think deeper. move smarter.

Strategic Toolbox

We help leaders and teams cut through complexity, unlock clarity, and make decisions that move them forward.

Whether you’re navigating a tough challenge or rethinking your team’s approach, Strategic Toolbox offers the structure, insight, and creative stretch to help you get there.

what we do

Services designed to spark clarity and momentum.

We don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions. We build custom pathways that guide you toward sharper thinking and smarter decisions.

Facilitation

Transform team sessions into catalysts for alignment, energy, and insight.

From offsites to conflict resolution, we help conversations move forward.

Marketing Research

See beyond the noise.

Our human-centered approach surfaces the patterns that matter — so your strategies are rooted in real knowledge, grounded experience, and meaningful data.

Insight
Coaching

Think clearly, decide strategically.

We coach leaders to acknowledge assumptions, reframe challenges, and cultivate insight-readiness for better, faster decision-making.

who we are

Founded by Janese Evans

Strategic Toolbox was born out of a question:
What if strategy felt less like pressure and more like possibility?

Founded in 2000, Strategic Toolbox reflects over 40 years of experience in research, facilitation, and strategy. Janese Evans has guided hundreds of teams toward clarity, confidence, and momentum — with tools designed to unlock new ways forward.

what we think

Perspective that challenges. Tools that ground.

We believe insight is a muscle — and most teams haven’t been taught to flex it.

That’s why we built BrainNoodling™: a framework that helps people break out of limiting patterns and engage their strategic minds.

Thoughtful strategy isn’t about having the right answers. It’s about asking better questions.

The smartest people don’t avoid complexity — they learn how to dance with it.

Momentum follows clarity. And clarity can be trained.

how we work

Structure meets spark.

We combine strategy, research, and creative facilitation to unlock fresh thinking. Our tools help teams ask better questions, spot what others miss, and move forward — with energy, alignment, and insight.

This mindset is what we call BrainNoodling:
A playful yet practical way to untangle complexity and discover  what really matters.

what they say

Real words from real people we’ve helped.

“Janese brings exceptional research expertise and works incredibly fast across both quantitative and qualitative methods, all while keeping budget impact minimal. She has a deep, well-connected network and a wealth of knowledge to draw from. Janese is also a highly creative thinker, skilled in designing workshops and problem-solving techniques that help address challenges and uncover meaningful insights.”

Heather Peters
Innovation/New Products Manager

“The participative, engaging facilitation style gave the participants a positive experience. They worked hard, felt appreciated and involved, and remained fresh enough to tackle issues. We very quickly received a complete and helpful executive summary that we used immediately. Strategic Toolbox was pleasure to work with, and really made a difference for us on this initial project.”

Diane Utzman-O’Neill
SVP Marketing, Hearth and Home Technologies

“She’s a strategist, a creativity coach, and the queen of unlocking what’s possible. She’s also the creator of BrainNoodling™—yes, that’s a real and amazing thing.”

Max Kringen
Chief Storyteller, Tellwell Story Co.

“Forward-thinking, always engaged and engaging. Easy to relate to, able to reach work across industries, perfectly detailed. Working with Strategic Toolbox gave us a fresh approach to the often-repetitive nature of consumer insights.”

Claudia Sutherland
President, When the Mood is Food

“Strategic Toolbox has helped our company sort through our new product and service innovation initiatives. Our decision-making process was energized by the key customer insights we needed to make the right decisions about future development.”

Julie Moore
General Manager, Institution Division, Ecolab

trust

Trusted by teams across industries and sizes.

From global brands to bold startups, we’ve helped clients rethink strategy, unlock insight, and move forward with purpose.

ADC Telecommunications
Added Value
Agilent
AMF Bowling
Angie’s Popcorn
Ansira
Aristo Marketing
AT&T
Bailiwick
Baptie
Best Buy
Capital One Bank
Cargill
Cisco
City of St. Paul
Cohesion
Compeer
CompTIA

Customer Centered Strategies
Dallas Airmotive
Dominium
Dulcinea Farms
Ecolab
Edgewalk
G&K Services
Hawkeye
Hearth and Home Technologies
Hennepin County
Hennepin County Medical Center
ICI Paints
Imation
Intel
Jacobs Marketing
Jennie-O Turkey Store
Land O’Lakes
Landmark

Lightpath
Lunds/Byerly’s
Marketing Cavalry
MarketingLab
Medtronic
Microsoft
MnDOT
MoneyGram
Morey’s
NewWave Communications
Ramsey County
Red Letter Communications
Rockler
Russet Potato Exchange
Seagate
South Dakota DOT
Southeast Missouri Healthcare
St. Cloud State University

Stihl
SuperValu
Swift Transportation
Tartan Marketing
Taylor
Tennant Company
The Schwan Food Company
Thyssen Krup
Trane
Upsher-Smith
US Bank
Western Union
Wharton School of Business
Wheelhouse Marketing
When the Mood is Food
Zep Industries

ADC Telecommunications
Added Value
Agilent
AMF Bowling
Angie’s Popcorn
Ansira
Aristo Marketing
AT&T
Bailiwick
Baptie
Best Buy
Capital One Bank
Cargill
Cisco
City of St. Paul
Cohesion
Compeer
CompTIA
Customer Centered Strategies
Dallas Airmotive
Dominium
Dulcinea Farms
Ecolab
Edgewalk
G&K Services
Hawkeye
Hearth and Home Technologies
Hennepin County
Hennepin County Medical Center
ICI Paints
Imation
Intel
Jacobs Marketing
Jennie-O Turkey Store
Land O’Lakes
Landmark
Lightpath
Lunds/Byerly’s
Marketing Cavalry
MarketingLab
Medtronic
Microsoft
MnDOT
MoneyGram
Morey’s
NewWave Communications
Ramsey County
Red Letter Communications
Rockler
Russet Potato Exchange
Seagate
South Dakota DOT
Southeast Missouri Healthcare
St. Cloud State University
Stihl
SuperValu
Swift Transportation
Tartan Marketing
Taylor
Tennant Company
The Schwan Food Company
Thyssen Krup
Trane
Upsher-Smith
US Bank
Western Union
Wharton School of Business
Wheelhouse Marketing
When the Mood is Food
Zep Industries

Let’s talk

Ready to think differently?

If you’re navigating complexity, wrangling a challenge, or getting your team aligned — let’s talk.

612-991-1980