Skytale Insights

In this Skytale roundtable, Annie Robertson Hockey, Ben Hernandez, and Judy Kozlicki unpack what is actually changing in aesthetics as the industry heads into 2026. The conversation explores personalized treatment strategies, shifting patient expectations, technology adoption, retention, and continued market consolidation.

This episode goes beyond surface-level trends to examine how leading practices are evolving for long-term growth, stability, and scale.

Connect with Skytale Group:

• Website
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• LinkedIn

Thinking about selling your business in 2026? In this solo episode, Skytale CEO Ben Hernandez breaks down today’s M&A landscape, what’s happening in healthcare and consumer markets, and the key questions every owner should ask before entering a sale process.

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Annie Robertson Hockey, President at Skytale, breaks down what the most successful healthcare and consumer businesses are doing to prepare for 2026. Drawing from Skytale’s work with hundreds of clients across the country, Annie explains what strategic planning is and what it is not, why disciplined planning separates top performers from average organizations, and how leaders can build a roadmap that drives measurable results.

She walks through the five pillars of an effective strategic plan, highlights the most common mistakes organizations make, and shares practical guidance on how to set goals that are realistic, aligned, and accountable. Annie also discusses the trends that are shaping the year ahead and how these may effect 2026 initiatives for business leaders.

Whether you are scaling, stabilizing, or repositioning your business, this episode gives you a clear framework to plan with confidence in 2026.

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In our final episode of the Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey is joined by Will MacInnis, Co-CEO of Cliff Ridge Specialty Partners, for a candid conversation about founding a specialty dental platform, scaling with intention, and leading through the rapidly evolving DSO landscape.

Will shares his path into dental, the vision behind Cliff Ridge, and the lessons learned from building alongside a co-founder. The discussion covers what differentiates modern specialty platforms, how to balance autonomy with support, and the traits Cliff Ridge looks for in its practice partners.

They also explore industry-wide trends, including private equity’s role in dentistry, pediatric and orthodontic growth, and where the next wave of opportunity is emerging.

Whether you're an operator, clinician, or investor, this episode offers a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a specialty platform built for long-term success.

Connect with Will:

• LinkedIn

Learn more about Cliff Ridge Specialty Partners:

• Website

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This week on the Skytale Insights podcast: Annie Robertson Hockey is joined by Alyssa Shaw, CEO of The Aesthetic Syndicate, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, brand evolution, and building lasting impact in the aesthetics industry.

With more than 20 years of experience in beauty and wellness, Alyssa has scaled leading brands such as Ulta Beauty, Glowbar, and [solidcore], fostering growth through strategic vision and team empowerment. As she leads The Aesthetic Syndicate into a new chapter, including an exciting rebrand soon to be revealed, Alyssa shares reflections from her early career, insights into maintaining consistency in branding, and the importance of staying closely connected to her team and business.

Listeners will hear how Alyssa’s “people-first” approach, grounded in authenticity and accessibility, has shaped her values as a leader and fueled the company’s continued success. She also reveals what she’s most proud of as The Aesthetic Syndicate continues to evolve as a trailblazer in the medical aesthetics space.

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, Annie Robertson Hockey sits down with Matt Hendrick, Co-Founder of Elevate Dental Partners, for a thoughtful discussion on building scalable, data-driven dental organizations.

Matt shares his career journey from private equity to co-founding Elevate and how his experience shaped his approach to operational excellence and partnership strategy. Together, Annie and Matt explore how Elevate uses data and an understanding of practice motivations to guide decision-making, the growing pains that come with scale, and what today’s dental providers truly need from their support partners.

The conversation also dives into the balance between consolidated and local marketing efforts, the strategic considerations behind adding new service lines, and the leadership mindset required to build a business that can transform an industry.

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In this installment of Platform Perspectives on the Skytale Insights podcast, host Annie Robertson Hockey speaks with Daniel Schacter, CEO of Cosmetic Physician Partners (CPP). Together, they explore the evolution of CPP, practical tips for preparing teams and culture for a successful transaction, and what it takes for aesthetics practices to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market. Dan also shares insights on how growth cycles vary across regions and how CPP approaches adopting new services and technologies to stay ahead.

Daniel brings a proven track record of scaling businesses. Before leading CPP, he successfully grew two companies from the ground up, most recently taking a business from $10M and 12 employees to $500M and over 400 employees as COO. Trained in accounting at Deloitte and operations and sales growth at McKinsey & Company, Dan has built a reputation for creating operationally sound businesses anchored by strong teams and resilient cultures. He holds a BComm in Accounting from McGill University and an MBA from Oxford University, where he graduated with First Class Distinction.

Connect with Daniel: 

• LinkedIn
• Cosmetic Physician Partners Website

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics, Wellness, & Surgery at Skytale, is joined by Ryann Lavenia, CRNA, APRN, Founder and CEO of FIBB Aesthetics & Wellness. Together, they explore Ryann’s remarkable journey from starting in a one-room salon suite to scaling Face It Botox Bar into four thriving locations with over 25 employees.

Ryann shares her perspective on building the right service mix, the importance of advanced training, and the strategies that fueled her business growth. With over 22 years of medical experience, recognition as one of the nation’s top 500 Allergan Trainers, and a recent honor as one of AmSpa’s Distinguished Women in Medical Aesthetics, Ryann brings both expertise and inspiration to the conversation.

Connect with Ryann

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• FIBB Website
• FIBB Instagram

Connect with Skytale Group:

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Darcie Surinak joins host Annie Robertson Hockey for another installment of our Platform Perspectives series to unpack the playbook behind scaling high-performing aesthetics platforms. Now President & COO of AYA Medical Spa, Darcie draws on a decade-plus operating multi-site, consumer-facing healthcare businesses to share how patient experience, disciplined integration, and front-line leadership accelerate growth without sacrificing clinical quality. At AYA, a 25-year pioneer in medical aesthetics with expanding footprints in markets like Atlanta and Dallas, she’s leading the next phase of brand and operational evolution.

In this episode, Darcie shares her career journey into the world of medical aesthetics, reflecting on how her background in multi-site healthcare operations shaped her leadership approach today. The conversation touches on the growing importance of consumer experience in driving success, her perspectives on where the aesthetics industry is heading, and strategies for successful integration.

Connect with Darcie

• LinkedIn
• AYA Website

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In this installment of Platform Perspectives on Skytale Insights, host Annie Robertson Hockey sits down with John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, to explore what impactful leadership looks like in today’s aesthetics industry.

John shares his remarkable journey from serving as a pastor to leading one of the fastest-growing aesthetics platforms. He opens up about the evolution of his leadership style, from the early days of Alpha to today’s national presence, and the practices that keep his team and partners connected — from monthly 360-degree check-ins to Slack channels that unite injectors across the country.

Together, Annie and John discuss the balance of being both a visionary and an executor, how to scale culture without losing authenticity, and why genuine connection is the foundation of sustainable growth.

Whether you’re building a platform, leading a team, or simply looking to grow as a leader, this conversation offers valuable insights into leadership with impact.

Connect with John:

• Alpha Website
• LinkedIn

Connect with Skytale Group:

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