Where Are They Now: 1999 BDPA Chapter Presidents

One of the magic elements of the Internet is that you can reach out to people that you have not seen for many moons. Judy Jones is the founder of the BDPA Greenville chapter. She recently provided me with a file containing the names of the BDPA chapter presidents from about a decade ago. I wonder if we can reach out and find each of these brothers and sisters today?

You've heard the question before ... and now it is being asked of you --> Where are they now?

Originally Posted: 11/18/2008

• Anton Albert (Akron) -
• Gwen Williams (Atlanta) -
• Daryl Hines (Baltimore) -
• Kevin Hinkston (Bay Area) -
• Tim Wilson (Boston) -
• Richard Bell (Central Arkansas) -
• Candice Anderson (Charlotte) -
• Betty Hutchins (Chattanooga) - Betty served as National BDPA VP-Member Services for the past two years. She was recently appointed to serve on the National BDPA Board of Directors in 2008-2009 as one of our Outside Directors. She is an executive with Mayo Clinic and an active member of the BDPA So. Minnesota chapter.
• Milt Haynes (Chicago) -Milt remains active with National BDPA.   He was appointed to serve on the National BDPA Board of Directors as an Outside Director (2010-2011).
• Jessie Rodgers (Cincinnati) -
• Bruce Keene (Cleveland) -Bruce is currently the IT Program Director at Vatterott College in Broadview Heights, OH
• Chester Grice (Columbus) - Chester was chapter president for Dayton in 1999. He now live in North Las Vegas working on his doctorate in organizational leadership. Graduation is summer of 2009, begin dissertation in January 2008.
• Jackie Ockleberry (Dallas) - Jackie is running her own company, JYO Consulting, in Dallas. She came back to BDPA leadership in a gigantic way a few years ago in the role of 2004 National BDPA Conference Director. She led an outstanding annual event that took place in Dallas, TX that year.
• Dee Pearson (Dayton) -
• Renee Cunningham (Detroit) - Renee attended the 2007 National BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC. She is currently Chief Information Officer (CIO) for P.I.E. Management in Detroit, MI
• Milton Grays (Flint, MI) -
• Pompia Durril (Ft. Wayne) -
• Barbara Singleton (Gr Columbia) -
• Wendy Wonsley (Greater Tampa Bay) -
• Judy Jones (Greenville) - Judy is an IS Consultant for MetLife. Personally, I hope that she will consider helping us rejuvenate her chapter in South Carolina.
• Valerie Thomas (Hartford) -
• Andre Romeo (Houston) - Andre is a project manager for Shell Chemical. He serves as the current president of the BDPA Houston chapter as well.
• Patrick Massey (Kansas City) -
• Reggie Watson (Los Angeles) -
• Steve Thomas (Lexington) -
• Annette McMichael (Macon Middle Georgia) -
• Morris Brown (Memphis) -
• Renee McClure (New York) - Renee later served as National BDPA President from 1999-2001.
• Beverly Johnson (New Jersey) -
• Anthony Collins (Northwest Indiana) -
• John Wright (Omaha) -
• Ron Cureton (Philadelphia) - Ron Cureton still participates in Philadelphia events and is the owner of the Cureton Group.
• Bill Trotter (Phoenix) - Bill retired from Motorola in 1998. Motorola was the primary sponsor of the Phoenix Chapter and employer of its core group of chapter members. Bill continues to work part-time as an IT Consultant. Currently Bill is contracting with an Australian based company working localy at American Express. He remains hopeful that someone will step forward that he can support in rejuvenating the Phoenix Chapter.
• Annette Yates (Richmond) - Annette is an IT advisor for WellPoint. She is incredibly active with the BDPA Richmond leadership team and can be found often on one or more of the YahooGroups in the Richmond area.
• Henry Fields (Rocky Mountain) -
• Robert Riddick (San Fernando Valley) -
• Maurice Jenkins (South Florida) -
• Mark Grady (St. Louis) - Mark is a project leader for Edward Jones.
• Paulette Lalor (Toledo) -
• Nate Wright (Triad) -
• Gerardette Furlow (Triangle) -
• Gregory Douglas (Twin Cities) -
• Rudy Duke (Washington DC) - Rudy owns Nextium Solutions. He is a strong part of the legacy of our BDPA Education & Technology Foundation (BETF). Rudy served for many years as the executive director. He is now the BETF Chief Information Officer.
• Rosamae Emily (Wilmington DE) - Rosamae lives in South Carolina now. She would be pleased to know that the chapter she founded many years ago in Delaware has been reincarnated as the BDPA North Delaware chapter today.

