At Lou-Rich, we are privileged to have team members who have been with us for decades, such as Jody Larson. Jody has been a part of the Lou-Rich family for a little over 35 years, starting as a draftsman in May 1986. Since then, he has held various positions, including Manufacturing Engineer and Project Engineer, and recently accepted a Program Manager position in December 2022.

Jody’s educational background includes graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1982 and obtaining a Drafting degree from Albert Lea Area Vocational Technical Institute in June 1986. Throughout his time at Lou-Rich, Jody has worked closely with Hormel engineers on machine designs and now oversees program management to ensure the efficient and effective completion of customer projects.

When asked about what working for an employee-owned company means to him, Jody shared, “To me, it means that the people I’m working with have my back, and I have theirs. We work together to figure out the most efficient way to get our customers’ needs fulfilled.”

As a Program Manager, Jody enjoys the challenge of not knowing what his day will entail. He explained, “A lot of days I have a plan of what I want to get done, but different issues pop up that need attention, and that plan is gone, and then it’s time to regroup.”

When asked how each customer should feel after working with Lou-Rich, Jody emphasized, “I think each of our customers should feel that we really care about getting them what they want when they want it.” We are committed to providing the best service possible to our customers, and Jody’s dedication and expertise contribute to achieving that goal.

Outside of work, Jody enjoys spending time with his significant other, Kristy, who he’s been with for 25 years. He also runs a hobby farm, where they currently have a goat, a mini donkey, a couple of cats, and a black lab named Lindy. Jody enjoys being active and spending time with his grandkids. Additionally, he enjoys bowhunting in the fall and usually takes trips to the Rocky Mountains every year.

Thank you for your dedication and hard work, Jody! Lou-Rich is grateful to have you as part of our team for over three decades.