Skytale Insights

In this episode of Skytale Insights, we continue our Platform Series with Sam Schloss, CEO and Co-Founder of Annie Aesthetic. Annie Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale, is joined by Sam for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build and scale a platform in today’s competitive medical aesthetics market.

Sam shares how his background in investment banking and private equity shaped his journey into aesthetics, what inspired the founding of Annie Aesthetic, and how their team stays focused on differentiation. The two also dive into leadership lessons, M&A strategy, and the values that define Annie Aesthetic’s approach to building a lasting legacy.

Whether you’re growing your first location or leading a national platform, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of investing, operating, and leading with intention.

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In the second episode of our Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale Group, is joined by Courtney Ellenbogen, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Aesthetic Partners. Together, they explore the business strategies and leadership philosophies shaping the next generation of aesthetics platforms.

Courtney founded Aesthetic Partners in 2018 while earning her MBA at Harvard Business School. Her career spans healthcare investment and operations, with experience at The Carlyle Group, Deutsche Bank, Johnson & Johnson, and the seed venture capital firm Victress Capital. She holds a B.S. in Economics from Duke University and brings a unique perspective to the aesthetics space, informed by years of investing in and supporting healthcare businesses.

In this episode, Courtney and Annie discuss the importance of alignment without uniformity, emerging trends in the aesthetics industry, and how platform leaders can create value without compromising what makes each practice successful.

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In the first installment of our Platform Perspectives series, Annie Robertson Hockey, President and Head of Management Consulting at Skytale Group, interviews Alyssa Rapp, CEO of Empower Aesthetics, a Shore Capital Partners portfolio company. Alyssa shares how her unique journey across entrepreneurship, private equity-backed healthcare services, and the public markets has shaped her approach to leadership and integration in the aesthetics space.

The conversation explores her time leading companies like Surgical Solutions, how she became involved in Empower, and the key factors she believes are driving the future of aesthetics. Alyssa also offers insights on what it takes to scale platforms successfully and how leaders can stay focused during periods of rapid growth.

Whether you are exploring a platform partnership or simply curious about what makes a great CEO in aesthetics, this episode offers a thoughtful look at leadership, strategy, and the business of beauty.

Connect with Alyssa

• Alyssa Rapp's Website
• Alyssa's Book: Leadership & Life Hacks
• Empower Website
• Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn

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In this episode, Skytale CEO Ben Hernandez sits down with Tami Vileta, founder and creative director of Pinpoint Strategic Communications, to unpack what truly makes a brand resonate in the world of aesthetics. With more than 30 years of experience and a client base spanning over 400 practices and companies, Tami shares her insights on building brand strategies that go far beyond visual identity.

Together, they explore when it’s time to rebrand, how branding shapes the patient experience, and why thoughtful brand touchpoints—from events to education—are crucial to patient retention. Tami also sheds light on how high-level branding and conversion tactics can work in tandem, offering a fresh perspective for owners, operators, and marketers alike.

Whether you’re a startup or an established practice, this episode offers an expert lens on turning branding into a strategic growth engine.

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In this episode, Skytale’s President and Head of Consulting, Annie Robertson Hockey,  and Greg Mahoney, Associate Director of Management Consulting, discuss why revenue cycle management (RCM) is more than just back-office operations, and why it’s becoming a strategic priority for healthcare and dental organizations.

Together, they explore what strong RCM really looks like, where practices tend to leave money on the table, and how Skytale’s new RCM consulting services help organizations improve collections, reduce A/R, and build sustainable financial systems.

Whether you're managing billing in-house or through a vendor, this conversation offers clarity on how to approach RCM with intention, structure, and measurable impact.

Click here learn more about Skytale's Revenue Cycle Management Consulting Services. 

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If you're investing in marketing but unsure whether it's actually moving the needle, you're not alone.

In this episode of Skytale Insights, Ben Hernandez sits down with Joshua Suchanek, Marketing Consultant at Skytale Group, to unpack one of the most common questions we hear from healthcare and aesthetics business owners: Is my marketing strategy really working for me?

