Long Story Short: Monique Berry (VP-Finance)

Monique Berry is our National BDPA VP-Finance. She has been a member of the BDPA Philadelphia Chapter since 2003. She finished her 2-year term as National BDPA president in 2013.  

Anyone that knows Monique is aware of her passion for BDPA. Monique is a committed community advocate serving on the boards of community organizations, family and children's services, and faith based community ministries. She's been a volunteer elementary school instructor for Junior Achievement and a computer instructor for Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Monique is a member of several professional and civic organizations, including the American Society for Training & Development, Project Management Institute, Network of Women in Computer Technology, Society for Human Resource Management and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Monique Berry

This blog wanted to get a more personal look into the personality of this rising BDPA leader. We asked Monique to give brief answers to some odd questions. We hope you enjoy this new feature that we simply call, 'Long Story Short...'

1. Craziest thing you've ever done? Hang out with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
 
2. Favorite food you'd take with you on a desert island? Hot sauce
 
3. Least favorite chore? Laundry
 
4. Simple things that make you happiest? Cooking for my family
 
5. Who You'd Like to Meet ? Alive: Warren Buffet, Barack Obama, Oprah and Jeff Bezos. Dead: Jesus, Harriett Tubman, Madame CJ Walker, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Ghandi and Huey Newton
 

Monique is an interesting person ... but, you gotta have faith in desert island food to simply bring some hot sauce!

Happy Birthday: Monique Berry (National BDPA President)

Today, we celebrate the born day of Monique Berry! Monique is our National BDPA president. She has been a member of the BDPA Philadelphia Chapter since 2003. Currently, she finished her 2-year term as National BDPA president in 2013. Anyone that knows Monique is aware of her passion for BDPA. In her own words,

"As anyone who knows me can attest, I am and have always been very passionate about BDPA. I can remember when I was elected president of the Philadelphia chapter people telling me that I would get tired and burnt out and that my passion would wear off over time. Well, it hasn't. I'm in my second year as a chapter president and as passionate as ever."

Monique is employed by Vanguard; a mutual fund company located in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Her background includes experience in ERP systems, LMS systems and software development.

Monique is a committed community advocate serving on the boards of community organizations, family and children's services, and faith based community ministries. She's been a volunteer elementary school instructor for Junior Achievement and a computer instructor for Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

Monique is a member of several professional and civic organizations, including the American Society for Training & Development, Project Management Institute, Network of Women in Computer Technology, Society for Human Resource Management and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Her experiences in a variety of boards and organizations bode well for BDPA.

"I can promise that I will conduct myself with civility and respect for others, discussing differences in an open and honest manner. Moreover, I promise to remain passionate about BDPA. I am looking for your passion and committed support of BDPA. Think you are up for the challenge? I urge you to join our conversation here. We are going to change the game."

I join with all of BDPA-nation is wishing national president a truly magnificent birthday!

Premier Event Management Connects BDPA to C-Level Executives

BDPA is pleased to announced that Premier Event Management is a corporate sponsor. Premier Event Management is one of the nation’s leading conference producers and is at the forefront of producing IT driven conferences throughout North America. Their mission is to bring together all corners of the technology world, cultivate relationships and advance the IT community through the sharing of ideas. Premier brings together many of the world’s largest IT suppliers and IT executives to create a beneficial atmosphere for all.

Marc Di Francisco

BDPA Philadelphia chapter leaders Eileen Gadsden and Monique Berry recently attended a CIO Conference hosted by Premier Event Management. They met a number of IT leaders that agree with the BDPA mission of advancing the careers of African Americans in the IT industry from the classroom to the boardroom.

It is worth noting that Mark Di Francisco, Premier Event Management president, is the honorary chair of the 36th annual BDPA Technology Conference being held August 5-9, 2014 in Indianapolis.

To become a sponsor like Premier Event or to learn more about BDPA sponsorship opportunities, please contact BDPA Corporate Sales Team by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 x108)

Message from National BDPA President

Monique Berry

Thank you for the opportunity to lead BDPA and for your patience as I grew in my position. I hope that during my term I have been able to make a positive impact on both the current and the future of BDPA. This is definitely one experience I will never forget!

