
CEO & Co-Founder, Spear Physical Therapy
New York, NY
CE 381, Chair: Mark Taylor
Vistage member since 2012
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ask Dan Rootenberg what matters most at Spear, and he’ll tell you: culture. For Dan, culture is a garden — nurtured with care. He has grown Spear from a single practice in 1999 into New York’s #1 physical therapy provider.
When the pandemic shut down New York, Dan turned crisis into opportunity — opening new locations, hiring top talent, and rebranding to reflect the heart of Spear’s work. With a 25% CAGR over 25 years, Spear now spans 70+ locations, employs 1,000+ team members and treats over a million patients annually. Beyond scale, Dan invests in people through the Future Leader Program, while equity partnerships give employees a stake in the business.
For Dan, success is simple: take care of your people and they’ll take care of your patients.
Dan’s Leadership Tips:
- Practice “quick nunchi”: read the room, fast.
- Lean into discomfort to hold people accountable.
- Invest to lift others; make the road better for those who follow.