Hope Squad Welcomes Eric Workman as CEO

Hope Squad is excited to introduce its new CEO, Eric Workman. A seasoned leader who first encountered the Hope Squad program while working closely with founder Dr. Greg Hudnall, Eric brings both lived experience and leadership expertise to guide Hope Squad’s ongoing commitment to fostering connection, community, and hope.

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“I grew up in a home where physical and mental health issues were a constant challenge. My single mother attempted suicide multiple times, and later my stepfather died by suicide when I was in my early teens,” Eric shares. “We moved over 20 times in my childhood; each time I would arrive at a new school quiet and shy, with no one having any idea what I was dealing with at home. I’m grateful for the kind peers and teachers who reached out and sought to include me and my sisters and helped us feel seen. In Hope Squad, I immediately recognized that same sensitive awareness and positive outreach and saw the tremendous potential to improve and save lives.”  

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Before being invited by Dr. Hudnall to lead Hope Squad, Eric served as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of the Polynesian Cultural Center—one of Hawaii’s top visitor attractions. A mission-driven nonprofit, the Center preserves and celebrates Polynesian culture while providing university education for students from the Pacific Islands and the Pacific Rim. Since 1963, it has supported the education of over 50,000 students who may not otherwise have afforded college.

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As a customer-focused, data-driven leader, Eric helped the organization reach historic financial and customer satisfaction milestones. During his time there, he also partnered with Dr. Hudnall to bring Hope Squad to the Polynesian Cultural Center and the adjacent BYU–Hawaii campus.

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“I loved my job at the Cultural Center. It was mission-driven and incredibly customer-focused, and I worked with some of the best people in the world.  Only Hope Squad’s more urgent and critical mission could have pulled me away,” Eric says.  

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Along with work, Eric treasures time with his family. Eric met his wife, Anne Chase, while attending BYU-Hawaii, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management and Organizational Development. The couple spent three years living in Osaka, Japan, where they taught English and began their first business venture, The World Market, which promoted American and European mail-order companies in Japan. He later earned his MBA from BYU Marriott School of Management. Currently, he and his wife own Ellie Mental Health, an outpatient clinic in Provo, Utah, where they strive to destigmatize mental health care. Eric and Anne enjoy time with their seven wonderful children and their four amazing spouses, along with a growing roster of adorable grandchildren.  

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“I am humbled by the opportunity to join the Hope Squad team and the thousands of dedicated advisors and students who are changing lives. This is great work, and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” Eric reflects. “While Hope Squads are already in thousands of schools and institutions across the country, they belong in tens of thousands of communities around the world. We have the opportunity to improve the lives of millions—and save the lives of thousands. The world needs Hope Squad and the people who power it.”