Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Shawnda Peterson

Good morning all!

We had a good state of the union session last night. We were able to sign up three new individuals and hopefully have three move willing to join the organization. We discussed the national conference taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio during the week of July 26 - July 29. This is the first time in the 39 years the national conference has been taking place that it has been held in Cincinnati. This is a great accomplishment not only for our city but for our local chapter.

We have several interests with the media to do stories on several of the initiatives taking place inside of our organization. I hope everyone on the board will be willing if need to help speak and discuss some of the great things were are doing in the organization and how we are preparing for the conference. I hope everyone would be able to attend this year. The cost is $350/members and $450/non-members. and it is a strong possibility that your company will pay for your conference fees. I put in the request in this morning for me and I hope you do the same. Dr. Dalric Webb will be the local representative for the conference. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to him.

Debbie Sanders on January 11, 2017 stepped up to fill the board position as the VP of Finance. I would like everyone to please congratulate her on her new position when you have a chance. Thank you so much Debbie for stepping up in 2017 and we truly appreciate all your work.

We had an open forum with the group and here are some topics the members would like to see this year. If you know anyone who could possible speak on any of the topics please reach out to Aissatou Guisse.

Potential Topics included:

BDPA Cincinnati Program Meeting

• Alexa app development 
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Datalake
• DevOps - Mike Lively has volunteer to speak to the group again
• Entrepreneurship
• Internet of Things (including security)
• Linux
• Mobile application development and deployment
• Network Security
• Protecting websites from web scrapers
• Recruitment Panel - This will be our February monthly meeting
• Security

I would like a take a moment to thank all board members and members who make an effort to join the monthly meetings. I truly appreciate it. I look forward to a good 2017 and hope that we can continue some good work.

Sincerely,
Shawnda Peterson, president
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter
(513) 549-6991
Twitter: @BDPACincinnati

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dr. Dalric Webb

Greetings!

As we head into the final month of the year, your BDPA Cincinnati chapter is still going strong and making a positive difference in the communities in which we live and work. From getting more students interested and excited in Information Technology and STEAM related careers, to expanding the networking of STEAM related professionals and improving job opportunities, BDPA Cincinnati Chapter continues to outperform against our goals and objectives. We are on track to end the year holding onto our LARGEST CHAPTER IN THE NATION status with a stretch goal of reaching 300 members by the end of the year! Our membership growth and retention is a direct testament and compliment to the value our members see and receive from being a part of the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. Thank you to each of our members for your support and participation!

Program Meeting  audience

If you missed last month’s program meeting on 'Big Data - Friend or Foe?' with our honored guest speaker, Barb Kruetzkamp (GE Aviation), you missed a VERY informative session with EXCELLENT networking engagement and potential job opportunities. There were several organizational leaders in attendance as well as several recruiters actively seeking candidates for open jobs. Our program meetings are rapidly becoming known as THE place for IT/STEM connections to happen! Be sure to RSVP to attend this month’s program meeting on 'The Challenges of IT in Sub-Saharan Africa' with our special guest speaker, Russell McMahon (University of Cincinnati).

Na'Shawnda Peterson

As this is my final message as the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President, let me take a moment to thank ALL the volunteer leaders of the chapter, the sponsors and supporters, corporate executives, and organizational recruiters who have put forth their time, talent, and treasure to make the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter such a well-run, effective, and impact organization! It has been a humble honor to be a part of this wonderful team of volunteers! To the incoming President, Na'Shawnda Peterson, we have put together a strong structure of documented processes for the chapter operations and have begun engaging several promising community and organizational partnerships for an even greater positive community impact in 2016 and beyond!

Lastly, how are you feeling about your membership? Do you know who the Vice Presidents are for your Chapter? Do you know how to reach any of the board members? When was the last time you visited the National BDPA website?  We need your engagement! Everyone has something they can contribute to making our chapter even better!  You will find we are a fun group of professionals that are committed to making a difference in our local communities.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dr. Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President (November 2015)

Dalric Webb

Greetings!

We start the month of November having just completed the 2016 Strategy and Planning session. The volunteer leaders of the chapter have a clear vision and focus on delivering programs and engaging opportunities for BDPA members and the communities in which we live! The 2016 strategic plan was thoroughly vetted by the volunteer leaders and agreed upon as a solid plan to execute in delivering greater value to our members and the community at large.  Next year is going to be just as exciting if not more so than 2015! Staying connected to the chapter is the watchword of the day!

