OHP announces new Executive Director

The board of directors at Oral Health Partnership (OHP) has named Julie Paavola as the new Executive Director after a multiple month-long executive search.

Paavola was most recently the Development and Community Engagement Director at OHP and stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director in January. Before coming to OHP, she worked as the Advancement Director at The Avenue, spent over seven years as the Executive Director at The Einstein Project, and was the Director at the Meyer Theatre supporting the renovation and overseeing its grand opening.

“We are extremely lucky to have someone like Julie to step into the Executive Director role,” said Dr. Heidi Eggers-Ulve, OHP board president. “Not only does she come with years of experience, but she is already familiar with OHP, has the trust of the team, and has proven she is up to the challenges and triumphs of leading the organization.”

OHP started as a Green Bay Rotary project, Healthy Teeth, Healthy Kids in 2005. In 2007, it was established as a non-profit that’s main focus was bringing dental services to kids in need right at school. Over the last 18 years, it has grown steadily and in 2022 broke its yearly record and treated over 11,000 kids at more than 25,000 appointments.

“OHP is a reflection of the caring spirit of the Greater Green Bay Community,” said Paavola. “It was founded by dentists and community leaders who wanted to help children in need who were in pain because they could not access dental care. To be a part of something that has started small and has now helped hundreds of thousands of kids is humbling. To be asked to lead the dedicated team making it happen is a privilege.”

Oral Health Partnership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the oral health of underserved children in the Brown County community by providing dental services and education. Through five clinic locations, school-based and hospital programs, they provide more than 11,000 economically disadvantaged children dental care annually. To learn more about OHP, visit smilegb.org.