Association of Leadership Programs
Marcy, Saliba, Edwin-Williams, Dionne, Josey, Greer, and Karns Earn Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Designation
The Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) proudly recognizes Briget Greer, Director of Communications & Youth Programs at Leadership Knoxville, Jamie Karns, Executive Director of the Leadership Development Academy of Rock County, Lauren Saliba, Vice President of Education & Leadership Development for the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Taisha Edwin-Williams, Senior Director of Leadership Programs at the Tampa Bay Chamber, Liz Josey, Director of Operations, Leadership Nashville, TN, Su Marcy, Executive Director, Ulster Chamber Foundation, Inc., NY, and Kindra Dionne, Executive Director, Leadership Loudoun, VA, 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.
Over forty individuals, including Briget Greer, Taisha Edwin-Williams, and Jamie Karns, have completed the process, passed the certification exam, and earned the CCLP designation.
About Bridget Greer, CCLP
Bridget serves as the Director of Communications & Youth Programs at Leadership Knoxville, where she leads the organization's communications strategy, oversees the Youth Leadership Knoxville program, serves as the liaison to the University of Tennessee for the Leadership Knoxville Scholars program, and assists with alumni and sponsor relations. She is passionate about using strategic storytelling, relationship-building, and community engagement to connect people with opportunities to serve and make a lasting impact in East Tennessee.
A Knoxville native, Bridget earned a bachelor's degree in public relations with minors in business administration and graphic design from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2023. She joined the Leadership Knoxville team upon graduation. She holds a Certificate in the Principles of Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and is involved with the Junior League of Knoxville.
Outside of work, you can find Bridget traveling with her friends, attending concerts with her fiancé, Hunter, needlepointing, or cheering on the Vols. She also will never pass up the opportunity to show you a picture of her cat, Fat Louie.
About Jamie Karns, CCLP
Jamie Karns returned to Rock County, WI with her husband and 4 small children, after 15 years in Houston, TX. She spent time working in public education as an elementary physical education teacher and earned her Master’s of Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University. Once she became a mom, Jamie joined the non-profit sector; working for Girls on the Run Greater Houston, empowering young women and helping to build strong healthy communities throughout Greater Houston.
Upon her return to Wisconsin, Jamie was named the Executive Director of the Leadership Development Academy of Rock County. Her passion for empowering individuals and teams to both lead and serve their communities made LDA an amazing place to land. Jamie believes it is no coincidence that she is charged with mentoring leaders in Rock County, because she has had her share of amazing mentors throughout her career. Karns believes that leadership is a lifetime commitment to learning and changing and hopes to spread that passion throughout Rock County. Since she began working for LDA, she has participated in a pilot program with Leadership Wisconsin and joined ALP. Connecting with like-minded people and learning from those paving the way has been an absolute blessing.
When Jamie is not “working” you can find her going on food adventures, cheering her kids on in all of their activities and watching her newly planted garden grow!
About Lauren Saliba, CCLP
Lauren Saliba serves as Vice President of Education & Leadership Development for the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce in West Tennessee, where she leads initiatives that connect education, workforce development, and community leadership. She oversees programs including Leadership University, Leadership Jackson, and the Leadership Jackson Alumni Association, helping develop leaders and strengthen communities across Jackson and Madison County.
With nearly 25 years of experience in leadership and community engagement, Lauren is passionate about building meaningful partnerships and creating opportunities that empower others. She is now a Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP), a graduate of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, Leadership YOU Masterclass, Leadership Jackson, and Leadership University. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lauren lives in Jackson with her husband, Greg, and their two children, Ava Jane and John.
About Liz Josey, CCLP
From Birmingham Alabama, Liz graduated from Mountain Brook High School before earning her BA in Art History with a minor in General Business Administration from the University of Alabama and later, a Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Alabama Birmingham. Liz worked in publishing and insurance before joining the YWCA of Central Alabama and transitioning her career to nonprofit organizations. As development specialist and then assistant director of development, Liz’s responsibility with the YWCA ranged from database management, budgeting, donor relations, communications and special event leadership.
In 2018, she moved to Nashville and joined the Nashville Ballet as events and volunteer manager, then institutional philanthropy manager, before becoming the foundation relations and events manager. In early 2021 Liz joined Leadership Nashville, just in time to apply her database conversion and system administrator expertise to a new database management system to improve Leadership Nashville’s alumni engagement experience.