BDPA Cincinnati Chapter continues to be the LARGEST BDPA Chapter in the nation for its 7th consecutive month! Congratulations to each of you that helps make this chapter great. I do hope you are engaged with the chapter in not only your membership, but what you desire from the chapter. We are only as strong as each of your engagement efforts – so let us know how we can help you get more engaged!

Speaking of engagement, if you missed our 19th Annual Education Banquet, you missed a real treat as we recognized our hard working students from the BDPA computer camp as well as the incredible volunteers who make the program happen. The hard work of past chapter president Brenda Hogan produced an exceptionally well executed program that received many complements on its setup, layout, flow, and engaging opportunities. We had almost 100 registrants and the speaker, LISNR chief executive officer Rodney Williams, was phenomenal!

As we turn head towards the end of the year, we enter into our bi-annual election cycle! All members should have received an email indicating the nomination and election cycle. I encourage members to submit nominations for positions if interested and VOTE for the candidates when the election window opens. Stepping forward to lead such a strong organization as BDPA Cincinnati speaks volumes to the type of leaders you have within our ranks and within the local community. Thank you for being an active participant in the process.

Our engagement opportunity this month takes place at our November 2015 program meeting. Barb Kruetzkamp, Data Management Leader at GE Aviation, will lead an interactive discussion entitled 'Big Data - Friend or Foe?'. BE SURE TO BRING YOUR RESUME! There are always two or more recruiters in the room ACTIVELY seeking candidates for employment. Attending a program meeting could be just the game-changing activity you have been looking for!

Dr. Tyra Oldham, LANDsds chief executive officer, will host a special interest group discussion on SMARTGrid Technologies. Are you interested in participating in the discussion and getting in on the ground floor to this dynamic shift in digital engagement? Are you looking for an entrepreneurial opportunity? Be a part of the discussion and contribute to the future direction of the group. Reply to PM-SIG.cincy@bdpa.org to receive more information about this session.

Finally, how are you feeling about your membership? Did you receive your most recent issue of Diversity at your home address? Have you had a chance to read through some of the articles? Which article struck a chord with you? Didn’t get your copy? Reach out to our VP-Membership Management to make sure we have your correct mailing address in the database. Do you know who the Vice Presidents are for your Chapter? Do you know how to reach any of the board members? When was the last time you visited the National BDPA website? Do you like the changes you see? Do you have any recommendations on how to improve the site or provide more information to our members?

We need your engagement! Everyone has something they can contribute to making our chapter even better! Have a little time on your hands (say, 4 hours a month)? Consider joining the board. There are still a few openings available and we can certainly use your help. Take a look around the chapter landing page and read some of the job descriptions for the positions listed. You will find we are a fun group of professionals that are committed to making a difference in our local communities.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events,

Sincerely,
Dr. Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Greetings!

As we begin the 4th quarter of 2015, your BDPA Cincinnati Chapter is still GOING STRONG! The leadership team has held several key strategic meetings with sponsors and supporters in the last month to build and sustain chapter operations, improve the way the chapter operates and return value to our members, sponsors and supporters. Most important, our chapter seeks to drive improvements into the programs we deliver that improve the diversity numbers in STEM “from the classroom to the boardroom”.

BDPA Cincinnati continues to sit atop of the National BDPA list as the LARGEST BDPA Chapter in the nation for its 6th consecutive month! Congratulations to all as each of you make this chapter great. I do hope you are engaged with the chapter in not only your membership, but what you desire from the chapter. We are only as strong as each of your engagement efforts – so let us know how we can help you get more engaged!

Speaking of engagement, I hope you are planning to show your support by either attending our upcoming Education Banquet on October 24, 2015 at Receptions Conference Center.  Our keynote speaker for the evening will be LISNR chief executive officer Rodney Williams. You can purchase a ticket or buy an ad in our program booklet. Brenda Hogan (Duke Energy) is again leading our annual recognition ceremony highlighting the students who committed themselves to over 28 weeks of hands-on training EVERY SATURDAY and went on to compete in the National BDPA National High School Computer Competition championship held a few weeks ago in Washington DC. Also, we take some time at this education banquet to recognize the hard working volunteers who make this chapter so successful! Please be a part of this celebration. It is a great night of networking and appreciation for our efforts at making a difference in the lives of many in our communities. I hope to see you there.

As we turn towards the fall, the BDPA leadership team is planning ahead for 2016! Under the direction of Vice President, Strategy and Planning, Norman Phillips (Procter & Gamble), the team has scheduled the 2016 Strategy and Planning meeting for October 25, 2015. At this planning session, the team will put together the short and long-term planning that will take the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter to the next level of impact in our community! Under the careful leadership of our President-Elect Na'Shawnda Peterson (GE Aviation), our chapter is poised to increase the impact of our operations in 2016. All are welcomed to attend, however your RSVP is required to properly account for food. If interested in attending, please send me an email to confirm your attendance.

