A Dental Spa! As innovative and novel as the term may seem to you, there’s a lot in the offing here. Marquis Dental Spa explores this arena through providing a wide range of dental services with unmatched dental expertise in Midtown Manhattan. What makes Marquis Dental Spa unique is its spa-like approach where visitors experience spa like amenities with highly proficient dental expertise. Marquis Dental Spa was instituted by Anthony Santamaria who governs the functioning of the spa. He is joined by Lynn Robertson, D.M.D. who oversees patient treatment and counseling at Marquis Dental Spa in her role as the Director of Dentistry. eBrandz connects with Anthony for a brief look at his entrepreneurial reign in the field of Dental Spas.
Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business.
Marquis Dental Spa is a full service general and cosmetic dental spa in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. We are dental care and hospitality experts who do not hesitate to take the extra steps necessary in providing unparalleled medical professionalism and customer service. Our Madison Avenue practice is dedicated to making every visit at our dental practice a pleasant, calming and soothing experience. We are currently located in New York, NY. However, we are in the midst of opening up locations in Boca Raton, Florida and Chicago, Illinois.
Kindly give us a brief description about yourself and your co-heads.
My role at Marquis Dental Spa is Practice Administrator. It is my core function to ensure that the business processes are flowing fluidly. Aside from administering the practice, I spend my energies in advertising, which have allowed Marquis Dental Spa to become the largest and #1 Invisalign Provider in the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut). In addition, I have maneuvered Marquis Dental Spa to become the largest provider of in office teeth laser teeth whitenings in New York City.
Prior to Marquis Dental Spa, I worked as a Financial Analyst for Merrill Lynch and a Financial Analyst at General Electric’s prestigious Financial Management Program.
In the future, it is my personal goal to grow the Marquis Dental Spas into a national company and develop a national brand.
I am joined by Lynn Robertson,D.M.D., the Director of Dentistry at Marquis Dental Spa. A New Jersey native, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Biology at Rutgers University. She received her Doctorate of Medical Dentistry from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Upon graduation, she completed her residency at the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Robertson has been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry for over 5 years. She is extremely meticulous and realizes the importance of communicating treatment options to her patients. She truly enjoys changing the stereotypical dental visit to one that is pain free, positive and fully enjoyable!
Passionate about dentistry and dedicated to a life long commitment of continuing education, Dr. Robertson relentlessly enrolls in new dental programs in order to stay current with all of the latest advances in dentistry. She has completed courses for Invisalign Clear Essentials I, II and has received advanced education in straight wire orthodontics. She is also a member of The American Dental Association, The Academy of General Dentistry, The American Orthodontic Society, The New York State Dental Association and the New York County Dental Society.
What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture? How did the idea for your business come about?
I always wanted the chance to create, not just carry out a role. However, I never got a chance to explore business possibilities. That is until I came across Dentistry. Dentistry is one of the few cottage industries left in our ever improving society. However, many dental offices are set up as one-man shops. Understanding this and the fact that everyone has teeth – made me believe an opportunity was available to help develop a national brand with our Director of Dentistry.
How important have good employees been to your success?
At General Electric, former CEO of GE, Jack Welch, always preached how important his employees were to his success. Life at Marquis Dental Spa is no different. Marquis Dental Spa’s success comes from those who carry out their duties and responsibilities with sincere appreciation and care.
What three pieces of advice would you give to college students who want to become entrepreneurs?
- Never lose sight of Quality. Although business begins with the first sale, it sustains with quality.
- Be Strong. Being apart of a new business is difficult. People will doubt you, people will ridicule you and your business will hit hard times. However, if you are strong you will get through it all. If you are not strong. You will fail.
- Take the risk. You are young, you have few responsibilities. Take the risk now when you do not have a whole family to support.
How many hours do you work a day on average?
It is not work. It’s a lifestyle. When you become an entrepreneur you are always thinking about your business, even when you are sleeping.
What motivates you?
My back is against the wall, I need to make it happen because no one is going to do it for me. Understanding this, I do my best to provide the best dental practice possible to keep patient retention high and maintain a great reputation.
How did you decide on the location for your business?
They say if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. Personally, I think it is the opposite. I say, go national or New York for your best chance to succeed. New York has a huge population base to help support your business. That is employees, vendors, suppliers and customers. New York gives you the best chance to succeed.
If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
As cliche as this may sound, I would want to speak to George Washington or one of the other founding fathers. The risk they took. The strength it took to do it is simply admirable. I would love to speak to them to understand the intangible driving force behind making them successful.
What book has inspired you the most? (OR What is your favorite book?)
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. It really explains, in detail, the common denominator behind any successful businessman…determination.
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
The opportunity to create.
In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Exciting.
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