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News
As the dental laboratory industry’s oldest and most prestigious professional event, Cal-Lab offers valuable news and insights to our membership throughout the year. Our members receive an exclusive newsletter highlighting meeting information and other useful information. Become a member and gain access to these features today!
2025-2026 Cal-Lab Board of Directors
Front Row – Jim Gorgol, CDT; B.J. Kowalski; Jeff Stronk; Jerry Ragle, CDT
Back Row: Chris Waldrop, CDT; Aimee Forth; Sean Siegel; Reed Nunnally; Laura Gilbert; Jim Caruso; Anton Woolf
Not pictured: Barbara Warner, CDT; Daniele Bonafiglia
Retiring Board Chair, Jeff Stronk was presented a President’s plaque and Legacy Membership by Immediate Past Chair, Jim Gorgol, CDT on behalf of the association at the 2025 Cal-Lab Annual Meeting in Chicago. This was to express our gratitude to Mr. Stronk who led our organization over the past six years….through COVID and beyond and to commemorate his service as Cal-Lab Board Chair.
Jim Glidewell, CDT receives Lifetime Accomplishment
Award from Cal-Lab
Closing out the 2024 meeting, the Cal-Lab Association featured a man, a legend, and an icon in the Dental Laboratory world…Mr. James R. Glidewell - or “Jim” as most of us know him. Jim is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as the founder, owner, and former CEO of Glidewell, the world’s most innovative dental laboratory. Spurred by a desire to make rehabilitative dentistry affordable for all, Jim applied a unique blend of technical knowledge, business principles and marketing philosophies to expand his one-man, kitchen-table operation into a multifaceted technology company with more than 5,000 employees and is recognized among those at the forefront of the oral health industry today.
This industry almost lost Jim due to COVID, but he survived, where many did not. Just like our industry, he comes out on top where many simply don’t make it. Jim has given so much to this industry. Many of us were in awe of him before reading his book. After reading it, we are still in awe that we even know him and can call him our friend. James R. Glidewell, CDT – a true legend, we were so honored to present you with Cal-Lab’s first LIFETIME ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD.