cover story

“It’s about people…

and I can do that!”

There’s a theme that plays out in Dickens-era literature: a boy is born into difficult circumstances. He hustles and works and builds a ladder up and out. He becomes a great success…and a bitter old jerk. Okay, fictional old-school male characters. We see you. Now let’s turn the page. What happens when the character is a real-life girl born in Hollywood, California? What does she turn into? Cliffs Notes version: she turns into a loving, generous, gratitudefilled powerhouse.

Meet Debra Engelhardt-Nash, President of Nash Speaking and Consulting. She is co-founder of the Nash Institute for Dental Learning, owner of her own consulting firm and consultant to her husband’s practice, Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas. Debra was a foster child at 15, when her mother was declared unfit to raise her. Within two years she was an emancipated minor. From that moment on, her story is an upward trajectory. Today Debra is known as a dental triple threat. She speaks and consults internationally, earning industry titles including “Top 25 Women in Dentistry,” “Leader in Dental Education and Consulting,” and the Academy of Dental Management Consultants’ “Lifetime Achievement and Spirit of Leadership” award. Debra was also the first woman and non-dentist recipient of the Outstanding Lecturer award in 2015. She serves on several boards, including the American Dental Association Practice Management Advisory Committee, The American Academy of Dental Practice, and Speakers Consulting Network.

This would be an impressive list of achievements—or rather, a literally impossible list of achievements—for a person who had grown up knowing that the dental field was their calling. But what is the word to describe these feats when the achiever pursued a liberal arts degree? Siri, give me a synonym for “even more impossible than impossible.” Siri: “I’m not sure I can answer that question.” Translation: there is no word to describe Debra Engelhardt-Nash and her accomplishments.

Debra was recruited by her dentist to come work in his office. Given that her degree was in secondary education, she thought working in a profession involving the sciences would be a bit of a stretch … but for a woman like Debra, who made it through such challenging circumstances at a very young age, no achievement is a stretch. She quickly excelled at her new job. “I learned very early that whether it be healthcare or childcare or any type of service, it’s about people. And I can do that!”

It’s her relationships with people that mean the most to Debra. The people she cares about reciprocate those feelings. “When I met my husband, I lived in Seattle, and he lived in Charlotte,” she says. “We dated for five years coast-to-coast. He was willing to give up his practice, take the Washington state boards, and start all over to be with me. Is that love or what?”

She also cites the counselors and social workers who supported her in her youth as pivotal influences. “When the road was rocky, they were great inspirations,” she says. “They advised me how to take charge of my life and guided me through the process of changing my situation and reaching my full potential.” How proud they would be to see how far Debra has come. In that first job, she learned the technical side of dentistry, and focused on providing patients with an amazing experience. From that first non-liberal-artsy job, she was asked to manage a four-man dental practice; one of the four branched off and took Debra with him. She was then recruited by a consulting firm in California to be a regional lead consultant. That gig opened the door to her true calling.

“When I worked for a large consulting firm,” she says, “I was concerned because every client was given the same ‘package.’ The same inoffice consultations, format, and manual.” This didn’t feel right to Debra, given that the clients’ individual needs varied so much. Especially troubling for Debra was this fact: “The client investment continued to increase.” She went to the CFO and asked if they might institute a customized approach, in order to increase effectiveness and improve their clients’ success rate. That idea was rejected, so she submitted her resignation and started her own company. “I was sued for violating a non-compete agreement, but I won that argument.”

You know who else won? The clients she began working with as an independent contractor. The proof of that pudding can be found in the long list of awards and recognitions she’s accumulated throughout her career. And her consulting has stretched beyond dentistry to medical and retail. Nordstrom retained her to help propel their Personal Touch Department in their downtown Portland, Oregon, store.

Furthermore, Debra’s fortitude and determination speak volumes. She recovered from a meningioma and broke speed records re-learning how to walk after losing all of the strength in her right side—defying the doctors who said she would not walk again without the aid of a cane or a walker. She has raised a daughter who has committed her life to meeting the needs of the underserved; and Debra resoundingly proved wrong the early employer who told her she would fail in the dental arena because she had no recognition in the industry.

Debra is also an advocate to fight human trafficking and has developed a program to increase professional and community awareness. She has presented her program to several audiences throughout the country; and Debra is currently writing a book on customer service and communication skills. w

Hometo wn : Chi co , Cali fo r n i a LK N To wn : Charlo tte Ho useho ld : Daughter Ro sie an d a b e t ta f ish nam ed Ba by G irl

roff rachel

“I consider myself to be more of a LakeCity Woman because I love the outdoors and having the metro area all at my fingertips. It is just an ideal place to call home!” i am an LKNwoman because…

Rachel Roff is the owner of Urban Skin Solutions Medspa and Weight Loss Center (8535 Cliff Cameron Dr #116, Charlotte) and Urban Skin Rx Skincare. To learn more about Rachel and her businesses, visit urbanmedspacharlotte.com and urbanskinrx.com.

What was your inspiration for Urban Skin Solutions Medspa and Weight Loss Center and Urban Skin Rx? While working at a medical spa as a laser technician, I quickly discovered the lack of education and services available for treating darker skin tones. I developed a passion for making the beauty industry more inclusive, and started Urban Medspa and Weight Loss Center in 2006 in Charlotte as a result. After treating thousands of patients, many of whom traveled from out of town, I realized my expertise was needed outside of the Charlotte area and launched Urban Skin Rx Clinical Skin Care Collection in 2006 so that I could share my knowledge and services with people all over the world.

Running two businesses and being a mom must require some serious juggling and

multitasking. How do you manage a work/ life balance? I run a really tight schedule; I make sure to book time with my daughter and attend her events. I even share my daughter’s events schedule with my entire team so no one books over that time. When I walk in the house, I put my phone down for the first hour and spend time with my daughter. I could do better balancing the two. Sometimes I do not feel like I am putting my daughter first, and sometimes I do not feel like I am giving the right attention to my business … it truly is a balancing act that requires constant calibration.

What personality traits have served you best as a business owner? Grit, determination, and discipline! Taking my daughter home from the hospital by myself and experiencing heartbreak as a brand-new mom led me to have even more determination and discipline than I ever imagined I could have. And while I could have allowed that situation to break me, instead I used it to motivate me to be a good mother and a good businesswoman. Plus, being a good mom takes a ton of discipline, just as being a good businessperson does. I am working my you-knowwhat off with these businesses for the future, not just for the now. The same can be said of me as a mom with my daughter. Being a disciplined mom and sharing that same energy with my daughter will have positive effects for her in the future.

What is your greatest accomplishment? Without a doubt, I am the most proud of being a good single mother while growing two businesses. Currently my skin care line is sold in Target, CVS , and Ulta, and I’m very proud of that. And I have to admit, it was pretty cool being recognized by Allure, Forbes, and Essence magazines for being the best in the industry! w

women move on the

During their December Holiday Luncheon, the Exec ut ive Women of La ke Norman were honored to present a check to ANSWER Scholarship for $10,000. “We were thrilled to hear from someone who has directly benefited from the assistance provided by this amazing charity, which only strengthened our commitment to continue to support them,” says Vice President Denise Williams.

Allison Hamme , cofounder of Lost Worlds Brewing, announces the opening of the brewery scheduled for this month. With the goal of encouraging guests to “Live Global, Drink Local,” the taproom with an outdoor biergarten is located at One Norman Plaza off the Catawba Avenue corridor.

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Dr . Pr incess N. Thomas , a breast surgical oncologist, recently relocated to Mooresville and opened her own private practice, Breast Care Specialists of Carolina, PLL C, across from Lake Norman Regional Medical Center. She completed her general surgery internship and residency at Mercer University’s Medical Center of Central Georgia and completed a formal breast fellowship at Yale University.

Organized Chaos (OC), a nonprofit Dragonboat team in the Lake Norman Area, is proud to congratulate its female team members, Sienna Wyn iem ko (left) and Yur iko Nagano (right), for representing Team USA in the 2019 International Dragonboat Competitions held in Thailand. Later this year, OC will be showcasing the strength of its ladies team in France in the Club Crew World Championship.

Whether you are a woman on the move, looking for events, new businesses in the area, or are willing to contribute your opinion, follow us by visiting www.facebook.com/ lakenormanwoman or e-mail leslie@lakenormanwoman.com.

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LKNW’s Stephanie and Liz Marshall, master aesthetician with Carolina Age Management, enjoy a recent networking event.

The Lake Norman Woman Magazine Men’s Photoshoot 2019 … and what a group they are!

cheese! Send or tag us in a photo of you with an issue of LKNW & see it here!

LKNW publisher Dana and her editor, Leslie Ogle, enjoy some R&R at Margaritaville in Florida. Hayley Sullivan (Stephanie’s daughter) and Maelyn Greist pose together with a copy of our annual Amazing Girls issue 2019 … two amazing LKN girls in their own right!

Ashley Roundtree (Believe Media Marketing) and LKNW’s Stephanie combining some business with pleasure.