Another engagement opportunity is the program meeting which happens the 3rd Wednesday of every month at Brown Mackie College in Woodlawn. This month, we have the honor and pleasure of hosting Vince Kilian  (Marxent) to discuss 'The Future of Augmented and Virtual Reality' on October 21, 2015. Marxent is the leader in virtual reality and augmented reality product visualization for sales and marketing. This promises to be a VERY exciting and engaging networking opportunity you do not want to miss! Register today as these events are expected to sell out. Oh, and when you come to the program meeting, BE SURE TO BRING YOUR RESUME! There are always two or more recruiters in the room ACTIVELY seeking candidates for employment. Attending a program meeting could be just the game changing activity you have been looking for!

Finally, how are you feeling about your membership? Did I mention that YOUR local chapter is the largest in the nation out of 47 chapters? Did you receive your most recent issue of Diversity Comm at your home address? Have you had a chance to read through some of the articles? Which article struck a chord with you? Didn’t get your copy? Reach out to our VP-Membership Management to make sure we have your correct mailing address in the database. Do you know the Vice Presidents for your Chapter? Do you know how to reach any of the board members? When was the last time you visited the National BDPA website at www.bdpa.org? Do you like the changes you see? Do you have any recommendations on how to improve the site or provide more information to our members? We need your engagement!

Everyone has something they can contribute to making our chapter even better! Have a little time (less than 5 hours per month) on your hands? Consider joining the board. There are still a few openings available and we can certainly use your help. Take a look around the chapter home at www.bdpa.org/group/ci and read some of the job descriptions for the available leadership positions. You will find we are a fun group of professionals committed to making a difference in our local communities.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Greetings BDPA!

Our HSCC Team, Team CHAOS (Cincinnati Holds All Opposition Speechless), went toe-to-toe with 16 other chapter HSCC teams at the 37th Annual National BDPA Conference in Washington DC last month. Under the leadership of Frank Hill, Deborah Prince, and Jared Torrence, the team was well positioned to place and bring home winnings again this year. Regrettably, we didn’t place, however, the team learned a ton along the way and each of the student members are already committed to returning to compete at the 38th annual National BDPA Technology Conference which will be held in Atlanta, GA on August 10-13, 2016. I suspect the team will not settle for anything less than a top place in 2016!

Additional technology professionals are welcomed to lend a hand in preparing the students for greater success next year. Please reach out to our VP Member Services, Karen Lipscomb, to see how you can participate and get engaged with helping local Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky students achieve their dreams of being WINNERS IN STEM!

As part of our preparation for another run at the top positions in 2016, we will take an evening on October 24, 2015 to recognize ALL the students and parents who committed themselves to 16 weeks of every Saturday training sessions teaching students about STEM-related topics, professional development, and life skills. Please show your support in not only your attendance, but your financial support in buying tickets for yourself and others to attend and give our hard working students some well-deserved recognition and support. We often TALK about what we want of this younger generation – I’m asking that you DO SOMETHING about these young folks who are living up to our high expectations. I look forward to seeing you there!

And let’s not forget about our upcoming monthly program meeting on September 15th, at our usual location on the beautiful campus of Brown Mackie University! This month we will have the pleasure of having Russell McMahon, Associate Professor of IT at the University of Cincinnati, sharing with us deep knowledge on The Challenges of IT in Sub-Saharan Africa. This will be another engaging and informative session you do not want to miss! Register today as these events are expected to sell out.

Lastly, how are you feeling about your membership? Did you know the Cincinnati Chapter is the largest chapter in the Nation out of 47 chapters? Do you know why the Cincinnati Chapter is the largest chapter? Have you been to a program meeting this year? Have you attended any of the social functions the chapter has put on for your engagement? Do you know 3 or more members of the board who are working to bring value to you for your membership? If most of the answers to these questions is “no”, I’d recommend getting more engaged with your Cincinnati Chapter!

The chapter team is doing great things to make a difference and YOU are a part of that effort. Come out to a program meeting. Meet the students who represent YOU at the National conference on October 24th. You will be pleasantly surprised by what YOUR chapter is doing and the difference the team is making in the lives of not only students, but adult professionals as well. Oh, and when you come to the program meeting, BE SURE TO BRING YOUR RESUME! There are always two or more recruiters in the room ACTIVELY seeking candidates for employment. Attending a program meeting could be just the game changing activity you have been looking for!