I am uncertain how this will turn out, but, we will keep updating this particular post until we have located all of the brothers and sisters on the list. Ideally, we will have comments personally shared by some of the folks listed above. In the meantime, I invite all BETF-Blog Readers to simply enjoy the journey of rediscovering some of our legendary leaders from before the 21st century.

We need your help! Please post a comment below if you know the current whereabouts of any of these past BDPA legends.

Take Five: Annette Yates (Richmond)

Annette Yates has been a BDPA Richmond chapter since 1991. She maintains her allegiance to the Richmond chapter even though she is currently owner of a health spa in Phoenix AZ. I served with Annette on the National BDPA Board of Directors for many years. She is a strong advocate for BDPA in the workplace, public school system and the community.

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - My reason for joining BDPA was very selfish. I wanted to meet someone near Los Angeles to network with when I traveled to California to support the project management software package my company was using. Ruffin Bell brought my attention to a BDPA advertisement. After reviewing an advertisement I realized there was a BDPA chapter in Los Angeles. I decided to check the organization out so that I could locate someone to network with. I actually met the BDPA member at the 1993 national conference and we have been friends for 16 years.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - The most rewarding aspects of working with BDPA has been the mentoring, support and measurable outreach provided to young people in our Quiz Bowl, High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and college chapter programs.
3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - A personal defining BDPA moment occurred for me when I realized there was a lack of computer terminology knowledge from our students in the HSCC program. After watching my 4th grade daughter compete in a Black History Quiz Bowl at her school it dawned on me that we could create a feeder program at the middle school level. That vision resulted in the BDPA Richmond Middle School Computer Quiz Bowl competition that has now been in existence since 1998. Many of the students from this middle school program eventually migrate to our chapter's high school programs. [EDITOR'S NOTE: BDPA Richmond chapter is now mentoring elementary school students in robotics].
4. Who is your hero and why? - My company relocated me to Phoenix before I was downsized. However, it was at that moment that a remarkable opportunity dropped right in my lap. In less than 4 months I was able to take over a successful business located one block from my new home. There is only one hero and that is my Savior. I give Him all the praise!
5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - As a long-time BDPA member, it is evident that the financial support provided by BETF to BDPA education programs has made a huge impact in terms of our impact on young people. BETF financial support provides BDPA with ability to successfully provide technology skills needed by students in preparation for college. This has been very evident from the students who reached back to help other students through the BDPA technology programs over the years.

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I encourage you to reply to this Take Five Interview with some BDPA-love for Annette!

Message from Richmond Chapter Past President

BDPA Richmond chapter past president Jackie Pryor shared a passionate plea for more of us to volunteer in support of our youth education programs. Another past president of our Richmond chapter, Annette Yates, was moved to share her thoughts on BDPA volunteerism:

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Good Morning BDPA Members and Non-BDPA Members and Jackie,

Of all the posts I have seen this year I must say this is my favorite and I am sure those of you who know me, know why. This post captures the true vision and mission of BDPA Richmond.

It was through volunteer service at the elementary, middle and high schools in Richmond and the college campuses at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Union University that helped me understand my role in BDPA Richmond. Through that knowledge and the self awareness that materialized, I realized that I had something to give others. From that day on, I was determined to give my heart and soul to ensuring that the students and BDPA Richmond members that I met, mentored and coached were exposed to as much knowledge about community outreach, networking, mentoring and giving back as I could.

