Education Advisors
Your Benchmark Learning Education Advisor probably can't teach the class, but they can definitely help you find the training you need to stay atop new technologies, complete a migration or advance your career. They're trained to be a valuable information resource. Let their extensive technology, class and expertise help you create a solution that's as individual as you are!
Director of Sales
p: 952.896.6870
e: egarrison@benchmarklearning.com
Eric became a part of the Benchmark Learning
family in October 1995 and is primarily responsible for the Education Advisor Team. His job responsibilities include being a motivator, encourager and fun instigator, and he makes helping his people attain their personal and professional goals his number one goal. Before coming here, Eric spent four years selling capital equipment to printing and marketing companies from around the nation. His countless hours of coaching, mentoring and teaching for other general managers and Education Advisors have made him a valuable asset to our company. In his spare time, Eric loves to hunt, fish, go boating and hang out with his family.
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Director of Solution Development
p: 952.896.6863
e: rflath@benchmarklearning.com 
Rick Flath, Director of Solution Development at Benchmark Learning, is responsible for managing and maintaining our strategic relationship with Microsoft and the education services we deliver to our clients. He plays a key role in connecting our sales, education and operations teams to our customers by assisting our teams with the creation, delivery and presentation of our services. He enjoys developing relationships with companies, along with negotiating and building corporate, national and global contracts. Before joining the team at Benchmark Learning, he worked for Connect, Agility, Aris and MindSharp. His favorite part of working here is the daily challenge of effectively providing clients with the learning solution that meets the need of the staff and the technology that they use to support their business. Rick's favorite hobbies include softball, volleyball and watching the Minnesota Vikings.
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Business Development Manager
p: 952.896.6894
e: agretz@benchmarklearning.com
Amber Gretz joined Benchmark Learning in October of 2003 as part of the Student Services Team. Over the years Amber has worn many hats to help meet the needs of her customers. As a Business Development Manager, she helps to make sure that customers are aware of all their education options and is committed to finding the best solution to fit their needs. Amber also helps manage eLearning and works with Education Advisors and their clients to develop learning solutions for their organizations and employees. In September 2005, Amber graduated with an Associate Degree as a Paralegal and followed that up two years later with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. When she’s not in the office, Amber enjoys rollerblading, bowling, playing volleyball and spending time with family and friends.
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Education Advisor
p: 952.896.6812
e: awalz@benchmarklearning.com 
Andy joined the team in August of 2009. Prior to coming to Benchmark Learning, Andy worked as an IT staffing and recruiting specialist assisting his clients with any IT projects that required additional resources. Andy is an alumnus of the University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Business Administration and a focus on Entrepreneurship. Andy takes pride in exceptional customer service and developing lasting relationships. Outside of work Andy enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter as well as competing in the occasional triathlon or marathon.
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Education Advisor
p: 952.896.6806
e: cstroup@benchmarklearning.com 
Cory joined the team in July 2010. He has extensive experience in program and account management, working with customers in fortune 500 companies, to small mom and pop businesses. Cory believes business is built on relationships, great customer service and helping people find a solution to their need. He takes great care in identifying and truly understanding his customer’s needs and providing the right training solutions. Currently Cory works with small to medium companies. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, skiing and other outdoor activities and spending time with family and friends.
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Education Advisor − ITIL, PM and Business Analysis
p: 952.896.6862
e: dkanz@benchmarklearning.com
Dennis handles the training needs of small- to
medium-sized businesses. He takes great care in understanding and identifying his customer’s needs and providing the right training solutions. He's focused on serving customers and the student experience. Prior to Benchmark Learning, Dennis worked for Macdermid/Colorspan as a Regional Sales Manager for Eastern North America, and previous to that, he worked with the reseller channel as a District Sales Manager and sales consultant. Over the years, he's learned the critical importance of teamwork. When he's not at work, he enjoys golf, watching the Vikings and spending time with his family. He is quick to add, “Not necessarily in that order!”
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Career Development Manager
p: 952.896.6833
e: jgarberg@benchmarklearning.com 
Jacquie joined Benchmark Learning in August, 2007 as a Career Development Manager. She has a background as a Dislocated Worker Counselor, Employment Specialist and Human Resources Manager. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and maintains a GCDF certification. Jacquie’s passions include career coaching, mentoring and individual development. She works with individuals who are pursuing an education that prepares them for all areas of the professional world. Jacquie also consults with her students to develop appropriate training solutions that enable them to fulfill their career goals and plans. When she’s not helping our students, she works on awareness and advocacy for people with Autism. Jacquie enjoys spending time with family and friends, and she loves the outdoors, travel and fitness.
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Business Development Manager p: 952.896.6849
e: jboerum@benchmarklearning.com
Jennifer manages Benchmark Learning’s Citrix relationship and works with channel partners to develop their market and provide business development services such as career assessment learning plans, curriculum and client learning solutions for IT, development and business applications. She enjoys nurturing relationships with partners, along with negotiating and building corporate national and global programs. Jennifer has been with Benchmark Learning since 2003. She originally started at Benchmark Learning as a Marketing Manager and continued on to develop a national program to provide Citrix learning solutions throughout the Americas partner channel. Jennifer was also a key conduit who helped Benchmark Learning achieve the “Citrix Strategic Partner of the Year” award three years in a row. She has also been on the PACT Board as the Communications Chair in Minnesota and holds an ITIL v2 Foundation accreditation. Her favorite hobbies and pastimes include learning Chinese, boating, skiing, traveling and spending time with her children.
