Cherie Le Penske – Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Cherie Le Penske has been a successful entrepreneur and CEO over the past 18 years. In 2013, she founded Armor Dental Corporation, who’s mission is to modernize patient recovery, help avoid complications and increase healing at home following oral procedures. Armor Dental is developing an entirely new category of patented oral care products that aid in the healing of post-surgical wounds and chronic mouth sores. Armor Dental’s first product is Mouth•Mate™, which is a new, U.S. patented product that patients use to heal faster at home by allowing them to brush their adjacent teeth near a wound without pain and while not disrupting the surgical site. Protecting an area with Mouth•Mate will also decrease post-procedure complications and save dental offices time and money on reducing non-billable post-op appointments when complications arise, because patients will be able to keep their mouths clean and stay complaint with instructions during recovery.
Le Penske was awarded her first patent for Mouth•Mate™in February 2015. Other patents are forthcoming including the Armor Dental Bone Graft System, which is scheduled to be issued in 2017.
Introducing new products to the domestic and international markets is nothing new for Le Penske. After several years in communications and marketing, she founded LP Group in 2000 – a full-service public relations, social media and analyst relations firm. At LP Group, Le Penske worked with a multitude of organizations from startup environments to Fortune 500 corporations. Le Penske was a chief architect in executing strategic approaches to corporate communications, analyst relations and vertical segment marketing to help accelerate clients’ growth. She and her team were the agency of record for a diverse portfolio including AccelMD, ClearPoint, Movius Corporation, Premera Blue Cross and Silverback Learning.
As CEO, Le Penske is passionately pursuing the improvement of dental health and wellness at the patient’s home. Her primary focus is developing preventive products and programs that work in conjunction with clinicians to impact patient oral health and overall wellness.
Dr. Katherine A. Haltom, DMD, Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Katherine A. Haltom is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon & Chief Clinical Officer. She began her professional training at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine where she obtained her Doctorate of Dental Medicine and at graduation received the Academy of General Dentistry Award. She completed her advanced degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine where she served as Chief Resident during her last year. Following her residency at Boston University, Dr. Haltom served as Assistant Professor of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine and Boston Medical Center. She was the director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic for four years and taught courses to both the undergraduate dental students and the residents in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. She was also an associate in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Faculty Private Practice. In 1982 Dr. Haltom joined a private practice, Oral Surgical Associates, in Framingham, MA. Along with Cherie Le Penske, she co-founded Armor Dental in 2013 to help impact recovery at home once the patient leaves the office.
1990 Dr. Haltom opened the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Center of Framingham where she currently practices. Dr. Haltom is currently on staff at MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, MA and Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA. Dr. Haltom is a current certified provider of Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Over the years, Dr. Haltom has been very involved in Boston’s annual Yankee Dental Congress and lectures frequently. Dr. Haltom practices full scope Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with special interest in dental implants, bone grafting, impacted third molars, surgical exposures of impacted canines, and facial cosmetic procedures. As Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Haltom will be directing the clinical trials and ensuring that clinical trials conducted by the company are properly resourced, managed and executed within budget and in accordance with established timelines and patient care standards.
LICENSURE, CERTIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Dental Board of Massachusetts (Full Licensure)
- American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (Fellow)
- American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Diplomate)
- Massachusetts Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (Full Membership) (Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, Anesthesia Evaluation Committee)
- American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
- American Academy of Oral Medicine
- American College of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Massachusetts Dental Society of Anesthesiology
- American Dental Association
- Massachusetts Dental Society, Metropolitan District
- West Metropolitan Dental Society (Past Vice President, Past President)
- American Academy of Facial Aesthetics (Level I, II and III)
- Boston University School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association
- Spear Education Study Group
- MDI Study Group
Guy La Torre, Chief Operating Officer
Guy LaTorre has more than 25 years of experience in the development and commercialization of medical devices and consumer products in a startup company environment. Guy was a co-founder and Vice President of Business Development at Novamin Technology Inc. where he was responsible for identifying and managing the Company’s relationships with its key clients in the dental products field, including product development of in-office and at home-use products using the company’s proprietary ingredient. In that role, he formed and managed product development partnerships between NTI and the leading marketers of professional dental products, including Dentsply Corp, 3M Corp, Sultan Healthcare, Sunstar and others until the company was sold to GSK in 2010 for 135M.
Prior to this, LaTorre was the Director of Scientific Affairs at US Biomaterials which developed and sold synthetic bone grafting products for use in dental, head & neck and orthopedic surgeries. LaTorre’s responsibilities also included product development, manufacturing and business development activities.
Previous to US Biomaterials LaTorre was the Laboratory Manager of the University of Florida Advanced Materials Research Center where he was responsible for tech transfer of University tech to private startup companies licensing the technologies.
LaTorre has been author or co-author on over 50 scientific publications and holds seven US patents with associated filings worldwide.
Ivy Zellmer, Clinical Educator & Sales Manager
West Coast Region
Ivy Zellmer, RDH, BSDH is a licensed clinical hygienist, educator, and researcher with additional experience in sales and marketing of dental consumer products. She brings 10 years of clinical dentistry to the Armor Dental team, practicing dental hygiene in California with a focused background in general dentistry, periodontics, and implantology. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in Dental Hygiene from Minnesota State University. As a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, Zellmer is pursuing a graduate degree at the prestigious University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry. Her graduate work will be primarily focused on dental research writing and curriculum development. Over the years, Zellmer has been consulting in the oral health care industry concentrating on expanding a company’s market share through research, educational marketing, KOL development, and direct sales. As Clinical Educator and Sales Manager for the Western Region, Zellmer will be facilitating the clinical trials and developing a strong presence and sales force.
Zellmer is passionate about dentistry and works to move the profession forward. She has been very involved with her local and state dental hygiene associations in California. She served four years on the Board of Trustees for the California Dental Hygienists’ Association and is also a member of her national and state dental hygiene associations and the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health.