As I write this letter as President, I want to highlight several goals and significant accomplishments of the past two years:

GOALS:

1. Reduce operational expenses and increase revenue;
2. Expand our membership base by 25%, including reaching out to college students and building relationships with college administrations;
3. Collaborate with other organizations and associations to further our organizations mission and goals;
4. Engage our members with regular communication via social networks, BDPA Today and BDPA iRadio;
5. Listen to and involve our members by holding periodic national conference call meetings; and
6. Advance professional development by offering cutting edge seminars and panels during the annual conference.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Reduced office space at savings of $84,000;
• Renegotiated our conference contracts saving more the $500,000 in attrition fees;
• Increased membership by more than 32%;
• Developed new strategic relationships with:
• American Association of Blacks in Energy
• Clemson University
• Howard University
• Mexican American Engineers and Scientists
• National Center for Women & Information Technology
• National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
• National Organization of Minority Architects
• National Society of Black Physicists
• National Technology Association
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
• University of Phoenix
• Increased member communication via Blog post, Diversity Careers magazine, direct email, Facebook, Twitter, Groupsite, Instagram and Pinterest
• Guest appearances on BDPA iRadio by several National Board members
• Introduced the annual Lifetime Achievement Award
• Registered BDPA as a Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards
• Increased member education offerings
• Agile Scrum Master certification class
• CISSP prep classes
• Career Triage classes
• STEM Online Simulations

2012 Nat'l Executive Committee

My journey in leading the Association wasn't done alone. I was accompanied by a team of dynamic individuals, both elected and not, who shared in our successes and learned from our failures. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people for their hard work and dedication, and without whom running the Association wouldn't have been possible. 

I thank the dedicated members of the Board of Directors, National Executive Committee, Conference Team and the Board Development/Governance and Bylaw Committee for their support over the past two years. I am proud of their accomplishments, as we all strove to support and actively engage current and future BDPA members.

I would be remiss if I did not recognize the true heroes of this past two years, our dedicated chapter leaders, committee chairs and their volunteer members. There are not enough words to express my thanks and appreciation of these great leaders. For without their passion and undying commitment to devote thousands of hours of volunteer service, we could not have begun this journey of transformation or achieved any of our goals. Embracing change is difficult and these change agents never lost sight of our strategic direction, even when the road to success got bumpy or was detoured.

My sincerest thanks to our headquarters team: Lesley Menor for her tireless work managing our daily operations, Wayne Hicks for managing our sales and sustaining sponsor relationships and Natasha Banks-Pronsati for taking care of finances. I am certain that we can count on their valuable support of BDPA next year.

But most importantly, my thanks go out to you, the Members, for all your support during these two years of change. For without you, BDPA would not exist. It has been my pleasure to serve you. It has been a pleasure working with talented, capable, and dedicated professionals while serving your president. My time on the Board has been extremely rewarding and has resulted in what are hopefully lifelong friendships with a truly great group of people.

I've come to appreciate more what a treasure BDPA is for all of us and our corporate partners; and I am confident that our continuing Board members will grow the organization to new heights.

In closing, I have one final request. I ask that each of you pledge your continued support to BDPA and help our 2014 leaders continue the journey to deliver the success our Association deserves.

As you know, we can do this - but only Together!

Happy New Year!  
Monique Berry, President
National BDPA

BDPA iRadio Show - November 26, 2013 (Monique Berry)

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 26th show:

Monique Berry - President, National BDPA - Monique is a remarkable woman with a powerful legacy in BDPA. She is winding down her 2-year term of office as our National BDPA president. As such she has led a time of growth and development of BDPA programs, scholarships and services on a national level. She is national spokesperson and chief evangelist to the IT industry and the Black community about all things related to BDPA. Monique served as an award-winning chapter president in Philadelphia before being elected to the highest office on a national level. Her accomplishments within BDPA are uplifting and challenging. You will enjoy hearing her on the BDPA iRadio Show. Her twitter handle is @Monique_Berry.

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

Message from National BDPA President

Monique Berry

Dear members and friends,

Have you caught 'BDPA FEVER' this year? If so, it's the type of thing you DO want to share! If not, you are missing out...and missing all of the fantastic OPPORTUNITIES, NETWORKING and EDUCATION, that your local BDPA chapter has to offer. This year, our chapters have offered more than 200 programs meetings, and over 600 HSCC hours, reaching more than half of our members with email communications, radio programs, fund raisers and more!

