Sandra Scott Wins BDPA Epsilon Award for Community Service

Sandra Scott * Epsilon Award

National BDPA annually selects and awards the BDPA Epsilon Award to recognize and celebrate key contributions and accomplishments of its members. Nominations are accepted across five categories and they are evaluated by a team of National BDPA members. One of the categories is Career Achievement. This honor is reserved for people who have significant demonstration, by meaningful results, strong partnership and collaboration with entities in the communities they reside.

BDPA is pleased to announce that Sandra Scott has won the 2015 Epsilon Award for Community Service. Her nomination was submitted by Carmen Giles, manager, MillerCoors. She wrote,

BDPA Milwaukee Chapter leadership team believes that Sandra Scott is a BDPA Epsilon Award Winner and here are reasons why:

Sandra Scott is an outstanding individual and an enormous assess to the Milwaukee Community. She has been a key player in many areas of the Milwaukee Community such as Hansberry Sands Theatre Company, MillerCoors – Milwaukee Tutorial Program, NAACP, Milwaukee County Cultural Artistic & Musical Programming Advisory Council and the rejuvenation of the BDPA Milwaukee Chapter.

Sandra is the CEO and founder of the Scott Institute of Learning. She has worked with a number of Milwaukee Public Schools to improve academic achievement. Her main goal is to educate students how to manage, embrace, and understand such topics as Conflict, Critical Thinking, and Financial Literacy. Her program has touched so many students’ lives and they are highly encouraged to join the BDPA Milwaukee Chapter HSCC program. Under her program, students have mastered the art of NASDAQ Stock purchasing and selling.

Under Sandra’s leadership Hansberry-Sands Theatre Company has given numerous Milwaukee youths an opportunity to display their talent in acting and production director roles. She provided strategic direction, vision, bias for action, and motivating leadership. Hansberry-Sands Company was the only Black theatre company in Milwaukee for many years. Sandra and her team received numerous acknowledgments from the Mayor of Milwaukee, local media, and corporations.

Under Sandra’s leadership, the BDPA Milwaukee Chapter has expanded its membership and student recognition in the City of Milwaukee. She played a significant role preparing the Milwaukee students attendance at the 2014 BDPA National Technology Conference. This was the first time that the BDPA Milwaukee Chapter had students attend the conference. BDPA Milwaukee Chapter success is contributed to Sandra Scott passion for successful results.

Message from BDPA Milwaukee Chapter President

BDPA Milwaukee Chapter would like to thank you for all your support, dedication and membership during the 2014 calendar year!

The Milwaukee Chapter had major accomplishments in 2014 that include:

• 45 members and growing, 
• Named 'Comeback Chapter of the Year' at the National BDPA Conference, 
• first time Milwaukee students participated at the BDPA High School Computer Competition (place 14th), 
• two college students awarded $5,000 and $10,000 college scholarships, 
• featured on the Milwaukee local papers and news stations, 
• awarded grants,
• partnered with several large corporation such as GE, Rockwell, State of Wisconsin.

We would like to extend our holiday wishes to you and your family. May your holidays be filled with joy, happiness, and harmony. We hope that you have the opportunity to take some time to enjoy the fruits of your hard work this year.

We trust that 2015 will be an even better year for you and get you another step closer to achieving your goals. We look forward to working, networking, and continue and new memberships in the New Year.

May the New Year bring all of you happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity!



Carmen Giles, President
BDPA Milwaukee Chapter
Web: www.bdpa.org/group/WI

MillerCoors Sponsors BDPA for Third Year in a Row

MillerCoors is passionate about beer and the beer business. MillerCoors demonstrated its passion for BDPA programs and services when it made the commitment for the third year in a row to become a corporate sponsor ... this time at the Gold Level. The company investment in 2014 supports a number of the events at the 36th annual National BDPA Technology Conference on August 5-9, 2014 in Indianapolis.

Craig Brown

Dr. Craig Brown, National BDPA president stated, "On behalf of the National BDPA leadership team and its stakeholders, it is my honor and privilege to welcome MillerCoors as a Gold Level Sponsor. We thank MillerCoors for their commitment, continued support and contributions. It is the support of sponsors like MillerCoors that allows BDPA to continue forward with our mission to impact our members’ lives through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)."

MillerCoors has a strong leadership team and dedicated, hard-working people who are committed to building great beer brands the right way. The company is focused on creating big ideas and innovations that drive profitable growth and will help create a new era in the American beer industry. Their workplace philosophy is simple: Contribute your best with confidence, grow your career, and together help to create America’s best beer company.

Norman Fleming and past BDPA president Monique Berry

Norman Fleming, MillerCoors senior director said, "MillerCoors is committed to hiring the best multicultural talent in the market, and we know that National BDPA produces the best talent in the Information Technology field."

BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry. For almost 40 years, BDPA has fulfilled its mission by bridging the digital divide and providing career growth opportunities for its members. BDPA is also the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in STEM education across the country.

Pamela Sexton

BDPA conference director, Pamela Sexton said, "National BDPA is elated with the sponsorship renewal from MillerCoors. It's wonderful to have a company of this caliber as a trusted partner year after year. I enjoy the collaboration and support provided by MillerCoors during conference planning and throughout the year to bring BDPA forward. Thank you MillerCoors for your continued partnership."

Over 8,000 employees at MillerCoors 8,134 work together as a single team to exceed any challenges or expectations. A number of those employees are active with local BDPA chapters in both Chicago and Milwaukee.

"BDPA and MillerCoors are committed to developing the IT professional from the classroom to the boardroom. BDPA believes this is a ‘Best of Class’ professional development model that our members can benefit from,” stated Carmen Giles, BDPA Milwaukee chapter president.

To become a sponsor like MillerCoors, please contact BDPA Corporate Sales Team by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 x108).

Related articles

• WellPoint Joins BDPA as Silver Level Sponsor
• Monsanto Moves Up to Silver Level Sponsor of BDPA
• For MillerCoors, It's The Charge Of The Light Brigade

BDPA iRadio Show: November 12, 2013 (Janice Coleman, William Flowers, Carmen Giles)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog. FREE download from the iTunes Store is also available for our listeners!

New Technology Internet Radio with BDPA on BlogTalkRadio

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The guests on the November 12th show:

Carmen Giles - Chapter President, BDPA Milwaukee - Carmen Giles is BDPA Milwaukee chapter president. Carmen has numerous years in managing diverse engagements, program management, and technical initiatives for enterprise level Information Technology (IT). Carmen has a diverse background which include; management, interpersonal skills, program and environment management, teaching and training of ERP software applications, main frame operations, systems/business analysis and design, and computer programming. Carmen is a certified Project Manager and has experience in managing various projects across multiple platforms using a number of tools and methodologies. She came on board earlier this year as the 'corporate champion' for MillerCoors where she has worked for the past 24 years. She learned that the local BDPA chapter was inactive ... and she immediately stepped in to serve as the chapter president. BDPA iRadio Show listeners learn about her perspective as a new chapter president and also her thoughts about creating a powerful leadership team for a nonprofit organization.

William Flowers - Chief Information Officer, DFW International Airport - William has been the chief information officer for one of the world's largest airports for over 12 years. He has been a leader in BDPA for even longer ... serving as both BDPA Dallas chapter president (1991-1993) and national Outside Director (2012-2013). He has a unique perspective to offer BDPA iRadio Show listeners about the power of BDPA as it relates to your career in the IT industry as well as to workforce development in our community. In fact, William attributes his experiences in BDPA for his success as one of the most powerful IT executives in the nation. DFW Airport twitter handle is @DFWAirport


Janice Coleman - President/CEO, Janice Coleman Corporation (JCC) - Janice is a master communicator. Her action-provoking presentations are sought out and tremendously well-received by all audiences. She has held many strategic roles in the corporate and non-profit sectors for over 20 years during which time she has had the pleasure of leading teams to great success in their respective industry segments. She is a regular contributor to BDPA, having presented to at several chapters in the Northeast Region including Philadelphia, North Delaware and North Jersey. Janice hosts a monthly Career Triage© webinar for all BDPA supporters and she was a recent conference workshop presenter on multiple topics that included: 'Stand Up. Stand Out. The Science of Executive Presence.' and 'Resume Review: Maximize Your Experience.' BDPA iRadio Show listeners will enjoy the insights shared by Janice Coleman. The National BDPA twitter handle is @JaniceMColeman.

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We hope you enjoy the insights and commentary on the show from each of these guests. Please take a moment to post a comment to let us know that you care!

President Profile: Carmen Giles (BDPA Milwaukee)

BDPA Milwaukee was founded in 2006. It is a chapter that has struggled to get traction for most of its existence. However, all of that may be changing in 2013 under the leadership of its current president -- Carmen Giles.

Carmen Giles, President
BDPA Milwaukee Chapter

Address: 6631 W. Glenbrook Road
Milwaukee, WI 43223
(414) 460-2542

Carmen Giles is the 'corporate champion' for BDPA with MillerCoors. During sponsorship discussions Carmen realized that BDPA Milwaukee chapter was dormant. Carmen believes that technology should be accessible to a broad number of people in our community. She recognized that BDPA could be a vehicle to advance provide greater opportunities in the information technology industry for the greater Milwaukee area. As such, she agreed to take the lead in reviving the local chapter.

