School of Business Faculty

Prior to joining Ottawa University, Dr. Strombeck was the Dean of the Business School at two different Christian universities. As the Dean, he was responsible for developing strategic/operational plans, setting goals to achieve academic excellence, managing and coordinating the undergraduate/graduate curriculum, hiring faculty and staff personnel to support the academic enterprise, managing the annual operating budgets, and collaborating with the enrollment and marketing teams to drive enrollment. His external responsibilities included establishing and nurturing external stakeholder relations for fundraising purposes and maintaining school practices to ensure compliance with its accreditors’ standards (ACBSP and WASC).

Dr. Strombeck is a Professor of Marketing with an expertise in the areas of Services Marketing, Branding, and Asian Business Practices. In these areas, he has published a number of peer-reviewed articles in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Services Marketing, Managing Service Quality, and Asia Pacific Management Review. Since 1994, he has worked as a consultant for a variety of different companies. Some of his larger clients include United Airlines, American Airlines, Starbucks, Zee Medical Corporation, and 7-11 Corporation.

For the last 25 years, Dr. Strombeck has been teaching marketing and business courses at various universities. He worked at two universities in Taiwan, one in South Korea and five in the U.S.  Since 2000, Dr. Strombeck has been organizing, and leading study abroad programs for business school students. These “on the road” programs combine a global course curriculum with boardroom executive meetings, manufacturing/facility tours, and cultural excursions. Sponsors for these trips included: L’Oreal, Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse, FedEx, J&J, SK Telecom, Hyundai Motors, VW, Nestle, DHL, Samsung, Philips Corporation, Acer, IBM, Panasonic, Citibank, and Lenovo.

Dr. Strombeck holds a B.A. in Economics and Business from Westmont College, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Mississippi.

Tom Edwards was raised in central Missouri, in Camdenton, the “Hub City of the Lake of the Ozarks”.  His family has lived in that area since before Missouri became a State in 1821. Tom insists that he is a genuine Hillbilly and proud of it. He attended Missouri State University for over three years before marrying and discovering that two cannot live as cheaply as one! He earned additional undergraduate hours at Drury University while working full-time. While building a successful business career, he found the Ottawa University adult degree completion program, and finished his BA degree, this time working full-time and raising a family.  Having found a hunger to learn more, he completed his Master of Arts in Human Resources, again as a non-traditional student.

Tom started his professional career as a full-time temporary “computer attendant” with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, later transferring to AT&T Long Lines and finally to AT&T itself.  Throughout his 30-year career, he was worried that somebody would find out he was a temporary employee, even after rising to the executive level. His love of education led him to leave AT&T and accept an entry level position with Ottawa University that allowed him to teach as an adjunct. His career in education advanced and he held a variety of positions such as the Director of Business Programs, assistant Professor of Business, and lead faculty for the undergraduate Human Resources Management program.

Tom “retired” from full-time work in July of 2015, but continues to teach 8-10 classes per year for Ottawa University, primarily in Human Resources, Leadership, Organizational Behavior and Business Ethics.

Kimberly Rieken earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with a specialization in Public Relations from Nebraska Wesleyan University.  She went on to earn her MBA from Ottawa University.  In her current role, Kimberly is the Associate Director of International Programs and she is located at the Ottawa University-Kansas City campus in Overland Park, Kansas.  

Dr. Kayong Holston holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Nova Southeastern University.

Currently, she teaches both graduate and undergraduate business courses at Ottawa University and also develops course curriculum.

Dr. Holston worked in government for 17 years as a manager and director in the community services and career development fields. She used many different types of statistical analyses for the effective planning and implementation of the organization’s bottom line. She also developed employee and leadership training instruction designed to help employees increase their performance at the highest level.

She has published numerous articles in professional publications and one was selected as the best paper for the Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management.  She recently published a diversity management article in the International Academy of Business Discipline yearbook.  Her research interests are diversity management, cultural and workplace diversity, leadership, organizational development, and human resources management.

Dr. Holston has served as a member of the Armed Forces YMCA and San Diego Chapter of ASTD Board of Directors – Educational Committee, chair of the strategic planning task force, organizational effectiveness, a member of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, and internal coaching consultant for the Red Cross.  She is part of the Presidential Council of Paradise Community College, Maricopa Community College Chancellor’s Asian Pacific- Islander Community Advisory Committee and Maricopa Workforce Connection Board member. She also is serving the president in the Korean Women's International Network.