If you haven't caught the BDPA FEVER going around, visit our website for all of the upcoming chapter programs and networking events coming your way. As always, we thrive from the hard work of our members and we need your continued support. Join a Committee! Be INvolved!

The 35th Annual BDPA Technology Conference was a great success! With attendance just under 900, attendees took in four days of well received education sessions along with many opportunities to network and exchange ideas and best practices.

During the conference members also elected the 2014-2015 Board of Directors and I would like to take this opportunity to pledge my support to the team:

• Craig Brown - National President
• Pamela Sexton - National Vice President
• Loraine Stewart-David - National Vice President of Finance
• Teresa Williams - South Region Vice President
• Felicia Jones - South Region Director
• Fred Smith - Northeast Region Vice President
• Lilla Hunter-Taylor - Northeast Region Director
• Michael Wulf - Midwest Region Vice President

A big THANK YOU to our partners and sponsors. Our partners continue to post employment opportunities on the BDPA Job Board and I encourage those who are unemployed or under-employed to check us out.

September 2014 brought us 187 new members, as we see continued growth under the leadership of Vice President of Membership Management Curtis Jenkins, with the assistance of Chad White (membership database administer). I encourage all reading this letter to invest $100 in membership today. Take a look at September's top ten chapters.

1. Chicago - president, Pamela Sexton
2. Philadelphia - president, Eileen Gadsden
3. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter
4. Atlanta - president, Derrick Brown
5. Cincinnati - president, Clarence Larcarte
   
6. Dallas - president, Stacy Stewart
7. Los Angeles - president, John Malonson
   
8. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney
9. New York - president, Renetta English
10. Middle Nashville - president, Kendall Norris

I plan to take BDPA FEVER to Indianapolis when members of our Conference Leadership Team visits the JW Marriott Hotel, the venue for next year’s conference. While in the city, we'll meet with representatives from Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson & Johnson and other major sponsors. We will also have meetings with the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau and several area organizations in an effort to determine how BDPA can make the best community impact during our 36th annual BDPA Technology Conference on August 6-9, 2014.

Registration for the 2014 Conference opens on December 1st with Early Bird discounts available until January 1, 2014. New for next year is a conference and hotel package which includes:

• Access to educational sessions, receptions, plenary luncheons, executive panels and career fair
• Three- or four-night hotel stay (you choose your package)

Pamela Sexton, National Vice President of Strategy and Planning is calling all regional and local chapter leaders to participate in the final two strategy review sessions scheduled for October 17th and November 7th.

The National BDPA Board of Directors quarterly meeting and annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Coordinators will meet in Reno, Nevada on November 13-15. During this weekend the National Executive Committee will transition roles and responsibilities to the incoming national officers. Moreover, we will continue the transformation of the HSCC program with the introduction of new leadership and a new team. All chapter leaders are invited to join us!

The HSCC planning meeting will include discussion of the following topics:

• Changes to the competition format
• Changes to the oral exam format
• Curriculum 
• Introducing a Mobile App competition
• Judging criteria & Scoring
• Operations Manual
• Retiring the written exam

There is a lot happening over the next few months as we plan programs and service offerings for you, our members. This BDPA FEVER is contagious, so help us help you infect your community with BDPA FEVER by running for office or joining a committee in your local chapter.

Think you’ve done enough locally and ready to step up to the national level? You can do it, just drop me an email expressing your interest. We're fulfilling our resolution to make technology careers even more accessible to our members and the community at large!

On behalf of the Board of Directors, please catch BDPA FEVER and experience all that BDPA has to offer.

Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

Tech Expresso Cafe: Monique Berry (National BDPA)

National BDPA president Monique Berry shares her experience being a women in the information technology industry. She also lets the Tech Expresso Cafe podcast audience know about her experience over the last couple of years as the penultimate leader of a major national technology organization. Finally, we find out what's next for Monique Berry.

New Technology Internet Radio with Tech Expresso Cafe on BlogTalkRadio

Message from National BDPA President

Recap: 2013 National BDPA Technology Conference

by Monique Berry (Connect With Monique)

Monique Berry

After a week-long program of Board meetings, leadership training, workshops and conference sessions, the 35th Annual BDPA Technology Conference officially closed August 17th in Washington, DC. Information Technology professionals from varying industries and locations came together to learn, share ideas and build strategic networks.

