Transitioning from military service can be a daunting task for current service members—and a large part of the stress can come from not knowing what the next steps in their career will be. 

To help ease the burden, the U.S. Department of Defense developed the SkillBridge program to connect service members nearing the end of their active duty with corporate partners across the country. The still-active service members perform 180 days of “permissive duty” to get on-the-job training as interns for a company, with the ultimate goal of providing full-time job opportunities to those service members. 

Land O’Lakes has been a participant in the SkillBridge program since August 2021. To date, we’ve had 87 participants, 12 of whom are currently SkillBridge interns. Through our participation in the program, our enterprise helps provide a new sense of purpose and belonging for veterans transitioning to civilian life. 

"Veterans sacrifice a lot in service of our country, and transitioning back into the civilian world can be challenging," VETS ERG Executive Sponsor Lauren Dwyer says. "Through the SkillBridge program, we can help ease that transition and, in doing so, attract service members with unique skill sets and leadership experience to support our cooperative mission. It's a win-win.” 

In celebration of Veterans Day and those who have served both our country and our cooperative, here are the stories of four veterans who have successfully made the transition from military service to full-time work at Land O’Lakes.

Interested in learning more about the SkillBridge program? Check out our previous feature on the program here, and listen to the companion episode of the Rooted In Tomorrow podcast here.
 

Haoting Lee

Haoting served in the Army for 14 years, starting as a food inspection specialist and moving up to a food safety officer by the end of her service. Since May 2024, she’s worked as a product safety specialist in dairy quality for Land O’Lakes, ensuring that all products she inspects meet or exceed safety, quality and regulatory standards. 
 
“My time in the military gave me a strong foundation in teamwork, adaptability and mission focus,” Haoting says. “I was drawn to Land O’Lakes because of its cooperative structure, focus on sustainability and reputation as an organization that truly invests in its employees.” 

When looking for career opportunities post-service, she says the hands-on internship and mentorship opportunities provided by the SkillBridge program at Land O’Lakes helped her learn how to apply the skills she picked up in the military to a civilian role.  

“The experience helped me realize how much I enjoy problem-solving and teamwork in a business environment, which directly influenced my decision to pursue a full-time career here.” 

Haoting says the discipline, communication skills and sense of accountability she learned in the military directly affect how she handles her job at our cooperative every single day. 

"Whether it’s collaborating with a team on complex projects or managing deadlines, the mindset of mission accomplishment and continuous improvement helps me contribute to Land O’Lakes’ success,” she says.

Jordan Wheeler, Dairy Digital Product Owner 

Jordan served in the Air Force for 12 years. He currently works as a digital product owner in Dairy Manufacturing, where he partners with our business teams and plants to prioritize needs and deliver digital tools that make operations more efficient. 

“It’s a great mix of strategy, collaboration and innovation,” Jordan says. "I love seeing how our work helps leadership and plant teams make smarter decisions.” 

Jordan first learned about Land O’Lakes when he entered the SkillBridge program. He took an internship with Land O’Lakes on the Talent Acquisition team, and he was immediately given an opportunity to help build tools to spot trends in recruiting data. 

“Seeing my work directly influence our strategy was really rewarding,” Jordan says. "It confirmed that I was making the right career move for me and my family.” 

Through his time in the Air Force, Jordan says he developed a strong sense of leadership, teamwork and adaptability. He says that Land O’Lakes has given him an opportunity to use those skills regularly while doing impactful work every day. 

“Land O’Lakes is the right fit. It really aligns with my values,” Jordan says. “This is a cooperative that genuinely cares about both people and purpose.”

Jennifer Gregory, Senior Process Engineer 

Jennifer served in the Army for nine years as a signal systems operator and an engineer officer. Now, at Land O’Lakes, she works as a senior process engineer, focusing on data analytics and performance improvement projects at the Tulare facility. 

Through the SkillBridge program, Jennifer was placed in a role at Land O’Lakes that focused on process optimization for Dairy Foods. During her time in Dairy Foods, she says she found a perfect fit. 

“I wanted to find a company with a people-first culture,” Jennifer says. “After looking through companies, Land O’Lakes stood out to me because the blend of agriculture, manufacturing and technology aligned perfectly with my interests and skillset. I knew this was the company I wanted to go with.” 

Now, Jennifer says the skills she learned in the Army help her stay adaptable under pressure and make quick decisions, which directly translate to her work here. 

"The discipline, structure and focus I gained from military service help me manage complex projects efficiently and collaborate with multiple teams toward shared goals,” Jennifer says.

Hunter Bailey, Manufacturing Supervisor 

Hunter served in the Marines for four years. He is now a manufacturing supervisor in Spokane, Washington, where our facility manufactures animal feed and supplements. 

Hunter says Land O’Lakes’ SkillBridge ambassadors and the program have helped him make the transition from service to civilian life easily. 

“It opened me up to the world of manufacturing,” Hunter says. “My boss, the other supervisor and others have helped me immensely in my process of becoming a supervisor who can make a difference at the plant.” 

Through his time in the military, Hunter says the communication skills he learned have been crucial in helping him become a leader that people can relate and open up to. Having a good rapport with his teammates at the Spokane facility has been crucial in his development. 

“I want my guys to feel comfortable talking to me as a supervisor,” Hunter says. "If I'm a leader who you feel you can't talk to, I would feel I have failed. We can't help what we don't know.”