Liz is a member of the Nashville Advocacy Committee for the Center for Courageous Kids, serves on the Kindling Arts Festival Board and was a member of the Young Leaders Council Nashville Class 79 Cohort. She is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program. Liz and her husband Drew like to take long walks with their dog Bodie, cheer for Alabama and Wake Forest football, and travel.
About Su Marcy, CCLP
Su Marcy is a seasoned non-profit executive with 38 years of leadership experience in community-focused organizations. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation from January 2024 through June 2026. During her tenure, Su increased program participation by 200%, launched a program committee to design a curriculum centered on leadership development, hands-on skills practice, and community engagement, and introduced voluntary 1:1 mentoring sessions for cohort participants.
Su strengthened and expanded the Foundation’s alumni network by engaging committee members in selecting Alumni Hall of Fame honorees, recruiting alumni to the Foundation board, and featuring graduates as Leadership Ulster panelists. She also established a regular Women in Leadership networking series. Under her guidance, the newly rebranded Ulster Chamber Foundation logo—developed in collaboration with KDD Marketing—earned an honorable mention in the 2026 Hermes Creative Awards. A proud 2006 graduate of the Ulster Leadership Development Institute (now Leadership Ulster), Su is also an inductee of its Alumni Hall of Fame.
Before joining the Foundation, Su served the United Way of Ulster County for twenty years, first as Vice President and later as President and CEO. In these roles, she oversaw all fundraising and marketing efforts, facilitated key community initiatives, administered annual Community Fund distributions, and coordinated volunteer training. She also served on the boards of both the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Ulster Chamber Foundation, where she was an inaugural co-chair of the Leadership Ulster Alumni Association.
Su is thrilled to have recently completed her CCLP and contributes her expertise as a member of ALP’s conference committee. She holds a Certificate in Achievement in Excellence in Non-Profit Management from Adelphi University and is a summa cum laude graduate of Marist University.
Her work has been recognized with several honors, including: • YWCA Tribute to Women – Excellence in Leadership Award • Ulster Leadership Development Institute Alumni Hall of Fame Induction • Always There’s Making a Difference Award
Su and her husband, Dennis, split their time between the Hudson Valley and the Adirondacks, and are proudly owned by their German Shorthaired Pointers, Rim and Nell.
About Taisha Edwin-Williams, CCLP
Originally from New Jersey and of Trinidadian descent, Taisha Edwin-Williams relocated her family to the Tampa Bay region, exchanging seasonal winter storms for year-round sunshine. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Communications and brings more than 15 years of executive leadership experience in community leadership development, strategic program design, organizational growth, and regional impact.
As Senior Director of Leadership Programs at the Tampa Bay Chamber, Taisha provides strategic direction and executive oversight for the Chamber’s premier leadership portfolio, including Leadership Tampa, Leadership Tampa Alumni, Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay, and Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay. She partners with senior executives, civic leaders, volunteers, and strategic stakeholders to design high-impact leadership experiences that strengthen civic engagement, advance inclusive leadership, and prepare leaders to shape Tampa Bay’s future.
Known for her expertise in community leadership strategy, stakeholder engagement, volunteer leadership, and program innovation, Taisha builds platforms that foster meaningful connection, cross-sector collaboration, and purpose-driven leadership. Her strengths include strategic planning, leadership development, project management, organizational effectiveness, and the design of sustainable programs that deliver long-term community value. She earned the nationally recognized Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) designation, underscoring her commitment to excellence and impact in the community leadership field. She is also the second professional in Florida to earn the CCLP designation and the first woman of color in the state to achieve this distinction, further reflecting her leadership, influence, and commitment to advancing the community leadership field.
Beyond her professional leadership, Taisha is committed to advancing organizations that support underrepresented communities, families, and youth. She enjoys writing, reading, global travel, film, and exploring new culinary experiences. She lives in the Tampa Bay area with her family and believes deeply in leadership’s ability to unlock potential, strengthen institutions, and transform communities.
One of her favorite quotes is, "Your crown has been bought and paid for; all you must do is put it on." — James Baldwin
Congratulations to Su Marcy, Lauren Saliba, Taisha Williams, Kindra Dionne, Liz Josey, Bridget Greer, and Jamie Karns on their 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