With just over 500 attendees, BDPA's 2013 Technology Conference, Diversity in the Age of Convergence, provided a relaxed and open setting, allowing attendees to connect on a personal level and openly share professional experiences and challenges, Aside from the educational aspects of the conference, a little fun was to be had as well. Corporate partner MillerCoors provided an array of MillerCoors products at all receptions as well as the movie preview, Kards and Karaoke, spoken word with the Twin Poets, and a late night concert with Avery Sunshine.

On Tuesday night, Washington DC Chapter President, Perry Carter kicked things off by moderating the 2013 Advance Program Briefing to Industry (APBI) Topic of Discussion: Diverse Opportunities and Next Steps for HBCUs in the Age of Convergence. The panel addressed how colleges are proactively developing programs that attract minority students to S.T.E.M fields. Panelist also shared public, private, and academia partnership success stories. Panelist included, Dr. Rajni Goel, Associate. Professor and Computer Science Chair, Howard University; Dr. Daryl Stone, Professor Computer Science, Bowie State University; Michael Bing, Director, Washington DC Minority Business Center; H. Harrison Valentine, President and CEO, HBCU/MI Project Office; and Anthony Waterman, President & CEO, Waterman Engineering.

Roland Martin, the keynote at Wednesday night's opening ceremony, resonated with the entire audience. He said we are competing for our young people's attention with athletes and entertainers. He called BDPA members Superstars and Ballers and to capture the interest of our youth we need to show our Bling. He said that IT professionals are driving luxury cars like BMW's and Mercedes and we should be telling our youth that they can have these things to if complete their education and pursue careers in STEM.

On Thursday night, NCWIT sponsored a reception on Thursday, where Ruthe Farmer, Director of Strategic Initiatives at National Center for Woman in Technology spoke to guest about NCWIT and their Aspirations in Computing award opportunities. JP Morgan Chase also hosted an invitation only reception where they highlighted technology and opportunities at Chase.

The Friday night Dignitaries Reception featured a CIO panel moderated by Dr. Julianne Malvauex. Panelist included Michael Braine, SVP, CIO Luxottica Retail & Optical Services; James D. Cook, CIO, Global Operations & Services, General Motors Company; Terry Halvorson, CIO, United States Navy; Garth Marcial, Worldwide VP, IT and CIO at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and Advanced Sterilization Products; and Addison McGuffin, Vice President, Business Technology Innovation, Health Care Service Corporation.

Read the rest of Monique's conference recap...

BDPA Joins with President Obama’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to Deliver President’s Volunteer Service Award

BDPA announced today that they have teamed up with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, a national program recognizing Americans who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service. Established in 2003, the AWARD was created by President George W. Bush to give Presidential recognition to individuals, families, and groups who meet requirements for volunteer service, measured by the number of service hours performed over twelve months. [SOURCE]

BDPA is one of many organizations that have joined forces to deliver the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and honor the volunteers who strengthen our nation. As a Certifying Organization for the AWARD, BDPA is responsible for verifying service hours, nominating potential recipients, and delivering the AWARD.

Monique Berry

“We are extremely proud to recognize our most outstanding volunteers with the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD,” said Monique Berry, BDPA President. “BDPA volunteers are role models in our community, donating their time, energy and talent to advance computer technology across the nation. The AWARD is our way of thanking these volunteers and inspiring everyone in our community to make volunteering a central part of their lives,” she added.

The AWARD is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the group that helps to foster and encourage a culture of volunteer service and civic participation among Americans. The program is chaired by two-time Super Bowl Champion Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs. The Council is composed of leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofit, volunteer service organizations, and community volunteering.

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and the late David Wimberly as an answer to minimal African American representation in the technology field. Today, BDPA is a nationally recognized technology-focused organization with 46 active chapters in the United States. They boast a diverse and varied membership, including programmers, analysts, engineers, managers, instructors, students, and entrepreneurs.

The PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD is within reach, even for those who have never volunteered before.

