Sandy Kohn and Jerry Lecomte have a difference in the number of years of service to the University, but they had one thing in common – devotion to duty. In recognition of their efforts, they were named the 2012 Employees of the Year at Friday’s Staff Recognition Awards Luncheon.
Kohn, who started at the University in 1984, is director of the Venture Program. According to nominators, Kohn has spent the last 30 years dedicated to improving the lives of all people through the promotion of experiential learning. During Kohn’s tenure the Venture Program has grown – between the 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years, the program increased its challenge course activities by 13 percent, academic programs by 11 percent and trip programs by 22 percent. In addition, Kohn worked with the greater Charlotte community to develop team-building activities to reduce bullying in the public schools and decrease gang activity.
“This work is possible due to Sandy’s devotion to the duty of education and his innovative approach to learning,” wrote one nominator. “He sets the standards by which we can measure extraordinary service to the education profession, UNC Charlotte and the community. He is respected and appreciated by those who work for him and learn from him.”
Office Lecomte, who joined UNC Charlotte in September 2007, began working as the community-oriented policing coordinator for the Police and Public Safety Department last year.
Nominators noted that Lecomte, who has 14 years of law enforcement experience, revamped the department’s community-oriented policing (COP) division. “Since becoming community policing coordinator, Officer Lecomte has dramatically increased the number of COP presentations offered by our department.”
During peak hours of the school day, Lecomte mans a position in the Student Union to maximize contact with students, faculty and staff. Requests for safety and crime presentations have increased, and the number of students participating in PPS-sponsored programs is up, too. For example, in 2010, 44 students asked for help to engrave 55 items as a theft-reduction initiative. In 2011, 226 students had 353 items engraved. This increase was due to the promotional efforts of Officer Lecomte, wrote one nominator.
Another colleague stated, “Officer Jerry Lecomte exudes all aspects of police community policing at UNC Charlotte. His message of safety reaches out to all on campus with his greatest emphasis upon students. He has developed a number of new programs that are preventing crime on campus.”
Kohn was named this year’s FSLA Exempt Employee of the Year; Lecomte won for the FSLA Subject category. Each received a check for $2,000.
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| 2012 Employee of the Year finalists |
LouAnn Lamb, business services, and Beverly Lueke, College of Arts + Architecture, were finalists in the FSLA Exempt category. Pamela Erickson, Office of Field Experiences, and Devin Hatley, Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, Facilities Management, were the other FSLA Subject finalists.
Seventeen employees were nominated for 2012 Employee of the Year. The six finalists were recognized at the awards luncheon and dined with the chancellor.
Members of the Employee of the Year Selection Committee were Tamara Allman, housing and residence life; Juandra Burris, academic services; Lyndee Ivey, academic affairs; Betty Coulter, risk management, safety and security; Judy Freed, technical operations and planning; Ellen Harris, treasury services; Bob Herman-Smith, social work; Cris Hill, Chancellor’s Office; Rick Lekj, computer science; Jennifer Livengood, art and art history; Jerry Mann, student union, activities and recreation; Lebra Nance, mechanical engineering and engineering sciences; Scott Plunkett, Alumni Association; Connie Rampey, student affairs; Dorothy Vick, facilities management, capital projects; and Becky Warren, business services.