The Genesis of Vine158
What began with two men holding the same door in a hotel hallway has grown into something far greater, and we believe the best chapters of that story are still ahead.
Vine158 began the way many meaningful things do, quietly, unexpectedly, and with the sense that God was doing something neither person could have planned.
After more than twenty-five years of helping build some of the highest-performing dental practices in the country, John Riley still cared deeply about the doctors he served. Dentistry, to him, was never just about systems or performance. It was about people, his doctors, and helping them flourish. That commitment brought him to a dental conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
At that same conference, Dr. Chris Majors had traveled from Wichita, Kansas. Chris had spent decades building and leading dental practices himself before transitioning into helping other doctors think more strategically about their lives, leadership, and stewardship. Neither man knew the other, but one small moment changed that.
As Chris approached the door to a hotel restroom, he reached for the handle at the exact same moment another man did. They both paused, looked at each other, and laughed. John said, “You come on through.” Chris replied, “No, I insist.” It was a simple moment, two strangers holding the door for one another.
Later that same day, they found themselves seated next to each other at the meeting. What began as casual conversation quickly became something deeper. Within minutes they were sharing their faith in Christ and their desire to see dentists live and lead with greater purpose. John eventually asked Chris if they could stay in touch so they could continue learning from one another.
Over the next nine months they did exactly that, John in Eugene, Oregon; Chris in Wichita, Kansas, checking in from time to time, talking about life, dentists, and what God might be doing. Both sensed something forming, but neither wanted to get ahead of Him. They paid attention and continued the friendship.
In October of 2025, John traveled to Wichita. The two men met in a small church chapel. They did not meet to start a business. They met to pray. With open hands they asked God to whisper, to show them clearly what He might want to do through their lives. For nearly eight hours they prayed, talked, reflected, and listened.
By the end of that day in the chapel, something had become unmistakably clear. God had given them a vision for a community of dentists who wanted more than professional success, a community of doctors who desired to flourish in their faith, their families, their leadership, and their stewardship. That vision became Vine158.
Mentorship Where It Matters Most
Vine158 was born out of a simple observation: dentists are highly trained clinicians, but very few receive mentorship in the areas that ultimately shape their lives the most, leadership, communication, stewardship of practice metrics, wealth accumulation strategies, legacy planning, and practice transition.
After building and leading multiple practices over more than two decades, and participating in the transition, acquisition, marketing, or management of multiple dental practices, our team saw the same patterns repeat: talented dentists working hard, but often navigating the most important decisions of their lives alone.
Vine158 was built to change that. It is a community where dentists can change their mindset, receive mentorship, and gain access to trusted frameworks that help them lead their practices wisely and steward their lives well, because the goal is not merely a successful practice. The goal is a flourishing life.
Abiding in the True Vine
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.”
John 15:1–8
The name Vine158 comes from the words of Jesus in John 15. We believe true flourishing, personally and professionally, comes from remaining connected to the source of life itself. Jesus is the source, and His glory is our aim. Our work in dentistry is not separate from that purpose; it is one of the ways we live it out and bring glory to God.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciple. At Vine158, faith is not an accessory. It is the foundation, our anchor in everything we say and do. Our aim is to help dentists lead practices and lives that produce fruit that lasts.
Dr. Chris Majors
Chris Majors, DDS, M.A., CWS®
Certified Wealth Strategist · Business of Dentistry Advisor
Dr. Chris Majors earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry in 1998. Over nearly twenty-five years in clinical dentistry and practice leadership, he built, scaled, and managed multiple dental practices and was directly involved in the acquisition, merger, or transition of more than nineteen practices.
Beyond the chair, Dr. Majors has advised countless dentists on growth strategy, positioning, and transition planning, consistently helping peers think more strategically about their enterprises, cultivate margin in their lives, and design practices that support both financial success and personal flourishing.
In 2019, he earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, adding a formational dimension to his already multidisciplinary perspective. He now serves as a senior family wealth strategist at a major regional financial institution whose wealth management platform oversees more than $84 billion in assets under management. He is the only Certified Wealth Strategist® in the United States with nearly a quarter century of clinical dental experience, uniquely positioned at the intersection of practice leadership and advanced wealth strategy.
At Vine158, Dr. Majors brings that rare combination of real-world operating experience and institutional advisory expertise to help dentists navigate the complex intersection of professional success, personal purpose, and long-term legacy. His work focuses on ensuring that financial resources, professional advisors, and long-term objectives are thoughtfully aligned so that success in practice ultimately translates into a life marked by freedom and enduring impact.
John Riley
John Riley has spent more than 25 years working exclusively in the world of dentistry, walking alongside nearly a thousand practice owners to improve profitability, strengthen patient acquisition, and help build practices that truly reflect their clinical vision.
John brings a data-driven perspective to practice economics and serves as a trusted advisor to owners at every stage of the journey, from early-career dentists establishing their first patient base to seasoned clinicians repositioning for long-term growth. Over time, this work has offered him a meaningful vantage point for understanding what separates a practice that simply performs from one that genuinely thrives. His deepest hope has always been to help doctors spend more time doing the work they trained for, lead teams they are proud of, and build practices that are fulfilling to own.
For over 30 years, John has walked alongside doctors and college students as a mentor, helping them navigate life's harder seasons, discover their calling, and pursue the life God has placed before them.
A thread that runs through everything John does is a deep passion for helping Christian men and women understand what it means to be a usable vessel within their sphere of influence. He believes that every practice, every team, and every patient relationship is an opportunity to reflect something greater. The call he returns to again and again is found in 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Peter instructs us to be ready to answer the question our life should inspire: "How can you be so hopeful in such difficult circumstances?"
It is this intersection of Christian mentoring, practical business wisdom, and a passion for developing leaders that drew John to the Vine158 movement. One of his favorite authors, pastor and theologian Henry Blackaby, wrote simply, “Look where God is working and join Him.” Those words have stayed with John, and he is genuinely grateful to be part of what God is doing through Vine158. In the end, it is all God's and for His Glory.