With Joshua’s expertise and fresh perspective, they explore how to align marketing with business goals, which metrics truly matter, how to hold agencies accountable, and the red flags to watch out for. Plus, they dive into pressing topics like SEO, trends to expect in healthcare marketing, and how to determine whether it’s time to bring marketing in-house.

Whether you’re managing an agency relationship or evaluating your internal marketing team, this episode offers actionable insights to help you spend smarter and drive results.

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In this exclusive episode of Skytale Insights, we take you behind the scenes of the 2025 M&A Summit with a dynamic panel discussion on how preparing for an exit can lead to building a better business. Moderated by Bradford E. Adatto, President at ByrdAdatto, this session features expert insights from industry leaders, including:

• Annie Robertson Hockey, President & Head of Consulting at Skytale
• Jay D. Reyero, CFO at ByrdAdatto
• Michael S. Byrd, CEO at ByrdAdatto
• Tedd Van Gorden, Director, Investment Banking at Skytale

The panel explores critical strategies and practical advice for business owners on how to effectively prepare for a successful exit. Whether you're looking to maximize business value, streamline operations, or navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, this conversation provides invaluable guidance for shaping a business that's built to thrive long after the exit.

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Even the most successful leaders experience doubt—but how they manage it makes all the difference. In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Robin Pou, an executive coach, author, and speaker committed to transforming leadership by helping individuals become more confident, effective, and team-oriented. As the founder of a leadership development firm, Robin has worked with Fortune 500 executives and CEOs of high-growth organizations, guiding them to turn uncertainty into confidence.

Robin shares insights from his Leadership Doubt Index, a groundbreaking survey revealing that 97% of high-achieving leaders struggle with doubt. He introduces the Confident Leader Framework, a powerful approach to shifting focus from uncertainty to confidence, enabling leaders to make better decisions, improve performance, and build thriving businesses.

Tune in to discover how to recognize and overcome self-doubt, leverage confirmation bias to your advantage, and cultivate a leadership mindset that empowers both you and your team. Plus, hear firsthand how Robin’s coaching philosophy has impacted Ben’s leadership journey—transforming doubt into clarity and action.

Connect with Robin Pou:  

• Website: https://robinpou.com  
• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinpou/  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robin.pou/  
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@robinpou_tcl  
• Sign up for The Confident Leader newsletter:  https://robinpou.com/newsletter/  
• Buy Robin’s latest book, The Reluctant Disciple: https://www.thereluctantdisciple.com

Connect with Skytale Group:

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In this episode of Skytale Insights, we’re joined by J.W. Oliver, Managing Partner of SupportDDS and Zimworks.com, alongside Skytale’s Director, Management Consulting, Eric Pastan. J.W. shares his expertise on how dental practices and DSOs can leverage virtual and remote teams to increase productivity, reduce costs, and drive growth. From addressing labor shortages and rising wages to improving patient scheduling and revenue cycle management, J.W. breaks down practical solutions that can make an immediate impact. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on how to scale your practice by outsourcing key roles and optimizing operational efficiency.

Connect with J.W.

• LinkedIn
• SupportDDS Website

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Marketing and branding—what’s the difference, and why does it matter? In this episode of Skytale Insights, host Ben Hernandez sits down with Erica Crawford, President at Influx Marketing, to break down the essential components of a strong marketing strategy for medical practices.

With over 15 years of experience in PR and digital marketing—including 5+ years focused on medical aesthetics—Erica shares expert insights on patient acquisition, retention, and sustainable growth. Whether you’re a solo provider or scaling to multiple locations, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways to help you attract and keep the right patients.

• The key differences between branding and marketing—and why both are crucial
• The most effective marketing channels for medical practices and how to leverage them
• Strategies for retaining patients and maximizing lifetime value
• How to future-proof your marketing strategy in a rapidly evolving industry

Tune in now to elevate your practice’s marketing game! 

Connect with Erica:

• LinkedIn
• Influx Marketing Website

Connect with Skytale Group:

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