Carmen volunteered to be the chapter president until the chapter can conduct proper elections and install a full body of officers. Carmen’s leadership will be instrumental in taking the BDPA through a business transformation that will elevate and sustain the local chapter in Milwaukee. A major challenge facing BDPA Milwaukee chapter will be in attracting and retaining members. That challenge is being met head-on by the business and community leaders recruited by Carmen to grow the chapter.

Carmen’s vision and mission for the BDPA Milwaukee Chapter is simple:

• Transform to an efficient and effective chapter
• Bring awareness of the National BDPA organization
• Build membership and sponsor relationships
• Partner with community school systems ensuring students explore BDPA and its offerings.

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Carmen's Favorite Quote: "Nothing great is every accomplished alone." ~ Nina Crawford (1906-1975)

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Carmen has over 20 year of managing diverse engagements, program management, and technical initiatives for enterprise level Information Technology. She has qualifications which include: portfolio and environment management, teaching and training of ERP software applications, business analysis and design, and software programming. She has held leadership positions such as Release, Integration, Application, and Information, and Program Manager.

Currently, Carmen is the SAP Center of Excellence (COE) Manager for America’s Best Beer Company, MillerCoors. In this role, she is responsible for overall SAP functional and technical design, environment management, and integration within the SAP COE along with identifying and developing process and solution improvement opportunities, and most importantly, attracting, developing, and retaining the best diverse employee talent. Carmen also oversees the tutoring program at MillerCoors.

Carmen graduated with honors and earned a Master of Business Administration in Global Management and she earned her Bachelor in Science in Mathematics. She has numerous certifications in SAP, DB2, Sarbanes-Oxley, leadership development, and project management. Carmen is a certified Project Manager and has experience in managing various projects across multiple platforms using a number of tools and methodologies.

Carmen is an active member of many organizations, including: National BDPA, National Black MBA Association, Project Management Institute (PMI), PMI Milwaukee Chapter, Dallas Texas Chamber of Commerce, SAP America User Group, American Management Association, National Association for Professional Women and MillerCoors Employee Affinity groups.

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

Message from the BDPA Milwaukee Chapter President

Carmen Giles

Carmen Giles (MillerCoors) agreed to work with others to rejuvenate the BDPA Milwaukee chapter. She shared an update on the process with us recently.

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We had an informational meeting last month with 14 people. Everyone was very interested in the organization. Adonica Randall (Abaxent) shared a wealth of knowledge and lesson learned regarding the past Milwaukee Chapter.

Meeting Agenda:

• NBDPA Overview
• NBDPA Technology Conference Experience
• Corporate Sponsorship overview
• Milwaukee Chapter:
1. History of the past Milwaukee Chapter and Lesson Learned from the past chapter
2. Officer positions tentatively assigned:
• President – Carmen Giles (MillerCoors)
• Vice President – Allen Baylor (MillerCoors)
• Vice President of Finance – Open (Confirm at next meeting)
• Vice President of Membership Management – Sandi Scott (Scott Institute of Learning)
• Vice President Member Services – Nicole Jackson (MillerCoors)
• Vice President Strategy and Planning – Albert Thomas (GE Healthcare)
• Local Chapter Administrator - Open (Confirm at next meeting)
• Goal is to have all open officer positions filled by end of April
3. BDPA Milwaukee open enrollment - Goal is  to have at least 6 individuals join by the end of April
• Next Steps:
1. Next meeting scheduled for April 18
2. Meeting every two weeks
3. Chapter Planning
4. Membership Drive
5. Networking Event at the Milwaukee MillerCoors Pub (Confirm a date at the next meeting)
• Q&A

I will provide another update after the April 18th meeting. Please let me know if you have any further questions or would like to discuss in further detail.

Sincerely,
Carmen Giles, president
BDPA Milwaukee Chapter

MillerCoors Renews Its Sponsorship of BDPA

We are proud to share that MillerCoors took the steps necessary to become a Gold-Level corporate sponsor of BDPA programs and services.  In addition, we are proud to announce that MillerCoors is also the 'Official Beverage Distributor of the 2013 BDPA Technology Conference'!

You can expect to see MillerCoors with a prominent location in the career fair as well as a corporate hospitality reception that will feature some great MillerCoors adult beverages (what is your favorite?). The company is also supporting BDPA Milwaukee and BDPA Chicago with in-kind facilities donations in CY-2013. Very cool!

Much props to Carmen Giles (MillerCoors corporate champion and the new president of our BDPA Milwaukee chapter) as well as ITSMF member and long-time BDPA leader and supporter Norman Fleming for working with BDPA to grow this mutually-beneficial corporate partnership!