Retired Bloomingdale police officer awarded Geogene Geils Woman of the Year

At the Best of Bloomingdale awards dinner Aug. 26, the Bloomingdale Area Women in Business recognized retired Bloomingdale Police Officer Dawn Odoi by awarding her the Georgene Geils Woman of the Year Award. "Bloomingdale backs the blue," Susan DiMeo Sargent commented as she presented the award to Officer Odoi.

The Geogene Geils Woman of the Year award is based on women empowering, embracing an equipping other with the knowledge and resources to achieve personal goals.

Odoi demonstrates these qualities by not only reaching women, but by sharing her knowledge with our future professional women; teaching the daughters of our community through the Bloomingdale school district.

Odoi has had numerous responsibilities during her 28-year career as a police officer in the Bloomingdale Police Department. She has played a pivotal role within the police department. Her exceptional customer service skills derive from her enthusiasm to help others achieve their goals.

In the nomination form, nominee Andreia Golder, a resident of Bloomingdale, stated: "Officer Odoi has demonstrated excellence, imagination and initiative in her profession through teaching both children and adults. An example is training in our schools on how to avoid the dangers of drugs, the risks of using social media and the problems of peer pressure."

Odoi also contributes her time and energy taking on the responsibility of a number of community organizations and special events to improve the quality of life for others in our community. Following are examples of projects she has spearheaded: peer jury, Neighborhood Watch, Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, National Night Out, Senior Day Fair, Citizen Police Academy, Child Safety Seat Installation Program, and Police Department's Halloween Open House

In addition, Odoi assists with the Illinois Special Olympics fundraiser.

Odoi was shocked and floored by winning the award and didn't know what to say. She knows of the award and past winners. The award has been presented to women leaders since 2009. The award is named after a prominent local business woman Georgene Geils (1928-2011), who was a forerunner in the movement of professional women. She was known for mentoring others through her involvement in the community and within her own business.

The Bloomingdale Area Women in Business is a dynamic group of women who are seeking to expand professional opportunities for themselves in the Bloomingdale area. The group is looking for women who possess the ability to: "empower, embrace and equip women with the knowledge and resources to achieve their personal goals and reach their professional potential." Their goal is to offer educational forums, professional recognition, a resource library, networking opportunities and a chance to form meaningful relationships for women who join the organization.

For more information, call the Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce office at (630) 980-9082 or www.bloomingdalechamber.com/bawib. You do not have to be a member of the chamber, however chamber members do receive discount on membership fees. Membership consists of business women in the area from corporate to home business owners.