CLDP Celebrates Its 19th Graduating Class

Twenty-four NC Department of Public Safety employees graduated from the 19th Correctional Leadership Development Program (CLDP) class on September 6, completing a yearlong journey designed to cultivate future leaders. 

During the graduation ceremony, keynote speaker Reuben Young, the Interim Chief Deputy Secretary, spoke about some of the leadership lessons he’s learned through the years. He, as well as others, reminded the group about the legacy of the program, which has seen over 400 employees complete since its first class. The graduates were also reminded about those who valued leadership development, such as Gwen Norville, the Deputy Secretary for Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice who spoke to Class #18 nearly one year ago before she passed away on September 11, 2017.

Class #19 graduate Ben Carver presented Judge Young a plaque honoring Norville for her leadership and devotion to CLDP and staff development. “No one showed more compassion and could motivate like Gwen Norville,” Carver said. “She was a great leader. Nothing I can say about her hasn’t already been said. She was special to this program.”

The goal of the program is to encourage the next generation of NCDPS leaders through teaching valuable skills to correctional professionals currently at management level. Throughout the program, the participants learned the department’s leadership roadmap, strengthened their management skills and developed creative and wise management strategies and practices. 

“Are you ready to lead,” Judge Young asked the graduates. “Leaders are not created in a classroom. We learn life lessons through trials and tribulations.”

Young gave the graduates tips that he’s learned in his leadership positions:

• Be on time. “Value your time and value others’ time as well.”
• Surround yourself with smart people.
• Don’t be afraid to make the tough decisions.
• Say what you mean and move on.
• Don’t say the last one there is a rotten egg … “unless you are absolutely sure there is a slow kid behind you.”

CLDP participants are selected from across the state from prisons, juvenile justice, community corrections, purchasing and logistics, Parole Commission, Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Program, Correction Enterprises and Re-entry, Programs and Services. As part of the program, participants are divided into teams to work together as a singular, cohesive unit to analyze and create a strategic solution to a current issue within the realm of corrections. Working together with other members of the program gives participants a taste of what it is like to lead DPS facility, department or division. 

The four management project groups this year focused on topics surrounding safety equipment for correctional officers, training for juvenile court counselor supervisors, feasibility of providing emergent housing for homeless sex offenders and preparing employees for promotions.

Graduates from CLDP are equipped with the tools needed to move forward in their careers at DPS, with the potential to become deputy secretaries, division directors and facility leaders.

Members of CLDP Class 19 included: