Matthew McGaw, founder of DSO Compass, drops a controversial truth bomb: The dental conference circuit that once drove industry innovation has become a pay-to-play scheme where vendors buy stage time, authentic value has been replaced by Instagram theater, and attendees are walking into rooms with 6 people seated in spaces built for 1,000. Post-pandemic, connection now matters more than content - but most conference organizers haven't gotten the memo.

Key Revelations:

• Attendees aren't going for education anymore - they're going because they're terrified of missing their "piece of the pie" in the great dental consolidation

• DSO executives rank vendor CEOs dead last on speaker preference - yet they're the only ones who can afford keynote slots.

• DSOs are sending regional managers instead of C-suite decision-makers - vendors are paying premium prices for conversations that go nowhere

The Forced Conversation Trap

AVAILABLE ON

"How do I know if my DSO is ready for private equity interest?"

Ken's answer: Before worrying about your $10M revenue threshold, get obsessed with systems, processes, and management depth. PE groups don't know where "the bodies are buried" in your operation - they need your team to stay and run the show. Clean financials are your highlight reel. Messy books = valuation penalties. Build your financial infrastructure first, or you'll be punished at the negotiating table.

The "Ask Ken" Question:

Ask Ken

Got a burning question about dental finance?
Submit your question and it could be featured in a future episode of The Dental Truth Project.

Be A Podcast Guest

Got a truth the dental industry needs to hear? We want you on our podcast!