About Us
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH
Owner, Educator, and Continuing Education Consultant
Dr. Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, is the visionary behind Rare Bird Speakers, a premier dental speaker management agency that represents the industry's most distinguished dental educators while providing expert training and educational design support for emerging voices in dentistry.
Before taking the helm at her dental speaker management company, Dr. Tanner built a reputation as a leading expert in dental leadership, consulting for dental practices, DSOs, and industry organizations to enhance team performance and professional development. Her academic contributions include teaching positions in esteemed Universities and dental hygiene programs and authoring publications on dental practice management and teledentistry innovation. Combining her PhD in business and leadership with extensive dental industry expertise, Dr. Tanner transforms dental professionals into influential educators who shape the future of dental continuing education.
Laurel Hoberg
Continuing Education Consultant
Laurel Hoberg is the founder of Rare Bird Speakers, a company focused on placing dental speakers onto the podium of dental meetings across North America.
Her comprehensive background, having worked in both the manufacturing and educational side of the dental Continuing Education (CE) industry, gives her a unique view of the challenges facing the needs of the CE community. Prior to starting her own company, she was instrumental in the development and execution of the speaker’s bureau for Catapult Education, where she helped dental educators develop their speaking careers and assisted dental meetings of all sizes, finding qualified educators for their CE events.
She also spent several years directing CE departments for GC America and DENTSPLY. She has a BS from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Western New England College in Massachusetts.
Diane Vickers
Sponsor & Logistics Consultant
Diane worked at Dentsply Caulk in Milford, DE, for 7 years, starting in the marketing department, then she was promoted to Coordinator of Clinical Education programs. In 2005, she left the corporate world and started her career with the Cape Henlopen School District in Lewes, DE. Diane is currently the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.
She joins Rare Bird Speakers as the Sponsor and Logistics Consultant and is happy to be back in the dental industry, doing what she loves most.
