Posted: July 23, 2010

Marlo Calloway, a human resource specialist with Tidewater Community College and committee member for the Southeastern Virginia chapter of the American Society for Training and Development, will moderate a panel of experts in the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance process at a working luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Calloway, who is working on a master's of science degree in human resource management at Troy University, will present informaton on the certification process, the career benefits of certification and the support provided to chapter members in the pursuit of certification. She responded to the following questions:

Tell us about your experience with helping individuals and organizations improve their performance skills.

My introduction with helping individuals and organizations improve their performance skills came during my 15 years of experience in the retail industry. I worked with several women's retail chains as a trainer and district manager. I had no idea at the time that I would be pursing training and development as a career (I wanted to be an elementary school teacher), but it became a natural progression within my career to train and develop individuals in the workplace. I gained a better appreciation for learning and performance during my employment at the local, state and federal government levels since transitioning into my new career.

How can we as leaders in workplace learning and performance use our CPLP certification to improve our employees' performance and achievement of business objectives?

As a CPLP you must master the following requirements of certification:

• Experience - Three years of work-related experience.
• Knowledge - You must pass the computer-based exam that tests your knowledge in nine areas of expertise.
• Performance - You must demonstrate that you know how to put your knowledge into practice by providing a history of your work product.

  CPLPs are masters in indentifying the key factors in bringing the necessary tools, resources, training and technology to ensure that employee performance is aligned with business objectives.

  What will attendees be doing at this session? How will this learning make us more effective at work?

  Attendees will gain insight into the history and value of becoming a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance. They will engage with an expert panel of CPLPs who will give their testimonies on how to prepare and successfully pass the CPLP exam. Attendees will also be able to sign up for the study group to prepare for the CPLP exam. When they leave this meeting, attendees will be armed with the knowledge that there is a certification - CPLP - that solidifies their future in training and development and that SEVA ASTD can help them achieve that certification.

  David Boisselle is director of military affairs at Regent University and vice president for marketing and communications for the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. He may be reached at 352-4757.