Black Technology Professional Networking in Columbus, Ohio

by Cecil Jones, past president
BDPA Columbus Chapter

Do you want to network with other success minded technology and business professionals? Are you interested in technology and new to Columbus? Do you need a technology mentor or want to mentor technology professionals? Consider visiting the BDPA Columbus, an organization focused on the development of technology acumen in the African American community here in Columbus, Ohio. The chapter is a strong, dedicated, caring network. Some of their activities are described below.

BDPA is a national technology organization that focuses on developing African American with a technology interest. There are chapters in most of the larger cities in the country, including Columbus. It is a good local and national network. They sponsor a national conference in a different city each year. The national conference highlights include a Career Fair where you can talk with hiring companies before, during and after the Career Fair. In the evenings, before and after the career fair, the companies sponsor free, informal ‘get-to-know the company’ gatherings in large meeting rooms. There, the companies describe what they do, answer any questions provide help with resumes and do career coaching.

The conference also provides many seminars focused on technology, management, project management, career development, entrepreneurship, networking and other valuable skills. It sponsors technology competitions for high school student competitors from around the country. BDPA national conferences include meetings of the IT Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) for those at the CIO, Vice President and Director levels. The ITSMF is a national forum that national organization dedicated to fostering upper-level executive talent among African American IT professionals. Those not at the upper-level can join as a protegee to be mentored by an executive.

The local chapter of BDPA has a great history. Several of the founders of the local chapter have become business owners or IT executives.

Cecil Jones

• One of the founders is Archie Williamson, the CEO of Diversified Systems, a regional Consulting company. 
• Another founder, Delden Fane, has moved to Atlanta and started his IT Consulting company. 
• The longest serving chapter president, Cecil Jones (author of this article), has been Vice President/Administrative Manager at JP Morgan, Director of Technology at Computer Sciences Corporation, Director of Interactive Technology at Cincinnati Bell and Associate Director at Network Applications at The Ohio State University, after starting his career at IBM.  
• Reggie Hillery, the immediate past chapter president, is an IT Consultant. 
• Deborah Smedley, the current president of BDPA Columbus, has held multiple management roles in Information Technology and teaches technology at the university level. Deborah has received the Alpha Phi Alpha Jewel Award for Technology Leadership, among other honors. 
• Wayne Hicks is a former national president of BDPA and former president of BDPA Cincinnati chapter. He is the president of BETF (BDPA Education and Technology Foundation), a 501c3 non-profit charity, founded in 1992 to support the education and technical programs of BDPA. Wayne is a speaker at some BDPA Columbus chapter meetings and has advised and supported African American technology businesses here in Columbus on a hands-on basis. BETF support chapters across the country.

The local BDPA chapter has had a successful record of attracting corporate sponsors. These sponsors have in the past assisted with providing instructors and sponsoring the High School Computer Competition team to attend and participate in the national competition. Training for the August 2012 conference competition has begun. Students are needed. Instructors are needed.

Along with BDPA members and guests, recruiters and hiring managers typically attend the BDPA meetings. The Information Exchange chapter meetings typically focus on a technology or business trend around technology. Previous topics have included the secure usage of Facebook, Security concepts, Web development and Branding, Project Management, Vendor product demonstrations and other topics.

In addition to the High School Computer Competition teams, additional programming is developed for middle school children. The local chapter’s training focuses on middle school through high school students. BDPA Columbus chapter took home the bronze medal in the 2011 national BDPA HSCC championship.

The strategic value for members surrounds the networking with other members, the education and training and also the ability to quickly get to a hiring manager when looking that new position. Mentoring occurs across the chapter. Businesses come to BDPA looking to hire employees. Some small businesses have attended BDPA chapter meetings to find a competent web site and branding builder.

The Columbus chapter has had chapter meetings at multiple locations, including: JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide, Cardinal Health, Limited Brands, and the Urban League. Employers like BDPA as a resource to support their existing employees, in addition to helping them find qualified new employees.

BDPA participated in a December 2011 community gathering with other Black professional organizations (Columbus Association of Black Journalists, the National Society of Black Engineers and the National Association of Black Accountants). Collectively, they produced a couple of thousand dollars for needy families to have good Christmas seasons. They bought clothes and other necessities for African American families with limited funds that were selected via Franklin County Children Services.

