When Dr. Sonny Spera was looking for associate dentists earlier this year, his goal was to find the right people to join his practices, contribute to his growing team, and build long-term professional relationships.
To support his search, he turned to Dentist Job Connect. Within just over two months, he found the right associate for one of his locations.
Dr. Spera is the owner of Progressive Dental, a private, fee-for-service, multi-practice group serving patients throughout Upstate New York, with an additional office in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
With multiple locations, a long-standing team, an in-house lab, digital technology, CBCT, and a broad scope of dentistry, Progressive Dental provides associates with the opportunity to continue developing their clinical skills while working in an established practice environment.
Earlier this year, Dr. Spera was looking to add associates to two of his locations. One of those searches resulted in a successful hire, while he is still searching for the right associate for his Norwich, New York practice.
Dr. Spera's associate search began when his position was posted with Dentist Job Connect in April 2026.
The search resulted in:
Dr. Sapien found the opportunity through Dentist Job Connect and ultimately accepted the position with Dr. Spera's team. For Dentist Job Connect, successful hiring is about more than simply filling an open position. The goal is to help create connections between practice owners and associates that have the potential to develop into strong, long-term professional relationships.
Dr. Spera and Dr. Sapien’s connection is a great example of how that process can extend beyond an application or interview.
In April, Dr. Sonny joined the Dentist Job Connect team in Philadelphia for Super Dentist Boost Camp, an incredible event hosted by our sister company, Dental Nachos. During his time in Philadelphia, he had the opportunity to connect with members of the DJC team in person. As his associate search continued, those conversations and relationships became part of the journey that ultimately led to his connection with Dr. Sapien.
Dr. Sapien was relocating from Philadelphia to join Dr. Spera's team. Before she officially started her new position, Dr. Sonny and his wife made the trip to Philadelphia to have dinner with Dr. Sapien and members of the Dentist Job Connect team who helped facilitate the connection.
For our team, moments like these are an important reminder that the work of connecting dentists and practice owners is ultimately centered around people and relationships. While technology can make it easier to discover opportunities and connect with one another, taking the time to build genuine professional relationships can make a meaningful difference throughout the hiring process.
We were thrilled to spend time with Dr. Spera and Dr. Sapien in person and look forward to following their journey as they begin this new chapter as practice owner and associate.
It is also a fitting example of a phrase frequently used throughout our community: Always Be Connecting.
After successfully hiring Dr. Sapien for one of his locations, Dr. Spera is now looking to add another associate dentist to his Progressive Dental practice in Norwich, New York.
The current opportunity offers:
The position is open to both experienced dentists and growth-oriented new graduates who are interested in continuing to develop their clinical skills in a collaborative practice environment.
Dr. Spera's experience working with Dentist Job Connect highlights an important part of the associate hiring process: finding the right fit is not simply about filling an open position. It is about identifying a professional opportunity that aligns with the goals of both the practice and the dentist.
For job seekers, the right opportunity may offer more than immediate compensation. Factors such as mentorship, clinical growth, practice culture, patient base, location, and long-term career opportunities can all play an important role when evaluating a position.
Dr. Spera's current associate opportunity with Progressive Dental may be a strong fit for dentists who are interested in practicing a broad scope of dentistry, continuing to grow clinically, and exploring a potential long-term path with an established multi-location practice.
View the current Associate Dentist opportunity with Progressive Dental in Norwich, New York.
For practice owners, Dr. Spera's story is also a reminder that a successful associate search often begins before a position needs to be filled. Being proactive, building professional relationships, and creating opportunities to connect with potential candidates can all contribute to a more successful hiring process.
Dr. Spera came to Dentist Job Connect looking for the right associate for his team. That search resulted in a successful hire, a new professional relationship, and another opportunity to continue growing his practices.
We are excited to continue supporting Dr. Spera as he searches for the next associate to join Progressive Dental.
Interested in learning more about hiring an associate through Dentist Job Connect? Explore how our team helps practice owners connect with dentists who are looking for their next opportunity.