Southern Orthodontic Partners Expands into Chicago, IL: A New Chapter for Orthodontic Excellence

In an exciting move, Southern Orthodontic Partners (SOP) has announced its expansion into the Greater Chicago, Illinois area. This expansion represents a new chapter for the platform as it extends its reach into Northern markets. SOP has partnered with esteemed orthodontists Dr. William Petty and Dr. Kathryn Bielik of Petty & Bielik Orthodontics, renowned for their expertise and trusted reputation in Chicago's southwest suburbs. With over 50 years of combined experience, Dr. Petty and Dr. Bielik bring a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to excellence to the SOP platform.

The partnership with Petty & Bielik Orthodontics marks a significant milestone in SOP's strategic expansion plan. The platform has set its sights on adding more partners in the Greater Chicago area throughout 2024. SOP's private equity sponsor, Shore Capital Partners, which is headquartered in Downtown Chicago, supports this growth.

As SOP continues to expand, it remains dedicated to its mission of making a positive impact on the orthodontic profession. The platform achieves this through a partnership of clinical and service excellence with the country's leading orthodontic professionals. In 2023 alone, SOP added 13 new practices across 8 states in the United States. With this recent expansion, SOP now has a geographic footprint that encompasses 48 orthodontic practices and 85 locations in 13 states.

Southern Orthodontic Partners, based in Nashville, Tennessee, provides orthodontic professionals with strategic, operational, and administrative support. The platform allows clinicians to focus on delivering the highest quality of clinical care while benefiting from investments in growth, technology infrastructure, and human capital. Partner doctors retain their brand and local autonomy while working with SOP to enhance patient care and improve overall practice efficiency. SOP aims to be the premier provider of orthodontic services by partnering with doctors who are committed to clinical excellence and delivering a first-class customer experience.

Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm with additional offices in Nashville, is an investor in microcap companies across various industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, business services, industrial, and real estate. Shore's strategy is to support management partners in achieving accelerated growth with minimized risk. The firm provides access to capital, world-class board and operational resources, networking opportunities, development programs, and shared learnings across its portfolio of companies. Inc. Magazine has recognized Shore Capital Partners as a top founder-friendly investor for four consecutive years, and PitchBook has consistently acknowledged the firm as a leader in total deal volume among U.S. private equity firms. With over $6 billion in assets under management, Shore Capital Partners has the expertise and resources to drive value creation and support companies in achieving their growth potential.

As SOP embarks on its expansion into the Greater Chicago area, patients can expect to receive the highest standard of orthodontic care from trusted doctors who are dedicated to their craft. With the support of SOP and Shore Capital Partners, orthodontic practices in the region will flourish and continue to provide exceptional service to their communities.

For more information about Southern Orthodontic Partners and the services they provide, please visit [www.southernop.com](http://www.southernop.com).

To learn more about Shore Capital Partners and their investment philosophy, please visit [www.shorecp.com](http://www.shorecp.com).