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About Arnie Strebe
Arnie Strebe has spent more than three decades helping people, teams, and organizations move from zero to something — a phrase so central to his philosophy that he made it the title of his book.
A career built on growth. Arnie's leadership journey spans the military, manufacturing, retail, banking, and government. He served in the U.S. Army as both an enlisted soldier and a commissioned officer, completing the Army's Airborne, Ranger, Sapper Leader, Air Assault, and Pathfinder courses. After his military career, he joined Minnesota-based Schwan Food Company, where he led a $240 million sales organization, served as Vice President of Manufacturing, and founded Schwan's University — an internal training organization that earned multiple national and international awards for excellence.
He went on to serve as Chief Talent and Business Improvement Officer at Evergreen Enterprises and Plow & Hearth, a multinational wholesale, retail, e-commerce, and manufacturing business with a catalog of more than 17,000 products. Most recently, Arnie served as Chief Human Resources Officer and Bank President at Starion Bank in Bismarck, and as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, where he led agency-wide functions including fiscal administration, human resources, strategic communications, logistics, and legal advisory.
He also was the co-founder of the business consulting company BISBLOX LLC where he served as the co-CEO for 3 years before he sold his equity to his partner. BISBLOX provided services to start-ups to global multi-billion dollar companies. They provided business consulting in a wide variety areas and disciplines, AI transformation support, Data, and Cybersecurity expertise.
Author and speaker. Arnie is the author of Zero to Something, a leadership book that builds on a simple idea: leadership — of yourself, a team, a project, or an entire organization — should be deliberate, disciplined, and structured around real progress. The framework draws on his thirty-plus years of trial, error, and results across very different industries.
Education. Arnie holds a bachelor's degree in education from Minot State University and a master's degree in education from Jones International University.
Beyond the office. Arnie is a certified USA Triathlon coach and a six-time Ironman finisher. In 2019 he completed the invite-only Ultra 520K race in Canada. He's the co-founder of the YMCA youth triathlon launched in 2015 and has served on numerous community boards, including the Ronald McDonald House and the local YMCA. His personal mission, in his own words, is simple: to help others succeed.
Why Akase Growth Strategies. Everything Arnie has done — from leading soldiers, to building a corporate university, to running operations for a billion-dollar retailer, to overseeing a state agency — comes back to the same belief: growth doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders combine clarity, structure, and a real commitment to the people doing the work. That's what he brings to every client engagement.
Why the Name…
I founded Akase Growth Strategies, LLC (AGS), a leadership and business improvement firm, in honor of my mother, a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing who instilled in me the leadership principles that guide my work today. Foremost among them: do the right thing, the right way, at the right time.
The firm draws its name from the 300-plus-year-old Akase family tree in Nagasaki, a living symbol of resilience, stewardship, and generational growth. Having endured wars, storms, and countless challenges across the centuries, the tree reflects the values at the heart of our business.
My career spans sales and marketing, finance, manufacturing, human resources, banking, learning and development, supply chain, state government, federal contracting, and entrepreneurial growth. I specialize in building clarity, alignment, and operational discipline in environments where the stakes are high and ambiguity is real.
My focus is on meaningful work, selective engagements, and helping teams perform at their best — with primary service areas in business improvement, executive coaching,and strategic planning.iness dreams a reality. With our comprehensive guided resources, you’ll unearth renewed confidence and tactics to help your business thrive.