Monique Berry, BDPA President states, “There are so many ways to contribute, and every volunteer hour makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others. BDPA encourages everyone to get involved and to bring along your family, friends and neighbors. Together, we can strengthen America – one hour at a time.”

For more information about volunteering with BDPA, contact Zenia Lofton at vpms@bdpa.org or call BDPA on (301) 584-3135.

Who Am I? Monique Berry (National BDPA President)

BDPA and the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation strive to make a difference in both the Black community. We have some serious people who volunteer to implement programs that will advance the careers of African Americans in the IT industry. We don't always get a chance to know our BDPA leaders in a personal way. This blog decided to try and provide you with a different perspective ... a different look ... at our BDPA leaders.

Who Am I?

Monique Berry

IF I WERE A...

• MONTH, I would be... April
• COLOR, I would be... Red
• TIME OF DAY, I would be... 12:00 AM
• SUPERPOWER, I would be... The ability to copy or absorb another's powers or skills
• FLOWER, I would be... Rose
• SONG, I would be... Don't Worry Be Happy
  
• CAR, I would be... Bugatti Veyron 16.3 Grand Sport Vitesse
• ITEM OF CLOTHING, I would be... a hat
• ANIMAL, I would be... a Tiger
• FOOD, I would be... Red Velvet Chocolate
• MOVIE, I would be... The Godfather
• CITY/TOWN, I would be... Las Vegas
• SPORT, I would be... Golf

Monique Berry has a powerful legacy within BDPA as a successful local chapter president and one of a handful of national presidents.  It has been my sincere pleasure to serve with her and I encourage all who read this blog post to take a moment and email her on president@bdpa.org.

Our hope is that Monique will join us here on the blog to share deeper insights into these things via the COMMENTS feature! What did you learn about our national president via this blog post that you may never have known otherwise?

BDPA Celebrates Johnson & Johnson Investment as $100k Platinum-Level Corporate Sponsor

Joining the ranks as one of this year’s National BDPA major corporate sponsors, Johnson & Johnson proudly announced their $100K Platinum Level sponsorship of BDPA’s 35th Annual National Conference on August 14-17, 2013 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. As a global member-focused technology organization with over 45 active chapters in the United States, BDPA continues to stand as a leader in delivering 21st century technological programs and is honored to partner with a world class organization such as Johnson & Johnson.

Globally recognized at home and abroad as an agent of goodwill for over a billion people, Johnson & Johnson has earned a reputation as a leader in providing innovative ideas as well as products and services -- one person at a time. They are the world’s largest and most diverse medical devices and diagnostics consumer health care company.

Monique Berry

"This financial support from Johnson & Johnson will allow BDPA to continue to offer computer technology education and professional development programs to our membership. We have benefited from six consecutive years of shared commitment to provide members with the skills they need to fill 21st-century jobs, and provide the United States with the workforce it needs to be innovative and competitive for decades to come," beamed Monique Berry, National BDPA President.

Since 1886, Johnson & Johnson has highlighted research and science in their commitment to enhance the quality of life for the world’s population. With over 250 operating companies in 57 different countries, and 120,200 employees, the Johnson & Johnson Platinum level sponsorship clearly demonstrates their impressive commitment to BDPA.

Regan Scruggs

According to Johnson & Johnson Business Relationship Manager Regan Scruggs, "Johnson & Johnson is excited and proud to continue our Platinum Level Sponsorship of BDPA, in 2013. We value our collaborative partnership to raise awareness of Information Technology throughout the community and the opportunity to expand the Johnson & Johnson IT team with talented recruits from BDPA events."

A major part of the sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson goes directly to the BDPA New Jersey chapter in support of its programs, scholarships and services.

JnJ Supports FIT Day in New Jersey

Goldie Bonney, BDPA New Jersey Chapter President says, “The sustained support from Johnson & Johnson over the past several years has enabled us to provide quality programs for members such as the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and Families in Technology Day. This corporate sponsorship also helps our New Jersey area communities embrace technology. On behalf of BDPA New Jersey Chapter and the Board of Directors, we are extremely pleased and look forward to our continuing partnership with Johnson & Johnson.”

For more information on BDPA’s 35th Annual National Conference, contact Wayne Hicks, Director, BDPA Corporate Sales Department, corpsales@bdpa.org, (513) 284-4968.

