We had the good fortune of connecting with Angelica Frank and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Angelica, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
I am blessed to be a mother to 3 girls, ages, 12, 10 and 7. That being said, they are still young and have many life experiences to endure. I hope everything I am instilling now will have a huge impact on their lives as they continue to mature. It is hard to write about one impact that I have purposely done as a parent, but there are several that I am doing in hopes that it will make a difference. For one, we try and go to church as often as we can as a family. It is very important that my girls have a foundation and growing relationship with God and the people in the church. The more adults outside our family that they can turn to in times of needs the better. Another impact is every morning my girls see their mom get up and go to work. I want them to be aware that I have worked hard for everything I have and will continue to work hard for them. One day I want them to be able to provide for themselves and not feel dependent on anyone financially. Even though I work, I am fortunate to be able to pick them up from school and take them to all their after school activities. I feel very present in their lives, and am able to achieve a healthy work life balance. I want them to know and remember that nothing in life is easy and anything worth having will require hard work. Most importantly I want them to know life can and will be hard, but it is also good. It is their God given story and they are equipped with the knowledge and the faith to overcome anything that comes their way.
What should our readers know about your business?
I have been passionately practicing dentistry for the past 12 years and I have been a business owner for 7 of those years. Behind my passion for dentistry, there is a passion for people. I love to meet new people and hear their story. Dentistry allows me to see my patients everyday and engage with them on a personal level. Of course I am all about oral health and teeth, but I love the person they belong to even more. I am most proud of those patients that bravely show up to my office regardless of their fears and dislikes for the dentist. I know that takes courage. As much as I would love to connect with patients all day, there is the business aspect of the practice that demands just as much attention. Owning a dental practice, like any other business has its challenges and it is constantly a work in progress. I am so fortunate to have an amazing team behind me. When I experience challenges managing my team, I always have to stop and try to see views from their perspective. I have learned that there is not a one size fits all approach to managing a team member, you have to know the best approach for that individual. The same goes for my patients. To be a successful dentist you have to be cognizant of your patients needs, fears, and personality to successfully gain their trust and loyalty. I would say a valuable lesson that I have learned along the way is, not everyone is going to like me and that’s OK. I have learned to not take others opinions personal. I want the world and my patients to know that I am not a dentist that judges a person based on the condition of their oral health. I know there have been circumstances for some that have made it difficult to care for their teeth. What I do care about most, is that they are sitting in a dental chair, ready to make a difference in their oral health, and they chose me to be a part of it. I could not be more honored.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start the trip by visiting Ft. Worth Texas: I would take them to the stockyards, and National historic district to experience the daily cattle drive of Texas longhorns and an old fashion gun show. Followed by Sundance Square which spans 35 blocks in downtown Ft. Worth where there is lots of choices for patio dining and shopping. A popular restaurant in downtown is The Reata, an upscale ranch themed hot spot. Joe T. Garcia’s, is another well known, fun packed Mexican restaurant in Ft. Worth everyone should try. After spending a couple of days in Ft. Worth, I would then take my guest to The Star in Frisco, Texas. This is the 91- acre campus of the Dallas cowboys headquarters and practice facility. Cowboys football fan or not, this is an area worth seeing. Not only could you tour Ford Center and the facility, but is another perfect place to shop and dine. There are over twenty restaurants to chose from but one of my favorites is Neighborhood Services, the food is amazing. We could then make our way to Klyde Warren Park, which is a 5.2 acre public park in downtown Dallas. The park is over Woodall Rodgers Freeway and it connects downtown and uptown. Everyday is filled with different events and there is lots of free entertainment and its a great place for kids. Another great attraction that I would want to explorer with my guest is The Bishop Arts District north of Oak Cliff, Dallas. It is one of Dallas’ charming neighborhoods- filled with trendy bars, shops and art galleries. Hattie’s is a favorite restaurant that resides in the district. If you are in the mood for barbecue, Lockhart Smokehouse is another great place to try,t here will be a line out the door but it is worth the wait . The places I listed are just a few hot spots that come to mind, but DFW has so much more to offer. The shopping is endless and there are so many great options for dining. You can’t go wrong with any choice this amazing city has to offer.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a huge shoutout to my staff. I work with four amazing women .Their incredible talent, competence and ability to do their job to the highest level is who I owe my success too. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for each of them. Most of them have had many years in the dental profession, which is extremely beneficial. I am truly blessed and grateful for their commitment and loyalty to myself and my practice. Great employees are hard to come by and I do not take that for granted.
Website: http://www.southlakefdc.com
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Image Credits
Clay Hayner Ruth Nokes