Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio recently announced the December 2015 graduation of Larry G. Straub for the degree of Doctor of Management. CWRU is a top 100 academic and research university in the world; they are the leader in the practitioner scholarship academic space (where academia and theory meets practice). The program takes place over three to four years and involves three to four day monthly on campus residencies.
 The cohort groups are comprised of up to 20 students and are made up primarily of mid-career executives or academicians working in a variety of industries and universities throughout the world. Students dissertations are comprised of four research studies over the period of the program, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.
 Straub’s dissertation researched the impact of the 2008 economic crisis, particularly on older workers who lost jobs during this convulsive period and the process they undertook to regain employment. Additionally, Straub’s research examined how individuals (particularly early career) need to position themselves to weather such economic upheaval in the future.
 The ground-breaking research was the first to study this historic economic period five years after it happened. Straubs research was selected for presentation at the Academy of Management Conference in Philadelphia this past August. He is available for presentations concerning his research and findings to any groups in the region.
 Straub currently lives in Wichita but was a longtime resident of Great Bend and Salina; he is the chairman and CEO of Straub International Inc. a multi-store agricultural dealership company. He has been a practitioner scholar throughout his career, teaching at Barton County Community College, Friends University and Kansas Wesleyan University while working full time as a business executive for Straub International.
 Straub noted where practice meets academics has always been of interest to me, this degree will serve as the capstone of my studies and help further that interest as I move forward in my career as a businessman. He can be contacted for further information at lstraub2@straubint.com or by cell phone 785-820-7245.