As always, I solicit your support of YOUR BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. We are a strong team of volunteers, but we can always use more hands to make lighter the load. There are a few more openings on the board, won’t you consider filling one? The time commitment is ~5 hours a month to help improve the number of minorities in the STEM fields “from the classroom to the boardroom”. Will you consider applying your skills, professionalism, and sense of community to the task of strengthening the digital thought Process Leaders of tomorrow through the BDPA organization? Visit our chapter website at www.bdpa.org/group/ci. and let me know which opportunity best fits your passion.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events,

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President (August 2015)

Dalric Webb

Greetings!

As we turn our attention towards the STRONG team of students we are taking to the 37th Annual National BDPA Conference in Washington DC in two weeks, let me take just a moment to offer another acknowledgement to the 2015 Future Leader Award recipients, two of whom are our very own Yaw Asante and Mouhamadou Guisse! Photos from the event are viewable on our chapter website in the photo gallery section. You can also view the event program guide.

Speaking of the BDPA Technology Conference, have you registered? Are you going? Are you planning to attend the career fair? How about the professional development workshops? Are you excited about the sponsors and vendors that are supporting this event? Did you know Retired General Colin Powell is the featured speaker this year? Think your personal and professional networking could get a boost out of attendance at this annual premier technology conference? Did you know the focus of this year’s conference is YOU! Specifically “The upcoming technology conference will be focused on how you as an individual in the technology field can be a part of this evolution and embrace the current and upcoming digital landscape”. I do hope to see you there. This is THE place to be the week of August 17th.

As I was reading through my FREE copy of Diversity-in-Action last night, it came to my mind that perhaps all the chapter members of the LARGEST BDPA chapter in the nation were not aware that this free subscription was one of MANY member benefits? Did you receive your complimentary copy of this publication at the mailing address you provided or that you have in your online profile? If not, please contact our VP Membership Management at vpmm.cincy@bdpa.org to make sure we have your proper contact information. This benefit is just one of MANY benefits of your BDPA membership. Take a look at the BDPA membership benefits on the national website.

I do hope to you can join us at this month’s program meeting where we have a dynamic speaker leading the interactive conversation on “The Cloud”.  Hope to see you there!

We have a few more openings on our board of volunteers. Won’t you consider joining this dynamic team? We can use your support in helping others (and yourself) advance their careers “from the classroom to the boardroom”. Will you consider applying your skills, professionalism, and sense of community to the task of strengthening the digital thought leaders of tomorrow through the BDPA organization? Visit our chapter website at www.bdpa.org/group/ci and let me know which opportunity best fits your passion.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President (July 2015)

Dalric Webb

Hello fellow BDPA Cincinnati members!

We want to welcome those of you who took advantage of the opportunity to renew your BDPA membership for FREE last month! National BDPA president Pamela Sexton allowed any lapsed member a chance to renew their membership for a full year at no cost. Over 60 people took her up on the offer and our chapter retains its title as the LARGEST BDPA CHAPTER IN THE NATION for the third month in a row! Please make a special effort to come out and engage with your fellow chapter members at upcoming program meetings or social events.

We are ROLLING through the summer months and your BDPA chapter volunteers are sweating profusely with the efforts at delivering value to you, our members. How you ask? I’m glad you asked! Let me articulate the ways your volunteers are demonstrating a nice return on investment (ROI).

2015 Computer Camp Students

Did you show your support to the two High School Computer Camp teams (one from Cincinnati and one from Indianapolis) that met on June 20th to compete in a Midwest Regional Computer Competition in preparation for the final showdown in DC next month at the 37th Annual BDPA Technology Conference? Certainly you felt obliged to show these bright and rising future technologist some support as they have invested up to 30 Saturdays learning the computing technology skills that not only will make them winners at the National competition, but also make them successful in life – perhaps even providing employment opportunities for another crew of young technologist as they lead companies of their own? The ROI in investing in our youth is priceless.

But perhaps that doesn’t do it for you?

Kevin Murray and Dalric

How about attending last month’s program meeting where Cincinnati Bell chief information officer Kevin Murray shared his insights on 'The Internet of Things'? Any value in that type of face time and interaction? Does the fact that there are a number of technology recruiters attending each of our program meetings LOOKING TO HIRE, add any more value? How about networking with a room full of your peers, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers in the community? Are your value proposition chords singing yet? No?

