Building a Foundation for Success: PNW alumnus Jeff Strack
A family legacy in the community and a commitment to giving back inspire Jeff Strack's support for Purdue University Northwest. A PNW Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, Strack appreciates how PNW helps students, many of whom are first generation, achieve success.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) alumnus Jeff Strack (M.B.A., ‘00) believes that a strong community is the foundation of success. This belief drives his work in business and inspires his commitment to PNW.
A 2024 inductee into the PNW Alumni Hall of Fame, Strack believes deeply in PNW’s mission and its students. He actively serves on the College of Business Advisory Board, the Chancellor’s Advisory Board, mentors College of Business students and remains an enthusiastic supporter of PNW athletics.
“It’s simple,” says Strack. “When the community does better, we all do better. PNW is a tremendous asset to Northwest Indiana, and if I can help, even in a small way, that’s what it’s all about.”
Family Legacy
The weight of legacy is both emotional and motivating for Strack. His grandfather arrived from Germany in the 1920s and in 1929 opened the family’s first grocery store in Griffith, Ind. Decades later, Strack, along with his father and the Van Til family, expanded that humble beginning into a trusted regional brand.
Growing up in the family business instilled a deep sense of responsibility and pride in Strack, not just in the family legacy but in the people who were part of it. He learned that a grocery store is more than just a business; it’s a gathering place, a community anchor and a source of security for the employees whose livelihoods depend on it. Many of his employees have been with the company for 30 years or more. Strack says that longevity is humbling and a reminder of his responsibility as a leader.
“Outside of my wife, this organization means everything to me,” he says. “Our company culture is the fabric of who we are. People have seen me laugh and cry. I’m authentic and I think people trust that.”
When the community does better, we all do better. PNW is a tremendous asset to Northwest Indiana, and if I can help, even in a small way, that’s what it’s all about.
PNW alumnus Jeff Strack (M.B.A.,‘00)
A Clear Path
Strack majored in marketing while earning his undergraduate degree at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.
“Accounting and finance are black and white – they have clear answers,” he says. “Marketing gives you room to look at things differently and have a little fun. Looking back, I think that perspective helped shape how I’ve approached the grocery business throughout my career.”
Strack recognized early on how marketing principles, from selling items to creating an emotional attachment with consumers, provided a framework for the business he would one day lead.
Growing as a Leader
Strack entered the family business immediately after graduating from IU. Working through a five-year in-house training program at Strack & Van Til, he learned every facet of the business, culminating in a year with full profit and loss responsibility for a store.
Motivated by a set of ambitious personal goals, Strack sought to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He realized that earning a graduate degree while working full-time required a different kind of flexibility. That’s when he discovered PNW’s Master of Business Administration – Executive (EMBA) program which at that time offered a weekend class structure that accommodated his demanding work schedule.
“It polished my skills,” Strack explains. “It taught me discipline, focus and understanding that in the real world, unlike school, decisions have real, often permanent consequences. There are no re-dos. Overall, I became a better leader because of the program.”
Today, Strack is driven by a philosophy of authentic, passionate leadership and a focus on “TNT” (Tiny Noticeable Things), the small actions that collectively create a larger impact. He also strongly encourages his management team members to be actively involved in civic and volunteer engagement.
Strack (right) poses with PNW Chancellor Chris Holford and fellow 2024 PNW Alumni Hall of Fame inductees Thomas McDermott Jr. and the Honorable Diane Kavadias Schneider.
Giving Back
Strack’s roots are deeply planted in Northwest Indiana, a region that instilled in him the values of hard work and community that have come to define his career. His support of PNW is multifaceted and stems from his positive experience in the MBA program and the university’s impact on the region.
“PNW’s faculty members were consistently invested in our success throughout each course,” says Strack. “Their commitment motivated me to do my best, not just for myself, but because I wanted them to know the meaningful role they played in my learning and growth.”
Strack describes PNW as a vital asset to Northwest Indiana. He is motivated to support the university because it invests in and helps students, many of whom are first generation, achieve success. He is proud of the PNW students who compete in, and often win, competitions against larger universities, demonstrating the caliber of education offered.
He was selected to deliver the 2015 Commencement address, an honor he says was “one of the highlights of his career.” In addition to philanthropic gifts and serving on several university boards, Strack enjoys helping and mentoring students.
“PNW has had a lasting impact on my career,” Strack says. “I want to give back to the institution that helped me be successful. I am proud of this university and its students and happy to support the opportunities PNW provides them for success.”
“Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue Northwest” is inspired by the powerful stories of alumni and supporters like Strack, who continues to change PNW students’ lives while supporting the community. We invite you to join us in celebrating PNW’s “Victories & Heroes” by making a gift to expand opportunities for PNW students and further PNW’s positive impact on the community.