Michael J. Pepe
Community Leader
Michael J. Pepe is Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer at NBT Bank in Gloversville. He is also a past Chairperson of FM’s Foundation Board and a current Trustee for the College. He serves as a Trustee to St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam. He was Chairman of the Board for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. He held offices as President and Vice President for the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Montgomery County. He is a member of the Amsterdam Rotary Club. Mike Pepe is a leader. Mike Pepe is a graduate of FM.
Mike grew up in Amsterdam, NY and graduated with high honors from Bishop Scully High School’s Class of ‘76. He knew he wanted to go to college but due to family financial constraints, Mike’s hopes of heading straight to a four-year institution were put on hold. The only affordable fit at the time was the college in Mike’s back yard - FM.
“It all worked out for me,” says Mike. “Starting my college education at FM couldn’t have been a better choice. I received federal and state funding and was awarded the College’s Presidential Scholarship. By the time my awards added up, I was getting a quality education essentially for free.”
Mike graduated from FM in 1978 with an A.A.S. in Business Administration. He continued his education at SUNY Plattsburgh and graduated in 1980 with a B.S. in Business Management.
After high school and throughout his college years, Mike spent his summers as a teller at Bankers Trust Company of Albany in their Amsterdam branch. With his degree now in hand, Bankers Trust Company offered him a full-time position as Audit Supervisor for their Albany office. Mike accepted, spent four years in Albany, and then returned to his hometown where he has held several prestigious banking positions over the past 25 years. Mike is currently the Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer at NBT Bank in Gloversville.
Banking may be Mike’s profession, but he has a passion for much more. He has a large interest in anthropology. “I remember taking the course at FM with Don Rogers,” says Mike. “I found our discussions about “Lucy” to be fascinating. ("Lucy" is a hominid discovered by Donald Johanson in the early ‘70’s and said to be over 3 million years old). Ever since taking that class, I continue to have a strong interest in the evolution of man.”
Mike is also a huge sports fanatic. He spent the last 13 years as a local radio announcer covering football games for both Amsterdam and Fonda-Fultonville High Schools. “It was a thrill for me to be a part of not one but two New York State Championship Games,” says Mike referring to Amsterdam High School’s 1995 Class B Championship followed by their 2005 Class A Championship. He has coached AAU and CYO Girls’ Basketball and Softball. He continues to be an active participant in local basketball, softball, and golf leagues.
Mike is a lector and Eucharistic minister at his church. He serves on numerous boards and volunteers for several community organizations.
“I can honestly say that I’ve come full circle since walking down the aisle of FM’s gymnasium for my 1978 graduation ceremony,” states Mike. “Being the College’s Foundation President allowed me the honor of walking down that same aisle. My heart still raced a little as I followed the sound of the bag pipes and continued up the stage steps. As I sat up there overlooking a room full of proud graduates - with all of their family members and friends just as proud - I couldn’t help but think of the lifetime of opportunity they now have ahead of them.”
Mike Pepe currently resides in Amsterdam, NY with his wife, Alison, who is Practice Administrator for four offices of New York Oncology Hematology, P.C. They have two daughters, Meghan, a Junior at SUNY Oneonta and Leah, a junior at Amsterdam High School.
