One of the beautiful things about being a past national BDPA president is that you have a treasure chest of history in your files. One of the beautiful things about having a blog is that you can create a repository for an organization's history. No other excuse is necessary!Please enjoy this documentation of the 36-year history of BDPA Conference themes and locations:
- 2015, Evolution of IT: Embracing the Digital Future, Washington, DC
- 2014, Race to Innovate, Indianapolis, IN
- 2013, Diverse Opportunities in the Age of Convergence Washington, DC
- 2012, Transforming the IT Professional, Baltimore, MD
- 2011, Ignite, Inspire & Empower: The GPS of Future Technologists, Chicago, IL
- 2010, Access for All, Philadelphia, PA
- 2009, Challenges for Today; Strategies for Tomorrow, Raleigh, NC
- 2008, Harnessing Emerging Technologies to Advance IT Careers, Atlanta, GA
- 2007, Global Strategy for the IT Professional, Washington, DC
- 2006, Picturing the Future of Information Technology, Los Angeles, CA
- 2005, Driving Innovation, Bringing Value and Embracing Change, Detroit, MI
- 2004, BDPA: Securing Our Future Through Technology, Dallas, TX
- 2003, Information Technology: From the Classroom to the Boardroom, Philadelphia, PA
- 2002, Changing the Culture of IT: From Access to Ownership, Orlando, FL
- 2001, Empowering the Nation Through Information, Chicago, IL
- 2000, Taking IT to the Net: From High-Tops to High-Tech, Washington, DC
- 1999, Closing the Gap in Information Technology, Atlanta, GA
- 1998, Unveiling the Magic of Emerging Technologies, Orlando, FL
- 1997, Looking at Tomorrow, Today, Houston, TX
- 1996, Building World Class Skills for Information Technology, Atlanta, GA
- 1995, Linking Business, Education and Technology, Philadelphia, PA
- 1994, Unleashing the Power of a Creative People, Cleveland, OH
- 1993, Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders in the Heart of America, Kansas City, MO
- 1992, Shaping the Information Technology Professional: Current and Future, Detroit, MI
- 1991, BDPA Getting to the Core of Technology, New York, NY
- 1990, Education and Technology Bonding for Excellence, Washington, DC
- 1989, Ideas in the Making, Los Angeles, CA
- 1988, Growth and Success by Designs, Chicago, IL
- 1987, A Bridge to Success, New Orleans, LA [photo to the right shows young Earl Pace, Norman Mays and others at 1987 conference]
- 1986, Securing Your Professional Future, Atlanta, GA
- 1985, A Decade of Professional Growth, Philadelphia, PA
- 1984, Information Processing: A Vote for the Future, Cleveland, OH
- 1983, Rise to the Challenge, Newark, NJ
- 1982, Entrepreneurship: A Successful Attitude, Detroit, MI
- 1981, Growth Through Professional Association, Philadelphia, PA
- 1980, A New Era of Minority Involvement in Data Processing, Washington, DC
- 1979, The Role of the Black Technical Organization, Washington, DC
My Conference Memories: I've attended 23 of these conferences. I remember being blown away by the massive gathering of African American IT professionals when I attended my first national conference in Chicago (1988). I was a
mazed at the passion and energy displayed at the national BDPA board of directors meeting. I met Vivian Wilson at this meeting. Vivian is one of the best people that I've ever known and I am grateful to have served as her national BDPA vice president when she was the National BDPA president. My favorite conference was the one held in Detroit (2005). It was my final year as national president. My mom and oldest daughter both were in attendance ... and we were able to bring together many of the past national presidents for recognition at the Awards Gala. Yep ... that was my favorite BDPA conference!
How many of these conferences have you attended? What is your favorite memory from these past four decades of national BDPA conferences?
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