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Jeanne Witt grew up in rural central Minnesota, “twenty miles in any direction from civilization” in the heart of lakes country. She attended K-12 in the small town of Frazee (home of the world’s largest turkey) and then moved to Fargo, North Dakota in 1991 to attend NDSU.

After graduating from NDSU in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Ag. Economics, she made her home in the town of Lamoure, North Dakota. She started working in the finance industry, first at a bank as a teller, then moving into operations. She eventually ended up in the lending department, where she worked as a loan assistant and then a loan officer.

In 2016, she saw an opportunity for an ag/commercial loan officer for Dakota Plains Credit Union in Ellendale, North Dakota, and thus began her introduction into the world of credit unions. In January of 2019 she was promoted to Ag/Commercial Loan Manager and started working in the Edgeley office, and on October 2, 2020, Jeanne was named the new CEO upon the retirement of Mike Reisnour.

“The thing I find most refreshing about working in a credit union is the sharing of ideas amongst our peers,” Witt remarked. “I also appreciate that we are willing to assist members that banks will often pass over as not meeting their criteria, and I am very excited to take on the new challenges of being CEO,” she added.

Witt will oversee the staff of 25 employees that are spread out between the credit union’s three locations: Edgeley, Ellendale and Enderlin. As with most small credit union managers, Jeanne is aware of the demands that credit unions face in staying on top of regulatory requirements with a small staff. She is also anticipating the challenge of helping members through the fluctuations of the ag economy and other outside influences, such as the pandemic.

Mark Sheppard, former Dakota Plains Board Chair stated, “After an extensive search for Mike’s replacement, we found the most qualified candidate right in our own credit union family. Our board and staff have the utmost faith and trust in Jeanne, as we have observed her abilities over her past years of service. She is well-qualified and very capable of leading our successful credit union,” he added. 

Besides her role as CEO at the credit union, Jeanne currently sits on the board for LaMoure Housing Authority and Memorial Park Country Club and has been doing so for more than ten years. Her past board experiences include time on the local Chamber Board where she was president and serving on the board of the local Ambulance Service.   

Jeanne is committed to continuing the excellent service that Dakota Plains Credit Union members and community have come to expect. “Dakota Plains Credit Union has been serving members for 79 years. We take great pride in our commitment to our communities and providing the best products and services to benefit our members,” she concluded.

In her personal life, Jeanne has two grown children: a son who resides in Fargo; and a daughter who lives in Oakes. She also has one five-year-old grandson who lights up her life “on a frequent basis.” In her free time, she enjoys taking her two older dogs for walks, and spending time on the golf course. Even though she plays quite often, she says her game has not improved much over the years. She also enjoys reading and hanging out with her family, traveling, and watching football – especially the Minnesota Vikings.