Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia ODell.
Hi Patricia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I spent most of my childhood in Manton, Michigan growing up on dairy farm until I was 12 and then moving into the small town of Manton. I have always wanted to be “an attorney” since I was 7. When I graduated from Manton Consolidated Schools, I attended Alma College for a year. After that year, I knew that I could not afford Alma anymore and so I took two years off and worked and saved money so I could attend Central Michigan University. I graduated from CMU with an accounting degree.
After graduation from CMU, I obtained a job in Traverse City in the accounting department at an Natural Gas Marketing firm. I worked there for three years until they sold and my position was eliminated. I was unable to find a job local to Cadillac so I moved down to Detroit Metro. I worked in accounting departments for two businesses in the Automotive Industry and then I decided to switch and worked in two public accounting firms for over 15 years. While I worked in public accounting, I attended Walsh College and obtained a Master’s in Taxation and my law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
While working at a public accounting firm in Troy, I also opened a private law office and worked in the firm part time.
In 2014, I moved back to Osceola County and worked in public accounting and switching back to law at McCurdy, Wotila and Porteous PC in 2023 in both their Cadillac and Reed City locations.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, life does not often have a smooth road and my road was certainly full of speed bumps. The first business I worked for out of Central Michigan was sold and my position eliminated. I was unable to find a job in Northern Michigan so I moved to Metro Detroit for employment.
The first business I worked for in Metro Detroit had severe financial challenges and eventually declared bankruptcy. The second business I worked for was a very small business with about 30 employees. The sole owner was in his 80’s when he hired me and he fell ill and the business was sold. I then switched from private industry to public accounting.
In my second year at law school, my father died very unexpectantly right before exams. It was very hard to concentrate and pass those exams.
In 2014, the public accounting firm that I had worked at for 14 years decided to restructure and my position was eliminated. At the time I was let go, I thought it was the end of the world but it turned out to be a great opportunity. It allowed me to move from Metro Detroit back to Northern Michigan where most of my family lives. It also allowed me to move out of the big city back to a farm and I have never looked back.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about McCurdy Wotila and Porteous PC?
I currently divide my time between the Cadillac and Reed City offices, but the plan is that in June I will be full time in Reed City.
I practice in the area of estate planning, Estate and Trust Administrations, Real estate transactions, Setting up small businesses, contract review, assisting small businesses when they sell, guardianship and conservatorships, and if you are in trouble with back income taxes, I can try to assist.
My education and experience in Business and accounting along with the law sets me apart for small businesses. I understand the difficulties the owners face and can advise them on these challenges.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I love people and am very easy to get along with. I am not a fancy attorney, just an attorney that cares about people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mwplegal.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mwplegal/
