Message from BDPA Corporate Sponsor (GEICO)

BDPA is very excited that over 100 corporations have invested in its programs, scholarships and services. Corporations support the BDPA mission to advance the careers of African Americans in the information technology industry from the classroom to the boardroom. These corporate sponsors see a tangible return on investment when it comes to recruitment, retention, community outreach, supplier diversity and market share.

It always helps when BDPA members become corporate champions. For example, past National BDPA executive director Midge Johnson attended the 2012 Dignitaries Reception held during the recent annual BDPA Technology Conference in Baltimore MD. She was enthusiastic by what she saw ... and she took the story back to her employer, GEICO. A few weeks later GEICO agreed to recruit diverse talent at our annual BDPA Career Fair that will take place August 14-17, 2013 in Washington DC as well as co-sponsor the 11th annual BDPA IT Showcase!

Earl Pace (BDPA founder), Midge Johnson (GEICO), Wayne Hicks (BETF executive director)

Midge shared her reflections on the process with us:

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"I attended the 2012 National BDPA Technology Conference in Baltimore earlier this year. As I walked through the Career Fair, I noticed several insurance companies recruiting diverse IT talent at the Career Fair. I also noticed that GEICO’s name, the company that I work for, was nowhere to be seen anywhere. At that point, I decided that it was on me to ensure that GEICO is represented at future National BDPA Technology Conferences with a continuing local presence. I literally took the program from this year’s VIP Reception, which included the names of three of our insurance competitors, to the GEICO Corporate Community Citizens president. I showed her that GEICO needed a presence with and in BDPA and I would take the blame for not really championing them.

Earlier this year, as a the co-chair of the Black History Month Celebration at GEICO, I invited Earl Pace, Jr. to be the opening celebration keynote speaker. Our focus was not to relive the past but to emphasize our accomplishments and contributions to this country as a people. Everyone including the GEICO chief executive officer was very impressed with his presentation which made an unforgettable impression on the powers that be. Because of Mr. Pace, I strongly believe that they were open to my approaching them after the National Conference in Baltimore to become a BDPA Sponsor."

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There are many sponsorship opportunities for Corporate America to consider as it looks to support BDPA programs, scholarships and services. If you think that your company or your employer might be interested ... please reach out to us by replying to the post ... or by email (corpsales@bdpa.org).