Sandy Ha, DDS, MD, has joined Stonebriar Facial and Oral Surgery. She will be treating patients at the flagship location in Frisco, as well as at the practice’s second Collin County location, which is slated to open next month at N. Lake Forest Drive, Ste. 712, in McKinney, Texas.

“Dr. Ha has extensive education and experience in a wide range of OMS procedures. She’s also highly focused on delivering exceptional patient care, which is extremely important to us,” said Kirk E. Scott, MD, DDS of Stonebriar Facial and Oral Surgery. “In addition, Dr. Ha speaks English, Korean and Spanish. She will be an excellent addition to our team, particularly in McKinney, where there is an increased demand for OMS services.”

Dr. Ha earned her bachelor’s degree in public health at the University of California, Berkeley and her DDS from the University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry. Afterward, she earned her MD at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and completed her OMS residency through the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

During her residency, Dr. Ha received extensive experience in dentoalveolar surgery, office based IV anesthesia, bone grafting, implant reconstruction services, immediate implant placement, facial trauma, orthognathic surgery, TMJ surgery, management of benign and malignant pathology and more.

In addition, Dr. Ha is certified in pediatric advanced life support, advanced trauma life support, advanced cardiac life support and basic life support. She is a member of a number of professional organizations and has published research articles on a variety of OMS-related topics, such as cleft palate treatment, orthodontic and craniofacial research, and dental management of hypertensive and diabetic patients by general dentists.

“I look forward to connecting with and helping patients in both the McKinney and the Frisco communities and to working with the Stonebriar Facial and Oral Surgery team,” said Dr. Ha. “The practice has built a well-earned reputation for excellence, and I look forward to continuing that tradition.”

Dr. Ha is a resident of Collin County.

Dallas-based Revere Capital recently added Timothy Lister, Vice President of Specialty Finance and Tiffany Rippa Culwell as Vice President of Asset Management. 

Tim Lister of Carrollton brings more than eight years of experience as a Finance Associate, specializing in revolving lines of credit, risk management, and underwriting.

“Even established businesses can have challenges with financing,” said Lister. “With the current high interest rates, this is the golden era of specialty finance. Revere Capital is the lender to lenders. Their emphasis is on culture, and they have a great reputation for doing the right thing.”

Prior to joining Revere, Lister worked at Primalend Capital Partners, EZCORP, Inc. and Santander Consumer USA. He holds a master’s degree in finance from St. Edward’s University and a BBA in Finance from UT San Antonio.

As VP of Asset Management for Revere, Tiffany Rippa Culwell of Lake Highlands sees herself as the “eyes and ears of a living loan.”

"Once a deal closes and the loan agreement is signed, it’s up to my team to communicate every move going forward with the borrower,” explained Culwell. “I chose Revere Capital because I was attracted to its intimate size. Everyone has a seat at the table here. I’m looking forward to working with this amazing team.”

Culwell recently worked as an asset manager at ACORE Capital where she managed an investment portfolio of up to 20 complex loans totaling more than $1.1 billion. Prior to ACORE, she spent five years at Trammell Crow Residential as a Development Analyst. 

Founded in 2006, Revere Capital is an institutional private credit manager with expertise in the lower middle-market commercial real estate bridge lending and specialty finance. Revere’s team has more than $3 billion of transaction experience across real estate and specialty finance. More information is available at reverecapital.com

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Increasingly, people consider their child's safety at school, and many even turn to homeschooling. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the top reasons for families choosing to homeschool are concerns about the school environment, including safety issues and negative peer pressure. This is an issue that people face from coast to coast, and it's one that communities must address. The good news is that there are some things parents can do to help keep kids safer this school year.

"Only around five percent of families homeschool. It's simply not an option for most people," says Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. "We have to take a stand against the safety issues in school, especially when it comes to bullying and negative environments.” 

As families prepare for the school bells to ring, some are already fearing the idea of the bullying culture that may be waiting in the hallways and classrooms. Now is the time for parents, schools, and communities to proactively address the situation so that it doesn't become a big issue later on. Some things can be done to help address the problem at all levels, and it is better to get ahead of now rather than wait until it is a big issue.

Here are some tips for keeping kids safer this school year:

• Talk to kids about the issue. They need to know what bullying looks like, what to do about it, how to report it, why it's unacceptable, etc. We need to normalize discussing these issues with kids so that they are prepared if and when it happens and so that we set the bar on what acceptable behavior is. Discuss bullying in school and online. 
• Create a culture of kindness. It's important to respect people's differences. We will never have everyone the same in any community, home, or classroom. We need to instill a sense of understanding and respect so that people focus more on other things. No matter how different people are, we all have certain things in common, and if we focus on those, we will create a kinder culture.
• Be mindful of sharing personal information. It's a common practice for proud parents to post pictures of their child headed back to a new school year. When doing this, exercise caution in what personal information is being shared and who can see it. Avoid putting too much personal information in the photo or post, and be sure to check your account settings first so they are set only to show to your friends and not the whole world. That personal information can end up in the hands of predators and be used by others.
• Help kids become more confident and learn self-defense. The National Institutes of Health reports that those who are more vulnerable to being bullied are often seen as weak, unable to defend themselves, and having low self-esteem. Improving in these areas may go a long way toward reducing bullying incidents.
• Teach healthy phone habits. Not having a phone is not a solution for most families. Kids today have phones, which is not going away for the most part. It's better to focus on teaching kids how to use them healthily, the dangers of using social media, and how to protect themselves. They also need to know about cyberbullying and what to do about it. Parents must also be sure they are leading by example when using their phones and social media.

