Happy Birthday Gina Billings!

Join us in wishing a Happy Birthday to past national BDPA president Gina Billings! Gina served on the national BDPA board of directors from 2002-2009 as BDPA Cincinnati chapter president, national president-elect, national president and immediate past president. Gina is a hard working BDPA leader with an expertise in finances, having served for ten years as the chief financial officer for the BDPA Cincinnati chapter.

Much of my success in BDPA is due to the support of Gina. In September 1998, Gina led an effort with Brenda Hogan, Tina Welch, Marilyn Wilson and myself to rejuvenate BDPA Cincinnati chapter.

The five of us met weekly for the remainder of 1998 putting together the organizational plans and goals for 1999. BDPA Cincinnati chapter went public in January 1999 with our first program meeting in over two years. There were approximately a dozen guests at that initial program meeting and we ended the month with six financially current members.

It's been all good since that day. The chapter has been winning awards at the national level, including 4-time Chapter of the Year (2001-2002, 2004, 2006) and 5-time Runner Up Chapter of the Year (2000, 2005, 2007-2009). Gina had the vision to be a founder of the chapter in 1989 and her vision positively impacted hundreds of students, IT professionals and entrepreneurs in the greater Cincinnati area ever since.


Gina will be a member of the BDPA Hall of Fame at some point in the future. For now, we honor her here in cyberspace. Happy Birthday Gina!

ITSMF: Executive Protege Program

I spent eight years in the Senior Executive Service (SES) with the federal government before striking out to start my own company. It is difficult to travel a career path in the information technology (IT) industry through the glass ceiling to the executive level.

One way to make that journey is with the help of a mentor. As such, I can sincerely recommend that any African American IT professional that is currently in a management position ... who feels that (s)he has executive potential should take a moment to learn about the Executive Protege Program (EPP) offered by the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF).

ITSMF exists is to fill the executive pipeline with the next generation of African American executives. The EPP provides the mentoring and networking that mid-level IT managers need to advance their IT careers to the senior and C-level. I am not aware of any other national mentoring program focused on cultivating executive talent among African American IT professionals.

Check out this brief video to learn more about the program from brothers and sisters who participate in it either as mentors or protegees.

Well, BETF-Blog readers ... are you interested in learning more about EPP or ITSMF?

Message from Gina Billings (2006-2007 National BDPA President)

Gina Billings is the outgoing president of national BDPA. We are sharing her final message to BDPA members and supporters.

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Dear Members and Supporters,

On behalf of the National Executive Team and the National Board of Directors, serving in a leadership capacity for BDPA has been both a pleasure and privilege. From 2006-2007, BDPA made great strides in developing and enhancing its programs and services for the Information Technology Professional. As visionaries for the organization and the IT profession, the leadership team integrated a number of new programs for the good of BDPA. These achievements lay the foundation that will support the organization into the next decade. Key accomplishments of the 2006-2007 administration are summarized as follows:

• Established the BDPA IT Institute which introduced three (3) professional certification programs and a PMP prep course
• Improved workshops at annual BDPA Technology Conference to target training and recertification needs of the IT professional
• Enhanced the user interface of the BDPA Career Center
• Established the BDPA Digital Library
• Upgraded the member benefits package for the IT professional
• Introduced BDPA Lifetime Membership
• Initiated SITES (Student IT Education & Scholarship program) accreditation process
• Relocated national office to accommodate future expansion

As a result of the united efforts of BDPA leaders at the national and chapter levels, BDPA has been able to advance our organization and the standing of the IT profession. We also note that the accomplishments would not have been possible without the tireless dedication and support of our member volunteers.

The time has come for the 2006-2007 administration to pass the baton and cheer the efforts of a new administration. We are proud to announce the 2008-2009 National BDPA Executive Committee as follows:

• Founder – Earl Pace, Jr.
• National President – Denise P. Holland
• President Elect – Yvette Graham
• Vice President (Finance) – Abraham Joseph
• Vice President (Member Services) – Kim Davis
• Vice President (Membership Management) – Eatonia Williams
• Vice President (Strategy & Planning) – Edwin Sapp
• Outside Director – Wayne Applewhite
• Outside Director – Betty Hutchins
• Outside Director – Norman Fleming
• Immediate Past President – Gina L. Billings

Based on the caliber of the incoming leadership team, we should all feel encouraged that BDPA will remain in steady hands. President Denise Holland may be reached via the official presidential e-mail address, president@bdpa.org.

Warm Regards,
Gina Billings
2006-07 National BDPA President

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BETF-Blog Readers, Gina put alot of time, talent and energy to her volunteer efforts as our national president-elect (2004-2005) and national president (2006-2007). Please take a moment to use the POST A COMMENT feature below to share some BDPA-love with her!

2008-2009 National BDPA Executive Committee

• Founder: Earl Pace
• President: Denise P. Holland
• President Elect/VP-Business Management: Yvette Graham
• VP-Finance: Abraham Joseph
• VP-Member Services: Kim Davis
• VP-Membership Management: Eatonia Williams
• VP-Strategy & Planning: Edwin Sapp
• Immediate Past President: Gina Billings
• Outside Director: Wayne Applewhite
• Outside Director: Norman Fleming
• Outside Director: Betty Hutchins

Please share some love and encouragement for these brothers and sisters who have agreed to provide leadership necessary to take National BDPA to the next level over the coming months and years. Share your testimony about any of these BDPA leaders that you may have worked with in the past ... or simply congratulate them on their new volunteer assignment!

