Heartland Dental Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

Heartland Dental has 7 executives leading key functions including financial strategy, information technology, marketing, and clinical operations.

Committed to empowering dental practitioners, Heartland Dental provides comprehensive administrative support services to streamline business operations, allowing clinicians to prioritize patient care while maintaining operational excellence across the United States.

Leadership Roles at Heartland Dental

  • Chief Financial Officer - Thomas Tekiele
  • Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer - Travis Franklin
  • President, PC - Stephen Knoll
  • President - Henry Schmahl
  • Chief Information Officer - Aaron Dalby
  • Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer - Craig Kabbes
  • Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer - Sherianne James
  • Thomas Tekiele - Chief Financial Officer

    Thomas Tekiele, the Chief Financial Officer at Heartland Dental, directs all fiscal planning and capital allocation strategies. Overseeing the accounting and financial reporting departments, the Chief Financial Officer ensures the organization maintains robust liquidity to support the expansion of administrative support services. This leadership role involves analyzing market trends to optimize cost structures for dental practices across the country. By implementing rigorous financial controls, Thomas Tekiele directly impacts the long-term sustainability of the business model. Tekiele manages complex budgetary frameworks, ensuring that every dollar invested enhances the efficiency of the dental support network. Through precise fiscal oversight, the Chief Financial Officer secures the necessary resources for sustained growth, enabling the company to provide superior administrative solutions to dentists nationwide while maintaining a strong balance sheet for future investments.

    Travis Franklin - Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

    Travis Franklin, the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Heartland Dental, directs the long-term financial strategy and corporate development initiatives. Overseeing the evaluation of potential acquisitions and partnerships, the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer ensures that the company maintains a trajectory of rapid growth. This leadership role involves managing investor relations and overseeing the financial health of the entire administrative support network. By optimizing capital structures, Travis Franklin directly impacts the ability of the organization to scale its services. Franklin manages the financial planning teams to ensure that every operational decision aligns with the broader mission of supporting dentists. Through disciplined financial management, the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer provides the stability required for the company to expand its footprint, ensuring that administrative support services remain accessible to dental practices across the country.
    Travis Franklin

    Stephen Knoll - President, PC

    Stephen Knoll, the President, PC at Heartland Dental, directs the clinical governance and professional standards for the organization. Overseeing the alignment of clinical practices with administrative support services, the President, PC ensures that dentists receive the highest quality of operational assistance. This leadership role involves managing the professional relationships between the company and the dental practices it supports. By maintaining rigorous standards of care, Stephen Knoll directly impacts the reputation and success of the dental network. Knoll manages the integration of clinical workflows with administrative tasks to ensure a seamless experience for both practitioners and patients. Through dedicated leadership in clinical affairs, the President, PC fosters an environment where dentists can thrive professionally, ensuring that the administrative support provided by the company consistently meets the highest industry benchmarks for excellence and patient safety.

    Henry Schmahl - President

    Henry Schmahl, the President at Heartland Dental, directs the overall operational strategy and execution of the company mission. Overseeing the coordination between various departments, the President ensures that administrative support services are delivered with maximum efficiency to dental practices. This leadership role involves setting the organizational culture and driving the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of the business. By fostering a collaborative environment, Henry Schmahl directly impacts the success of the entire support network. Schmahl manages the executive team to ensure that all business functions, from marketing to accounting, remain focused on the needs of the dentist. Through visionary leadership, the President guides the organization toward its goal of allowing clinicians to focus on patient care, ensuring that the company remains the leading provider of administrative support services in the dental industry.

    Aaron Dalby - Chief Information Officer

    Aaron Dalby, the Chief Information Officer at Heartland Dental, architects the digital infrastructure required to support modern dental practice management. Overseeing the integration of advanced software solutions, the Chief Information Officer ensures that administrative support services remain technologically superior. This leadership role involves managing data security protocols and optimizing internal systems to facilitate seamless communication between support teams and dental offices. By driving digital transformation, Aaron Dalby directly impacts the operational speed of the entire network. Dalby manages the deployment of cloud-based tools that simplify accounting and marketing tasks for practitioners. Through constant innovation in information technology, the Chief Information Officer maintains a competitive edge, ensuring that the technological backbone of the company remains resilient, scalable, and capable of meeting the evolving needs of dental professionals across the entire North American market.

    Craig Kabbes - Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer

    Craig Kabbes, the Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Heartland Dental, directs the strategic implementation of enterprise-wide technology initiatives. Overseeing the alignment of IT roadmaps with business objectives, the Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer ensures that administrative support services leverage data analytics to improve practice performance. This leadership role involves managing large-scale digital projects that enhance the user experience for dental clinicians. By optimizing technical workflows, Craig Kabbes directly impacts the efficiency of the administrative support model. Kabbes manages cross-functional teams to deliver robust software platforms that simplify complex business processes. Through visionary leadership in the technology sector, the Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer drives the adoption of cutting-edge tools, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of the dental industry by providing unparalleled digital support to practitioners.
    Craig Kabbes

    Sherianne James - Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

    Sherianne James, the Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer at Heartland Dental, directs all brand strategy and market positioning efforts. Overseeing the development of comprehensive marketing campaigns, the Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer ensures that the value proposition of administrative support services reaches dental professionals effectively. This leadership role involves analyzing consumer behavior to drive growth and increase the visibility of the company within the dental sector. By crafting compelling brand narratives, Sherianne James directly impacts the acquisition and retention of dental partners. James manages the creative and analytical teams responsible for promoting the benefits of outsourcing business tasks. Through strategic market engagement, the Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer strengthens the reputation of the organization, ensuring that the brand remains the preferred partner for dentists seeking to focus exclusively on patient care.
    Sherianne James

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Heartland Dental Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Heartland Dental?
    Heartland Dental is led by Thomas Tekiele (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Travis Franklin (Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer) and Stephen Knoll (President, PC).
    Who is part of Heartland Dental’s executive team?
    The executive team of Heartland Dental includes leaders such as Thomas Tekiele (Chief Financial Officer), Travis Franklin (Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer), Stephen Knoll (President, PC) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Heartland Dental have?
    Heartland Dental has 7 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Heartland Dental’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Heartland Dental includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, President, PC, President, Chief Information Officer.