Small Business of the Month: Hester and Morris

VALDOSTA, GA- The Chamber Ambassadors recognized Hester & Morris Orthodontics as this month’s Small Business of the Month.
 
Hester & Morris Orthodontics is the most highly recognized and well respected orthodontic practice in the Valdosta area. They have proudly served the community since 1988. Dr. Hester, Dr. Morris and their staff of 18 work hard to provide a superior level of customer service to their patients in a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere while offering the most current treatments.
 
Wayne Hester, DMD, first launched his practice in 1988 originally located on Woodrow Wilson Drive. Through the years, the practice’s growth forced them to expand twice before finding their current home on Oak Street Ext. in 1999. In 2009, J. Gregory Morris, DMD, joined the practice and a partnership was formed. Since then, the partners have opened a second location in Waycross, GA. The practice has grown exponentially over the past almost 30 years. Currently, Hester & Morris Orthodontics has about 1,400 patients in active treatment. 
 
Obtaining this high number of patients was not an easy task. With school aged children being the majority of their patients, scheduling appointments during after school hours became challenging. Treating most all patients after the school day and when parents were off work was not working. In response, Hester & Morris Orthodontics created the Ortho Taxi, a pick-up service to and from all the schools in the area. Parents can now schedule appointments for the Ortho Taxi to pick their child up from their school, take them to the office to be treated, then returned to school in a timely manner.
 
Another struggle the practice has had to overcome is finding a way to motivate their large population of teenage patients. Over the years, Hester & Morris have discovered that the most successful way to prompt teens to make positive changes in their brushing habits and braces-care is by creating incentives. A reward system is in place which features prizes and merchandise that can be purchased with Ortho Dollars earned via a patient’s compliance. The reward system is not only exciting for the patient, but has had excellent results in reinforcing beneficial customs.
 
Hester & Morris Orthodontics puts a great deal of emphasis on maintaining an active role in the community. With both doctors having South Georgia roots, they take giving back to Valdosta very seriously. Donating to a number of local charitable organizations annually is something Hester and Morris value. The practice has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since 2006 and is an award winning Community Partner in Education for both the Lowndes County and Valdosta City school systems. They are also proud to have been named “Best Orthodontists” in South Georgia by the readers of the Valdosta Daily Times for the fourth consecutive year.
 
For more information about Hester & Morris Orthodontics, call (229) 245-1800, or visit them at 3229 North Oak Street Ext. in Valdosta.
 
If you would like to know more about Small Business of the Month, or how to nominate a business for this award, please contact Leslie Harris (ext. 231) or Kaitlyn Redish (ext. 229) at the Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber of Commerce.