Team

Meet the Association of Leadership Programs Team

To connect with a specific team member, click their name

Contact C. Marie with questions about:

Operations
Partnerships
Strategic Goals
The ALP Board

C. Marie Taylor (she/her) is a nationally respected leader with more than 25 years of experience in organizational leadership, adult learning, and social impact. She serves as the Executive Director of the Association of Leadership Programs, bringing a deep commitment to strengthening community leadership development across the country and beyond.

C. Marie is the Founder of Equity Through Action, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing workplace equity through culture transformation, strategic advising, adult learning design, and executive coaching. As a Certified Professional Diversity Coach, her people-centered approach has supported leaders and organizations navigating complex challenges and building more inclusive, effective environments. Her professional experience spans leadership program development, nonprofit management, and cross-sector collaboration for organizations committed to community advancement.

Before launching Equity Through Action, C. Marie served as the Executive Director of Leadership Montgomery (MD), where she strengthened the region’s leadership pipeline and expanded the program’s community impact. She currently serves as a program consultant for Leadership Tomorrow (WA), designing sessions focused on leadership, civic engagement, and community development.

C. Marie holds an MBA and a BA in Human Relations from Trinity Washington University. Her career has been grounded in the belief that inclusive leadership is essential to thriving, equitable communities.

Originally from Washington, D.C., C. Marie now calls the greater Seattle area home. She brings a passion for community, connection, and lifelong learning to her role at ALP.

She began her tenure as Executive Director in November 2025 and serves in a part-time capacity.

Lura Hammond (she/her) has served as the Executive Director of the Association of Leadership Programs since its founding in 2010. A long-time champion of community leadership development, Lura brought decades of experience across nonprofit management, chamber leadership, and program design to her role with ALP. Her career includes leading Camp Summit in Dallas, guiding the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce, and helping establish multiple leadership networks and initiatives across Texas.

Lura announced her retirement in early 2025 and is currently assisting in the leadership transition to C. Marie. Lura remains appreciated for the steady vision, relationship-building, and dedication that shaped ALP’s first 15 years.

Contact Sarah Alice with questions about:

Monday Messages
National Conference
Website Features

Sarah Alice (Throckmorton) Keiser (she/her) joined the ALP team in October 2021, bringing over a decade of event production, volunteer management, and donor stewardship experience. Sarah Alice is the Director of Events & Marketing for the Association of Leadership Programs, utilizing her expertise to create impactful experiences. Before this, Sarah Alice made her mark as the Manager of Leadership Programming at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, overseeing the esteemed Leadership Dayton program, the Leadership Dayton Board of Governors, the LD Alumni Association, and guiding the Chamber's young professionals' initiative, Generation Dayton. Through her time at the Chamber, she became connected with ALP, previously serving as the Alumni Affinity Group Champion.

Sarah Alice is also the Event Operations Manager for the renowned Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop at The University of Dayton. She holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Wright State University. Sarah Alice discovered her passion for working in the non-profit and event management world after serving as the Chair for the Dayton, OH, Walk to Defeat ALS at just 15 years old, following her grandfather's diagnosis with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Outside the realm of work, Sarah Alice finds joy in her creative pursuits. She channels her talents into a home bakery, indulging her love for baking, and finds solace in the pages of books. Traveling and quality time with loved ones are integral parts of her life, complementing her active engagement as a national-level volunteer for Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity.

Sarah Alice and her husband, Luke, live in Montreal, Quebec, with their loyal German Shepherd, Scout. She serves in a part-time capacity in her role as Director of Events & Marketing with the Association of Leadership Programs.

Contact Zoë with questions about:

Membership
Affinity Groups
ALP Ambassadors

Zoë Lewis-Monkman (she/her) is a passionate leader driven by a deep desire to inspire and empower others. Originally from Jamaica and raised in Florida, Zoë earned dual BAs in American Sign Language Interpreting and Theatre: Stage Management with a Leadership minor from the University of South Florida – Tampa. Her diverse professional experience spans program development, nonprofit leadership, event planning, project management, and arts advocacy and education. She comes to ALP from Leadership Lincoln (NE), where she served as Program Manager, overseeing three adult programs and spearheading a new Alumni Association. During her time with Leadership Lincoln, she served as the Nebraska Ambassador for ALP and Flagship Affinity Group co-chair

Currently based in Lincoln, Nebraska, Zoë is dedicated to creating positive change and fostering community engagement and inclusivity. Her commitment to creating equitable space has been a cornerstone of her career. She serves on multiple boards with nonprofits supporting the arts and youth development. She also owns an event planning and project management agency. Her personal motto is "Don't be afraid to be passionate. Passion inspires."

Outside of her professional roles, Zoë enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and Jesus. She loves to travel, as well as anything related to theatre, Disney, and reality TV. Since September 2024, Zoë has been serving in a part-time capacity as Director of Membership for the Association of Leadership Programs.

Contact Jessie with questions about:

The Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Program

Jessie Baginski, Ph. D. (she/her) joined the ALP team in December 2023 after serving as president/CEO of Leadership Lake County (OH) from 2012 - 2023. She has volunteered for the Leadership Lake County Junior Program since 1997, originally as a Health and Human Services Day planner. Jessie was one of the first four professionals to receive ALP's CCLP designation in 2022.

She has over 35 years of experience in communications, marketing, and management in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Baginski is a frequent speaker on leadership and building cultures of leadership. Prior to Leadership Lake County, Dr. Baginski was Laketran’s first Director of Public Relations and Marketing from 2000 through 2010. During that time, she earned numerous national awards for communications

She received her Associate’s from Lakeland Community College; her Bachelor’s in Management from Ursuline College; her Master’s in Education from Marietta College and her doctorate in Urban Education from Cleveland State University.

She serves as an adjunct faculty member for Cleveland State University’s College of Education and Lake Erie College. Dr. Baginski serves as a reviewer for Youth & Society.

She enjoys being present at many community and charitable events. Among her favorites are the local golf outings and Dancing Under the Stars, where she has served as a dancer, a judge, and an emcee to put the fun in fundraising!

Jessie serves in a part-time capacity as the Director of Programs for the Association of Leadership Programs.