Honoring the Past, Leading the Future

Reflecting on two decades of leadership, a lasting family legacy, & looking ahead with President Lori Burkhart Isbell

When talking to Lori Burkhart Isbell about serving as President of the company that has been in her family for generations, the first thing she mentions is not her family, but the people of Burkhart Dental Supply.

“The heartbeat of this company is strong, because of the individual people & their passion.”

For her, Burkhart is all the personalities who have helped to shape the whole organization, the Associates with a sense of ownership, and those who are always serving others. Together, they define Burkhart’s culture. She believes that culture shows up in the way Burkhart works with customers. “We’re always looking to do what we can to truly help them, whether it makes us a sale or not,” Lori says. “And I’m really proud of that.”

 

Twenty Years at the Helm

In 2026, Lori Burkhart Isbell celebrated 20 years of service as the President of Burkhart Dental Supply. She took over the business from her father, Perry Burkhart, Jr., making her the fifth generation in the family to run the company founded by William E. Burkhart, DDS, back in 1888. Originally founded as Tacoma Dental Depot, William’s mission as a dentist was to provide dentists with the finest tools and education on the best way to care for their patients. That family legacy that has carried forward through five generations, and Burkhart Dental Supply has grown into a full-service dental supply company with 19 branch locations and two distribution centers. In addition to supplies, Burkhart also offers equipment and technology, service and repair, practice consulting, and office planning and design.

For Lori, the family legacy has never felt like a weight she was expected to carry. Growing up, she says, business lessons were woven naturally into family life, often in ways she did not fully recognize at the time. But there was no heavy expectation that she would join the company, or lead it.

Before entering the business, Lori built a career in education. “I never felt pressure to come into the business at all, which was just lovely. My dad mentioned it once or twice when I was younger, certain ways I could get into the business,” she recalls. “When I was interested, then he certainly turned his full attention to that and was excited and supported me. It was really wonderful.”

Once she joined the company, she started in Customer Service, then took on roles as Branch Manager and, for several years, as a Sales Account Manager before taking over from her father. Although there had been a gradual transition over two years before Perry Jr. fully stepped down, when Lori fully took over as President in 2006, the ride was anything but smooth. Less than 60 days into her new role, unexpected financial issues surfaced from the prior year-end close, affecting multiple areas of the business. “It definitely was not an experience of easing my way in,” Lori says. “I felt like I came in with my hair on fire.”

That early challenge was a great proving ground. Over her tenure, Burkhart has faced its share of difficult moments, including financial pressures, marketplace shifts, the COVID pandemic, and a cyberattack. Through each one, Lori says she has seen the same quality emerge across the organization: resilience. She is proud of how each challenge has been faced.

“All the different interesting things that we’ve come through as a company and just always finding our way through—that sense of resilience,” she says. “The other thing that I’m just really proud of is who we are as a company. And when I think about that, I think about the people I work with. They’re just amazing.”

One of her most recognizable habits is the walking meeting.

Rather than always sitting across a desk, Lori often steps outside with colleagues to talk through ideas and decisions. “The conversation just feels like it evolves in a different way,” she says. “I can think better. And I have loved over the years meeting with people, especially in person, and walking together.”

Her leadership style reflects that same attentiveness. Lori values leaders who are clear and assertive without being aggressive, who can communicate a vision while also noticing what each person or team needs to succeed. Some people need structure and accountability; others need the big picture and room to find their own way. Lori leans naturally toward the latter, but she also understands the importance of surrounding herself with people who bring complementary strengths.

When it comes to decisions, Lori credits her father with helping her develop business judgment: weighing many factors, knowing when to seek outside wisdom, and continuing the process until the right answer becomes clear. Across the two decades, one philosophy has remained central: look for the win-win. Whether working with customers, manufacturers, or Associates, Lori sees mutual benefit as essential to how Burkhart does business. “It feels like a really important part of the philosophy of the business,” she says.

Moving Forward

As she looks ahead to the next twenty years, Lori is intentional about the next generation, but not in a pressure-driven way. She does not feel the need to push her children, nieces, nephews, or other family members toward the company. Instead, she looks for small, meaningful opportunities to build business acumen and pride in the company.

“I’m pretty big on teaching the next generation, how do you become a good business owner?” she says. “Trying for the next generation to create a sense of ownership, a sense of pride, but also working hard just to find those little opportunities to help them really respect our employees, honestly. That’s an important part of what I want to pass on.”

The dental industry will continue to change. Lori expects further consolidation, pressure on traditional margins, and greater demand for service, consulting, equipment expertise, and efficient solutions. As products, manufacturers, and supply chains evolve, she sees an ongoing need for companies in Burkhart’s space to be more efficient and more valuable to customers.

For Burkhart, that means continuing to pair personal touch with technology. Lori is energized by the possibility of tools and systems that could help dental practices run more efficiently while preserving the human relationships that have always mattered most.

“I really see us moving forward with personal touch and [practice] help and really strengthening our technology,” she says. “I’m excited to think about what technology could look like that could really be a help to our customers, beyond the typical things that you see out there right now.”

Looking to the future, Lori does not frame success as a fixed destination 20 years away. Instead, she focuses on doing the right things today: serving people well, treating them right, facing current challenges, and staying ready for the opportunities ahead.

“When I say doing the right things, from a human perspective,” explains Lori, “What are our chances to serve, and how do we treat people right, and how do we do the right things in different situations?” After 20 years as President, Lori’s leadership is both deeply personal and forward-looking. She honors the generations before her not by standing still, but by continuing to steward a company that values people, adapts to change, and keeps looking for better ways to serve.

“I truly do enjoy getting to know people and what they’re experiencing, it does matter to me. It is important whether it’s work-related or not. I just believe in and love what we do.”

 

---

 

Written by Dawn Kahl

Published in Catalyst – Q4 2026.

 

 

Category: Burkhart Culture

Back to Articles