Brian Torkkola, MA

Program Director at University of Minnesota College of Continuing & Professional Studies
  • Claim this Profile
Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Languages
  • English Native or bilingual proficiency

Topline Score

Topline score feature will be out soon.

Bio

Generated by
Topline AI

5.0

/5.0
/ Based on 2 ratings
  • (2)
  • (0)
  • (0)
  • (0)
  • (0)

Filter reviews by:

Zack McGough, M.Ed.

Brian and I served as Co-Directors of Professional Development Programs at the College of Continuing and Professional Studies for 3+ years from 2018-2021. Brian is a strategic and thoughtful leader, who successfully grew enrollments and revenue during our time as colleagues. He is especially effective at developing strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. This included client relationship development (corporate, state and local government, and non-profit), as well as networking that strengthened our advisory board, instructor pool, and general supporters in our community. He also created an inclusive and supportive environment for team members to thrive and grow. I would work with Brian again in a heartbeat.

Susie Draeger, MBA

Brian worked with me on specific goals as I transitioned into doing both recruiting and account management in my current position. Beyond being an accountability holder, Brian takes a look at what really is behind the action or lack of action that I take to achieve my goals. He speaks to my future, successful self allowing me to evolve into the person who will take on and tackle the goals that have led to my success. He is truly a great coach!

You need to have a working account to view this content.
You need to have a working account to view this content.

Credentials

  • Explorer - Participant of Conference on Management & Executive Development (CMED) 2020
    ProEd
    Nov, 2020
    - Oct, 2024
  • ExperinceChange(TM) Simulation - Certificate of Completion
    ExperiencePoint
    Jul, 2019
    - Oct, 2024
  • Meaningful Connections LinkedIn Training
    Meaningful Connections, Anne Pryor
    Jan, 2011
    - Oct, 2024
  • The Effective Negotiating Program
    Karrass
    Aug, 2006
    - Oct, 2024
  • Curriculum for Living
    Landmark Education
    Sep, 1992
    - Oct, 2024

Experience

    • Program Director
      • Nov 2018 - Present

      Provide strategic direction in program design and development as well as oversee established programs in the core Professional Development programming area of the Professional Development and Lifelong Learning department of the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS).

    • Associate Program Director
      • May 2018 - Nov 2018

      Manage established and on-going programs in the core Professional Development programming area of the Professional Development and Lifelong Learning department of the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS).

  • Brian Torkkola Consulting LLC
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
    • Career Coach
      • Aug 2017 - Dec 2020

      Empower clients to powerfully create their next job or career through design thinking, networking, personal development, and resiliency strategies. Work with a select number of accomplished professionals, including leaders (Senior Managers on up) and successful individual contributors. Empower clients to powerfully create their next job or career through design thinking, networking, personal development, and resiliency strategies. Work with a select number of accomplished professionals, including leaders (Senior Managers on up) and successful individual contributors.

    • United States
    • Individual and Family Services
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Senior Employment Counselor | Career Counselor | Trainer | Training Consultant | Business Coach
      • Jun 2009 - Aug 2017

      Coach clients on career change, job search strategies, networking, personal brand, reemployment and stress management. Advise clients on custom training options to further careers and increase marketability. Effectively manage 100-160+ caseload. Successfully lead training sessions. Placed 100+ clients in new jobs per year. Provide coaching around starting a business. Coach clients on career change, job search strategies, networking, personal brand, reemployment and stress management. Advise clients on custom training options to further careers and increase marketability. Effectively manage 100-160+ caseload. Successfully lead training sessions. Placed 100+ clients in new jobs per year. Provide coaching around starting a business.

