UNC Charlotte alumnae Susan DeVore ’81, Tracy Dodson ’97, ’98 and Pamela Wideman ’06 were recently named to the Charlotte Business Journal’s list of 2020 Newsmakers for their roles in leading Charlotte through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Susan DeVore ’81
As CEO of Premier, Susan DeVore focuses on driving innovation in health care and leading the industry through profound change by engaging stakeholders to co-develop solutions that support high-quality, efficient and sustainable care delivery models. She is an industry-leading thinker who has consistently been named to Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People and Top 25 Women in Healthcare lists.
The Charlotte Business Journal recognized DeVore as a Charlotte newsmaker for leading Premier to level purchasing agreements and supply-chain connections to provide health care workers with much needed personal protective equipment during COVID-19. Premiere also used data analytics to track COVID-19 cases and supply demand. In addition, DeVore saw Premier through a business restructuring in an effort to simplify operations by eliminating dual-class ownership.
DeVore, a Distinguished Alumna Award recipient, received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Belk College of Business. She currently serves as vice chair of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees.
Tracy Dodson ’97, ’98
In her dual roles as assistant city manager and economic development director, Tracy Dodson guides the city of Charlotte in developing a vibrant new regional economic ecosystem. She utilizes her proven business insights and strategies to champion the city’s economic expansion, workforce development and upward mobility initiatives. Under Dodson’s guidance, the city continues to successfully leverage strong business relationships on the local, county, regional and state levels.
The Charlotte Business Journal recognized Dodson as a Charlotte newsmaker for keeping Charlotte’s business community moving during an unpredictable year. She was integral in landing the East Coast headquarters of Centene Corp., as well as Arrival’s North American headquarters. Dodson also played a key role in COVID-19 recovery for small businesses in Charlotte. She and other city officials developed programs to help small businesses stay afloat and initiatives to provide business strategy and planning expertise, along with jobs and skills training.
Dodson received a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the College of Arts + Architecture and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Pamela Wideman ’06
As director of Charlotte’s Housing & Neighborhood Services Department, Pamela Wideman oversees the city's Affordable Housing Programs as well as its Housing Trust Fund activities, Ten-Year Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness, Code Enforcement Community Engagement Divisions and 311 Call Center. Wideman currently serves as a member of the boards of directors for the PNC Community Development Bank, the Urban Land Institute, the International Association of City and County Managers and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.
The Charlotte Business Journal recognized Wideman as a Charlotte newsmaker for her role in advising the Charlotte City Council on maximizing federal CARES Act funding for housing. In addition to her work to keep people housed through the COVID-19 pandemic, Wideman kept affordable-housing development moving. Recently funded projects are expected to add 1,349 new affordable housing units within the City of Charlotte.
Wideman received a master's degree in public administration from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.