Dick, Stanford, Valdez Thompson, Yen, and Zwiefelhofer Earn Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Designation
Dick, Valdez Thompson, Yen, and Zwiefelhofer Earn Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Designation
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.
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 leads the Leadership Institute for Talent (LIFT) and champions workforce training and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience, she has guided programs serving more than 1,100 professionals and students across the region.
She recently launched LeadershipCORE, a hands-on course for new and emerging managers, and regularly facilitates workshops on team-building and goal-setting. A graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Colleen began her career in admissions and later transitioned into Chamber work in North Carolina. She’s a former Smart Choices© facilitator and is developing a leadership program for young professionals.
Colleen holds certifications from the Institute of Organization Development, the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM), and is a Certified Chamber Executive of the Carolinas (CCEC).
About Jessica Stanford, CCLP
Jessica Stanford is the founder of True North Leadership Solutions, LLC, where she provides individual coaching, leadership training workshops, and seminars designed to empower individuals and build high-performing teams. A certified D.I.S.C. consultant/trainer and Maxwell Certified Team Member, she offers clients practical tools to develop their potential and strengthen team dynamics.
She currently serves as Vice President of Leadership and Advocacy at the Midland Chamber of Commerce, where she champions leadership development and community growth. Her work in this role builds on more than a decade in education, including serving as Director of Teaching and Learning for Texas Leadership Charter Academy, as well as six years in campus leadership roles as Principal and Assistant Principal.
She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, bringing a deep understanding of human behavior and development to every aspect of her work. Based in Midland, Texas, she is a proud wife, mother of three adult children, and grandmother of two, finding daily inspiration through both family and community impact.
About Linda Valdez Thompson, CCLP
Linda Valdez Thompson is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in both public and private sectors, including a successful tenure at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Now the founder of Valdez Thompson Consulting, LLC, a certified minority/women-owned firm, she consults on leadership development, DEI, HR strategy, and organizational planning. She also facilitates Leadership North Texas, Emerging Leaders in North Texas, and DEI programs for the North Texas Commission.
Her previous roles include Executive VP of Administration and DE&I at DFW Airport and HR leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies like Levi Strauss, Baxter Healthcare, and Hasbro. Linda holds a Master's in Organizational Management, a BBA, and numerous certifications, including SPHR, Board Certified Coach, Gallup Strengths Coach, and Certified Diversity Professional.
She has received numerous honors, including the Leaders in Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award (Dallas Business Journal) and the Diversity Leadership Award (North Texas Commission). Linda is deeply involved in her community, serving on several nonprofit and civic boards throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth region.
About Cathy Yen, CCLP
Cathy is the Co-Founder and Facilitator at Community Connections Fund, which helps leaders in the Chicago area unleash their superpowers in service to their community. She has 19 years of experience in the community leadership space, is an accomplished speaker and TEDx presenter, a nonprofit management consultant, and former executive director of the Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Chief Grant Writer for Beat the Streets in Chicago, which serves over 3,500 Chicago youth through values-based after-school wrestling programs and wrap-around services at low or no cost.
She is passionate about addressing systemic inequities in urban communities and is convinced that offering leadership development to under-resourced neighborhoods will bring about the change she hopes to see. In her free time, Cathy is obsessed with planners and organizational management, and is combining both in a forthcoming book written for nonprofit leaders.
About Mike Zwiefelhofer, CCLP
Michael Zwiefelhofer is the Executive Director of Leadership San Francisco, a community leadership program affiliated with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. He brings a unique perspective to the role, having spent nearly a decade as the owner of a San Francisco-based chocolate company. A passionate advocate for the small business community, Michael continues to serve on two merchant association boards.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business from Sacramento State University. In his free time, Michael enjoys running, exploring the local food scene, and cheering on the San Francisco Giants.
Congratulations to Colleen Dick, Jessica Stanford, Linda Valdez Thompson, Cathy Yen, and Mike Zwiefelhofer on this significant achievement.
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