Newman & Sargent Earn CCLP Designation

The Association of Leadership Programs is thrilled to recognize and announce the newest Certified Community Leadership Practitioners: Olympia Newman, Managing Director of Leadership Programs at the Dallas Regional Chamber, and Tara Sargent, Executive Director of Leadership Washington County.

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 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, 79 CLP professionals have completed the required 16 hours of CORE training.

Seventeen individuals, including Newman and Sargent, have completed the process, passed the certification exam, and earned the CCLP designation. 

The Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Certification is designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards, and recognize Association, Chamber of Commerce, and other Non-Profit professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of program development in a leadership organization.

The Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) oversees the certification process to obtain the CCLP designation.  Training includes a series of learning components covering personal, practical, and theoretical leadership.  Candidates must complete 16 hours of CORE training, 24 hours of pre-designated coursework, plus an additional 10 hours of elective coursework for a total of 50 hours before submitting an application to sit for the CCLP examination. The final requirement is completing and passing the written exam. All steps must be completed to be eligible to obtain the CCLP designation.

About Olympia Newman, CCLP: 
Olympia Newman is a passionate leader with a background in education and a proven track record in designing and implementing impactful leadership development programs. As the Managing Director of Leadership Programs at the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC), she has spearheaded initiatives that have engaged over 3,000 participants, fostering leadership skills and strengthening community engagement. Prior to joining the DRC, she worked in Grand Prairie ISD to develop curriculum, train teachers, and lead partnerships that enhanced learning outcomes for students in underchampioned communities.
 
She is recognized for her ability to solve complex challenges, create inclusive learning environments, and empower individuals to achieve their full potential. Originally from Nigeria, Olympia is a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of North Texas at Dallas and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.
 
Her dedication to community extends beyond her professional work. Olympia serves on the boards of VolunteerNow and Hunger Busters and is a Council Member and Program Advisor for the Texas A&M University of Texarkana’s Women in Leadership program. Additionally, she is a youth mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and a proud graduate of the Engage Dallas class of 2024.
 
Outside of work, Olympia enjoys reading, volunteering, and traveling with her husband, Fred, and their dog, Ash.

About Tara Sargent, D.eD., CCLP:
Tara is the Executive Director of Leadership Washington County, a position she began in February 2010. From 2007 to 2010, Tara served as an Assistant Professor in the John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where she taught courses for and advised the Information Technology for Business Education major. Tara taught both undergraduate and master’s level business management courses for Mount St. Mary’s University’s Department of Business, Accounting and Economics from 2000 to 2007. 

In 2007, Tara earned her Doctor of Education in Adult Education from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a baccalaureate degree in education (1995) and a master’s degree in Business Administration (1999) from Frostburg State University. 

Tara enjoys being active in the Washington County community and inspiring others to become involved. She currently serves as a member of the Hagerstown-Washington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a member of the Greater Hagerstown Committee, on the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown Board of Advisors, and the Advisory Board For Career Programs in Accounting & Management at Hagerstown Community College. Previously, Tara has served as a board member for the Hagerstown YMCA, Habitat for Humanity of Washington County, the Washington County Public Schools Education Foundation, the Washington County Commission for Women, the Washington County Arts Council, and the Hagerstown Rotary. She is a graduate of Leadership Washington County Class 21 (2008), and a graduate of Leadership Maryland Class 19 (2011). Tara and her husband, Andrew Sargent, live in the City of Hagerstown. She has lived in Washington County for 24 years and enjoys walking, hiking, biking, reading compelling fiction and non-fiction, quality time with friends and family, travel near and far, and the shenanigans of her five year old Shih Tzu, Kitty. 

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.

The next CCLP CORE training course will begin January 13, 2025. Learn more about the CCLP Program.

Contact: Jessie Baginski, Ph.D., CCLP, Director of Programs