Countryside Cooperative CEO and leadership

Jim joined the NEWCO team in 2014. After holding roles in sales management and human resources, Jim was named Chief Sales Officer in 2021. He began his career teaching high school agriculture and spent 32 years with the regional cooperative system between Cenex, Land O’Lakes, and Agriliance before joining NEWCO. He held roles in retail farm sales, wholesale sales with dealers, managed crop advisor programs, regional sales management and sales development programs.

Jim grew up in Door County, WI, on a dairy farm and spent a lot of time working at cherry and apple orchards. He graduated from UW River Falls with a degree in ag education and crop and animal science. He is married to his wife, Susie, and combined they have two daughters, a son and three grandchildren. They also have a wonderful little dog, Rosie, and cat, Snickers. He enjoys hunting and fishing and is an avid Packer, Brewers and Badger fan.

Don leads the strategic planning and implementation of enterprise technology solutions to improve cost effectiveness, service quality, and our member experience. His talented teams focus on the continued development and support of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment. He directs Landmark’s creative and skilled marketing team to design, implement, and monitor effective marketing strategies that align with Landmark’s business goals.

Don’s extensive experience includes positions in information technology leadership and operations management, CIO consulting, business analysis, project management, and sales. He’s a strong supporter of charities that help our veterans and their families and actively participates in fundraising. Don is also a published author and landscape photographer.

Keith joined Landmark in September 2012 and became CFO in December 2018. Prior to that, Keith was a senior manager in the audit practice of Deloitte where he spent nine years in the Phoenix, AZ and Milwaukee, WI offices. He graduated from Walsh University in Canton, OH in 1998 with a bachelor of science degree in Accounting.

Keith is a certified public accountant in Ohio and Wisconsin. He’s a member of several professional organizations, including the AICPA, WICPA, and the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives. Keith is the treasurer of Harvest in the Gardens, a private foundation with the mission of helping fund local food pantries. He is also on the board of trustees for the St. Paul Catholic Student Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Keith and his wife live in Sun Prairie with their two sons. Keith is actively involved in coaching his sons’ baseball and basketball teams and occasionally plays in a band called the “Genuine Let Downs.”

Michelle joined Landmark’s human resources team in 2006 where she has specialized in the areas of employee relations, benefits and payroll management. Recently, she earned her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification through the HR Certification Institute. Michelle is a member of the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce and was on the Chamber Board in 2007 and 2008.

Michelle and her husband Mike reside in Cottage Grove and have three adult sons. Her favorite past time is touring the beautiful Wisconsin countryside with her husband on their Indian motorcycles.