Well how about giving back? There are over 25 volunteer board positions within our chapter structure. Each board position plays a critical role in delivering value to our members, our youth and our local community. There are a few vacancies on the board and several volunteering opportunities that do not fill a board seat. Would investing about four (4) hours a month into such a worthwhile cause seem a good investment of your time and energy? Being a part of a powerful and growing team of digital technology professionals that have a strategic plan to improve the number of diverse individuals in the digital technology fields, how is that for a cause you can get behind and run with?

Dr. Tyra Oldham

The next opportunity to engage with the chapter and the community is Wednesday, July 15, at the Woodlawn campus of Brown Mackie College. Click here to register for this DYNAMIC session where Dr. Tyra Oldham leads us in a discussion on 'Smart Grid Technology'. As always, our program meetings are open to the public, free of charge AND we provide food and beverages! I hope to see you there. As always, BRING YOUR RESUME! Hiring recruiters are ALWAYS in attendance.

Check out our entire calendar of events.  Register to attend any of our events. Keep an eye out for the announcement of our Annual Education Banquet in a few months! We need you there in support! Also, please share your input and feedback on these events and any others you would like to see or participate in. We value your opinion and recommendations.

That’s all I have for now. I’m excited about how well the chapter is doing in executing to our strategic plan laid out by the board last year. We have a strong team that can only get stronger with your active participation. Thank you to all the volunteers who have stepped forward and continue to give just a little bit of time that adds up to the chapter making big things happen! You are all AWESOME and I am proud to be a part of this team.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, May 2015)

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership.  There is a new membership champion in the BDPA family -- BDPA Cincinnati!   BDPA Cincinnati chapter, under the leadership of Dalric Webb, broke a streak of over 10 years that had been held by BDPA Chicago.   BDPA Cincinnati implemented a number of strategies and initiatives that allowed it to power up from the #5 slot it held in January 2014 ... leapfrogging BDPA chapters located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington DC.

Michael, Wayne, Audra, Patrick

The major membership growth by BDPA Cincinnati chapter can be attributed to its leadership in the Membership Management business area.  The chapter VP-Membership Management is Wayne Hicks.  He leads a team of directors -- Shelton Graves (Marketing), Patrick Nelson (Member Benefits), Michael Pulliam (Contact Management) and Audra Sweeney (Membership) -- who worked hard to improve the brand awareness of BDPA in the greater Cincinnati area.   The chapter effectively used its monthly program meetings to introduce itself to the community.  Finally, the chapter actively works to ensure a high retention rate amongst its members.

BDPA believes in the management maxim -- you get what you measure.  Let us assess the numbers in order to honor those local BDPA chapters who are demonstrating success in their efforts to recruit and retain members. Let's take a look at the ten largest chapters in BDPA-Nation:

1. Cincinnati - president, Dalric Webb (up 1 spot)
2. Chicago - president, Reggie Rush (down 1 spot)
3. Detroit - president, Beverly Moore (up 1 spot)
4. Philadelphia - president, Eileen Gadsden (down 1 spot)
5. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter 
6. Atlanta - president, Derrick Brown (up 1 spot)
7. Milwaukee - president, Carmen Giles (up 3 spots)
8. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney (down 2 spots)
9. Southern Minnesota - president, Will Smith
   
10. Indianapolis - president, Terry Morris (down 2 spots)

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Only three chapters remain in the 'BDPA Century Club'! The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Chicago and Cincinnati and Detroit each have over 100 members. One of the common denominators for each of these chapters is that they place a high premium on the delivery of quality programs and services to their members. These chapters work hard to ensure that there is a strong return on the $100 investment that each member makes thru annual dues.

Our national president recently announced that BDPA is offering complimentary renewal for any former BDPA member.   Just come to the website and use the membership code - juneonly.

What are your thoughts about the value of BDPA membership? What can your local chapter do to improve the value-proposition for you on a personal or professional level?

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Spring has arrived! Hopefully you will be excited at the most recent news about your chapter entering into the second month of this quarter has the LARGEST chapter amongst the 46 BDPA chapters nationwide! Reaching NUMBER ONE status is no simple accomplishment and takes the coordinated efforts of all of our volunteer leaders as well as our ability to deliver programs and activities that are of interest and value to the members of our communities. Congratulations to all!

Our VP-Member Services Karen Lipscomb and her team completed the first phase of our 2015 computer camp program. Over 20 dedicated middle and high school students completed our 13-week (every Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm) program at Cincinnati State Technical College. Congratulations to all the students who participated and to the seven students who will proceed forward into phase two of the program. You can read more about the students and their projects here. We are very much looking forward to the BDPA Midwest HSCC regional being held on June 20, 2015. This event allows our students to practice the skills and techniques to WIN at the national technology conference in August 2015!