    • United States
    • Professional Training and Coaching
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Learning Account / Project Manager
      • Jul 2005 - Jan 2009

      Conducted needs assessments and designed training initiatives, often involving technology such as e-learning courses, Learning Management Systems, virtual learning platforms, and web-based support applications. Managed multi-disciplinary project teams on custom training and web projects. Met prospective clients, delivered sales presentations, wrote proposals, and negotiated contracts. Clients included: Ameriprise, Aveda, Allina, Bremer, Fallon, Land O'Lakes, Medtronic, and Target. Consistently received excellent client evaluations and recommendations. Show less

  • Torkkola Consulting
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
    • Human Resource Development Consultant
      • Jan 2004 - Jun 2005

      Provided human resource development, marketing, and project management services to clients. Served as Director of Marketing and Consulting Services for a local HRD consulting firm. Researched "family-friendly" employer recognition programs throughout the US and helped launch the Minnesota Work-Life Champions initiative managed through the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC). Provided human resource development, marketing, and project management services to clients. Served as Director of Marketing and Consulting Services for a local HRD consulting firm. Researched "family-friendly" employer recognition programs throughout the US and helped launch the Minnesota Work-Life Champions initiative managed through the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC).

    • United States
    • Non-profit Organization Management
    • 200 - 300 Employee
    • Employment Services Manager
      • Sep 2001 - Nov 2003

      Led the turnaround of two Employment Services programs for developmentally disabeled adults, managed 27-person staff with 18 remote sites and $1.6M budget. Hired and developed staff, planned coverage and coached employee performance. Oversaw and evaluated program processes and procedures, including learning outcomes, to comply with regulatory and quality assurance standards. Saved department $181K, improved customer service measures and eliminated employee relations issues within the first year. Show less

  • Metsys
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
    • Senior Training Consultant
      • Nov 1995 - Sep 2001

      Sold, managed, assessed, designed, delivered, implemented and evaluated content management and training solutions for a variety of consumer product manufacturers including Coca-Cola, Dean Foods, General Mills, Ralston Purina, and Starbucks. Often partnering with clients on capital projects ranging from $1M to $100M. Key accomplishment examples: - Co-executed training needs assessment identified and resolved equipment and process deficiencies which reduced scrap by an estimated $1.2M on three production lines. - Co-conducted a training needs assessment and co-designed a comprehensive training curriculum to re-open a Ralston Purina facility. Exceeded startup efficiency projections by 23%. - Helped client capture the knowledge held by long-term employees to train replacement staff and improve overall on-the-job performance during a $90M consolidation project. Show less

    • United States
    • Government Administration
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Employment Counselor - Training & Employment Assistance
      • Feb 1994 - Nov 1995

      Worked with AFDC-receiving, unemployed parents to develop strategies to obtain employment. Taught 15 workshops per month. Maintained the highest full time placement rate in work unit. Worked with AFDC-receiving, unemployed parents to develop strategies to obtain employment. Taught 15 workshops per month. Maintained the highest full time placement rate in work unit.

    • United States
    • Higher Education
    • 500 - 600 Employee
    • Graduate Intern - Career Development Office
      • Aug 1993 - Feb 1994

      Conducted needs assessment of walk-in student services. Center adopted program recommendations.Received excellent rating on the project for Master’s degree program. Conducted needs assessment of walk-in student services. Center adopted program recommendations.Received excellent rating on the project for Master’s degree program.

    • Staff Associate / EI Scorer
      • Aug 1990 - Dec 1992

      Coordinated and scored competency-based selection test batteries. Collaborated in research and editing of PDI's Successful Manager’s Handbook. Scored and interpreted results of Employment Inventory (EI) tests for customers. Coordinated and scored competency-based selection test batteries. Collaborated in research and editing of PDI's Successful Manager’s Handbook. Scored and interpreted results of Employment Inventory (EI) tests for customers.

Education

  • University of St. Thomas
    Master's, Education: Human Resource Development
    1992 - 1994
  • St. Olaf College
    Bachelor's, Economics
    1985 - 1989
  • Robbinsdale Armstrong High School

Community

You need to have a working account to view this content. Click here to join now