Tuesday, February 28, 2017

BDPA Names the First of Its 2017 Honorary Chairs: General Colin Powell and TV Journalist Roland Martin

General Colin Powell
Information Technology Giant BDPA named General Colin Powell and TV Journalist Roland Martin as two of this year’s Honorary Chairs to its 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held July 26-29, 2017, at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. BDPA’s Career Fair is free and open to the public.
BDPA is pleased to have such dynamic and pioneering Honorary Chairs,” said Mike A. Williams, BDPA National President. “They represent our continued support and advocacy of diversity inclusion, leadership, and entrepreneurship. We are excited about working with them during the next couple of months leading up to our 2017 National Conference and Career Fair,” he added.
Honorary Chair General Colin Powell, an American statesman and retired four-star general in the United States Army, is also former U.S. Secretary of State. General Powell spoke at BDPA’s National Conference Opening Ceremony in 2015 in Washington, DC.

Roland S. Martin
Respected as a nationally syndicated columnist as well as a television and radio host, Honorary Chair Roland S. Martin, is a two-time NAACP Image Award winner and has been named as one of the 150 most influential African Americans in the United States. At past BDPA conferences, Mr. Martin has served as a speaker, emcee and Honorary Chair.

BDPA Honorary Chairs’ commitment to further expand BDPA’s Information Technology initiatives and increase diversity of African Americans in the industry led to their chairmanship appointment. For more information on BDPA’s 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair or sponsorship opportunities, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext. 108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Wells Fargo Continues Its BDPA Bronze Level Sponsorship

Nationally recognized as one of America's most reputable investment firms with a heritage of superior client service and unparalleled capabilities, Wells Fargo recently joined a list of top corporate bronze level sponsors of BDPA’s 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held July 26-29, 2017 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
We are honored to have one of the largest U.S. financial services companies in the world partnering with BDPA to advance our mission. We look forward to working with Wells Fargo in the coming months," said Mike Williams, National BDPA President.
Wells Fargo believes that its diversity makes them stronger and helps to better understand the unique needs of their clients. Wells Fargo ranks the third-largest full-service provider of retail brokerage services in the U.S. and the third-largest provider of managed accounts.

BDPA is the largest African American Information Technology association in the U.S., and the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in STEM education across the country. For almost 40 years, BDPA has fulfilled its mission by bridging the digital divide and providing career growth opportunities for its members.

For more details about the BDPA corporate sponsorship program, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

President Profile: Allen Baylor (BDPA Milwaukee)

BDPA Milwaukee chapter was chartered in May 2005. One of the major corporate sponsors for the chapter has been MillerCoors. The last two presidents in chapter history were both employed by MillerCoors. In August 2013, BDPA Milwaukee chapter was reactivated in an effort to establish a network for minority IT professionals. They are a minority Information Technology (IT) organization dedicated to developing career-minded, IT professionals through networking and education to become leaders and innovators in the IT industry. Through sponsorship and volunteerism, they strive to develop programs in the community for high school and college students, but also for IT professionals and executives.

BDPA recognize chapters across the country that are committed to developing the Information Technology talent pipeline from the 'Classroom to the Boardroom'. BDPA Milwaukee was recognized as the “2014 Comeback Chapter of the Year” for its accelerated growth and commitment to students, members and corporate sponsors. Compared to the other chapters across the nation, BDPA Milwaukee has attracted the highest percent of new members in one year.  BDPA Milwaukee Chapter sponsored local high school students in the National High School Computer Competition (HSCC).



Allen Baylor (2016-2017) took over the presidency upon the passing of Carmen Giles.