The BDPA mission includes developing their members, developing our children, assisting BDPA stakeholders, and reaching out to the community.  BDPA Columbus supports Black Family Technology Awareness Week in February of each year.

Do yourself a favor -- contact BDPA Columbus chapter or National BDPA (for those of you that live outside of Ohio). You, your family or someone you know will benefit from taking that 5 minutes to reach out to BDPA.

Why Do I Continue To Be An Active Member in BDPA?

Cecil Jones is the past president of BDPA Columbus chapter. He recently shared his thoughts on joining or renewing your relationship with BDPA.

Why do I continue to be an active member in BDPA?

I just finished a consulting/training gig, using some of my corporate vacation days, that pays MUCH, MUCH more per day than I will EVER earn in corporate america. This gig came from a local BDPA member.

Last month, a BDPA member called me. They have gotten a promotion and needed guidance/support and motivation on a MAJOR corporate wide initiative. I had experience, documentation and templates that they were able to use.

I have always wanted to teach at a university. Immediately after a local chapter BDPA presentation where I was one of the panelists, I received an offer to not only teach but to be on their board. Working through BDPA afforded me this opportunity.

During one of those past recessions, my company where I had received STAR awards and walk on water reviews, started acting 'funny'. I heard from a BDPA sponsor HR rep there that it was being debated to include me in the next management layoff list. I found out that it was true; I was going to be placed on the list. I called yet another BDPA sponsor company HR rep, told them the situation. That HR rep got me into my new spot in their company within two weeks, after a dinner meeting with their leadership.

I have been presenting at national BDPA conferences for a few years. Immediately after one of those presentations, I received a training gig.

I have received a lot of mentoring. I have been able to assist others (BDPA members and HSCC students) helping to fulfill my commission and obligation to help our community.

When I took my technology certifications and PMP test, where did I get information on the exams and how to pass? BDPA!

When I hear members whine about not knowing what BDPA is about or that they receive no value, I think back to the 2000 and before, when we had $0 in the treasury and passed the hat to buy pizza and soda for meetings. Now we have sponsors. I think back to the Dayton and Cincinnati chapters that have been 'rebuilt' by individuals with vision. Ask Wayne Hicks about going from a 3 person chapter to a 300 person chapter in Cincinnati, sometimes. That was lonely but inspirational. When one sees that, you know the power of being on the right mission. You know that you have the ability to manage in anybody's corporation or organization.

I think about the telephoning, the typed and handwritten postcards that we sent to build membership. Now we have a website.

I think about the loneliness of being one of the few Blacks in technology in the department/divison (still occurring). We have BDPA for support and sharing.

BDPA is NOT perfect. It is as perfect as you have made it. Get into the middle of it. If you want to develop a recession proof network, join the Membership Management team. Find out what fellow BDPA members are doing, where they are working and what they are working on.

Why participate in BDPA? I think you know. What have you done for BDPA (or 'What have you given to yourself') lately?

Please feel free to call me at (614) 736-1100.

Thanks!
Cecil Jones, past president
BDPA Columbus Chapter

---

Cecil shared his reasons for being an active member of BDPA. Why do you support BDPA?

13 Reasons to Attend the BDPA Technology Conference?

I met Cecil Jones about a decade ago when I was trying to build up the BDPA Cincinnati chapter. He was a presenter for one of our program meetings. Later he moved to Columbus OH to work at Ohio State University. At one point he served as president of our BDPA Columbus chapter. As such, I thought BETF-blog readers would appreciate his answer to the following query:

Q: Why will you attend the National BDPA Technology Conference in Raleigh, NC during the first week in August?

---

Can you keep a secret? Raleigh, NC area is one of the technology capitals in the country with intellectual capital supplied by IBM, telecommunications companies, application develop organizations, project management organizations and middleware companies. Great companies will be at the conference -

Also, the seminars sharpen my technology and managerial 'game'. Here are 13 reasons that I will be at the upcoming BDPA conference:

1. I can talk there to local Columbus hiring managers directly, freely in a one-on-one manner for long periods


2. I find out more about what is going on in companies in Columbus and other cities


3. I develop MEANINGFUL relationships with others in a true network sense


4. I learn from key vendors the new products that will be released


5. I develop that 'back up', in case my current employment situation suddenly severs


6. I pick up consulting contracts and consulting contacts


7. I talk with some of the best in technology in the country


8. I have a non-threatening environment where I get my skills assessed and
   help with career goals


9. It is great to be in an environment where hundreds of Black IT professionals are on top of their 'game'


10. The social activities are great! Who said tech folks can't party?


11. I develop a national network


12. I talk with the IT Senior Management Forum to get mentors; I don't ask
    them, I just start communicating regularly and the rest follows naturally


13. I contribute to a great national organization and network

I may fly, drive, ride with others, or catch the bus but I WILL get to the BDPA Conference!