Dr. Holston is a national member of SHRM; Organizational Behavior & Theory Track Chair for the International Academy of Business Discipline; Area Representative for the American Society for Competitiveness; Member of Academy of Management; National register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals; and a member of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. She frequently gives speeches to local professional organizations.

Peter Jacobsen is the Gwartney Professor of Economic Education and Research and Ottawa University. He obtained his BS in economics from Southeast Missouri State University. After finishing his BS he worked in banking for a year then began to pursue his PhD at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He received his PhD in December 2020. Peter is currently continuing his research while fulfilling his passion for teaching economics to the students of Ottawa University.

Dr. Russ McCullough was raised in Minnesota and completed his BA degree in Economics at St. Cloud University.  He moved to Ames, Iowa to attend graduate school at Iowa State University and finished his doctorate in Economics in 2003.  Russ is both an academic and a serial entrepreneur with a passion for innovating.  His business ventures included real estate development-sales-property management, a construction company, a restaurant, a boutique hotel and an equestrian center.  He is a veteran in the classroom with outstanding student reviews, uses his business experience to make economics real and understandable, and is excited to devote his energy, passion and leadership to Ottawa University.

Dr. Kristen Moore earned a Master of Education specializing in Adult Education from Colorado State University, a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Ottawa University and received her PhD in Higher Education Administration from Saint Louis University.  Over the years, Kristen has worked in administrative roles for a state school, several private universities as well as a for-profit institution. Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor of Business who teaches liberal arts and business courses at Ottawa University.  In her time off, Dr. Moore enjoys time with her family, walking on trails, traveling, and reading.

Dr. Jack Nemecek has been with Ottawa University since 2009, and serves as the Professor-in-Charge of the Health Care Management (HCM) Degree Program.

Dr. Nemecek holds a PhD in Public Health from Walden University, an MBA and BBA in Healthcare Administration from National University, and an AS in Allied Health from George Washington University. He teaches all course offerings that are healthcare administration and/or public health related at the undergraduate and graduate level. He also serves as a doctoral student mentor, doctoral committee Chairperson, and doctoral committee member. He is  expert at course development, serving as subject matter expert (SME) for the Ottawa University Health Care Management (HCM) Degree Program.

Dr. Nemecek began his career in health care as an Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy, serving worldwide. After many years as an enlisted man, he was Commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy, Medical Service Corps, as a healthcare administrator. He has served in numerous capacities as a senior level healthcare administrator, to include Director of Human Resources, Director of Education/Training, Director of Healthcare Operations, Director of Administration, and Director of U. S. Navy Healthcare Construction, West Coast Operations.

Upon his retirement from the U. S. Navy, Dr. Nemecek began another career as a Public Health Advisor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), serving in numerous capacities including Deputy Branch Chief for the Education, Information and Partnership Branch for the National Immunization Program.

Dr. Nemecek was born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He is married with three sons and five grandchildren, residing in Atlanta, GA. In his leisure time he golfs, gardens, and reads for pleasure

In her current role, Joanna is the Director of Human Resources with responsibilities spanning all University locations.  She is located at the Ottawa Campus and oversees all aspects of HR programs and services on behalf of University employees. Walters completed her Master of Arts in Human Resources from Ottawa University Kansas City in 1997. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree from the Ottawa, Kansas, residential campus (1991), where she graduated with cum laude academic honors.

Walters has been employed by Ottawa University since 1992; initially in KC as the Business Coordinator, then in Ottawa as the Business and Payroll  Manager, and finally in her current role since 1999.  Ottawa University is very much a part of Walters’ heritage; her parents met at Ottawa, her siblings attended OU, and now her oldest son, Mitch, is currently an OU Senior.  She bleeds Black and Gold and is forever an OU Brave at heart!   Walters has two other children, Sydney (a Sophomore at KU) and Sam (a 5^th grader at Sunflower Elementary in Ottawa).  

Stephen has been with Ottawa University since January 2014 and became a full-time instructor in 2017.  He has a B.S. in Accounting, an MBA, and has obtained his Ph.D. in Business with an accounting specialization in February 2016.  He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Wisconsin and has been teaching accounting and other quantitative courses as an adjunct instructor at several universities since 2009.  Prior to teaching, Stephen worked for ten years in accounting positions within the scrap metal recycling, relocation, and healthcare industries.  He has experience in public and corporate accounting.

Stephen is committed to providing a high-quality learning experience for students.  He concentrates on learning as a lifelong process and the ability to employ that learning in real life.