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 Meet the Association of Leadership Programs Team

To connect with a specific team member, click their name

Contact Lura with questions about: 

  • Operations
  • Partnerships
  • Strategic Goals
  • The ALP Board

Lura Hammond (she/her) is a dynamic leader who brings her wealth of experience to her role as the part-time Executive Director of the Association of Leadership Programs. Lura's career spans diverse sectors, showcasing her dedication to making a positive impact. After a distinguished 12-year tenure as the Executive Director of Camp Summit, Inc. in Dallas, Texas, a camp catering to individuals with disabilities, she shifted her focus to foster local economic growth as the Executive Director of the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce.

Lura's passion for leadership development was ignited during her involvement with Leadership Garland, TX, which propelled her to form Leadership Mesquite. Her commitment to fostering effective leadership extended regionally, as she completed both the Leadership Metrocrest and Leadership North Texas programs. Her visionary spirit led her to co-found the Association of Texas Leadership Programs in 1990 and establish The Metroplex Leadership Network in 1991, both instrumental platforms for nurturing leadership excellence. Her dedication to service led to the establishment of the Sundown Exchange Club in 1988, and her active participation in the National Exchange Club garnered national acclaim for forming multiple local service clubs in North Texas. Her contributions have earned her accolades from esteemed organizations, including State and National PTA recognition, Business Women of the Year, Business and Professional Women of Northeast Dallas County, and acknowledgment from the Texas Economic Development Commission.

A multi-faceted individual, Lura's expertise extends to events and meeting planning, exemplified by her role as a Past President of TxACOM, the Texas Association of Conventions, Events, and Meeting Professionals. She has also lent her insights and efforts to various committees within her local church. Lura's academic pursuits reflect her commitment to continuous growth. Armed with a degree in Business Management from Stephen F. Austin University, she bolstered her knowledge with an IOM (Institute for Organizational Management) designation and Certification in Non-Profit Management. She and her husband are accredited PVMs (Professional Vendor Members) of the Association for Challenge Course Technology, showcasing their expertise in this specialized field.

Lura calls Ponder, Texas, home - where she resides with her husband, Dick, and their various farm creatures. Hammond has served as the Executive Director of ALP since its founding in 2010. 

In early 2025, Lura Hammond announced her upcoming retirement from ALP.
Read more about the next chapter here.


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.