Riverland Community College has hired Matt Bissonette as the new director of Training and Development. He replaces Doug Parr, who retired earlier this year.

A Stewartville native, Bissonette’s experience includes Walt Disney, Jostens, the nonprofit sector, as well as his own consulting practice working with executives and organizations. Bissonette’s education background started with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Iowa. Later he received his master’s degree in transformational leadership from Bethel Seminary and a post-secondary teaching certificate from Bethel University.

Bissonette’s main office will be at the Owatonna Campus, but he will work closely with all Riverland Training and Development faculty and staff at all three campus locations including Albert Lea and Austin.

“I’m excited to be joining the Riverland Training and Development team,” Bissonette said. “I have a passion for lifelong learning especially around training up leaders in both this and future generations.”

Riverland Training and Development, a department of Riverland Community College, is a resource for business and industry offering solutions for improving performance through customized training, consultation, DACUM facilitation and program development. Annually, Riverland Training and Development works with more than 600 companies and organizations across the region and online, serving more than 6,400 employees. More about Riverland Training and Development may be found on the Riverland Community College website at www.riverland.edu/rtd.