BDPA iRadio Show: November 11, 2014 (Kevin Robinson)

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!

Check Out Technology Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with BDPA on BlogTalkRadio

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The guest on the November 11th show:

Kevin Robinson - Premier Field Engineer, Microsoft - Kevin Robinson is a senior premier field engineer over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, the past 10 years with Microsoft. Kevin was a presenter at the 2014 BDPA Technology Conference on the topic, 'Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Windows Azure'. His workshop worked through the rationalizations of why IaaS makes sense including discussing scenarios when and where it makes sense for your business. Also, Kevin will explore ways that BDPA can significantly scale its national High School Computer Competition program from impacting hundreds of students to the point that it can impact thousands of students in the near term. Kevin highlight his workshop presentation with our BDPA iRadio Show audience.

It is worth noting that Kevin is one of the highest individual donors to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation!   He is an illustration of what it means to give your time, treasure and talents to support BDPA.  BDPA is a remarkable corporate champion within Microsoft.  He is touching many lives and we were glad to have him on the show!

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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!

Seeking Students for BDPA IT Showcase

BDPA Charlotte chapter is actively recruiting high school and college students to participate in the 2013 BDPA IT Showcase. Chapter member Kevin Robinson created this promotional video to help get the word out.



The message applies nationwide. BDPA understands that there are too few African Americans stretching themselves to obtain PhD in computer science or other STEM-related curriculum. That is the deeper purpose for the BDPA IT Showcase. We want to show our students role models as well as encourage them to showcase their research and presentation skills. Please let us know if you know of a high school or college student interested in participating in the 2013 BDPA IT Showcase!

Payroll Pledge: Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) would like to see a much higher level of individual giving via payroll deductions. We estimate that only 2% of BDPA members make donations to support BETF via United Way, employee giving campaigns or Combined Federal Campaign. It would be nice to see that number rise significantly over the coming weeks and months.

As such, we are very happy to see that Kevin Robinson (Microsoft) made a payroll deduction pledge via the Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign to support BDPA programs and services in Charlotte, North Carolina.

There are scores of Microsoft associates and Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) members who know about the good works of BDPA. I'm hopeful that other Microsoft associates will follow the positive example set by Charlotte-based Kevin Robinson.

Learn more about payroll deduction options here.

Take Five: Kevin Robinson (Charlotte)

Kevin Robinson has been an inspiration to me over the past few months. He was instrumental in having the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) honored by the Blacks @ Microsoft organization in North Carolina. He also challenged my ideas on what 'boardroom to classroom' means to BDPA.

I asked Kevin to participate in our 'Take Five' interview series. Kevin took the request seriously and prepared a video with his responses to our five questions.





What did you think of Kevin's comments and insights?

Blacks At Microsoft: Minority Student Day (Charlotte)

Over 130 High School & College Students throughout the North Carolina region attended the 20th annual Minority Student Day hosted in Charlotte, NC by Blacks @ Microsoft (BAM). A number of BDPA Charlotte chapter members were in attendance, including the chapter president Julius Clark and chapter president-elect Markus Beamer.

BDPA & BAM Leaders

BDPA Charlotte member John Hoffler conducted a workshop introducing the BDPA High School Computer Competition for the young people in attendance. Also, BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) executive director Wayne Hicks was honored for the leadership and excellence of his professional organization in the field of education.

Here is media coverage of Minority Student Day from local TV News Carolina 14 & Fox Charlotte News.








Minority Student Day was fully supported by the Microsoft executives in North Carolina. I encourage BDPA leaders from around the nation to find ways to connect with BAM to participate in this event next year! Minority Student Day is a wonderful way to create awareness about BDPA programs and impact on influencers in the field of education and technology.


BETF would like to thank BAM North Carolina co-chairs Kevin Robinson and Iona Wilson for their hospitality and vision. They are truly examples of why Microsoft is an Industry Leader in Technology, Diversity, Innovation and Corporate Citizenship.

Microsoft Charlotte Campus Kicks Off Citizen Schools Computer Apprenticeship Program

Soulclap to Stephanie Lampkin for sharing with us a 'great news' message about the work of BDPA Charlotte chapter member Kevin Robinson and his colleagues at Microsoft. She wrote:

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Microsoft Charlotte Campus launched our successful Citizen Schools apprenticeship What is a Computer Really? The first sessions were led by Ed Lau, Pierre Debnam and Ricky Mohamed of Premier National Services and Kevin Robinson of BCS Operations.

The students were extremely enthusiastic and highly engaged. We are partnering with Citizen Schools at Eastway Middle School to give students 21st century skills. Ed taught students about the hardware components of a computer assisted by Ricky, Pierre and Kevin, who led hands-on activities and ice breakers.

More volunteers are lined up to expose students to the diverse talents and backgrounds of our Microsoft IT Professionals. Thank You! to our Microsoft employees for your commitment and for sharing your career path and stories to help inspire youth. For details regarding the program and our Microsoft engagement contact Kevin Robinson, Project Lead, Microsoft Citizen Schools Apprenticeship Program.

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It is exciting to see BDPA members and BDPA sponsors engaged in any and all efforts to increase the passion (and knowledge) of K-12 students in science, technology and math. Kudos to Kevin and his Microsoft colleagues for 'walking the walk'! I look forward to seeing some of the students from Eastway Middle School participating in the BDPA Student IT Education and Scholarship (SITES) program in the next few years!