Speaking of winning, the June program meeting is one you CERTAINLY do not want to miss featuring Kevin Murray speaking on the 'Internet of Things'! This is another great informative session you do not want to miss! As always, all are welcomed and we encourage you to bring a friend. Register to attend this session by clicking here.

As we turn out attention towards the hot and lazy days of summer rapidly approaching, with school being out for most students, be sure to stay closely connected to your BDPA chapter for great opportunities such as the Xavier University Summer STEM Program for Girls or the 2015 Reaching for the Stars Leaders of the Future program. BDPA in its partnerships within the local community will share information of this nature to our members as soon as it is available. We hope you find it useful for yourself or for others.

Our next social event is the annual BDPA Cincinnati Cookout being held on June 27, 2015. We hope to see you there for this fun and engaging opportunity to meet and greet your fellow BDPA members! Our most recent social event was held at Margaritaville. A fun time was had by all. Check out the pictures and attendee comments by clicking here. You can find our entire calendar of events at our BDPA Cincinnati Groupsite or to register to attend any of our events. Please share your input and feedback on these events and any others you would like to see or participate in. We value your opinion and recommendations.

There are still a couple of opportunities to join the BDPA Cincinnati Board of Directors and volunteer your time and energy towards making a positive difference in the lives of others. Won’t you step forward to join the team? Please take a look at the currently vacant positions listed on our chapter landing page. Also, we have several volunteering opportunities within each of the business areas that might be more of a match for your particular interest in giving back. Send me an email and lets chat about it.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Spring is in the air and the BDPA team of volunteers are busy as bees!

I represented Cincinnati Chapter at the 2015 BDPA Midwest Region chapter president's meeting held in Chicago on March 21-22. The meeting allowed us to leverage best practices, lessons learned and networking with other key leaders including National BDPA president Pamela Mathews and vice president Mike Williams. As the second largest chapter in the nation (out of 46 chapters) Cincinnati was tapped to host the 2017 Midwest Region president's meeting! We look forward to hosting all the leaders here in the 'Queen City'!

Congratulations to all the students who completed the 12-week computer camp held at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CinState)! Your commitment, dedication, determination, and positive attitudes made helping you learn the 'code' of technology that will change the world, an awesome experience for all the instructors! Please visit our computer camp website to see some of the fine work these up and coming technologists have developed. We move on to the second phase of the training program with a smaller team invited to compete in both the regional and national High School Computer Competitions. Our team should be prepared to compete for trophies and college scholarships at the 37th annual BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC.

We had a FANTASTIC 'meet and greet' last month at Margaritaville. The event was well attended and everyone in attendance had a great time. We appreciate BDPA member Malik Spencer for sharing his Salsa line-dancing expertise with our attendees.

Babacar Guisse

BDPA Cincinnati chapter successfully celebrated its 10th Annual Awards Luncheon this weekend! All of the chapter's corporate sponsors from 2014 were recognized. CinState earned the award as '2014 Corporate Sponsor of the Year' -- the highest award given to any corporation. Babacar Guissé was named '2014 Member of the Year' -- the highest award given to any member.

Other winners announced during the event included:
- Michael Pulliam (Quest Diagnostics) was named '2014 Director of the Year'
- Wayne Hicks (Hicks Enterprises) was named '2014 Executive Officer of the Year'
- Frank Hill (Cincinnati State) won the '2014 Community Service Award'
- Deborah Prince (xpedx) won the '2014 Spirit Award'

I encourage you to attend our next monthly program meeting on 4/15/15 to join our discussion on '3D Printing: The Promise of Tomorrow'. We will have a 3D printer on hand to provide examples of this new technology. Light refreshments will be available.

Shelton Graves

Our board of volunteers continues to grow as we welcomed Shelton Graves (North American Properties) on as our chapter's Marketing Department director. Shelton seeks to enhance the marketing presence of the BDPA chapter – making BDPA a household name in Cincinnati. There are still a few more volunteering opportunities that can use your support. Send me an email or  give me a call on (513) 549-6991 and let’s chat about it.

2015 is off to a FANTASTIC start! Membership continues to grow with the chapter growing over 200 members during the first quarter of the year. We hope to continue that trend with the active engagement of our members. Remember, this is YOUR organization. What are you looking to get out of it? What are you putting into it to obtain those results? Are you engaged? Did you attend the last program meeting? The last social? The last computer camp session? Have you chatted with President-Elect Shawnda Peterson about her thoughts and plans for her upcoming presidency in 2016-2017? The chapter is ACTIVE in our communities – we’d love to have you be active with us.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

BDPA Announces Annual Awards Luncheon to Honor Members & Sponsors

BDPA Cincinnati Chapter is pleased to announce the 10th Annual Awards Luncheon (THEME: 'Embracing the Digital Future') to be held at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber (3 E. 4th Street; Cincinnati 45202) on April 10, 2015. BDPA plans to recognize its outstanding volunteer members and corporate sponsors. The chapter is a professional organization that seeks to advance the careers of African Americans in the information technology industry from the classroom to the boardroom via its programs and services.

“BDPA Cincinnati is a safe place to volunteer and sharpen corporate leadership skills”, said Awards Luncheon chairperson Janice Lee. “This luncheon lets us thank the volunteers who ‘do the work’ and the corporate sponsors who provide financial support and advice to the chapter’s board of directors.”

The luncheon will honor five individuals and one corporation for the chapter’s highest honors. The following awards will be presented: Community Service Award, Corporate Sponsor of the Year, Director of the Year, Executive Officer of the Year, Member of the Year and Spirit Award

“The luncheon is a wonderful opportunity for us to express our appreciation to the corporate sponsors and hard working volunteers that make the BDPA Magic happen year over year,” said BDPA Cincinnati president Dalric Webb. “Through the financial, in-kind, and volunteering efforts of our sponsors and supporters, the chapter is able to make a difference each year in the lives of underserved students and individuals focused on STEM careers. We hope all who attend find this brief ceremony to be enjoyable and empowering.”

Your attendance is requested to support the program. Tickets for the luncheon are $25.00. Proceeds from the banquet will underwrite scholarships and educational opportunities for area youth. For more information on the luncheon or BDPA Cincinnati chapter, call (513) 549-6991, email luncheon.cincy@bdpa.org or log on to http://bdpa-awardslunch-2015.eventbrite.com/.

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

As we enter the last month of the first quarter in 2015, BDPA Cincinnati is still putting the pedal to the metal! In case you haven’t been keeping up with the postings on the chapter's Groupsite page, there has been a flurry of activity in the last month and coming up as well! The BDPA Computer Camp team has rounded the corner and is now going into week #11 of its schedule.

The students have done EXCEPTIONALLY well in absorbing the teachings from BDPA volunteers. Many of the students have already completed interactive webpages. We are looking forward to our students competing in the upcoming BDPA Midwest Regional High School Computer Competition on June 20th. BDPA will use the regional competition to finalize on the members of the HSCC team that we plan to take to the 37th Annual BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC. We are counting on the support of family, friends, sponsors and volunteers as these students move on their journey 'from the classroom to the boardroom'.

Rodney Swope

Our 2nd Annual IT Recruiters Roundtable was held on one of the coldest nights of the year. However, the energy in the room heated everyone up! Our chapter's VP-Member Services, Karen Lipscomb, led the panel discussion focused on hiring tips, job opportunities and timely resources. Our March 2015 program meeting will feature Rodney Swope, Minority Business Accelerator director, who will share key insights on being an entrepreneur and connecting to the vibrant economic and innovation ecosystems within Cincinnati. We hope spend the evening with us to learn from Rodney, network with like-minded professionals and enjoy some light refreshments.

BDPA Cincinnati encourages you to join us on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 6:30 pm for island-style dining and salsa dancing at Margaritaville in downtown Cincinnati. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind tropical experience at the Margaritaville Restaurant at the Horseshoe Casino. The fun really starts at 7:30 pm when BDPA member Malik Spencer gives us lessons on Salsa dancing! Malik has taught dance workshops all over town and we look forward to seeing the improved Salsa techniques of our guests on March 25th!

Finally, we hope that all of our supporters, sponsors and volunteers will make plans to join us at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber for the 10th Annual BDPA Awards Luncheon being held on Friday, April 10, 2015 @ 11:30. We will recognize both the 'Member of the Year' and the 'Corporate Sponsor of the Year' at this celebration. Tickets are only $25.00 and you are encouraged to RSVP right away!

2015 is off to a FANTASTIC start! Our chapter membership grew to more than 200 in February! We hope to continue that trend with the active engagement of our members. Remember, this is YOUR organization. What are you looking to get out of it? What are you putting into it to obtain those results? Are you engaged? Did you attend the last program meeting? The last social? The last computer camp session? The chapter is ACTIVE in our communities – we’d love to have you join us.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Love is in the air...

