The Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) proudly recognizes Colleen Dick, Senior Vice President at the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce (SC), Jessica Stanford, Vice President of Leadership and Advocacy at the Midland Chamber of Commerce (TX), Linda Valdez Thompson, CEO of Valdez Thompson Consulting LLC (TX), Cathy Yen, Co-Founder and Facilitator at Community Connections Fund (IL),  and Mike Zwiefelhofer, Executive Director of Leadership San Francisco (CA), as the newest recipients of the Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) designation.

The Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) program was developed in response to membership feedback to provide extensive ongoing training opportunities for Community Leadership Program professionals. The CCLP designation provides Community Leadership Program professionals with an incentive to achieve excellence in professional performance with mastery of essential skills. The development of the Certified Community Leadership Practitioner program began in 2016, with the first CORE training course offered in 2019 in conjunction with the ALP National Conference held that year in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 23 Community Leadership professionals participated in the first cohort. Since 2019, nearly one hundred CLP professionals have completed the required 16 hours of CORE training.

“I'm proud to have earned the Certified Community Leadership Practitioner designation and appreciate the chance to grow alongside such a passionate group of professionals from across the country," said Colleen Dick, CCLP. "Providing opportunities for our next generation of community leaders is so vital to the future success of our region and I'm looking forward to using CCLP insights and strategies to strengthen the Chamber’s leadership development efforts.”

Thirty-five individuals, including Colleen Dick, Jessica Stanford, Linda Valdez Thompson, Cathy Yen, and Mike Zwiefelhofer, have completed the process, passed the certification exam, and earned the CCLP designation. 

About Colleen Dick, CCLP

Colleen Dick is the Senior Vice President at the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she supports the organization’s Leadership Institute for Talent (LIFT). With over two decades of experience, she has been instrumental in advancing workforce training and fostering leadership within the regional business community.

Throughout her career Colleen has managed leadership development programs for area professionals and for students at both high school and college-levels, facilitating community awareness and skill-building for over 1100 individuals across the region. She recently launched the Regional Chamber’s LeadershipCORE course, providing hands-on and targeted solutions for new and emerging corporate managers; and regularly engages volunteers and program participants through team-building and goal-setting workshops.

Colleen is a graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College and began her professional career as an Admission’s Counselor with that institution, starting her Chamber career in the Laurinburg/Scotland County, NC, area. She is a former Smart Choices© facilitator, introducing 8th grade students to skills in time management, decision making, goal setting and self-discipline; and is currently developing a program for young professionals focused on the how-to of community leadership.

Beyond CCLP she has earned a Leadership Development Professional (LDCP) certification from the Institute of Organization Development. She is graduate of the U.S Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM) and is a Certified Chamber Executive of the Carolinas (CCEC).

About the Association of Leadership Programs

The Association of Leadership Programs serves over 280 community leadership programs across the United States and beyond. The association strives to enhance the well-being of all communities through the work of community leadership programs. Founded in 2010, the mission of ALP is to strengthen the effectiveness of leadership programs and professionals. Authentic and organic community leadership development requires taking a critical look at situations, opportunities, and challenges our communities face through the lens of the entire community and pursuing a course that enhances the well-being of all.

Contact:
Jessie Baginski, Ph.D., CCLP
Director of Programs
programs@alpleaders.org