Eric Nuss
Dental Industry Consultant & Educator
Eric Nuss grew up in Omaha before moving with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he completed his high school education. His interest in both science and athletics led him to Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a concentration in science and athletic coaching. He later pursued his MBA at the University of Iowa, laying the groundwork for a career that combined academic training with business expertise.
This combination of academic study prepared him for a career that blended teaching, leadership, and organizational development. His Education equipped him with the tools to mentor others, manage operations, and devise strategies for long-term success.
Early Career and Teaching
He began his professional career in Colorado Springs as a middle school teacher. Working with students gave him insight into leadership, communication, and patience. While teaching was rewarding, he sought opportunities to expand his impact, eventually moving into sales and sales management. These positions helped him understand how businesses operate and how teams function under clear guidance.
At the same time, he spent years coaching youth baseball, where his teams built success on principles such as teamwork, accountability, and discipline. The approach he used on the field later informed his consulting style, where he encouraged dental practices to follow shared values and structure to achieve long-term goals.
Professional Work in Dentistry
For over twenty years, he has focused his career on helping dentists and practice owners build sustainable businesses. His experience includes acquisitions, practice integration, and building scalable systems in finance, human resources, and compliance. By creating structures that allowed providers to focus on patient care, he supported practices during periods of growth and transition.
Eric has advised practice owners on strategies for expansion, operational improvements, and planning for ownership transitions. His guidance helped doctors balance patient care with the demands of running a business, ensuring that both clinical and operational sides of a practice could succeed.
He currently serves as a Strategic Advisor at XpoDental, where his work continues to focus on building systems that enable practices to grow while maintaining stability and delivering patient-centered care.
Addressing Business Leadership Gaps
One of the challenges he identified in the dental industry is the lack of business leadership training for doctors. While clinical expertise is substantial, many practice owners have not been prepared to build organizations with long-term enterprise value. As a result, fewer than half of practices are sold successfully, and many owners face difficulties at retirement.
Eric Nuss has worked to close this gap by creating scalable practice models, designing exit strategies, and developing systems that support financial health and employee retention. These efforts have allowed doctors to protect the value of their practices, preserve cash flow, and prepare for ownership transitions with greater confidence.
His message to practice leaders often emphasizes the importance of moving forward quickly, learning from mistakes, and taking ownership of decisions. This perspective has helped doctors build resilience and adapt to industry changes more effectively.
Achievements and Recognition
His contributions have been recognized within the industry. He was featured in Forbes magazine for creating and expanding Henry Schein’s Business Solutions Division, as well as for founding the Dental Business Institute (DBI). This profile highlighted his work in bringing MBA-level business education into dentistry.
Dental Economics also recognized him for leading the development and nationwide rollout of DBI. His role in reshaping how dentists prepare for growth and transition has had a lasting influence. In addition, he authored four proprietary textbooks that remain the official DBI curriculum and published articles in outlets such as Dental Economics, Dentistry Today, Inside Dentistry, and Dental Tribune. These writings addressed practice growth, mergers and acquisitions, and doctor-led scaling strategies.
He has also been a keynote speaker and panelist at events such as the Dykema DSO Conference and other national summits. His research and content are regularly featured in these settings, where he continues to share practical insights with dental professionals.
As Founding Director of Henry Schein Business Solutions and DBI, he received recognition for creating educational programs that have impacted hundreds of practices nationwide.
Coaching Experience
Beyond his professional work, Eric spent nearly four years coaching at STiKS Baseball Academy. His focus was on developing fundamentals, discipline, and teamwork while supporting players in competitive growth. His leadership emphasized accountability and preparation, qualities that extended beyond athletics.
He also coached boys’ basketball at Southeast Christian School for almost two years. His teaching centered on fundamentals, communication, and values, helping young athletes develop both on and off the court. These roles reflected his consistent approach to leadership—shaping individuals through discipline and shared values.
Life Experiences and Influences
During college, Eric studied abroad in Tanzania, an experience that had a lasting impact. Living in a different culture reshaped his perspective on materialism, faith, and resourcefulness. It also gave him a greater appreciation for diversity and humility, qualities that influenced his future career and leadership style.
His blended family has also been a significant influence. Raising six children has required flexibility, empathy, and resilience. These qualities have also guided his professional approach, enabling him to help others navigate challenges with understanding and perspective.
Personal Life
He resides in Parker, Colorado, with his wife and their six children. Family life is active, with schedules filled with school, sports, travel, and time together. The energy of the family keeps his perspective grounded and reminds him of the importance of building businesses that provide both time and freedom.
Whether attending games, sharing meals, or traveling, he values the moments with family as the foundation of his motivation. His professional journey continues to be defined by service, leadership, and growth, with a focus on helping others build sustainable success. Through these efforts, Eric Nuss remains committed to supporting doctors, practices, and organizations, ensuring that they can create lasting value and opportunities for the future.
Eric Nuss 