Curtis Jenkins Accepts Appointment as National BDPA Vice President of Membership Management

Curtis Jenkins

National BDPA president Monique Berry proudly announced a new leadership appointment,

"Curtis Jenkins will be joining our team, as the National Vice President of Membership Management. Please join me in welcoming Curtis to the national executive committee and provide him with your support as he assimilates onto our team."

Jenkins joined BDPA Philadelphia chapter in 2002. He served in a number of leadership positions within the chapter including VP-Business Management, President and chair of the Corporate Advisory Council. This won't be the first time that Jenkins has accepted leadership challenge at the national level. He served as the National Vice President of Strategy & Planning in 2010-2011.

Curtis has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Temple University and a graduate degree in Management of Technology from the University of Pennsylvania – School of Engineering and Applied Sciences & Wharton Business School.

"I am certain that, given his experience and overall skills, Curtis will be a great addition to our team," added Berry.

There are two primary membership management goals in 2013:

1. Retain/Renew 80% of expiring members
2. Increase new members by 25%

Jenkins understands that a major benefit of BDPA membership is the opportunity to network with others in the information technology industry. He said,

"People for years have gone by the statement 'It's not what you know but who you know.' That statement has much less power than 'Who knows you!' Joining and working in BDPA allows people to showcase their value with those in decision-making positions. People that 'know you' will call you when there is a job or need to fill. My last four jobs were as a result of 'who knows me'. That's the power of a network and the power of BDPA."

Please reach out to the new vice president by email (vpmm@bdpa.org) if you want to help recruit and retain BDPA members!

Message from National BDPA President

Connect With Monique: Happy New Year BDPA!

Monique Berry

With profound gratitude, I am pleased to serve my second year as the president of this great association, along with other outstanding individuals on the Board of Directors and Executive Committe - Dr. Craig Brown (National Vice President) , Loraine Stewart-David (Vice President of Finance), Earl Pace (Founder) , Regional Vice Presidents and Director: Teresa Williams, Fred Smith, Eric Dortch and Coram Rimes; Pamela Sexton (Vice President of Strategy & Planning), Glenda Chappell (Secretary), Milt Haynes (CIO), and Outside Directors; William Flowers and Jessie Mathews. I would like to thank this dedicated core of volunteers and express my appreciation to you for once again serving this organization.

To our members, I am deeply appreciative of your continued support of BDPA. I personally am grateful to you for the honor you have bestowed on me and my fellow colleagues on the Board of Directors. We look forward to working with you in 2013.

As I sit back and think about the task before us, I am grateful for the trust bestowed while mindful of the sacrifices our founders, past presidents and long-time volunteers who have tirelessly worked to support this organization. I would also like to thank our corporate partners who respond to the call of duty by making sure this organization continues to exist.

The vision of BDPA, as set forth in our by-laws, can only be realized when we stand up to serve in whatever capacity – as committee members, speakers, volunteers, and so on. BDPA needs us. But, more importantly, our community – the one that we serve – needs us. To that end the vision is clear for 2013. We will:

1. Expand our membership base, including reaching out to college students and building relationships with college administrations;
2. Collaborate with other organizations and associations to further our organizations mission and goals;
3. Engage our members with regular communication via social networks, BDPA Today and BDPA iRadio;
4. Listen to and involve our members by holding periodic national conference call meetings; and
5. Advance professional development by offering cutting edge seminars and panels during the annual conference.

I am certainly aware that because these are challenging times and our schedules are ever increasing that we may not achieve everything we set out to achieve this next year, but fellow colleagues – I am hopeful that we are poised for great things. In the spirit of service, I implore you to choose to serve BDPA and your local community who desperately need us. I humbly ask you to join us as we endeavor to take BDPA to the next level of distinction over the next twelve months.

As President Barack Obama once said, "The challenges we face will not be solve with one meeting in one night. Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are that change that we seek.”

I wish all of you the very best in 2013 and look forward to working to be the change that we seek.

Message From the National BDPA President

Seasons Greetings,

The past year was filled with historic moments:

Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States was re-elected for a second term. For the first time in its 37-year history, chapters were run under the guidance of 4 regional vice presidents. Finally, BDPA entered the ranks of the "debt free” by paying off all outstanding debt.

