Challenge and change don’t frighten Vicki Plott – in fact, she welcomes both.
As director of operations in the Office of Extended Academic Programs, Plott said, “I really love my job. Being able to look at processes and how we can make changes to achieve greater efficiencies and deliver the best product with superior customer service drives me. I love challenge and change.”
A former airline executive, Plott has cross-functional responsibilities for the three areas that comprise extended academic programs: continuing education, distance education and summer programs.
Plott’s duties encompass overseeing the payroll process for hundreds of instructors that include UNC Charlotte faculty and staff members as well as temporary employees in summer camps, summer school and continuing education. She supervises employees who handle program registrations and logistical support in various areas, and she has unit-wide responsibilities for personnel processes and budget responsibility related to the unit’s infrastructure costs.
Additionally, Plott is departmental liaison to the professional boards that approve continuing education courses to ensure the programs meet the board’s standards for credit. For example, accountants or HR professionals take courses to meet yearly certifications, and Plott interacts with oversight boards each year to obtain approval.
Extended academic programs is a self-supporting unit within the University, which means it must generate revenue to cover its costs. Plott said her background with U.S. Airways was a good fit. “At the airline, I worked in a division that was a profit and loss unit. I was responsible solely for two large areas that had to generate enough revenue to offset expenses. When I applied for the job, I didn’t have any idea that this was a receipts-based unit, so I’m blessed that I fell into place.”
Although she grew up in Alabama, Charlotte has been Plott’s home for more than 30 years. Before joining the University in August 2006, she was U.S. Airways manager of retail sales for North America and Europe. The job required travel several days a week to supervise 78 satellite ticket offices and 28 airport clubs. “I oversaw two divisions – it was all about making money, controlling expenses and delivering great customer service. One interesting aspect of my role was to work with real estate brokers to move or open new locations, so I studied cities’ demographic information to make these changes.”
Beyond UNC Charlotte Center City’s fourth floor, Plott can be found on her family’s 25-acre farm in Cabarrus County. “We raise beef cattle as a hobby. We don’t eat them; they’re all pets.”
Another passion is cooking and baking. Plott joked that in her next life she plans to own a restaurant.
“But my number one priority is my family – they’re very important to me,” said Plott.
She and husband Sherrill have been married 30 years and have two children Lindsey and Corey and two grandchildren Colt, 5, and Knox, 2.