Women in Technology (Austin)

We are very proud of the growth of our BDPA chapter in Central Texas. BDPA Austin chapter began the year as the 33rd largest chapter in the country. We are moving into the 4th quarter of the year ... and the chapter has increased their membership by 100% and moved up to become the 20th largest chapter in the country. The growth of this chapter is directly related to the meaningful programs and services provided for their members.

One such service is the monthly program meeting. BDPA Austin chapter will focus on Women in Technology at their October 16th program meeting. All IT professionals in central Texas are invited to share their concerns, ideas, thoughts and questions with some powerful women in our industry. The panel discussion with women from different levels of management who will discuss what it means for women to be in technology.

Here are the logistics for the meeting:

Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Mitchie’s Fine Art and Gallery
Lincoln Village Shopping Center located at IH 35 and Hwy 290

This is a great topic ... and particularly timely for BDPA as our national presidents from 2006 thru 2011 are powerful sisters (Gina Billings, Denise Holland and Yvette Graham) and our current president in Austin is a sister entrepreneur (Lorna Stewart-Booker).

Any Austin area readers out there?

IBM is Best Company for Blacks in Technology

National BDPA and WorkplaceDiversity.com, the source for diversity talent, announced IBM Corporation as the winner of the prestigious Epsilon Award as the Top Company for Blacks in Technology.

"On behalf of the IBM Corporation, I’d like to thank BDPA and WorkplaceDiversity.com for the prestigious honor of being named the 2007 Epsilon Award winner as the Best Company for Blacks in Technology," said Elmer Corbin, Director of Systems Development, IBM Systems & Technology Group. "Our strategy of inclusion is a fundamental success factor for our continued Innovation leadership in the 21st century. I’m looking forward to further strengthening our partnership with BDPA."

The award was presented at the 2007 National BDPA Technology Conference held August 15-18 at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. The Epsilon Award is presented annually to the top company in the nation that promotes a workplace and environment that support the advancement of Blacks in the information technology industry.

WorkplaceDiversity.com is a job search web site for corporate recruiters who want to make a good faith effort to reach experienced diversity talent. The site bridges the gap between companies that support diversity and experienced diversity candidates by providing one central location to post open positions.

BDPA, a national organization, is the premier organization for African Americans in Information Technology (IT). Founded in 1975, BDPA is celebrating a 30-year commitment to closing the digital divide. "We are very pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions that IBM has made for Blacks in Technology," said National BDPA President, Gina Billings. "In this economy, many African Americans in technology are concerned about opportunities for both employment and advancement. It is important to recognize those exceptional companies that have provided African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology."

"BDPA is the voice of African Americans in IT. WorkPlaceDiversity.com is honored to be working with BDPA because it is committed to closing the digital divide and helping African American IT professionals advance," said Dan Honig, chief operating officer of WorkPlaceDiversity.com. Honig added, "We are very pleased to recognize IBM as a company that is truly practicing workplace diversity in their IT departments."

BDPA corporate sponsors and supporters were asked to complete a comprehensive survey that rated their performance in the areas of Demographics, Diversity Programs, Diversity (Training, Affinity Groups), Tenure, Promotions and Terminations, Diversity Recruiting, Career Path Programs, Minority Vendor Programs, and Community Outreach.

Will Bundy, National BDPA Outside Director, said, "Responses were not unexpected. Some companies are making significant progress while others are not quite doing what it takes to meet minimum standards." Added Bundy, "Our BDPA survey questions are the right ones to cause reflection on whether programs value Diversity and build opportunities at work. Our winners have demonstrated a commitment to people and an understanding that Diversity has a bottom line business case value."

Philadelphia is BDPA Chapter of the Year

A number of chapter awards were presented at the 29th annual BDPA Technology Conference held last week in Washington DC. The highest honor that can be given to a BDPA chapter is the prestigious 'Chapter of the Year' award. BDPA Philadelphia chapter took home the 'Chapter of the Year' award this year for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the BDPA mission and objectives over the previous year. BDPA Philadelphia beat out the 2006 winner, BDPA Cincinnati chapter, who managed to win first runner-up honors in 2007.

BDPA Philadelphia chapter also won the 'Chapter Membership Award' for their outstanding achievements in increasing BDPA's mission of being "a member-focused organization" and ensuring that each member of BDPA feels valued as a member of the association. Philadelphia's successes are a direct result of their programs and services initiatives led by current chapter president Curtis Jenkins and current president-elect Monique Berry. The chapter serves the community by providing weekly computer training for Philadelphia metropolitan-area high school students. The chapter's monthly program meetings sponsored by CIGNA serve to keep their membership informed of current trends in the IT industry. Finally, their overall member services initiatives help to bring in new members as well as retain the existing members.

Merck is a BDPA Gold-level sponsor and major contributor to the Philadelphia Chapter. Merck's Gina Gerhard won the 'Corporate Champion of the Year' award for her efforts to evolve the corporate relationship between BDPA and Merck at all levels. Other Philadelphia chapter sponsors that participated in the annual conference included Wyeth and Rohm and Haas.

Please leave a comment for the brothers and sisters of BDPA Philadelphia chapter if you have time or inclination!