Meet Ladder5
Meet our team of industry-leading mentors empowering women practice owners to spend less time in the chair, grow their impact, and feel confident in leadership.
- The Founder and Mentor
Meet Dr. Summer Kassmel
As a practicing dentist with over 23 years of experience, I know what it means to build a practice from the ground up. Early in my career, I faced the same challenges many women doctors experience – overwhelm, uncertainty in leadership, and the belief that success required personal sacrifice.
I followed the traditional playbook, but it never felt quite right. On paper, I was succeeding but in reality, I was burning out and drifting from the values and leadership style that felt authentic to me.
After years of trial, growth, and reinvention, I discovered what truly works: women doctors don’t need to conform to outdated models to lead powerfully and profitably. We need tools, systems, and strategies built for our strengths.
Empowering Women In Dentistry
Today, I’m the CEO and owner of two large, multi-doctor practices in Colorado, a Fortune 5000 recipient, and faculty for the Dental Success Network. I also lead the Lady Leaders of Dentistry Group, a vibrant community created to support and empower women doctors.
My greatest passion is Ladder5 Mentorship, where I help women dentists implement elite-level systems, reduce overhead, and make smart, data-driven decisions without losing themselves in the process. I created the 5 Pillars framework to transform how women approach leadership, business growth, and personal fulfillment.
In addition to coaching, I founded:
- Dental Assistant Schools Delivered – empowering doctors to train assistants within their practices
- Dental Career Academy – a comprehensive online training platform for front office teams
Everything I teach is rooted in real-world experience, designed to help you build a life and practice you truly love.
Debbie Dodson, Mentor
With over 25 years in dentistry, Debbie brings unmatched depth and clarity to dental practice operations.
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She began her career as a Registered Dental Hygienist, spending a decade building strong clinical knowledge and patient trust before transitioning into leadership on the administrative side.
Now a well-respected office manager and coach, Debbie is known for her calm leadership, deep understanding of dental insurance systems, and ability to train teams to operate with efficiency and confidence. Her passion lies in helping practices maximize patient benefits, streamline front office systems, and elevate the entire patient experience.
Debbie’s ability to bridge clinical care with operational excellence makes her an invaluable mentor to doctors and teams ready to grow, lead, and serve at a higher level.
Leisel Bailey, Mentor
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She inspires professionals to achieve greater work-life fulfillment through her unique blend of technical skills and the often-overlooked soft skills that drive true success.
Leisel’s career is marked by a track record of surpassing goals and transforming offices, with notable achievements in metrics like overhead reduction and enhanced productivity. She excels in fostering supportive team environments and guiding dental leaders in strategic hiring, practice growth, and excellent organizational efficiency. Leisel is renowned for her transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence, making her a trusted mentor and advocate for organizational success and personal growth.
The Ladder5 Movement
Ladder5 Is committed to revolutionizing how women lead in dentistry by working with their strengths, not against them. We are creating a movement where women doctors build profitable, sustainable practices while staying true to their values and authentic leadership styles.
What We Do
5 Pillar Framework
Build your blueprint for what success looks like for you.
Know Your Numbers
Receive monthly reports from us to improve numbers and reach goals
Live Your Legacy
Become the person you have dreamed about.
Why It Works
Real‑World Tested
Everything comes from Dr. Summer’s own practice experience
Values-Based Leadership
Build a business aligned with what matters to you
Mindset & Systems
Balance clarity with tools
Have Bigger Plans For Your Practice?
Work With Us Today
If you’re done with outdated leadership models, overwhelmed, or craving an authentic, values-led path to practice ownership, Ladder5 is for you.
