Dr. Sulman Ahmed

Dr. Sulman Ahmed, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of DECA Dental, is the influential leader shaping and motivating DECA Dental’s growth, strategy, and culture. In 2008, Dr. Ahmed opened his first dental office with a vow to establish a truly patient-centered model. His passionate belief in putting patients first is the fundamental backbone of DECA Dental’s core values in delivering patient care. He continues to be a prime visionary in providing adequate training for doctors, quality materials for patients, offering weekend hours, and being an early adopter of a multi-specialist model within a single practice.

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. With Dr. Ahmed’s leadership, DECA Dental has become a vanguard as one of the industry’s fastest growing and well-respected organizations. DECA has been awarded several honors, recognitions, and awards in just over a decade. Most notable is Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000 fastest growing companies in the nation, several years in a row. The Dallas Business Journal also recognized DECA Dental as one of the top 100 companies in the region and the 21st fastest-growing company in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

In his personal career, Dr. Ahmed has achieved many honors and awards, including being named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2017) and Glassdoor’s Top CEOs list (2021) with a 98% approval rating. He is also an in-demand speaker for national leadership, entrepreneurial, and motivational conferences. Another one of Dr. Ahmed’s notable achievements is being appointed as one of the most admired CEOs in the Dallas Business Journal’s 2023 list.

As it goes with most doctors, his compassionate heart is just as dedicated to the community as he is to patients. Over time, Dr. Ahmed has built long-standing partnerships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as becoming the exclusive provider of free dental services to thousands of kids with the Kidd’s Kids Organization and Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities.

Dr. Ahmed earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston and serves on their Board of Advisors. In addition to his role as Founder, Chairman, and CEO at DECA Dental, he is also the President of the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO), the premier association for businesses in the dental industry. He was named President in 2023, following his five-year tenure on the committee.

Dr. Ahmed’s exceptional leadership qualities stem from his unwavering commitment to DECA Dental, his partnerships, and the wider community. This dedication sets him apart as a trailblazer and industry leader.