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Education Advisor
p: 952.896.6876
e: jim@benchmarklearning.com
Jim works with businesses in the small to medium
range, helping them with their needs and finding the optimal training answer. He's held this position for over two years, always raising the bar on customer support. He loves working with his companies, helping to find answers to their problems and solutions for their needs. He also enjoys building on the relationships he's established with his clients. In 2004, he became a President’s Club Member, with over a million dollars in sales. Jim enjoys time with his family outside of work — whether fishing, camping or simply playing cards.
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Education Advisor, Government/Education
p: 952.896.6801
e: jgomez@benchmarklearning.com 
Jonita joined Benchmark Learning in December 2007. Jonita’s goal at Benchmark Learning is to assist students in achieving professional and personal growth through education. Jonita’s previous experience includes working at Cargill as a Credit Specialist to working in Mexico City at a small company as an Office Manager and English Teacher. After returning from Mexico she worked at Citi for 11 years in the Auto Division as a Collections Manager and also in the CitiFinancial Division as a Branch Manager. She contributes much of her professional success to the continuing education program at Citi and her personal growth to returning to college after 20 years. Jonita came to Benchmark Learning to have the opportunity to make a positive difference in others’ lives by assisting students in achieving growth through training and education. Jonita likes camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, traveling, and singing in two choirs and most of all, enjoying these fun activities with her friends and family.
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Education Solution Manager
p: 952.896.6838
e: kwavra@benchmarklearning.com 
Kelly Wavra has been with Benchmark Learning since March 2005. Currently she is an Education Solution Manager building education solutions for individuals and teams. Kelly enjoys helping companies stay on the cutting edge as employees support their company’s tools and technologies. Outside of work Kelly enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, gardening, reading and yoga.
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Education Solution Manager
p: 952.896.6810
e: ks@benchmarklearning.com
In June of 2005, Kristin officially started her career
at Benchmark Learning. She'd just graduated cum laude from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in marketing management. Ensuring her customers have the best possible learning solution delivered to them is Kristin's primary goal. When she's not wearing her Business Development Manager hat, Kristin is an active volunteer for child-related organizations and likes to spend time with her family in Proctor, Minnesota.
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Career Development Advisor
p: 952.896.6805
e: lpegg@benchmarklearning.com 
Libby is dedicated to assisting individuals become more marketable throughout their career development. Whether you are looking for career advancement, a career change or to polish your business skills, Libby can help develop a plan that’s right for you. With a background in recruiting and staffing, Libby offers unique insight from the client/company perspective. Libby is a St. Mary’s University graduate with additional experience in marketing and advertising. Outside of work she enjoys the arts, cooking (although she enjoys eating more than cooking!) and golf. Libby also embraces snowboarding during the long winter months.
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Education Advisor - Cisco and IT Security
p: 651.621.8151
e: lhelgeson@benchmarklearning.com 
Lisa joined us in July 2006. Her primary responsibility is as an Education Specialist, in the areas of IT Security and Cisco. Lisa helps build our current class offerings and works with our education partners to ensure that our students obtain the skills and certifications they are seeking in these areas. Prior to this role, Lisa supported small, medium and enterprise organizations as an Education Advisor. In 2009, Lisa became our only remote employee, currently residing in Louisiana. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with degrees in Broad Area English and Adolescent Issues and Trends. She's also earned 34 credits towards the Elementary Education Masters Program. She enjoys indoor rock climbing, home improvement projects and, of course, traveling to see family in the Midwest.
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Learning Director
p: 952.896.6803
e: llee@benchmarklearning.com 
Lisa brings to more than 20 years of professional experience Benchmark Learning. The most recent six years of her career include working in the IT consulting field with “C” level executives at fortune 500/1000 companies in the Twin Cities. Lisa has lived in Minnesota most of her life; she earned her Bachelor’s degree at College at UW – River Falls and is currently starting a Master’s program. She is very active with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the American Saddlebred Society.
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Education Advisor − Developer Technologies Specialist
p: 952.896.6869
e: lseery@benchmarklearning.com
Lisa works with all our developer clients as well as a few enterprise organizations, helping them with their education needs and finding the optimal custom education solution. She's been with our organization since 1997 and held this position since 2000, always raising the bar on customer support. She loves working with her clients, and enjoys building on the relationships she has established with them. Some of her fortes include Microsoft Powershell, any developer technologies, data and databases, reporting tools, process/quality improvement, leadership and change. If you've ever attended one of the local developer conferences or User Groups, like SharePoint or SQL User Group with us, you've probably met her. When she's not at work, Lisa likes to spend time with her husband and kids, gardening from early spring to late fall, and hosting get-togethers with family and friends, whether over the holidays or anytime in between.
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Education Advisor / Facility Rental Specialist
p: 952.896.6831
e: mheikens@benchmarklearning.com 
Michelle started with our organization in April 2008. Michelle works with small to medium sized businesses, helping them identify and plan their training to achieve their personal and professional goals. She is also responsible for organizing facility rental at Benchmark Learning, working with event coordinators to understand their goals and determine the best environment for their meetings, events and training. Whether you are arranging a seminar, lecture or computer classroom experience, Michelle will help you make it successful. Michelle comes to Benchmark Learning after 10 years as a REALTOR. In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling, rollerblading, surfing and spending time outdoors with her family and friends.
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Education Advisor
p: 952.896.6808
e: tkahlow@benchmarklearning.com 
Tim joined Benchmark Learning as an Education Advisor in November of 2009. Prior to coming to Benchmark Learning, Tim worked at Select Comfort in sales and sales management. Tim is an alumnus of Bethel University with a B.S. in Business Marketing. Tim takes pride in exceptional customer service and developing lasting relationships. Outside of work, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters.