About RID Academy
Every dental practice in America should operate on its own terms - setting its own fees, choosing its own patients, and delivering care without insurance company interference.
Why We Exist
The Reality of PPO Contracts
Over 95% of dental practices struggle with PPO contracts that fail to keep pace with inflation and operational costs. The average practice loses 42-45% of revenue to PPO write-offs - that's $250,000+ per year for a typical single-doctor practice. Meanwhile, 31.8% of US dentists are actively planning to drop PPOs.
Meet the Founders
Naren Arulrajah
Digital marketing expert with 15+ years in dental practice growth. Leads Ekwa Marketing serving 1,000+ practices across all 50 states. Co-hosts the Less Insurance Dependence Podcast with 383+ episodes. Specializes in data-driven practice independence strategy.
Gary Takacs
Created the #1 dental podcast, co-owns a successful dental practice, and coaches 2,200+ dental practices. Recognized speaker known for real-world practice floor experience and passion for helping dentists achieve independence.
Meet the Team
Amani Sanoon
The force behind every RIDA webinar, from first concept to final follow-up. Amani leads end-to-end planning, speaker coordination, and cross-functional execution, keeping every moving part aligned and on track. She turns strategy into deliverables, and deliverables into results.
Lester De Alwis
Strategic advisor with a people-first approach, Lester has driven growth across Ekwa Marketing, Thriving Dentist, and Dominate Law through partnerships and high-impact marketing. At RIDA, he helps dentists gain the clarity and confidence to build truly independent practices.
Don Adeesha
A skilled host and moderator, Don leads thoughtful conversations across podcasts, panels, webinars, and virtual summits. With experience spanning live events, media, and marketing strategy, he helps experts share their ideas with clarity, credibility, and audience impact.
Reshani Tamasha
Reshani leads strategic partnerships at RIDA, connecting clinicians, innovators, and organizations across the dental and aesthetic industries. With a strong background in training, speaking, and business building, she focuses on collaborations that drive long-term growth and meaningful industry impact.
By the Numbers
Our Values
Independence
We believe practices thrive when they control their own destiny.
Education
Knowledge is the foundation of every successful transition.
Community
Shared experience accelerates everyone's journey.
Action
Data-driven tools that turn insight into results.