HAINES WHITE DR. Steven Brad DR.

What — or who — guides you?

DR. WHITE: My wife, Debi, and our five children: Matthew, Connor, Libby, Joseph, and Anna. They are such an inspiration to me. We get out to ski in the winter and spend time outside whenever we can. We also love our spiritual community at St. Mark Catholic Church. A connection to Christ is very important to us.

DR. HAINES: I have a blast with my wife, Tiffany, and our three awesome kids— Kate, Riley, and Anderson. Living in Lake Norman has allowed us to enjoy the seasons so much and being together — in whatever weather comes our way — is just the best thing in the world. I’m appreciative of our church, Life Fellowship, too. We’ve made so many great friends there.

Where do you seek solace during challenging times?

DR. WHITE : For me, on a bad day, my faith in God totally keeps me going. It helps to know that I am never alone, and I truly believe that things will work out because God is in control.

DR. HAINES: If I’m having a challenging day, the belief that God is always working for the good of those who love Him keeps me going. I know that there is always a bigger picture and purpose to what I’m going through and that God’s plan for my life is all that matters.

What makes you do your best work?

DR. WHITE: I’m a big believer in hard work and honesty. If you do the right thing and care for your patients, then you will be happy and successful.

DR. HAINES: I grew up down the street from my dentist and worked in his practice which allowed me to see the life-changing benefits of dentistry for those who desperately needed help. I’m blessed to be a part of that world today and to have it as my career.

What are you most proud of?

DR. WHITE: No question about it, our devoted team. They go above and beyond every day to take care of our patients—from scheduling their care to providing guidance and comfort along the way … and every detail in between! I’m in awe of their professionalism and incredible can-do spirit.

DR. HAINES: The staff at White & Haines Advanced Dentistry is incredible. Our office is a well-run machine because of their commitment and fantastic attitudes. They make our jobs a ton easier, and believe me, I’m indebted to them for that! w

White and Haines Advanced & General Dentistry is located at 9725 Caldwell Commons Circle in Cornelius. Connect with them at 704.896.9535 or visit www.drswhiteandhaines.com. Dr. Steven White, Dr. Brad Haines, and Dr. Claire Papp have decades of combined experience and have been serving the Lake Norman area since 1997.

How It All Began

I am a country boy that grew up on a small farm near Marissa in southern Illinois. We raised grain and livestock. My father always seemed to be able to find jobs to keep my mom, four sisters, and myself busy. We all had chores to do … feeding and caring for livestock was a year-round responsibility. Summertime was especially busy for us with all the farming that needed to get done. I’ve always had a really strong work ethic, and I’ve carried that with me since I was a kid. At 78, I am still going strong!

Finding Love In His Own Sweet Time

I did not marry until I was 52 years old, so I kissed a lot of frog-ettes before I met my princess, Kelly. She is from Vancouver, British Columbia, but we met at Bay Meadows racetrack in California where she trained thoroughbred racehorses. I’m thrilled to say we just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary! Our life has been filled with animals—mostly ex-racehorses that we acquired from the racetrack to repurpose for another career. We love these creatures and couldn’t imagine our lives without them.

On Exploring the Animal Kingdom

I absolutely love traveling. My favorite vacation was a photographic trip to Africa and seeing the amazing animals and the wonderful people who live there. Believe me when I say there is nothing more hairraising than seeing a trumpeting, charging elephant. I will never, ever forget seeing those majestic animals up close.

Follow Your Passion, and the Rest Will Follow