February brings to mind all the excitement and joy of being close to those you love and care about, like your BDPA family! Within your BDPA family we have share a love and passion for seeing our youth gain traction in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We get excited when our young people get the “bug” for learning and see college not as a challenge outside of their reach, but as a stepping stone to further their own aspirations for greatness. We feel a certain warmth when one of our peers or colleagues advances their career, receives that promotion, takes that new job, or completes a major milestone. The BDPA family love is undeniably in the air and it is a feeling we want to grow within our communities and circles of influence.

February brings us into week five of our computer camp at Cincinnati state! The 20 students in attendance are digging deep and staying focused as they enter their second month of Saturday instructions. We are excited to have three members of the GE Information Technology Leadership Program joining the team this year, Jarad Torrence, Bobby Richardson and Kadre Roberts bring additional technical, personal and professional skill-sets to the team and will be a part of the WINNING team we take to Washington DC this summer for the 37th Annual BDPA Technology Conference!

Our next program meeting is on February 19th and will feature our second roundtable with IT recruiters from Fifth Third Bank, L3-Communications and SmartIT. In case you missed the exceptional roundtable held last year, you do not want to miss this one. Be sure to bring several fresh copies of your resume. Opportunities present themselves at our meetings each month. The one that is right for you could be at this month’s meeting! Register today by clicking this link.

While our board of volunteers is strong and working well together, there are still volunteering opportunities that can use your support if you are still considering how you can help out. Won’t you step forward to join the team? Please take a look at the vacant positions listed on our chapter landing page. Additional, we have several volunteering opportunities within each of the board committees that might be more of a match for your particular interest in giving back. Send me an email and let’s chat about it.

2015 is off to a FANTASTIC start! Last year we grew membership by over 127%! We hope to continue that trend with the active engagement of our members. Remember, this is YOUR organization. What are you looking to get out of it? What are you putting into it to obtain those results? Are you engaged? Did you attend the last program meeting? The last social? The last computer camp session? The chapter is ACTIVE in our communities – we’d love to have you join us.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events,

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, president
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Happy New Year wishes to all our BDPA Cincinnati chapter members, their families and friends. Fresh off the successes of an OUTSTANDING year in 2014 serving the needs of our members and our communities, the team of volunteers that comprise the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter Board of Directors is EXCITED at the potential greatness we plan to accomplish in 2015!

Kicking this year off we first welcome NaShawnda Peterson (GE Aviation) to the BDPA Board as our incoming President-Elect! NaShawnda brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the board and will help steer the organization toward even greater success in the years ahead. Be sure to say hello and welcome her at our next program meeting. Speaking of which, have you registered to attend the next DYNAMIC program meeting on January 21st? The topic is 'Electronic Publishing'!

We kicked off our annual Computer Camp program on Saturday, January 10th at Cincinnati State. Please stop by and say hello to the eager students we will train in our weekly Computer Camp ... these young people will impact the world of tomorrow! Share with them some of your personal and professional experiences as we prepare them with instructions on coding, web development, professional development and improving their confidence levels on the journey BDPA takes them 'from the classroom to the boardroom'!

Steve Gutter

Steve Gutter (The Kroger Co.) stepped down after over a decade of service in a variety of leadership positions including both VP-Strategy & Planning and VP-Finance. Steve contributed his time and expertise as a speaker on Mobile Applications Development at program meetings and chapter camp sessions. Steve was an exceptional example of the professional volunteers that have joined the BDPA team over the years to further the organizational mission and make a positive difference in the lives of our youth, our members and within our communities. Steve will certainly be missed on the board of directors!

The incoming VP-Finance is Jessica Waddell (GE Aviation).  Jessica is a financial planning analyst by trade. She is eager and energized at the opportunity to volunteer in support of the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. Please join me in welcoming Jessica to the team!

There are still several opportunities to join the BDPA Cincinnati Board of Directors and volunteer your time and energy towards making a positive difference in the lives of others. Won’t you step forward to join the team? Please take a look at the currently vacant positions listed on our chapter landing page. Also, we have several volunteering opportunities within each of the board committees that might be more of a match for your particular interest in giving back. Send me an email and lets chat about it.

2015 is going to be a FANTASTIC year! We have several social events planned including the upcoming 'Meet & Greet at Nada Restaurant' on January 22nd. Please take a look at our GroupSite calendar for more information and to register to attend.

Take a moment to complete the online Membership Satisfaction Survey. We plan to use your feedback to improve on the ways that we engage with you in the future. Please show your support by participating AND providing feedback on what is or is not working for you in the chapter operations. We value your input and participation.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter