There’s something powerful about choosing to return. And, in an industry that is experiencing fast-paced growth, new technologies and innovations, as well as the ever-changing lineup of companies entering the market, you don’t usually see people leave a company only to come back.
But here at Candid, that story is becoming more common. Why? The answers to that question are surprisingly consistent: relationships, growth, momentum, and a culture that’s hard to replicate.
For Ryan Serrano, Account Executive, the decision to return felt personal.
“Candid offers a unique culture that I’ve never really experienced from other companies or other places that I’ve worked before. Everyone’s so accepting, so willing to help and support me in my growth. That offers something unique. And it was a significant factor in my decision to return.”
Our culture is part of what motivates Ryan as he steps into 2026. As he shared with us at our National Sales Meeting this year, he’s most looking forward to “connecting with my doctors and their teams. Seeing where Candid can help implement in their offices and grow—offering a clear aligner option for their patients that is predictable and can give a great outcome.”
That predictability matters in an industry that’s built on trust between doctors and patients as well as trust between partners and providers.
“Over time, it seems that Candid is really gearing themselves toward what the doctors need. As Candid grows, I think we’re going to continue to develop those products and solutions for our partners—and their patients.”
Ryan plans to begin dental school later in 2026, so his time with us is limited. However, he’s still planning on making a splash here with our providers in Arizona before then.
“Visiting different practices and helping them implement our products into their operations is a valuable learning experience. It’s great preparation for me, and I’m uniquely positioned to help these practices level up how they do business.”
That forward looking energy is something Josh Marks, Remote Account Manager, also relates to.
Josh works remotely. Often in what he calls “a little bubble.” Culture hits differently when you’re not physically in an office every day. But coming back to Candid reminded him how Candid makes remote work collaborative.
“When I first started at Candid, the teamwork was unreal. I can’t even describe it now. People who I wouldn’t imagine would give their time to work with my clients are doing that. And I’ve had a chance to learn from them as well. It’s been phenomenal.”
For Josh, returning was also about scale and growth. “It’s the way that we disrupt the industry,” he shared. “It’s really helping not just the consumers—it’s helping all of the doctors as well. It’s a seamless process and the vision really gets me driven.”
Looking ahead to 2026, he’s especially excited about expanding partnerships and deepening relationships across the dental community.
“I’ve already started meeting quite a few of our partner reps, and really just digging into that and making a lot more friends and just people to partner with.”
The common thread between Ryan and Josh isn’t just that they came back. It’s why they returned.
It’s the teamwork that goes beyond expectations.
It’s the culture that supports growth without ego.
It’s the belief that improving orthodontic care means improving outcomes for both doctors and patients.
The themes of resilience, collaboration, forward motion that Ryan and Josh describe are the same principles guiding Candid’s leadership team.
Chief Strategy Officer, Mohit Bahel, who has been with Candid for eight years, puts it this way:
“It’s the relationships, the people, and working on very awesome problems. We’ve changed a lot in the last eight years. And I think this is probably the only team that’s been able to get knocked down, get right back up, and then continue to keep moving forward. And that’s awesome to work with and work around.”
As Candid’s leadership team reflects on the past and looks forward to what Candid is building, all those positive descriptors point to continued momentum. Dmitriy Lavrenkin, Chief Financial Officer, sums it up as
“We exited 2025 on a high. Just continuing that momentum, continuing growth and acceleration and getting the business to the next level by the end of 2026 is what I’m most excited about.”
Growth. Partnerships. Momentum. Purpose.
Coming back to a company isn’t something professionals take lightly. It takes more than nostalgia for good times. It means the culture lived up to those memories. It means the mission still matters. It means the people made an impact strong enough to bring you home.
In an industry defined by change, what stands out isn’t who is the newest. It’s who keeps showing up. At Candid, we’re building something worth returning to and even more so worth staying for.