In that vein, I witnessed the BDPA Richmond chapter explode with enthusiasm for helping others and that is what sustained this chapter for this long. Believe me I did not do this alone, I was merely one of catalyst that ignited the flame in many others along the way.

As Jackie said, it is time to get back on track. Just as you could see below realization was enhanced by just being with the students for a short period of time. She is conveying to you that these students need us. With their varied situations of knowledge and preparation for the future we all can make a difference. The only way you will get the giving back bug is to get into these schools and college campuses to see the need and know that if we all band together we can make a difference.

Today, I am still in touch with many of the students. It is because I know I made a difference in their lives. They have been reaching out to me via email, on Facebook and LinkedIn. You can just imagine what a surprise and how refreshing it is for me, after being in BDPA for almost 20 years to still have these young people contact me. This shows me that it was all worth my efforts. We are all in harder economic times but giving back to our youth only costs our hearts.

The current BDPA Richmond administration is working very hard but they cannot take the chapter to the next level without some additional support. Although I am now residing in Phoenix, through the use of technology I am still helping where I can though knowledge, sending fundraising information to my vast network, being a part of various committees to do what I can from here. I am so vested in knowing the potential this chapter has that I recently renewed my membership for the next 5 years.

To add to Jackie's plea, I would like to ask that you please consider stepping up to the plate. It is not for the adults in the chapter, but for the community outreach programs that we are making a difference with in our communities. If you feel you do not have the time to donate please don't forget that all of the education programs could use financial support.

Our President of the United States has been asking ALL of you for almost a year to step up your volunteer actions. This is such a worthy avenue to do just that!!

On behalf of BDPA Richmond, please share Jackie's message and mine if you like with others so that we can continue to make a difference in the Richmond, Virginia communities.

This email is being sent to all of my Virginia networks because I do believe that BDPA Richmond chapter can make a bigger impact if WE ALL help in some way!!

Please send an email to execboard@bdparichmond.org to learn more about the organization, to volunteer your time or make a donation to one of the education programs.

Thanks!
Annette Yates, Owner
Curves South Mountain
(602) 470-4500

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Jackie and Annette have laid out a powerful message for Richmond chapter that probably applies to the other 44 BDPA chapters around the nation. What say u?

BDPA Member Annette Yates Buys Small Business in Phoenix AZ

One of our earliest BETF donors was Annette Yates. Annette is a long-time leader of the BDPA Richmond chapter. She worked in the information technology industry for over 30 years when she decided last year to move to Phoenix, AZ to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

If you know Annette ... then you know she wasn't going to sit in a rocking chair on her front porch. As such, we are not surprised that she opened up a Curves franchise. Curves provides an exercise and weight control program designed specifically for women. Whether you’re interested in getting more exercise for health and general condition, or want to lose weight or tone your muscles, Curves can help you establish a regimen to help you meet your goal. [SOURCE]

I congratulated Annette on her foray into entrepreneurship. She replied,

Thank you Wayne! Believe me it came as quite a surprise to me, but you know, what God has for you is for you!! I love every moment of it!! I didn’t realize that I would have as much technology at my disposal until I was exposed to all of the facets executing the Curves business processes. This definitely is a perfect fit for me. I love working out, I love inspiring people to do their best and the technology was definitely an added plus!!

I must credit BDPA for the majority of my business process knowledge. After being in the various leadership roles and especially running the Richmond Chapter for 5 years has definitely paid off in my new entrepreneurship career. There was no way I could have stepped into this ownership position and have been as successful as I have been in such a short period of time unless I had the prior experience that I gained over these last 20 years in BDPA.

For more information, contact Annette Yates at (602) 470-4500. Of course, you can share your thoughts and remembrances of Annette's BDPA legacy here in this spot as well.