Dr. Sulman Ahmed

Dr. Sulman Ahmed is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of DECA Dental Group, the holding company for the consumer-facing brand Ideal Dental. He is the influential leader shaping and motivating DECA’s strategy and culture. In 2008, Dr. Ahmed opened his first dental office with a vow to establish a genuinely patient-centered model. Today, the rapidly growing brand has around 200 locations in nine states and serves around 3,000 guests daily.

His natural ability to scout talent and cultivate strong leaders has allowed him to architect a first-class organization of leaders from the top down. Under his leadership, DECA has become a vanguard as one of the industry’s fastest-growing and well-respected organizations, earning numerous honors, awards, and recognitions.

In his personal career, he has achieved many honors and awards, including receiving The University of Texas at Dallas Distinguished Alumni Award (2024). He has also been named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2017), one of Glassdoor’s Top CEOs (2021) with a 98% approval rating, and one of Dallas Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs (2023). As part of his commitment to giving back, Dr. Ahmed established the Dr. Sulman Ahmed Scholarship Fund, an endowment at the University of Texas at Dallas, to support underserved and first-generation students.

More recently, he garnered the Silver Stevie Award for People-Focused CEO of the Year and became an official member of the Forbes Business Council. He is also a newly published author with his book, “Make Them Smile: Why Customer Satisfaction Is the Key to Rapid and Sustainable Growth” by Dr. Sulman Ahmed. It’s a must-read for professionals seeking rapid and sustainable growth.

He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he now serves as the Chair of the Board of Advisors as of 2024. He also serves as President of the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO), the premier association for businesses in the dental industry.