your practice is more than a business—it’s your legacy. Independence allows you to build meaningful relationships and create something truly unique to your vision. With Fireside, independence isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.