Profiles in Partnership: Rick Knecht and Dr. John Leitner: A 'Marriage' of Equals

In 1986, Rick Knecht had just opened RGK Dental Lab in Somerset, PA, when he met Dr. John Leitner, who had just bought a practice in a nearby town. “This young guy walks into my practice saying he just finished dental technology school, opened his own C&B lab and wanted my business,” John recalls. “I had been a C&B technician for two years before I went to dental school so we hit it off right away.”

Things weren’t perfect at first but the two quickly developed a system of open communication to work out any kinks. “John would tell me what he didn’t like—maybe the occlusion on a crown was a little high—and I would tell him what needed fixing, like a problem with an impression,” Rick explains. “Neither of us have been afraid to go to the other so it’s easy to solve issues.”

The two also developed a close personal friendship. “John...