Dental Practice Sales & Transitions

Who We Are

Thank you for visiting the ADS web site. Since 1984, Earl Douglas and his associates have served your practice transition, apprasial, associateship services, pre-retirement transition support and expert testimony needs. ADS is known by its impeccable reputation as being fair, honest and effective in helping dentists plan and implement their transition strategies.

What We Do

ADS is literally composed of the best professionals in the transition field. We do not offer franchises to just anyone who wants to sell dental practices. All prospective members must pass review by our nomination committee and meet quality and experience requirements. To be admitted to ADS South, they must be voted upon by the entire ADS membership. ADS South members are subject to internal standards and peer review. We are serious about integrity, competence and quality.

Recently, our membership had a strategic planning session that indicated that our members would benefit from being part of the ADS brand, rather than being known as their separate individual company, thus the movement to be known collectively and individually as ADS. Now, when you see the ADS advertisements in Dental Economics, our monthly Dental Economics transition column, our many pages of classified advertising in Dental Economics, our national website, www.ADSTransitions.com, and other ADS South branding venues, you can associate us and our colleagues as part of the ADS South national organization which provides the highest quality transition services in the country.

by Earl M. Douglas, DDS, MBA, BVAL | Earl Douglas on Google Plus

Meet the ADS Dental Practice Sales Team

Earl M. Douglas, DDS, MBA

Earl Douglas is the founder of ADS South. Dr. Douglas earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Dental School, University of Maryland 1971. He practiced in the U.S. Army Dental Corps at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1971 to 1974 and in Stuttgart, West Germany, from 1974 to 1977. Dr. Douglas was in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1978 through 1982. After the sale of his private practice in 1982, he began his career in practice transition consulting. He received his Master in Business Administration degree from Brenau College in 1984 and founded ADS South in the same year. Dr. Douglas was the founder of American Dental Sales, Inc., in 1996 and served as its first president. He is the author of cash flow analysis software used by professional brokers and lenders. He is also a contributing author for Dental Economics and has presented numerous seminars for Dental Economics and state dental associations. Dr. Douglas is a member of the Practice Valuation Study Group and The Institute of Business Appraisers.

Clayton C. Cummings, DDS

Clayton C. Cummings, DDS graduated from University of Tennessee, Memphis, College of Dentistry in 1987. He practiced general dentistry in group practice in Arkadelphia, AR from 1987 until 1990 when he moved to Nashville, purchasing a practice through Dr. Earl Douglas at ADS South, LLC, (then known as Professional Practice Consultants, Ltd.) Dr. Cummings has served his community on bank boards and by serving in dental missions both locally and abroad. Dr. Cummings has always been interested in the business side of dentistry as well as the clinical aspects. In addition to working with dentists as a member of ADS South, Dr. Cummings manages his own consulting firm in which he helps other dentists navigate their way through an ever-changing health care environment. Dr. Cummings serves transition needs for dentists in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

James J Howard, DMD

James Howard has joined the ADS South team as a transition consultant. Upon graduation from Rutgers University in 1972, Dr. Howard attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, receiving both the Graduate Dental Scholarship and the Zeta Psi Clareth Scholarship. Graduating with a DMD degree in 1976, he served at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and remains as a Major in the US Army Retired Reserves. In 1980 Dr. Howard formed the Howard Dental Group in LaVale, Maryland, eventually expanding the group to three offices. He sold his practice through American Dental Sales and moved to Oak Island, North Carolina. Dr. Howard offers twenty years experience in multiple practice business operations to assist those who want to buy or sell a dental practice in the Southeast corridor from Maryland to Georgia.

Joseph Jordan, JD

Joseph D. Jordan, JD, serves the ADS South team as legal transition counsel. Mr. Jordan earned his Juris Doctorate at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 2004. He has devoted his time and attention to the sole representation of the dental profession in the area of Practice Transitions. Mr. Jordan has been serving the dental industry for over eight years and speaks on both the national and local levels.

Virginia Douglas

Virginia Douglas is the client liaison coordinator at ADS. Virginia graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in business administration. She assists clients in every step of the process from the initial phone call or email until after the closing. Virginia is the friendly voice that gets things done and is always available to respond to any needs that clients may have in the transition process.

Testimonial from a Satistfied Dentist

"You even provided information that I probably would not have thought of on my own. Your equity associateship is a wonderful idea. I feel that I am being treated fairly and that the arrangement is mutually beneficial to both parties. I feel that I am being provided the opportunity to develop my clinical and patient relation skills to the fullest without having to worry about the business side of the practice. As I grow more comfortable with the daily operation of the practice, I am gradually learning the practice management skills necessary to run the office at a more enjoyable pace."

I. Bradford Lipham, DMD