Please attend the National conference, for your sake. In this economy, it is MORE important than ever!

Click here to register for the conference.

Cecil Jones, past president
BDPA Columbus Chapter

---

Why are YOU planning to attend the National BDPA Technology Conference?

Grant Award: Fifth Third Foundation ($2,500)

We learned today that the Fifth Third Foundation donation committee approved $2,500 grant funding for BDPA Columbus chapter.

The funds will allow participation by Columbus-area students in the Student Information Technology & Scholarships (SITES) program. The program includes the Midwest Regional High School Computer Competition (HSCC), Youth Technology Camp and the national BDPA HSCC in Atlanta, GA on August 8-9, 2008.

A joint press release between the BDPA Foundation and Fifth Third Foundation will be issued in the next few days to announce this funding, however, we wanted our blog readers to know about it right away.

BDPA Columbus chapter president Cecil Jones led this funding effort based on discussions he had with a prominent Fifth Third executive. However, our BDPA Columbus chapter still needs financial support to get their students to the national competition.

I encourage all BDPA Foundation blog readers to consider making a small donation right now to support them. What say u?

Message from Columbus Chapter President

Cecil Jones is the president of the BDPA Columbus chapter. I first met Cecil at a program meeting hosted by the BDPA Cincinnati chapter back in 1999. He has been an active and vocal supporter of BDPA ever since I've known him. He moved to Columbus and got married in the intervening years. In 2007, he took on the challenge to serve as president of the 11th largest chapter in the nation.

He recently shared this message with his chapter members and supporters:

---

"A HUGE Thanks! goes out to Jim Locke, Kym Miller, Lance Livingstonston, our Columbus HSCC students and parents. The 2008 Midwest Regional High School Computer Competition held last weekend in Cincinnati was a success!!

Additionally, we need a volunteer to call and work with the following people (one person per bullet). Just one easy task.

• Associate Dean, Engineering College, Dr. Minnie McGee at OSU - call her and ask how we can get her Engineering students involved in the our chapter and in HSCC. Dr. McGee is the mother of our one our JPMorgan Chase sponsors. I worked on an OSU Scholarship committee with her. Anyone volunteering for this assignment would be blessed to work with this dedicated sister.


• Technology Education College on Winchester Pike - I met with them last night. They have students that should be BDPA members. I will give you the Director's name and number. They are ready for us.


• BDPA member who was the past president of a LARGE Devry Black student organization - work with with to tell Devry about BDPA and our meetings.

One of our challenges is the same as many organizations. We have 10% of the members doing 90% of the work. If you are one of the 90% that are not engaged, please volunteer for ONE task - just one - and our organization will more effectively fulfill its mission. Please email me or call me to get engaged.

Here is my personal testimony on the power of being a BDPA volunteer:

1. BDPA helped me fulfill one of my spiritual obligations ('help others').


2. The relationships obtained working with BDPA has helped me financially (contracts and services - ask me how,!).


3. It has helped in preparing for various IT certifications.


4. Call me and ask me how it helped me move from one organization to another within 3 weeks including the 2 week notice via BDPA members and sponsors (three different times; build your well before you need to use it).


5. After speaking on a panel during one of our BDPA meetings, I was offered (a) an adjunct professorship and (b) a contract. Neither required an interview.


6. By volunteering to interact with sponsors and others, I have obtained board memberships that allow me to learn, serve and financially benefit.

Please volunteer and let BDPA help you.

Thanks!
Cecil Jones, president
BDPA Columbus Chapter
Phone: (614) 736-1100

---

Are there any Columbus-area blog readers out there? If so, now is the time for you to step up and support the efforts of BDPA Columbus chapter to advance the careers of African Americans in the IT industry from the classroom to the boardroom!