My mission in life is to serve as a bridge between higher education and the practice of business administration, management and strategy. It is my passion to bring this connection to students, professional educators as well as entrepreneurs and managers.
I have had extensive experience as a business owner and executive of our 50 + year old family business, Straub International, Inc. After completing the successful sale of our multi-generational family business, I plan to finish the rest of my career in the academic sector as an Associate Professor of Management at Newman University.
During my 37 year tenure at Straub International, I was the company Chief Financial Officer for 5 years and Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors Chairman for 23 years. During that tenure our team grew the company into a $100 + million business with seven locations and 150employees. In that time I gained extensive experience with multi-location as well as multi-generation management models, acquisitions, mergers and ultimately divestitures(with the sale of our business).
During that same 30+ year period I taught in an adjunct capacity at the community college, small college, and university levels, teaching for Barton Community College, Kansas Wesleyan University, Friends University, Wichita State University, Southern New Hampshire University and now Newman University. I have loved teaching traditional and non-traditional students throughout this time, gaining valuable lessons and experiences from each setting and class taught.
Recently I have also been fortunate to teach two of the eight sessions in the Growing Rural Businesses program with Wichita State University (Barton School of Business). This program delivers seminar sessions teaching comprehensive skills in entrepreneurial management to business leaders in multiple rural communities each year, providing invaluable education in this certificate program.
I am now proud to have a full time teaching position at Newman University School of Business as Associate Professor of Management. I look forward to working with the students at Newman at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Case Western Reserve University
- Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship - 2022
- Doctor of Management - 2014
Harvard Business School
- Owner President Management Program (OPM) - 2010
Friends University
- Executive MBA - 1995
Fort Hays State University
- MS Communication - 1992
- Bachelor of General Studies - 1990
Courses Taught:
Undergraduate
- BSAD 2013 – Principles of Management
- BSAD 3073 – Operations Management
- BSAD 3193 – Business Ethics
- BSAD 4063 - Entrepreneurship
- BSAD 4073 – Strategic Management
Masters of Business Administration
- BSAD 6000 – Business Foundations
- BSAD 6103 – Business Action Research
- BSAD 6203 – Organizational Behavior
- BSAD 6983 – Strategic Management
Doctor of Business Administration
- BSAD 8001 – Orientation Seminar
- BSAD 8211 – Qualitative Research Methods
- BSAD 9113 – Marketing
- BSAD 9901 – Dissertation Research Methods
- Multi Media Business and Economic Analyst
- Higher Education Content and Deliver Methodologies
- General Management
- Executive Coaching
- Entrepreneurial Management
- Strategic Management
- Life and Career Management in Convulsive Economic and Cultural Environments
- Macro Economic Trends and Fluxuations
- Life and Career Management in Convulsive Economic and Cultural Environments
- Family business generational transitions
- Leadership
- Business model transformation
- Higher education transformation
Academic Publications and Presentations
- Straub, L. The 7eventh Actuality – How Adaptability will be the New Gold. In Progress (Expected Publication 2025).
- Straub, L. (2022). The 6ixth Evolution – Managing Lives and Careers Through Convulsive Times (First Edition) Archway Publishing.
- Straub, L. & Perry, J. (2019). Analyzing industry changes and business evolution: The path forward for Midwest Equipment Company –The Case Study Journal. Published March 2019.
- Straub, L. & Cola, P. (2018). Managing Careers for Sustainability: Determining Your Convulsive Economic Quotient (CEQ) –Submitted for Publication.
- 2014 Academy of Management (AOM) Conference –Philadelphia, PA –Presentation of Quantitative Research Dissertation, “A Paradigm for Surviving Severe Macro Economic Disruption: Testing Components of the Promethean Life and Career Measurement Instrument”
- Dissertation Compilation Article –“How to Position Your Career in Convulsive Economic Cycles” (2014).
Multi Media Business and Economic Appearances and Interviews
- Network appearances and interviews on the following television networks – KWCH (CBS), KSN (NBC), KAKE (ABC), and KSAS (FOX)
View a complete listing of appearances
Select General Presentations
- Wichita State University–Growing Rural Business: Entrepreneurial Certificate Program (2018, 2019) - “Strategic Planning: Developing an Effective Niche Strategy”
- Continuous Improvement and Innovation Conference - Kansas Wesleyan University - Guest Speaker / Presenter (2015 & 2017) - “Positioning Careers for Convulsive Social and Economic Cycles”.
- Salina Human Resource Management Association Business -Mini Series (2017) - “Managing Millennials in the Workforce”. Panelist - The Center for Economic Development and Business Research–Area Economic Outlook Conference (SCC -2017).
- Year End Banquet - Salina Human Resource Management Association(2017) - “Managing Multi-Generational Workforces”.
- Wichita State University–Growing Rural Businesses: Entrepreneurial Certificate Program (2018, 2019) - “Basic Sales Techniques and Practices for Selling”.
- Negotiation Skills –Westar Energy Corporation(2011) - “Negotiating Strategies - Trips, Traps and Opportunities”.
- “Egghead Banquet” –Ellinwood High School(2011) - “High School and Beyond - Positioning Yourself for Success”.
- Total Quality Management Training and Presentation - Larned State Hospital(1992) - “TQM and its Applications in a State Institutional Environment”.
- McPherson College-Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society Induction Ceremony (Keynote Presentation) - “The Coachable Employee”
- 2020 / 21 Faculty Teaching Excellence Award – Newman University
- 2018 / 19 Adjunct Faculty of the Year –Wichita State University (Barton School of Business)