The sheer exuberance of the nomination form for the team at St. Joseph Dentistry captured the imagination of the panel of judges, and may well be a solid recruiting tool for the practice going forward, because, who wouldn’t want to work for a place that seems to have so very much going for them? While the practice is just marking five years in business, it is also one of the most rapidly growing such practices in the entire region. Employer and employee alike have successfully harnessed the magic that cascades throughout the practice, creating a workplace that even the patients look forward to. Read on to discover the super power of “Accelerated Rotation,” coupled with empathy that helps turn petrified people into happy patients on a regular basis. While the nominator only imagined that the headline could read: “SJD Takes the Big W for the Best Place to Work,” they can now press that headline into action, or put it on a billboard as an actual member of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest and start planning the celebration to honor it.
What is the name of the business you are nominating?
St. Joseph Dentistry
Who are the owner(s) and/or principals in this company?
Dr. Charles Howenstine
Business Contact Information
Tina Eaton
3386 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI 49085
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
23
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
St. Joseph Dentistry not only offers state of the art equipment, massage chairs and TV’s on the ceilings, but their greatest asset is a caring, professional and knowledgeable team! From check in, to check out, the patients receive the very best of care, including low wait times, safe, efficient treatment & follow up, 24/7/365 on call Drs. for emergencies, walk-in policies for established patients and an in-house savings program so patients that don’t have insurance can be seen without having to worry about breaking the bank or going without something important in order to have dental care, too.
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
St. Joseph Dentistry is a dental practice that has served the Great Southwest since August 2016. The office has grown so quickly (largely in part to how caring and great the staff is) that they are now expanding to be able to accommodate even more patients. Dr. Howenstine recognized the need for the expansion to be able to treat and care for our growing patient base, and we are just weeks away from completion. As a current employee of the office, I can tell you that Dr. Howenstine goes the extra mile for his patients and team (even before the trying times of the last year) always taking their health, safety and happiness into consideration. The office has a great atmosphere and we are often caught laughing and joking. The office is treated to several outings a year to team-build and decompress and just overall get to know one another better in a relaxed setting. Dr. Howenstine cares about his staff as much as he does the patients.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
The staff at St. Joseph Dentistry has really grown into a family. We celebrate one another’s accomplishments and are there for one another in times of hardship. Dr. Howenstine has created an environment of care and communication and the staff feels at ease going to the office manager or the Drs. if/when they need anything. You don’t feel like just another body filling a chair here, you feel like part of the family.
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Yelp! or Trip Advisor. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
Being a team member at St. Joseph Dentistry has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. With the fast-paced office you are never bored and wanting for something to do. The fellow staff members are friendly and always have a smile or kind words to share with you. In a world full of craziness and worry, it is refreshing to be part of a group that makes you want to laugh and forget that you are in fact actually working and not just spending the day with friends. Being able to be around other positive, like-minded people has been a true gift!
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
- Caring 2. Growing 3. Family
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
Super Power One: Accelerated Rotation because we see between 50-60 patients a day with little to no wait time, all while making sure everything is super clean and patients are well cared for!
Super Power Two: Empathy, because we take petrified people and turn them into happy patients that enjoy coming to see us!
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? Dr. Howenstine makes sure to recognize staff life events, as well as staff recognition days, catered lunches, team building events, and general office shenanigans to make people smile and laugh.
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? Monthly meetings to assess, change and grow in a positive way as a team and company
C] Keep communications open? Daily morning meetings to address anything that needs attention, patient reviews/staff shout-outs for a job well done and open door policies that allow us to speak freely on anything we need to.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
During the government mandate in 2020, when most other offices in the area closed, ours remained opened for emergency treatment for not only our patients of record, but new patients that were faced with no treatment or emergency room visits. Our staff took all the regular as well as extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety to be able to treat those in need.
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? The office is treated to catered lunches, fun outings, the occasional gifts and regular verbal recognition.
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? Staff members often get together outside of the office to work out, share meals as well as quarterly team outings, and sharing lunch in our staff lounge regularly
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? We like to sponsor local school sports, dental hygiene outreach at the local YMCA preschool classes, annual pumpkin decorating where the results get taken to eldercare facilities, donated care, etc.
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? With joy, treats and fun!!! The office celebrates all of our life events as a team, including birthdays, weddings, new babies, new homes, vehicles…we just love to celebrate one another’s new adventures.
Write a brief, but compelling, recruitment ad telling people about why they should come and work there, too.
St. Joseph Dentistry is a patient-focused dental practice that has been providing quality care to Southwest Michigan for years. Would you like to become an integral part of our growing team of professionals, share in our success and put a smile on others faces?
We pride ourselves in being very patient-centered and are seeking employees that share that same point of focus.
Position: Front Office Staff
Job Summary:
We are seeking someone to join the front office staff that will assist in performing multiple administrative functions as necessary, such as but not limited to:
- Answering patient phone calls.
- Confirm and schedule appointments.
- Present and explain treatment plans to patients after doctor diagnosis.
- Overall represent St. Joseph Dentistry to the patient in a professional and courteous manner.
This is an opportunity to take your drive and enthusiasm to a new level while being duly recognized by the rest of our dental team! Enthusiastic, quality, oriented professionals seeking independence and growth will find this opportunity fulfilling and challenging. A refreshing personality, beaming smile and a high level of technical proficiency will bring rewards both personally and professionally.
We look forward to meeting you!
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
I don’t believe that this can be summed up in just one thing however our team culture is absolutely amazing! We are so much more than co-workers, we are a family! We smile, laugh, cry, worry and celebrate our lives in and out of the office, together!
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- Free Dental Care
- Paid Staff Outings and other office Shenanigans
- A fun loving work environment
If this is your company and you win, write the best headline ever for your company newsletter describing your successful selection to the list, and be as specific as you can about how you would celebrate the win if money were no object.
SJD Takes the Big W for the Best Place to work!
Hello team, this award comes as no surprise to any of our staff or patients, after all, we are the Greatest!!! Scheduling team, please give our amazing patients our apologies, but the office will be closed for the next three days so we may enjoy an all-expenses paid mini-vacation as a team and experience all the shenanigans that Disney has to offer us! Pack your bags and be ready for some fun, food and sun! GO TEAM SJD!!!
Tell us anything else you want about this company that you suddenly realize we haven’t asked you about, but you’re sure will be the thing that puts you squarely into the winner’s circle! (Wait a minute! Can you put a square in a circle?)
Part of what makes our office stand out from all the rest is how amazing Dr. Howenstine’s wife, Ana, is with our décor and how beautifully she decorates the office for every holiday and season! The way she turns what could be a sterile, boring office into a warm, homey space is simply amazing and is commented on daily by our patients and staff. Sometimes it’s not just about the people you are around but the space you spend your day in. Being surrounded by beauty can really make your heart happy!
