A huge thank you to Drs. Artime and Wherley for spending their morning with our CEO students and for graciously serving us breakfast! We are so appreciative of the time, honesty, and wisdom they shared with us.
At a time when many of our students are trying to figure out their direction, their message was a great reminder that you don’t have to have all the answers. Dr. Artime shared that his goal has always been simple: take good care of people.
Since joining in partnership in 2011, they have learned a lot about business, leadership, risk, and relationships. They encouraged our students to take calculated risks, understanding that higher risk can bring higher reward, but also cautioned them not to make rash decisions. Be open to the people you meet, be open to opportunities, and most importantly, be open to God’s plan.
They shared some great lessons about partnership as well: know who you are partnering with, have common goals, understand there will always be give-and-take, and build the relationship on trust and communication. As they put it, a business partnership can be a lot like a marriage!
Another message that really stood out was the importance of humility and servant leadership. Identify your own strengths and weaknesses, surround yourself with people whose strengths complement yours, put the right people in the right places, and then trust them to do their jobs. Leadership also means never thinking you are too important to take out the trash, clean a toilet, or do whatever needs to be done. You are part of the team.
They reminded us to listen, acknowledge people’s concerns, show respect, appreciate your people, and work to create a positive experience—even in a place like the dentist’s office where people may not necessarily be excited to visit! 😊
We also talked about professionalism: read the room, know your environment, understand the importance of first impressions, and realize that you always represent your business. Word of mouth remains one of their most powerful forms of marketing, which means relationships and reputation matter every single day.
Perhaps one of the best reminders of the morning was that we often learn the most when we fail and fall. That is where growth happens. Stay humble, keep an open mind, listen, communicate, and understand that you don’t have to have it all figured out.
Their favorite part of what they do? Their patients. They have had the privilege of building relationships with generations of families—and that says a lot about the kind of business they have built.
Dr. Wherley is also an alumni parent, which makes their continued investment in CEO especially meaningful. We are incredibly grateful for the way they continue to support our program and, most importantly, our students.
Thank you, Drs. Artime and Wherley, for investing in the next generation, sharing your experiences so openly, and showing our students what it looks like to lead by serving others. We appreciate your continued support of Mount Zion IL CEO! 🖤🧡 Artime Wherley
