Skytale Insights

In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics, Wellness, & Surgery at Skytale, is joined by Ryann Lavenia, CRNA, APRN, Founder and CEO of FIBB Aesthetics & Wellness. Together, they explore Ryann’s remarkable journey from starting in a one-room salon suite to scaling Face It Botox Bar into four thriving locations with over 25 employees. Ryann shares her perspec...

Darcie Surinak joins host Annie Robertson Hockey for another installment of our Platform Perspectives series to unpack the playbook behind scaling high-performing aesthetics platforms. Now President & COO of AYA Medical Spa, Darcie draws on a decade-plus operating multi-site, consumer-facing healthcare businesses to share how patient experience, disciplined integration, and front-line leadersh...

In this installment of Platform Perspectives on Skytale Insights , host Annie Robertson Hockey sits down with John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, to explore what impactful leadership looks like in today’s aesthetics industry. John shares his remarkable journey from serving as a pastor to leading one of the fastest-growing aesthetics platforms. He opens up about the evolution of his lea...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, we continue our Platform Series with Sam Schloss, CEO and Co-Founder of Annie Aesthetic. Annie Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale, is joined by Sam for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build and scale a platform in today’s competitive medical aesthetics market. Sam shares how his background in investment banking and p...

In the second episode of our Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale Group, is joined by Courtney Ellenbogen, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Aesthetic Partners. Together, they explore the business strategies and leadership philosophies shaping the next generation of aesthetics platforms. Courtney founded Aesthetic Partners in 2018...

In the first installment of our Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale Group, interviews Alyssa Rapp, CEO of Empower Aesthetics, a Shore Capital Partners portfolio company. Alyssa shares how her unique journey across entrepreneurship, private equity-backed healthcare services, and the public markets has shaped her approach to le...

In this episode, Skytale CEO Ben Hernandez sits down with Tami Vileta, founder and creative director of Pinpoint Strategic Communications, to unpack what truly makes a brand resonate in the world of aesthetics. With more than 30 years of experience and a client base spanning over 400 practices and companies, Tami shares her insights on building brand strategies that go far beyond visual identity....

In this episode, Skytale’s President and Head of Consulting, Annie Robertson Hockey,  and Greg Mahoney, Associate Director of Management Consulting, discuss why revenue cycle management (RCM) is more than just back-office operations, and why it’s becoming a strategic priority for healthcare and dental organizations. Together, they explore what strong RCM really looks like, where practices tend to...

If you're investing in marketing but unsure whether it's actually moving the needle, you're not alone. In this episode of Skytale Insights , Ben Hernandez sits down with Joshua Suchanek, Marketing Consultant at Skytale Group, to unpack one of the most common questions we hear from healthcare and aesthetics business owners: Is my marketing strategy really working for me? With Joshua’...

In this exclusive episode of Skytale Insights, we take you behind the scenes of the 2025 M&A Summit with a dynamic panel discussion on how preparing for an exit can lead to building a better business. Moderated by Bradford E. Adatto, President at ByrdAdatto, this session features expert insights from industry leaders, including: Annie Robertson Hockey , President & Head of Consulting at Sk...

Even the most successful leaders experience doubt—but how they manage it makes all the difference. In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Robin Pou, an executive coach, author, and speaker committed to transforming leadership by helping individuals become more confident, effective, and team-oriented. As the founder of a leadership development firm, Robin has worked...

In this episode of Skytale Insights , we’re joined by J.W. Oliver, Managing Partner of SupportDDS and Zimworks.com, alongside Skytale’s Director, Management Consulting, Eric Pastan. J.W. shares his expertise on how dental practices and DSOs can leverage virtual and remote teams to increase productivity, reduce costs, and drive growth. From addressing labor shortages and rising wages to improving p...

