Health-e Pro recently added Eric Tuininga to its executive team as Chief Operations Officer. Eric has extensive sales and leadership experience in the software-as-a-service (SAAS) industry and is a strategic addition to our management team. We’re excited to introduce Eric and have asked him to share his background and what he’s looking forward to at Health-e Pro.
What were you doing before you came to Health-e Pro?
I’ve spent more than 15 years working in technology–the last 10 specifically in the SAAS space–primarily focused on schools and nonprofits. My most recent roles have been executive leadership positions with a focus on strategic partnerships and product integrations.
What drew you to Health-e Pro?
I believe that education is the silver bullet that can help kids succeed and transform society. My mom was a public school teacher her entire career, and to this day I meet people who tell me they had her as a teacher and share the impact she had on their lives. Unfortunately, it’s really hard for hungry kids to learn. Health-e Pro makes it easier for foodservice professionals to feed kids nutritious meals they actually want to eat. If we can do something to enhance the educational environment then we’re doing something worthwhile.
Health-e Pro is a dynamic company with outstanding products, extraordinary service, and talented people. I’m looking forward to being part of a team that is committed to serving with excellence and making a genuine difference.
What do you remember about your first meeting with Meg (Chesley, Health-e Pro’s founder and CEO)? Anything specific?
The thing I remember most from my first meeting with Meg is that she is absolutely committed to seeing others succeed. She is driven by a desire to see foodservice directors thriving. Her passion for it is truly inspiring.
Meg’s desire to see others succeed also carries over to her employees, and that inspires the culture she wants to build here. Meg has an incredible heart for generosity which we can see both in how she treats her employees and in how she wants to give back in the communities we serve. Health-e Giving is the most visible example of that generosity, but it’s not the only one.
What has impressed you about the software? The team?
I think the biggest thing is that our software takes really complicated tasks and makes them simple. The connections we make between manufacturers, ingredients, recipes, and nutrient analysis brings together a complex universe of information and makes it easy to manage and useful for the end user. Not only is it incredibly powerful, but we’ve made it intuitive and a delight to use.
The team at Health-e Pro is truly exceptional. Not only are the people here highly qualified, but they’re also passionate about why they do what they do. Meg’s vision to see others succeed is one that is carried by every member of the team. That’s true for those that are building the software as well as those that are training and supporting our end users.
What are you looking forward to over this next year at Health-e Pro?
I’m looking forward to a couple of things:
One, continued growth of our product. The updates that we have in store for My School Menus as well as for Health-e Meal Planner are going to be game-changers for the industry. They will allow us to continue to build out additional functionality and partnerships that will make a great product even better for all of our users.
Another thing I’m looking forward to is continuing to get to know our customers. They have been exceptionally vocal in their praise of both the product and the company and I’m looking forward to building relationships with them and figuring out how we can further support them in the meaningful work they do.
What have you learned about the foodservice/K-12 industry so far?
One of the things I’ve learned is that this industry is incredibly well-connected and everyone seems to know each other. While some might see that as a challenge, I see that as an opportunity because we are committed to our customers’ experience. Everything we do is through the lens of “How will this impact our users?” and “Will they like it?”
In a community that is this tight, you can’t pretend to be something you’re not for very long. The good news for us is we really are committed to serving others well and seeing them thrive.