After much reflection, Rich Henning decided to retire from General Manager of Henning Software, effective April 1, 2025. It has been two years since Valstone Corporation acquired Henning Software.  Over the past two years, Rich trained Joel Tornberg, our director of software development, to be the replacement for managing Henning Software. Joel is now Henning Software’s new General Manager. Billie Henning will continue as the VP of Sales at Henning Software.

Rich Henning assures, “As I step away from day-to-day leadership, I am confident the company is in excellent hands.  Joel Tornberg brings a fresh new vision, energy, and deep knowledge of our ERP products, mission, and values. I look forward to a smooth transition and watching the company grow in exciting new ways. To all my valued customers and friends, thank you for the trust, the memories, and the partnership. While retiring from my role, I will cheer on Henning Software from the sidelines.”

Henning Industrial Software, Inc., was founded in 1990. Between Billie’s well-rounded manufacturing background and Rich’s strong computer software development experience, their software line, Visual EstiTrack™ and Visual Books™ were created.

Serving as president until acquired in 2023, Rich has a computer science degree and graduate level training. He spent his formative years developing software and providing long-range information systems planning for Ernst & Young (accounting firm), and the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation before launching Henning Software in 1990.

Over the years, Visual EstiTrack has matured to support many types of organizations, including screw machine, job shops, powdered metal, glass, tool and die, fabrication, distribution, assembly, and other industry-related companies.

Rich participated in the desktop computer revolution when personal computers were just beginning to change the ways in which people do business. He participated in the client/server revolution. Henning Software has grown from a one-user DOS program to a multi-user, objected-oriented Windows environment, capable of supporting multiple workstations in large manufacturing facilities. During the last part of his career, Rich was instrumental in rewriting the software with the latest WPF technology, Visual EstiTrack Ultimate.

Rich reflects, “Starting and leading Henning Software with my business partner, wife, and best friend, Billie Henning, for the past 35 years has been the honor of a lifetime. Over the years, I have worked alongside some of the most talented, dedicated, and passionate people in the software and manufacturing industries. I fondly remember the wonderful user conferences we shared over the years, during which I made many wonderful friends and formed many long-term, deep relationships. I will miss you all. Over the past 35 years, we have weathered challenges, celebrated wins, and built amazing mission-critical software products that manage hundreds of companies and thousands of users worldwide.”

We wish Rich all the best as he moves on to the next chapter of his life. We thank him for his knowledge and dedication since the beginning and intend to carry on the vision and legacy of Henning Industrial Software.