Ethan Miller (MBA’23)
Ethan Miller stepped into his role as CEO of in 2023, but in some ways, he had been preparing for it since childhood. At just 6 years old, he remembers answering the family’s home phone with practiced professionalism: “Hello, thank you for calling the Miller residence. Is this for Meisinger, or for the Millers?”
Growing up, the family business was simply part of everyday life. He helped assemble small display wallets with miniature rotary instruments—tools the company has manufactured since 1888 in Düsseldorf, Germany, for the dental and medical industries.
Now, Meisinger is firmly a family operation. Miller serves as CEO, his brother Dillan as COO, and his parents remain involved—his father, Alex, in a consulting role, and his mother, Stacy, in HR after many years as vice president. The company has steadily grown since its inception, moving into expanded facilities in Centennial, Colorado. In 2025, Canada was officially added to the company’s name.
Finding his own path
Miller wasn’t always sure he’d follow in his parents’ footsteps. Early on, he was drawn to dentistry, but that plan shifted when he enrolled at Colorado State University and chose business administration as a major. What began as a practical decision turned into a genuine passion. Miller was fascinated by the strategic and operational side of organizations.
When Miller formally joined Meisinger in 2018, his business focus allowed him to step quickly into meaningful conversations. “I was able to work alongside top-level doctors, and with the product management and development teams and quality management—having to understand and know all of the background.”
As his father decided he had “run his course” in leading Meisinger, Miller was appointed CEO in 2023, just as he completed his MBA from Leeds. While he hasn’t entirely abandoned his interest in dentistry, he maintains a close connection to the industry through the friendships he’s developed with dentists, oral surgeons and others in the field. “Working alongside them is a pleasure.”
“[The Leeds MBA] wasn’t just learning to learn. I knew where and how to apply it.”
—Ethan Miller (MBA’23)
Making an impact
For Miller, the impact of Meisinger’s work goes far beyond growth metrics.
“From where we are today—with strong financial performance and continued growth—it’s important to recognize the amount of effort and commitment that made it possible,” he said.
Helping teams understand how their work connects to a larger mission is central to his leadership. “At the end of the day, we provide healthcare. That’s one of the most unique opportunities because we’re changing people’s lives.”
Through partnerships with organizations such as the Brighter Way Institute, Mission of Mercy, and Kids in Need of Dentistry, Meisinger supports efforts that deliver dental care to underserved communities.
“You see people with a terrible smile or missing teeth—maybe they can’t afford care. And then you see how much a smile can change someone’s whole outlook,” he said. “It’s always good to show our employees that this work has a purpose, and this is what it leads to.”
A Legacy of Precision: Founded in Germany in 1888, Meisinger has been a pioneer in dental rotary instruments. Today, CEO Ethan Miller—who grew up in the family business—continues that tradition, polishing his leadership with an MBA from Leeds as he guides the company into its next chapter.
Leadership in an era of rapid change
A sense of mission also guides Miller as the company navigates rapid technological change, including AI.
“Anything that helps people be more productive and creative, while improving patient outcomes, is worth looking into,” he said. But he remains cautious. “I’ll always be skeptical until something is proven, especially when we’re talking about patients or healthcare.”
As an example, Miller points to advances such as AI-supported 3D printing of dental crowns as promising. “They’re utilizing AI in a way that allows the doctor to be more intentional,” Miller said. “That might help bring healthcare costs down and expand access.”
Still, he’s wary of losing human connection along the way. “Sometimes, it’s OK to have a few errors in an email instead of something perfectly polished with emojis and em dashes,” he said with a laugh.
Why Leeds made sense
Miller began the Leeds Hybrid MBA during the pandemic. The format fit his need for flexibility.
“We had people from all kinds of backgrounds—not just business degrees—and all across different industries,” he said. “It made everything more real-world.”
Rather than learning concepts in isolation, he could directly connect class discussions to his work experiences. “It wasn’t just learning to learn. I knew where and how to apply it.”
The cohort experience also forged lasting connections. “You really got to know people’s strengths,” he said. “Even now, I’ll think, 'This person would be perfect to talk to about this—or for that role.'”
Looking ahead, and keeping things in balance
In 2026, was named to the Denver Business Journal's “” list—an honor that “felt like the culmination of a lot of things,” he said: “hard work, opportunity, and being blessed with people who built something strong before me.”
The Denver Business Journal recognition "was the culmination of a lot of things—hard work, opportunity, and being blessed with people who built something strong before me."
—Ethan Miller (MBA’23)
He’s quick to credit his parents, his brother and company partners for creating a foundation that allowed him to step in and advance the company’s next chapter. He especially points to his brother’s efforts to expand new opportunities, including internships.
Despite his professional accolades, Miller is also quick to credit the person he calls “the real superhero”: his wife, whom he says keeps their household running—juggling three kids, two dogs, and daily life—often while he’s on the road.
“I don’t know how she does it,” he wondered aloud. “We’re very blessed. We started young, so we get to be the young, fun parents.”
That perspective—grounded in gratitude and balance, alongside ambition and purpose-driven work—reflects the kind of leadership Miller embodies. Those values align with Leeds' mission to cultivate next-generation business leaders who use business as a force for good.
All in the Family: What Alex Miller (left) started in Florida more than 20 years ago has expanded into something much bigger. Now led by his sons, Ethan and Dillan (center and right), Meisinger USA & Canada is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, outgrowing two previous buildings before landing in its current location.