Allen Baylor, President
BDPA Milwaukee Chapter

Address: 3939 W. Highland
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 207-1464

Allen Baylor
Allen is a Milwaukee native, with almost 20 years of experience in Information Technology. Allen is married to his beautiful wife, Dr. Aza Baylor, which we have two beautiful children, Amari and Niara. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He has covered areas of IT Operations including IT Security, Networking, Application Monitoring and Tier 3 High Availability Support. He also worked in Project Management as a Web Development PM. From here, he shifted the last decade of his career into the area of Quality Compliance, with a focus on IT Governance, Quality Assurance, QA Testing, Validation, with exposure to FDA Audits for IT Systems. Allen is currently working with MillerCoors as a Governance Specialist with a focus on PMO Governance Processes and Methodology.   MillerCoors has been the official beverage at our annual BDPA Technology Conference over the past few year.

Favorite Quote: “If not now, when? And if not you, why not?" - Michael Roberts

Favorite Motto
: Just do it!

Please use the POST COMMENT link below to share some BDPA-Love with the president  of our BDPA Milwaukee chapter!

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Is Your Company The 'Best Company for Blacks in Technology'?


BDPA offers our stakeholders in corporations, educational institutions and government agencies opportunities to network with other employers, career professionals and students in the pursuit of IT talent and services, as well as receive critical information on technology trends.

The prestigious Corporate PACEsetter Award for the Top Companies for Blacks in Technology award is presented annually during the National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair to the company that best demonstrates a workplace and environment that supports the advancement of African Americans in the IT industry.

Look below to see the guidelines for this corporate award:


Come learn more about the 39th annual BDPA Technology Conference in Cincinnati, OH on July 26-29, 2017!

Saturday, February 4, 2017

BDPAConnect Virtual Career Fair * March 15-16, 2017

BDPAConnect Virtual Career Fair Registration already started and companies such as Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson & Johnson, NextEra Energy and NRG have joined already. Please see the document shown below and request more information on how your organization can participate and become part of this event.


BDPA is the largest home of African American information technology professionals in the country. We plan to connect candidates and National BDPA to fill important technology positions and promote diversity initiatives in information technology, computer science and related STEM fields.

For more info, please reach out to BDPA via email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 x107).

Friday, February 3, 2017

Careers in Business Initiative Program (Deadline: 2/10/2017)

Program Objective:
The objective of the Careers in Business Initiative Program (CIBI) is to introduce diverse women who are seniors in high school to business in general and Procter & Gamble in particular. Further, the program is designed to reach the women very early, before they enter college and are pursued by other companies. All women are from local area high schools with family ties to Cincinnati.


Application/Interview Process:
The CIBI program started in 1998/99. Each year guidance counselors at many Cincinnati Metro area high schools are personally contacted to discuss the program. After the annual contact, recruiting materials and application packages are sent to the guidance counselors who distribute the materials to diverse women who meet the following criteria:
  • Seniors
  • Good academic standing
  • Plan to continue their education
  • Express interest in the program.
Those interested complete an online application, submit their resumes and complete the online Success Drivers Assessment. A resume template is available for those who do not have a resume prepared.

If the applicant meets the minimum criteria, they are contacted to set up an initial interview. During this visit the candidates:
  • Complete a full comprehensive interview
  • Are coached on interview tips and resume writing skills
Candidates who successfully complete the initial processes are invited to participate in Careers Day.

Careers Day:
The daylong program provides information about the Company and career opportunities. It also provides an opportunity for the candidates to meet successful Procter & Gamble employees. Comprehensive interviews are conducted during Careers Day. Apprenticeship offers are based on the results of the final interviews.

Placement:
Apprentices can work in different functions in order to provide them with a broad view of P&G. Roles are solicited directly within the various functions providing the specific projects. Each apprentice’s skills and desires are considered when matching them with a role. The program owner places all apprentices. A work plan is in place for each apprentice before their arrival with mid-point and final evaluations held to assure expectations are being met.

Future Offers:
Each apprentice will receive a mid-point and final evaluation from her manager. Offers to return subsequent summers will be based on these evaluations and the manager’s offer recommendation. The Program Owner will make all final offer decisions.

Program Owners: Devan Woods, Senior Senior Diversity Recruiting Specialist; Sheila Neal, Senior Recruiting Specialist
Program Sponsor: Tom Lally, North America Talent Supply Recruiting Team Leader