Eileen Day
Founder | CEO of DVIN
As the Founder | CEO of DVIN Eileen has a deep passion for making a difference. She combines her extensive experience in sales and marketing with her unwavering commitment to driving change and fostering collaboration in the dental industry.
Before embarking on her journey in the dental industry, Eileen made a profound impact in the animal rescue world. As the Director of Adoptions for an animal rescue organization in Texas, she personally fostered over 200 dogs, puppies, and cats, facilitated the adoptions of thousands of animals, and built a beautiful new website for the rescue. Her dedication and tireless efforts earned her the reputation of a compassionate leader and a driving force for positive change.
Drawing upon her expertise in sales, digital marketing, and her experience in the animal rescue field, Eileen brings a unique perspective to the dental industry. She understands the power of collaboration and the importance of tailored strategies. Throughout her career, Eileen has built productive sales teams by creating processes and harnessing the superpowers of each team member. She knows that success lies in understanding the nuances of the industry and utilizing the unique strengths of individuals to shape and guide her teams.
With DVIN, Eileen's vision is to create a platform that empowers Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and vendor partners, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and growth. She believes that by bridging the gap between DSOs and vendors, and providing a space for open dialogue and meaningful partnerships, the dental industry can achieve new levels of growth and drive positive change.
Brian A. Colao
Member & Director of the Dental Service Organizations Industry Group of Dykema
Brian Colao is the Director of Dykema’s Dental Service Organizations Industry Group. Brian has been in the dental space for over 25 years. He is widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities in the United States on DSO formation, DSO business structures, DSO related mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance for DSOs including the corporate practice of dentistry, illegal fee splitting, advertising regulations, laboratory regulations, patient finance regulations, billing regulations, HIPAA regulations, credentialing, permit and licensure regulations, marketing regulations, and labor law regulations affecting dental practices.
In recent years Brian has successfully resolved on behalf of his clients several significant civil and criminal Medicaid fraud investigations and state dental board actions alleging the corporate practice of dentistry, fee splitting and related violations, and he is the “go to” person in the industry for all manner of regulatory issues. Brian has handled some of the most significant transactions in the DSO industry. In recent years Brian has handled hundreds of significant dental transactions on behalf of buyers, sellers, minority investors, and lenders. Brian has developed many of the industry-leading protocols and procedures for conducting due diligence prior to purchasing or extending credit to Dental Service Organizations.
Brian currently has clients in all 50 states and six Canadian provinces, and has appeared before all 50 U.S. dental boards and the territory of Puerto Rico. Brian has handled numerous cases of first impression involving the corporate practice of dentistry and fee-splitting nationwide that resulted in legal opinions that defined and established the law in the DSO industry.
Brian sits on the Board of Directors of Women in DSOs, a nonprofit professional association created to empower women in the DSO space and grow future women leaders of the industry.
Awards & Recognition
- Named as a 2019 DSO Influencer by Group Dentistry Now
- Named as a Texas Rising Star by Law & Politics, 2004-2006
- Manchester Healthcare’s Who’s Who Among Healthcare Professionals, 2004
Karla-Marie Santiago Melendez, MBA
Karla-Marie Santiago Melendez, MBA, is an accomplished leader in dental industry operations and procurement.
Currently, Karla serves as a DSO Procurement and Operations specialist, actively collaborating with consulting agencies, including Cavaretta Consulting Group.
Karla-Marie also contributes her expertise as a Board Member of the DSO Vendor Insight Network (DVIN), where she helps shape innovative vendor relationship strategies and fosters collaboration.
In her recent engagements with Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), Karla-Marie has excelled in optimizing supply chains, negotiating with vendors, and refining procurement strategies, effectively enhancing operational efficiencies and market positioning. Her strategic acumen has been instrumental in reshaping workflows, upholding regulatory standards, and boosting productivity within the dental industry.
She formerly served as the Director of Finance and Operations at UNC Adams School of Dentistry, where she made significant enhancements in procurement, equipment management, and compliance protocols, substantially elevating the institution’s operational standards. Additionally, as the Executive Director of a dental-focused nonprofit, Karla-Marie championed strategic initiatives that strengthened community relations and organizational leadership.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Karla-Marie relocated to North Carolina in 2015 to be closer to family. She earned her MBA from the University of Puerto Rico.
