CURRENTLY SENIOR VICE president and chief credit officer for First National Bank & Trust in Iron Mountain, Jean O’Dette is the 2024 Bay College Alumni of the Year. (Photo courtesy of Bay College)

ESCANABA/IRON MOUNTAIN — Bay College has officially announced its Distinguished Alumni of the Year for 2024. This year’s award went to Bay College 2007 graduate Jean M. O’Dette.

Bay College’s Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award was established in 1999 by the Alumni Association to annually recognize an outstanding graduate who has contributed to their career, the community, and the college. The award selection process focuses on the following criteria: Education, leadership, service to the college and/or community, honors and awards, and distinction in the nominee’s career field.

O’Dette’s journey with Bay College began in the late 1980s, when she embarked on her educational pursuits as a non-traditional student while juggling a full-time job and raising two children, Ryan and Jaimee, with her husband, Larry. Despite the challenges, she persevered, taking night classes at various Bay College locations throughout the Iron Mountain/Kingsford area. Never knowing where the next class would be held was one of the reasons O’Dette co-chaired the Bay West, Yes! Finance Committee.

“The need for additional educational programs and the presence of a local permanent campus motivated me to actively promote the Bay West initiative. It was a goal of mine to help make the Iron Mountain campus a reality.”

O’Dette earned her associate in business administration in 2007, soon after Bay’s Iron Mountain campus opened. Her commitment to lifelong learning didn’t stop there; she continued to enrich her skills and knowledge through various banking-related educational programs including Robert M. Perry School of Banking and the MBA Commercial Credit School. She also attended many programs at the Iron Mountain Campus, including the first Leadership Academy class.

Throughout her career, O’Dette’s leadership skills have shone brightly. In 1997, O’Dette was awarded the Business and Professional Woman’s Young Careerist Award and represented her district in state competition. At the time, O’Dette was a bank branch manager, a role previously dominated by men.

Leveraging her education, O’Dette worked her way up through many different banking, lending, accounting, and managerial related positions. Currently the senior vice president and chief credit officer for First National Bank & Trust in Iron Mountain, O’Dette oversees the retail and commercial lending teams daily operations. She is also responsible for managing the risk of both the bank’s retail and commercial lending programs.

Beyond her professional endeavors, O’Dette’s impact extends deep into her community. She has dedicated countless hours to volunteering and leading numerous non-profit organizations. O’Dette can be found volunteering at blood drives, reading to elementary kids, teaching Jr. Achievement classes to high schoolers, coordinating the Norway Easter Egg Hunt, coaching S.A.Y. soccer, holding first-time home ownership informational sessions, pounding nails for Habitat for Humanity, participating at Kiwanis events or, more recently, running around town with treats for “Spread Goodness Day.”

She has been on the Habitat Selection Committee and is a past board member of the Dickinson Chamber of Commerce and treasurer for the IM-K Builders Exchange. In 2005, O’Dette was also awarded the Dickinson Conservation District Volunteer of the Year Award for her efforts in eradicating Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic invasive species.

O’Dette is also an inaugural member and president of a newly formed non-profit charity, Family Snowshoe Charity Association — aka Stomp the Snow — that provides a free, community lantern-lit snowshoe event while raising funds through sponsorships for other local non-profit groups.

O’Dette’s passion for community service is evident in her efforts to promote and support Bay College, whether it’s by advocating for student enrollment or collaborating with local law enforcement to host security seminars on campus. O’Dette continues to spearhead initiatives aimed at making a positive difference in the lives of others.

O’Dette’s leadership style is characterized by empowerment, organization, and a genuine concern for others. She encourages her team to innovate and excel, while always ensuring that they feel supported and valued. Her dedication to Bay College and her local community exemplifies the spirit of the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

“I am honored to be the 2024 Bay College Distinguished Alumni of the Year recipient,” O’Dette said. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘A successful person is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have laid for them.’ (Unknown Author) Bay College provided the bricks for me to succeed. My goal is that I will inspire others to allow Bay College to lay the foundation bricks for their success.”

O’Dette’s achievement was honored at Bay College’s Awards Celebration in April, and she will also be the guest speaker at Bay College’s Commencement Ceremony in 2025.

“Jean’s remarkable contributions have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on both Bay College and the surrounding community,” said Kaylee Hubert, Bay events, communications and alumni coordinator. “We are so proud to have Jean as a Bay College Alumni!”