Sean Siegel: Castable Ceramics.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: View from the Top

Sean Siegel is president of Castable Ceramics, an Anchorage-based certified dental laboratory that provides Alaska's dentists with esthetic crowns, bridges, veneers and other products. The firm, with 60 clients, also offers such specialized services as custom tooth-color matching.

Siegel, who has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Montana State University, came to Alaska with his family in 1982. When Castable Ceramics was started four years later, he was a high school freshman who'd been around dental offices and laboratories for most of his life, doing odd jobs while learning the business. While putting himself through college, he also worked in travel and tourism, cooking on trains, driving motor coaches, and eventually serving as Southcentral regional manager for Cruise West.

Castable Ceramics was born when three lab owners--Strad Brady (Sean's stepfather), Margie Chavious and Charlie Brown--combined efforts during Alaska's poor economy of the mid-80s. After Siegel had taken over operations as vice president in 2005, Brady worked his way into retirement and Siegel purchased the business out-right in 2009.

Siegel and his wife, Erika, have three daughters: Brady, Marina, and Bailey. His other interests include professional football and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

ABM: How's the view from the top at Castable Ceramics?

Siegel: I'm extremely optimistic. My role is to continually support Alaska's preeminent dental professionals using all available resources. Our goal is to expand the number of dentists we work with directly. Staying ahead of technology is at the core of my business approach. While our direct focus is on dental professionals, our real customers are those they serve: all people in Alaska.

ABM: Your esthetic dentistry business was started in hard times; what has enabled you to succeed?

Siegel: Perseverance. Castable Ceramics has packaged a quality product line along with exceptional customer service and simply become a mainstay in Alaska. While 1986 wasn't an easy time economically, we embraced it as a starting point. We have since grown a remarkable business, with 11 full-time, well-qualified, highly trained technicians.

ABM: Why is so much restorative dentistry work exported?

Siegel: We're constantly working to dispel the notion that work done Outside is better; it is not true and has not been true for years. Castable...