"Addressing safety and bullying concerns is within all of our power, and we must do it to protect the kids," added Smalley. “We are happy to help every community and school become a safer learning environment for kids. Book one of our seminars, and let us help you kick off a culture of kindness at your school.”

Stand for the Silent has also launched a Student Stand Out program this school year. Teachers can nominate students who they feel stand out by being kind, addressing bullying, being a positive role model, having good leadership, having respect and integrity, and demonstrating actions that show initiative to end bullying at the school. Each week through the school year, one nominee will be chosen to receive a $50 Visa gift card, and at the end of each semester, one person will be selected to win a $100 gift card. The nomination period runs from August 1 to December 1 and then from January 1 to April 1. For more information about the program, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/schools/standout

Stand for the Silent travels the country, providing seminars and talks for communities and schools. They also offer helpful materials online to help people with bullying issues. Each year, they also give scholarships to students who help address bullying at their schools. To get more information on how to have the organization do a presentation or how to start a local chapter, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/

Smalley and his wife, Laura, started the organization following their 11-year-old son, ending his own life due to bullying. They turned their pain and loss into a mission of helping others. He travels the country giving presentations about bullying to schools, providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering intervention strategies, and more. Those interested in getting involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, obtain a free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum or cyberbullying handbook for parents, host a presentation at their school, introduce the How All Started video, and donate to help support the cause. To get more information, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/

Making Labor Day plans in Dallas? Make a weekend of it at the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District.

The property, which just celebrated its first anniversary, is a great location to spend a three day weekend in the Dallas Arts District, recently voted the best arts district in the country by USA Today readers. With walkable access to world class museums and performance halls, there’s a lot to do over the holiday weekend:

On property:

• Day passes and luxurious pool cabanas available via ResortPass

• Brunch from Margaret’s including green juice boosters, banana espresso overnight oats, TX shakshuka, and lemon blueberry pancakes with raspberry honey whipped cream and candied pecans
• Golden hour or evening handcrafted cocktails under the stars at Vincent’s Sky Bar

In the neighborhood:

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra August 29-September 1

• An Evening with Omari Dillard: Soul Violinist at AT&T Performing Arts Center August 31
• Frida: Beyond the Myth at the Dallas Museum of Art, opening August 18

Indulge in the Sweet Escape offer, which includes bubbles and a sweet treat delivered to the room upon arrival late checkout to make the most of a pool day with code LVU. 

As the back-to-school buzz begins, there’s no better way to savor the final moments of summer than with a visit to Puttshack in Addison. This high-tech, indoor mini golf venue is offering an unbeatable deal to make the end of the season even more special.

From Tuesday through Thursday, Puttshack is treating Perks members to an incredible 50% off their second game of mini golf. After enjoying the first round, players can dive into a second game at half the price! Whether it’s a fun family outing, a lively get-together with friends, or simply a day of enjoyment before heading back to class, this offer ensures that the fun keeps going without breaking the bank.

Puttshack in Addison offers more than just typical mini golf. It features high-tech elements combined with classic fun, providing an engaging and interactive experience suitable for players of all ages and skillsets. With innovative gameplay and vibrant, immersive environments, it’s the perfect place to make the most of summer’s final days.

What to Expect:

• State-of-the-Art Mini Golf: Experience mini golf like never before with courses designed to entertain and challenge.
• Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Perfect for families, friends, and anyone looking to enjoy a day out.
• Great Food and Drinks: Enhance your outing with a selection of globally-inspired food and beverages.

How to Make the Most of the Deal:

1. Sign Up for Puttshack Perks: Visit puttshack.com to sign up and access great savings.
2. Plan a Visit: Head to Puttshack in Addison from Tuesday to Thursday to enjoy the 50% discount on your second game.
3. Book Ahead: Reserve your spot by visiting puttshack.com to secure your preferred time.
4. Bring Your Competitive Spirit: Whether a mini-golf enthusiast or a casual player, the second game at half price is a great opportunity to sharpen skills or simply have more fun.

Gather friends and family, gear up for an exciting day, and head to Puttshack in Addison for a spectacular end-of-summer celebration. With 50% off the second game from Tuesday to Thursday, this deal is too good to miss. Make the most of the remaining summer days before school starts and enjoy a day full of friendly competition and unforgettable fun!