About Tpt

About TPT

Trusted Practice Transitions is committed to assisting dental professionals through each phase of the buying/selling/new startups, recognizing that every client is unique and every situation unprecedented. With this knowledge, Trusted Practice Transitions pledges to hear our clients’ short and long-term needs, that we might best act on their behalf with peerless integrity and focused dedication.

trusted practice transitions

meet Our team

Caleb carter

CEO and founding partner

Brad backman

Equipment Specialist

larry wintersteen

Advisory board member

Daniel Packard

Accountant

Jeffrey Brunson

Legal specialist

Linda Kane

Consultant

Payton Smith

Web dev and Digital Marketing
Connect with us
CEO AND FOUNDING PARTNER

Caleb Carter

As CEO and founding partner of Trusted Practice Transitions, Caleb’s focus is helping every doctor get the best result from the next step they are taking, ensuring that those steps lead to an improved future. He approaches every situation from the perspective of a colleague, as a vested partner in the decision. He understands that navigating one’s future can be stressful, and that the unknown obstacles can be daunting.

Since 2002, Caleb has been involved in dental, sales, and consulting and a degree in finance, Caleb has a proven record of success in the medical field. Through his ability to look at each transition from the client’s perspective and apply knowledge in several fields he is able to customize transitions for his clients. Caleb’s greatest asset is the ability to listen and understand the needs and wants of the doctors with whom he collaborates, then orchestrate and implement a customized plan to achieve those needs. His genuine love for people has allowed Caleb to make meaningful and powerful connections that foster enduring growth for his partners.

Outside of his work Caleb enjoys coaching local high school basketball, fly fishing, and spending time with his beautiful wife and kids.

Equipment Specialist

Brad BAckman

Brad Backman has been a dental industry professional for many years as a business advisor with Patterson Dental.  Providing professional insight, dental supplies, dental equipment and dental advising services has provided Brad valuable insight on all aspects of dentistry. 

Being central to the design, plans, layout, remodel or build-out of numerous dental projects over the last 30 years allows Brad to be a valuable board member for Trusted Practice Transitions.  His knowledge of dental equipment values and FMV (fair market valuations) serves our clients well as we establish the data needed in practice values, especially regarding capital equipment.

When not working on dental transitions, Brad enjoys riding bikes, sports, outdoor activities and hanging out with his wife and family, especially his grandkids. 

As you have an opportunity to interact with Brad in the process of establishing values for your capital equipment, we trust that you will find in him an engaging resource that is supportive and deeply knowledgeable.

Advisory board member

Larry Wintersteen

Larry Wintersteen was born and raised in the State of Idaho. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in English / Communication, a Master’s Degree in Interpersonal Communication and Organizational psychology, and Ph.D. Studies in clinical counseling and Organizational Management. Larry has taught university for seven years, been in private counseling practice three years, and has worked two years as a Social Services consultant for the State of Oregon.

In 1974, he founded Wintersteen & Associates LLC, a consulting firm, and entered into professional Healthcare Management Consulting and Human Resource Development. He has built an international reputation throughout the U.S. and Canada as a leading consultant, lecturer, author and trainer of dental, legal and medical professionals. Larry has been recognized in Dentistry Today as a leading consultant and speaker 2000-2016 consecutively. See services description at
wintersteen.com or call 208.286.0849.

Accountant

Daniel Packard

Daniel is a partner at Cooper Norman in Idaho Falls and works closely with the team here at TPT. Daniel and his wife Tara have two children. Daniel enjoys spending time with family and pursuing his interests in photography, music, literature, golf, and the outdoors.

Daniel maintains professional affiliation with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.  He is actively involved in his community, and has fulfilled several ecclesiastical and youth-oriented functions.  

Daniel graduated with high honors from Brigham Young University - Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, with minors in Business and Chinese.  During his undergraduate studies, Daniel was employed as an on-campus accounting clerk involved in fixed asset auditing and developmental flowchart design.  Daniel was the recipient of several academic scholarships and department awards. Daniel also graduated with high honors from The Ohio State University with a Masters in Accounting.  He was the recipient of the University Fellowship Award and Pacesetter Award. Daniel currently holds a Certified Public Accountant's license from the State of Idaho, the Certified Fraud Examiner designation, and his Certified Valuation Analyst designation..

Legal specialist

Jeffrey Brunson

Jeff Brunson joined Beard St. Clair Gaffney in 2004 and practices out of both the Idaho Falls and Rexburg offices. He is experienced in many different areas of civil litigation and has a great understanding of the procedural rules and requirements of litigation. His practice is focused primarily on business and estate litigation. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants and he is licensed in Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and North Dakota. As a member of the litigation team, Jeff is aggressive, persistent, and relentless in pursuit of his clients’ objectives. It is this expertise that makes his such an asset to the TPT team.

Jeff believes that clients have a right to be well informed on the status of their cases. He prides himself on promptly returning calls and communicating openly with clients. Jeff enjoys reading, running, tennis, and managing fake sports teams. In an alternate universe Jeff would be the general manager for the Boston Redsox.

Consultant

Linda Kane

Linda Kane started her Dental career in Greeley, Colorado as an Office Manager in a solo General Practice, she monitored and directed all of the elements of a successful dental office. Linda then moved to a group practice in the state of Idaho, where she coordinated Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Taxes, Statements,Collections, Treatment Coordination, Patient Financial Arrangements, Treatment Scheduling & Executive Assistant to each doctor. After 13 years of working with this group Linda transitioned into a management position with another group practice – which owned and operated 3 separate locations. Linda has focused a great deal of time understanding insurance contracts and navigating the world of reimbursements. Linda worked with a Corporate Dental office for 1 year studying the practices in that environment.  

Linda works as an independent contractor/educator with Trusted Practice Transitions. Linda is a wonderful asset for developing practice growth and efficiency. She is a very upbeat and positive person who, through her own first-hand experiences, has learned the effectiveness of change, team work, understanding your own responsibilities, effective marketing, and having a can-do attitude. Linda knows the dental office and where to find the whispering numbers that can spark a huge change! Linda adds POP to your practice – especially in all aspects of the Business Office systems.

Linda has years of experience turning struggling practices into lean machines! She knows the inner workings of a dental practice from a solo practice to large group practices and has the tools to partner with you as you take the journey of turning your practice around.  It can be done! Believe it or not - there is joy in the journey! 

Testimonial:
“Linda is passionate about what she does and you can feel it when she’s with you!  She helped our office stream line our systems and it’s amazing now that we all get along so well!  Linda is the best!”  

Pam S, RDH

Web dev and Digital Marketing

Payton Smith

Payton Smith is the owner of Pait Digital, a digital marketing agency in Idaho Falls, ID. Payton has extensive expertise in web design and development, company branding, local search optimization and social media advertising. He has joined the TPT team because of his ability to grow local businesses and generate new patients for dental practices.

Payton currently lives in Idaho Falls with his wife, Leslie and son, Oliver. His hobbies include basketball, art and graphic design, and spending time with family and friends.