Why is Dr. Dixie building a practice in a "Bomb Shelter"? 💣

Most docs look for a retail shell. Dixie bought a cinder-block fortress. Inside the rapid-fire build of Pearl & Pine.

Author

Ashley Joves
March 17, 2026

Hey fam!

If you’ve ever felt like you were "drowning" while trying to build your dream, this week’s episode is for you.

Meet Dr. Dixie. She’s an Air Force veteran, a wife to a Navy dentist, and a mom of two toddlers. For years, she lived the "dual-military" grind, waking up at 5:00 AM to nurse her son, commuting two hours to base, and not seeing him again until 6:00 PM.

She eventually reached a breaking point. She realized that if she wanted a life where her kids could grow up in her hallways, the way she did in her father’s medical practice, she had to stop building someone else’s dream and start building her own.

The "Pearl and Pine" Legacy

Dixie isn't just building an office; she’s building a family legacy called Pearl and Pine Dental Studio.

The name itself is a tribute to her partnership with her husband, Shane. It balances the feminine "Pearl" (a nod to local Florida oyster farms) with the masculine "Pine" (the forests surrounding their home).

But don't let the beautiful name fool you, this build-out is pure grit. They are currently converting a literal cinder-block "bomb shelter" into a modern, airy studio.

Listen to Dr. Dixie’s Full Story

What We’re Deep-Diving Into This Week:

  • The Visionary Mindset: A self-proclaimed "control freak," Dixie knew a startup was her only path. She wanted to hand-select every detail, team member, and patient experience to ensure the practice was 100% aligned with her values.

  • The Tactical Numbers: We get incredibly transparent about the finances. Dixie breaks down why she chose conventional loans over SBA, how she managed a 15% down payment ($105k) on a $700k building, and how she locked in a 4.79% interest rate.

  • Decision Speed: How she went from a "chronic Yelper" who couldn't pick a restaurant to a CEO making five-figure decisions on the fly.

Can You Help This "Mom-preneur" Cross the Finish Line?

Dixie is mid-sprint and needs our community’s "hive mind" on two final details:

  1. The Sound: Sonos vs. Flush-mount ceiling speakers? She wants a clean, "natural" aesthetic but doesn't want to sacrifice audio quality.

  2. The Signage: She needs a lead on a reliable signage company for her interior "logo wall."

Let’s show Dixie some love. If you have a recommendation for her speakers or signs, hit reply or head over to the Facebook group and tag her!

Talk soon, The Making Of Team

P.S. Don’t forget to leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps other dentists find us and fuels this mission we believe in so deeply.

Listen to Dr. Dixie’s Full Story

The Making Of has partnered with Net32, the dental marketplace that lets you compare vendors, brands, and pricing in one place. → Net32: www.net32.com/TheMakingOf