Laura Kelly, AAACD
“Growing up, I had no idea dental labs even existed, so it was literally by chance when I joined the profession,” Laura admits. “I always enjoyed working with my hands and loved art, so when I was attending college and heard about an opening at a local dental laboratory, I decided to find out what dental labs were all about.” Within a year, Laura fell in love with her profession, and decided to commit her efforts toward furthering her education in the field of dental technology with a focus on esthetic dentistry. She soon joined the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and was successful in achieving Accreditation in 1993.
Laura’s career started with an interest to pursue a business major in school, but her fascination with dental laboratory technology and the technician/dentist relationship soon took center stage for her. Many key people whom she worked with in the early days noticed her ability to understand and deliver cosmetic dental results, combined with her strong people skills and business focus.
That drive took her to new levels of success and leadership, becoming the first woman and the first dental lab technician to serve as president of the AACD in 2007. Also that year, Laura opened a full-service, boutique-style dental laboratory—LK Dental Studio in San Ramon, Calif. She spends her days with a team of talented and experienced technicians, all whom share her vision to focus on function and esthetics. The lab offers high-end customer service and specializes in the fabrication of all case types, servicing dentists throughout the U.S.
As a woman, Laura prides herself on trying to lead with compassion, along with exhibiting strong and effective communication skills. She feels that listening well to others, and developing win-win relationships, is the most effective way to lead small teams as well as large groups of people toward a common goal. It helps that she has the ability to see the best in people, pulling like-minded people together and working hard to motivate everyone to be the best they can be.
Laura is a woman who truly just enjoys being around successful people, as well as being a good role model for her two children. “It was tough trying to balance a family, career and leadership positions, especially when the kids were younger,” Laura says.
“Being fortunate to have a strong support system in place can make all the difference.”
When asked what keeps her striving for new challenges Laura says, “when someone tells me I can’t do something that I feel is possible and worthy, it challenges me even more. I know what it feels like to work hard for something you believe in, and I’m not the kind of person who gives up easily.”
