2016 Outstanding Women in Banking: Jan Odin

North Dakotan has worn many hats during 42-year career.Jan Odin's coworkers, partners and peers across North Dakota know her as a leader, but also as a mentor and friend..Odin is a 2016 selection for Outstanding Women in Banking honors. The recognition, sponsored by CliftonLarsonAllen, is presented by NorthWestern Financial Review magazine..Odin has worked at Unison Bank, Jamestown, N.D., since 1973. When she started, the bank – then called Stutsman County State Bank – had $12 million in assets and 12 employees. During her 42 years of banking, she has worked her way up from loan secretary to senior vice president of operations – a career trek that includes lending, collections, human resources, compliance, asset-liability management, the investment department and information technology..Today, Unison Bank has $270 million in assets and 55 employees including offices in North Dakota and Arizona. Many of the responsibilities Odin used to manage directly are now handled by departments which report to her. She remains directly responsible for core processing, IT and cyber security, disaster recovery, Gramm-Leach-Bliley reporting, and asset-liability management. She is a director of the holding company and is secretary of the bank's board.."For Jan Odin, the title SVP of Operations covers the responsibilities of CFO, COO, Chief IT Officer and Risk Manager. Much of the bank reports to her," said Kelly Rachel, president of the bank, who has worked with Odin for 32 years. "When she retires, her responsibilities will need to be delegated to two or three positions.".Rachel shared another reason Odin is irreplaceable to peers at Unison bank. "When you grow up in an organization like she has for 42 years, you've gained so much knowledge it's impossible to replace with a single person. Jan is willing to share her knowledge with anyone who asks," he said. "Although we would like her to work forever, when she decides to retire, people here will need to remove a common phrase from their vocabulary: 'Let's ask Jan.' ".Odin's passion for helping others is noticed by everyone at the bank, said Andrew Workman, an assistant vice president at Unison Bank. "There have been many discussions with Jan where I think to myself 'Jan could have been a teacher' or 'Jan could have been a counselor,'" he said. "Under her tutelage I've gained an incredible amount of knowledge not only in IT and operations, but also in HR, audit, compliance… I've become an exponentially better employee under her supervision.."Even more importantly Jan has coached me through life," Workman added. "From little questions on gifts for a spouse to her thoughts on adoption, she always will listen and answer. Jan has counseled me through some of the biggest decisions and toughest situations I've had in my life. Her door truly is always open. My relationship with Jan is the very definition of a work family.".The mantra for fellow N.D. bankers in ownership of Accudata – a data processing company owned by First United Bank in Park River, First State Bank of Cando, United Valley Bank of Cavalier and Unison Bank – is "what does Jan think?" said United Valley Bank President/CEO Tim Siegle, who is on Accudata's board with Odin.."We are involved in Accudata for a brother-sister relationship with other banks, and to share policies and best practices," Siegle said. "With the current environment in bank IT, Jan is an incredible asset to our peer group. She knows IT and banking through and through. She also has a vision for IT to make sure that the banks in Accudata are prepared for banking in the future.".Odin also used her knowledge of banking to serve on the North Dakota Bankers Association's board from 2012 through June 2016. Prior to that, she served on NDBA's services board beginning in 2007 and was services board chair from 2009 to 2011. "Jan has been wonderful as a leader of the association," said NDBA President/CEO Rick Clayburgh..An example of Odin's leadership on the services board was her work to bring on Secure Banking Solutions as an NDBA endorsed solution, said Ann Reich, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at NDBA. "Many state associations do not endorse technology services because technology changes so quickly," she said. "She was a board member at the time that SBS presented to NDBA on its cybersecurity and IT risk management software. When she heard SBS's presentation, she identified it as a service banks need.."People look at Jan as a guide and a knowledgeable leader, especially on technology," Reich added. "If she said the services board needs to take a look at a service, then we needed to take a look at it.".Rachel agrees. "Leader, mentor and friend are the perfect characterizations of Jan," he said..Other 2016 Outstanding Women in Banking include:Karen Gregerson, The Farmers Bank, Frankfort, Ind.Tirzah Wedewer, F&M Bank, Manchester, IowaSusan Koranda, Security Bank, Laurel, Neb.Nichol Beckstrand, Sunrise Banks, St. Paul, Minn.Leann Stessman, Park State Bank, Minneapolis