Profile of Eric Strobel
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Professional Summary
- Years of Heavy Infrastructure Experience: 34+ as a Construction and Insurance Attorney
- Welcomed to SEMA: 2025
- Education: JD, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN; BA, Political Science and History, University of Minnesota–Duluth, Duluth, MN
- Certifications/Licenses: Licensed Attorney in Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, and Wisconsin; admitted to practice in state and federal courts of those states and in the Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals; Licensed General Contractor, State of Minnesota; Qualified Neutral (Mediator), State of Minnesota
- Primary Personal Charities: Young Life – mentoring youth and fostering faith development; The Servant Leadership Foundation – providing material support to global ministry efforts
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Favorite Quote
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” – Winston Churchill
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Role and Responsibilities
As Chief Legal Counsel, Eric Strobel provides strategic leadership over SEMA’s legal and compliance functions, safeguarding the company’s interests while supporting its mission of operational excellence. Reporting directly to Elver Bernal, Vice President of Risk, Eric ensures that legal strategy, risk alignment, and compliance work in concert to protect the company and its stakeholders.
Eric directs all aspects of contract negotiation, liability and litigation management, and corporate insurance programs. He partners closely with Human Resources, Safety, Risk, Contracts, Accounting, and Finance to align operations with regulatory requirements and best practices in governance. He also manages outside legal counsel relationships, ensuring efficient and effective representation that reinforces SEMA’s values and standards.
A licensed attorney and general contractor with more than three decades of experience, Eric brings specialized expertise in construction and insurance law. His work is anchored in collaboration, sound judgment, and innovation, helping SEMA balance risk management with opportunities for advancement. Guided by the company’s core values of Hungry, Humble, Tough, and Smart, he ensures every legal decision supports The Project and The People. Eric advances SEMA’s mission of being the best partner in the industry and fulfills its brand promise — SEMA, More to Look Forward To — by safeguarding trust and integrity at every level of the organization.
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Personal
Eric is guided by faith, family, country, and company. A proud Minnesota native, he and his wife, Susan, are passionate Gopher fans, especially of the Men’s Hockey team. Together, they enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, and birdwatching across the United States, particularly in Colorado’s mountains. Eric is also a licensed Open Water SCUBA instructor, having certified many divers, including Susan. Beyond recreation, he is active in his church and serves as Executive Director of The Servant Leadership Foundation, which provides material support for ministry efforts worldwide.
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SEMA Value That Best Describes Eric
HUMBLE
“Humility is the core of my personal achievement and drive. It allows me to consider the possibility that I might be wrong and that I might have an opportunity to learn something new and true. I try to live by C.S. Lewis’s mantra: ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less."