A 30-year business veteran, Eric Suder is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ESI, a leading manufacturer of business communications systems.

Suder possesses broad experience in sales, marketing, and product management. Prior to founding ESI, he held executive-level management positions in both telecommunications and other industries with companies including Candela Electronics, Unisys, Qwip Systems, and Exxon Office Systems.

Suder’s strong commitment to social responsibility has led ESI to develop and participate in numerous global and community programs dedicated to have a positive impact on the lives of others. ESI’s “Success with Significance” philosophy is an integral part of the company’s mission statement.

Examples of the company’s generosity include: establishment of the ESI Humanitarian Relief Fund in partnership with MediSend International; a secondary education student mentoring program; fundraising efforts to fight cancer; and sponsorship of the arts through support of the world-famous Dallas Symphony. Other institutions benefiting from ESI’s support include Habitat for Humanity, the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center, Shared Housing, and Dallas Social Venture Partners.

One of Suder’s personal interests has been to help students with academic potential fulfill their goals through higher education. He funds direct scholarships for selected children of ESI employees. Suder also funded endowments to the University of Texas and his alma mater, West Virginia University, enabling these institutions to provide 10 scholarships each year to qualified students with financial need.

After learning about the particular challenges first-generation students encounter in pursuing their college degrees, he created the Suder Foundation in 2008 to direct additional resources toward their support. Through its First Scholars Program, The Suder Foundation will dramatically improve the graduation rate of these first- generation students by providing them financial, academic, emotional, and social assistance at selected state universities throughout the United States.