Marketing and branding—what’s the difference, and why does it matter? In this episode of Skytale Insights , host Ben Hernandez sits down with Erica Crawford , President at Influx Marketing, to break down the essential components of a strong marketing strategy for medical practices. With over 15 years of experience in PR and digital marketing—including 5+ years focused on medical aesthetics—Erica s...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez is joined by Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics, Wellness, and Plastic Surgery for Skytale Group's Management Consulting team. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of medical aesthetics, focusing on the integration of wellness services into medical aesthetic businesses. Judy shares her extensive industry experience, providing lis...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez and Miguel Mireles are joined by Vik Venkataraman, Middle Market Healthcare Services Lead at Provident Bank, to explore the evolving healthcare market, key regulatory trends, and strategies for growth in a dynamic environment. With extensive expertise in healthcare lending and business development, Vik offers a wealth of insights on M&A activi...

Skytale Group CEO, Ben Hernandez, and Fifth & Cor CEO, Robin Dimond, open up about the raw realities of entrepreneurship in this compelling episode. Together, they explore the grit required to build and sustain a business, the sacrifices they’ve made along the way, and the emotional weight of pursuing a vision. Robin shares her personal story, revealing how her journey shaped her passion for t...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Erik Haines, Managing Director, Head of Guidepoint Qsight, to discuss our recent collaboration, Evolution in Aesthetics , a white paper covering the trends and data shaping the aesthetics industry in 2023 and 2024. Together they discuss highlights from the white paper and the strategic objectives behind its release into the mar...

Mary Robb, CEO and Founder of Social Practice, joins Ben Hernandez on the Skytale Insights podcast to explore the latest trends shaping the social media landscape. From the impact of paid versus organic efforts to the rise of AI, they unpack the essentials that will help businesses tackle their social media with confidence.  In this episode, you’ll learn: The "three C’s" of social media...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Colin Carr, CEO & Founder of CARR, to tackle one of the biggest decisions healthcare business owners face: should you buy or lease your practice space? Colin shares expert insights on how to navigate real estate decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and leverage smart negotiations for long-term growth. From understanding the ps...

In this episode of Skytale Insights , host Ben Hernandez, CEO & Managing Director at Skytale Group, sits down with Tiphany Hall, Chief Growth Officer at Aesthetic Record and the voice behind For the Record . Together, they discuss the vital aspects of mastering patient retention in aesthetics. Tiphany shares her expert insights on innovative membership programs, the integration of new service...

In this exclusive episode of Skytale Insights , Ben Hernandez, CEO & Managing Director at Skytale, sits down with our new dental investment banking expert, Miguel Mireles, to explore the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions in the dental sector. With over a decade of experience, Miguel brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, offering invaluable insights into the historical, current, and...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, we are joined by Robin Dimond, CEO & Founder of Fifth & Cor, to explore the power of omni-channel marketing in the medical aesthetics industry. Robin shares her perspective on building a robust online digital presence, a critical element for any modern medical aesthetics practice. She also discusses the strategic use of social media, emphasizing its imp...

While at the 2024 Medical Spa Show, host James Turcott, Partner at Skytale, had the opportunity to catch up with Alisha Merlo and Heather Goodchild, Executive Director of Professional Relations and Vice President of Professional Business at Colorescience. In this episode, the three discuss the evolution of the aesthetics industry. Both Alisha and Heather touch on the role Colorescience plays in th...

In this episode of Skytale Insights, host James Turcott of Skytale Group sits down with Margaret McGuckin, Co-Founder and CEO of i3 Ignite, to discuss the vital elements of scaling your dental practice with dental implants. Margaret shares her expertise on the key considerations for implementing a dental implants service line and emphasizes the importance of providing an exceptional patient experi...

Join us for an insightful discussion on the latest episode of Skytale Insights, where we dive into the transformative power of technology in the dental industry. Hosted by Ben Hernandez, this episode features a special guest, Eric Pastan, Director of Consulting at Skytale Group. Together, they explore the vital role that technology plays in modern dental practices and share practical advice on how...