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From father to daughter: Wilke takes over ownership of dental practices

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Family Dentistry Associates of Monona and Waukon Dental are under new, but familiar, ownership. Dr. Jessica Wilke purchased the practices from her father, Dr. Mark Fohey, this spring. (Submitted photo)

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

Family Dentistry Associates of Monona and Waukon Dental are under new, but familiar, ownership. Dr. Jessica Wilke purchased the businesses from her father, Dr. Mark Fohey, this spring.

 

Wilke, who joined the practices after graduating from dental school in 2014, said the ownership change has been in the works for at least two years.

 

“But even though I knew I would do this, it was very surreal. I was very emotional thinking of my dad building this business up for 30 years,” she shared. “Taking it over is kind of crazy. I’m like, wow, I’m in charge of all of this.”

 

The transition has been seamless. Without an announcement, the public wouldn’t know the difference, Wilke said. Business operations won’t change, and Fohey continues to see patients.

 

Fohey and Dr. Steven Kurth also still own Dental Associates of Prairie du Chien, which is tied to the offices in Monona and Waukon and shares common staff and doctors.

 

“He’s getting a real charge out of the fact I’m his boss now,” Wilke joked. “He’s been awesome, though. He knows so much and has done this so many years. He’s my constant advisor as I’m figuring out what I need to do.”

 

Wilke said it helps to walk into a well structured organization. She’s continuing to see patients as usual while also handling the behind-the-scenes tasks ownership entails.

 

“I’m overseeing things and making decisions and helping more with hiring and finances and planning,” she explained. “Friday afternoons, I’m done seeing patients at 1 p.m. now, which is nice, since Dr. [Courtney] Wikan is here. Then I’m catching up on paperwork and charts and going over finances.”

 

One aspect of the ownership transition that’s been exciting, especially for a majority-female staff, is that Wilke is a woman boss.

 

“I’m going to get emotional—and I think a lot of them got emotional too. We all, as women in the workforce and with families, think about trying to have it all,” Wilke said. “This is a representation of that, I guess: doing a big business move and getting to that level with the career and still having the family life. So many of our employees are moms. Not that it wasn’t always a well supported work environment for that, but I think they like we’re all in the same boat.”

 

The ownership change also cements Family Dentistry Associates of Monona and Waukon Dental in their respective communities for years to come, Wilke said. It provides important continuity of care for patients.

 

Family Dentistry Associates has been at its Monona location on Tower Street for five years and continues to expand its patient base.

 

“We’ve moved from a three-room office at our old building to eight rooms here. We’ve gradually added more hygiene time and doctor time. Now, we’re getting into where we just hired a new associate, so we have some days where we have two doctors here,” Wilke said. “I’d like to keep expanding that and have more days where more of us are here together. We can offer more times to patients, and it’s fun working together because we can consult on things.”

 

In Waukon, the office at First Avenue NW is in the midst of a major remodel. Construction started in August and has been phased into chunks, allowing operations to continue. Work should be complete by mid-summer.

 

“Once that’s done, we’ll have more rooms available, more days with a second doctor,” Wilke said.

 

At both clinics, “hopefully we can keep expanding and growing and serving our communities,” she added.

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