Eric Nuss spent the first 15 years of his life in Omaha and then moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to finish high school. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education, with a focus on science and athletic coaching, from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and his MBA from the University of Iowa.
Eric is a recognized educator and consultant in the dental industry, partnering with entrepreneurial dentists and doctor-led groups to optimize business operations, boost profitability, and create lasting impact.
His Professional Journey
Eric began his career as a middle school teacher in Colorado Springs and eventually transitioned into sales and sales management, later moving into business development and entrepreneurship. He had coached youth baseball and was successful in creating a winning team with an approach that emphasized several core values his players followed on and off the field. Eric eventually used his coaching approach in his consulting business, helping to build high-performing dental practices with over 20 years of experience in this space.
A Career Dedicated to Empowering Others to Succeed
Eric’s experience is in supporting multiple dental practices during periods of rapid growth and transition. He focuses on strategy, leadership development, and operational oversight, including acquisitions, practice integration, and the creation of scalable systems for finance, HR, and compliance. Providers remain focused on patient care while strengthening enterprise value at the practice level under Eric’s guidance. He also advises practice owners on growth strategies, operational improvements, and preparing for ownership transitions.
He is currently the Strategic Advisor at XpoDental, a firm dedicated to helping dental practices thrive.
Industry Impact
Eric has helped address one of the dental profession’s most significant gaps: the need for strong business leadership. While most dentists excel clinically, many struggle to build practices with lasting enterprise value. With fewer than half of practices ever selling successfully and only a small fraction of doctors retiring on their own terms, Eric has guided owners through the complexities of growth and transition. By designing tax-efficient exit strategies, structuring scalable models, and building operational systems that preserve cash flow and employee retention, he has enabled dentists to protect their value, strengthen their teams, and achieve better outcomes when it comes time to sell or retire.
As discussed in DSO Pro, Eric coaches leaders to move fast, experiment (“go fast, make mistakes”), and take ownership – messaging that has resonated with practitioners looking to scale their practices.
Notable Achievements
Eric Nuss was featured and profiled in Forbes magazine for founding and scaling Henry Schein’s Business Solutions Division and creating the Dental Business Institute (DBI). Eric’s work as an industry innovator who brought MBA-level business education to dentistry was highlighted in the article. He was also recognized by Dental Economics for the development and national rollout of the Dental Business Institute, credited with reshaping how dentists learn to grow and exit their practices.
Eric is an industry author and thought leader, having written four proprietary textbooks that serve as the official curriculum for the Dental Business Institute and published numerous articles on practice growth, M&A strategy, and doctor-led scaling in outlets such as Dental Economics, Dentistry Today, Inside Dentistry, and Dental Tribune.
He has been a keynote speaker and panelist at leading dental industry events, including the Dykema DSO Conference and other national leadership summits, where original research and published content are regularly featured.
Eric has been featured in webinars and events where he shares insights on industry shifts, practice growth strategies, and future opportunities in dentistry.
As Founding Director of both Henry Schein Business Solutions and the Dental Business Institute, he received internal corporate recognition for creating high-impact education programs that continue to influence hundreds of dental practices nationwide.
His Coaching Experience
Eric was a coach at STiKS Baseball Academy for nearly four years, supporting player development, team management, and competitive growth. His focus was on building fundamentals, discipline, and teamwork in a high-performance environment.
He also coached boys’ basketball at Southeast Christian School for nearly two years, where he taught fundamentals and supported player development. He emphasized leadership, communication, and Christian values, helping young athletes grow both on and off the court.
Defining Experiences That Shaped Eric’s Career
During college, Eric Nuss studied abroad in Tanzania, Africa, an experience that reshaped his perspective on frugality, materialism, and faith, while deepening his appreciation for diverse cultures. The various transitions in his career have also shaped his approach to work. Additionally, having a blended family is a significant influence, shaping his ability to approach challenges with empathy, flexibility, and a broader perspective.
Personal Life
Eric lives in Parker, Colorado, with his blended family, which keeps his life full of energy and perspective. He and his wife, Megan, are raising six kids, Blake, Brooke, Reed, Andie, Josie, and Savanna—and they’re the heart of everything he does. Whether they’re traveling, cheering at a basketball game, or just having dinner together, Eric’s family is a daily reminder of why building businesses that create time and freedom really matters.