Meet Your Trainers

Business Development is proud to provide you with well qualified trainers for our customized cooperative training.  These consultants are subject matter experts and will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to perform well for your cooperative and enjoy a rewarding career.

For more information please email BDTraining@landolakes.com

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Bob Cummins
Learning and Development Manager,
Land O'Lakes Business Development

Bob Cummins works with Business Development and is responsible for the design, development and delivery of training and development offerings for the cooperative members.  He joined Land O'Lakes, Inc. in 2008.
Bob brings over 30 years experience in sales, marketing, training and organizational development focused on helping leaders define and implement strategies that drive revenue growth and improve operational effectiveness.  He has worked for companies such as 3M, Imation, the Schwan Food Company and has consulted and trained hundreds of sales and marketing professionals throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Africa.  Bob has also facilitated a number of seminars on topics including strategic planning, sales effectiveness, and coaching. 
Bob received his Masters degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) with an emphasis in International Marketing. 

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Rich Bjorlo
Learning and Development Consultant

Richard Bjorlo has completed 28 years of services as an auditor, CPA and Partner with a regional CPA firm in Iowa.  Much of Rich's experience as a CPA involved working with agricultural cooperatives throughout the Midwest as an auditor and consultant.  Rich serves as a consultant to the cooperative industry and has served as an interim General Manager/CEO of three agricultural cooperatives in central Iowa.  He also has worked as an interim controller and as an advisor on numerous acquisitions and mergers. 
Rich served four years in the Unites States Air Force and holds a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Luther College.

Richard Strysick
Learning and Development Consultant

Richard Strysick began his human resource development training career more than 25 years ago, presenting train the trainer and introductory leadership courses for Control Data, a Twin Cities-based computer company. Richard has recently started working as a private consultant/instructor after retiring from The Schwan Food Company.  During his almost 7 years at Schwan, he performed duties as a senior learning solutions specialist and provided leadership development training for all management and executive levels throughout the company. 
Richard has a passion for positively impacting lives and brings an energetic, interactive, and personable approach to learning events.  His understanding of people - coupled with his corporate and non-profit experience as trainer, consultant, and manager - enables him to deal effectively with the complexities of business and personal relationships.

Esther Sykora
Learning and Development Consultant

Esther Sykora has been involved in training for 12 years, starting with the design and delivery of finance training to professionals across 3M Company.  She recently retired from her role as Development Manager for the Finance Organization where she had responsibility for recruiting, training, and knowledge management activities for the organization.  Esther now provides financial training and consulting as an independent consultant.
Esther has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls and a MBA from the Carlson School of Business.  She is also a Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA).

Catharine Tocko
Learning and Development Consultant

Catharine partners with client stakeholders to identify organizational and employee needs, design, develop and implement effective solutions to improve performance outcomes.  The Fortune 500 companies Catharine impacts are leaders in their respective industries and represent diverse corporate challenges and cultures. 
Before becoming a private consultant, Catharine was a Learning Consultant at Carlson Marketing's Learning Solutions Group, a training specialist as Northwest Airlines, and a training and change management project lead at Eaton Corporation.  Her responsibilities included needs assessment, curriculum design and development, facilitation, project management, and program evaluation.  She also has experience in the position of human resources generalist.
Catharine holds a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Bowling Green State University, a Master's degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, and she is a certified Training Manager from Langevin Learning Services.