Biography
Before entering the field of human resource development, Al Strauss had over 15 years of software expertise ranging from programming to software process improvement. Combined with his background in process improvement and organizational effectiveness, he has unique insights regarding technology implementations and recognizes that every major technology change needs an accompanying culture change to be successful.
Al holds a Masters of Arts degree in Human Resource Development with a concentration in Organization Development from the University of St. Thomas where he studied under Peter Vaill, one of the world’s leading experts on organizational behavior. Al also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
As part of his graduate studies, Al served as the Ethical Leadership/Culture Change Intern for the Center for Ethical Business Cultures, where he identified numerous training and methodologies that can help organizations build a positive ethical environment.
Long active in the performance improvement community, Al has served as president of the Performance Improvement Network, an organization that he founded, and as a Senior Examiner for the 1997 Minnesota Quality Award. He also belongs to the Minnesota Organization Development Network where he serves on the Board of Directors.
Early in Al's career, he showed initiative by identifying over $300,000 in annual savings for his client through improved purchasing processes although he worked in a technical capacity. Later, while working for a legal publisher, a computer program he authored ran 18 a day. Every legal decision published by the company passed through Al's work.
Al then went to work for a medium-sized company, Dataserv, where he began to blossom. He was able to work directly with his internal customers for the first time and use his analytical skills to its fullest capabilities. In addition to being promoted, Al was nominated for Dataserv's Reach for Excellence award. Furthermore, his creativity and critical thinking was recognized when he became one of only seven employees nationwide to be selected for Dataserv's Future Think Tank.
Over the course of time, Al realized that corporate culture's impact was not being recognized or strategically used to advance companies, hindering growth opportunities. Parlaying his computer background as a great teacher of processes and interrelationships, he shifted his career away from technology to human resource development. While consulting for The Registry, Inc., he became that company's first employee to be officially recognized for providing outstanding customer service. He created a 500-page process map for a client and led numerous improvement opportunities along the way. Al also initiated a software testing practice for another client, defining the process and role-modeling the behaviors necessary to succeed. He also mentored this client's employees, providing sustainability to the practice.
As Al shifted his career, he worked hard to develop the skills he knew he would need to be successful. For example, working in technology did not provide him with opportunities for public speaking or delivering presentations so Al joined Toastmasters International and has since become a frequent speaker at conferences. Al has also studied performance improvement and human resource development through reading books, volunteer activities and speaking to many of the field's leaders as well as pursuing his graduate degree.
In his spare time, Al enjoys listening to music (especially jazz), playing hockey, theater, watching movies and being with good friends. He resides in Bloomington, Minnesota.