Monique Berry

As we celebrated these historic events, we also kept our eyes on the BDPA mission. In fact, far from content with our organization’s previous growth, the leadership laid the foundation to take BDPA to the next level. Two of the challenges plaguing Blacks in technology have been retention of Black students in college computer science programs and exposure of young Blacks to STEM fields. Many already are aware of our efforts to expose children to technology through our Student Information Technology Education and Scholarships (SITES), High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and IT Showcase programs.

This year we also had an additional focus: Growing the number of collegiate members on college campuses across this country. Of the thousands of Black freshmen in the U.S. who say they want a computer science degree, only 30% are successful in obtaining one six years later. We are confident that with your continued support, we shall dramatically improve that metric!

We also made progress on our commitment to deepen member engagement. This was accomplished in three ways: face to face, philanthropic donations, and social network interactions. Half of all members were engaged in at least one of those ways.

Other highlights for 2012 include:

• The launch of one of BDPA’s most exciting programs in years, the Career Triage, our monthly live webinar series
• The launch of a redesigned National Website
• Awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to BDPA student members
• The launch of CISSP and Security+ certification classes
• Introduction for Education Grants for unemployed members seeking certification
• Complimentary conference registrations for unemployed members
• The launch of our NEW BDPA job board -- IT Diversity Careers
• HBCU panel during the conference
• Networking cocktail hour during the career fair
• Participated in the White House HBCU Summit in Washington, D.C.
• Developed partnerships with NCWIT, NOBCChE and the Coalition of Minority Technical Organizations
• Increased visibility for the organization through media

As we prepare to move into 2013, we sincerely thank you for helping us inspire our present membership, as well as our future generations of young, talented, Black technology professionals.

Happy holidays,
Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

Wordless Wednesday: BDPA Philadelphia Chapter Presidents (1991-2011)

SOURCE: BDPA Foundation Flickr Photostream

Reflections on 2012 BDPA Technology Conference

National BDPA president Monique Berry adjourned the 34th annual BDPA Technology Conference last night. It was a truly remarkable 4-day gathering of information technology thought leaders from all over the nation. Here are some comments for those who were there in person.

1. Monique Berry (National BDPA president) -

   "Congratulations to all of our winners as well as every child that participated in the Youth Technology Camp and the High School Computer Competition. I'm very proud of each and every one of you."

2. Goldie Bonney (BDPA New Jersey chapter president) -

   "Had a GREAT time with my BDPA family at the conference. Shout out to all other chapter presidents who continue to do big things in their respective chapters. Congratulations to Renetta English on her Chapter of the Year win again for NY! See you all next year in DC!"

3. Perry Carter (BDPA Washington DC chapter president) -

   

   Congratulations BDPA Atlanta (2012 HSCC World Champions) and BDPA New York (2012 Chapter of the Year) for this year's accomplishments and for upholding the highest standards in community involvement and philanthropy in direct support of America's STEM initiatives! We hope to see greater achievements in Washington DC next year.

4. Dr. Curtis Charles (Fayetteville State University senior associate vice chancellor) -

   "I will like to express my sincere thanks to Perry Carter and the BDPA Leadership for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the BDPA HBCU STEM panel. Fayetteville State University and the Center for Defense and Homeland Security look forward to a long and lasting relationship with all BDPA Chapters. Please feel free to call upon me at anytime."

5. Yvette Graham (National BDPA past president) -

   "Just arrived back home in Chicago (Oak Park) from Baltimore Maryland where I attended one of the best conferences for NBDPA. Congrats to all winners (Sponsors, Members, and Students). A special shout out to the HSCC Team from the BDPA Atlanta Chapter for being the first team ever to receive a perfect score!!! Thanks to the NBDPA Leadership Team and the National Conference Team for a JOB WELL DONE!!!"

6. Wayne Hicks (BETF executive director) -

   

   "I just had a great time introducing over 100 young people who are the future face of technology at the Opening Ceremony of the 34th BDPA Technology Conference in Baltimore, MD. I can't begin to tell you how remarkable it was to see these bright young faces as they were being recognized by BDPA sponsors, leaders, volunteers and members. BDPA is such a truly remarkable organization. Another highlight of the event was the fact that we raised over $6,000 in about 10 minutes to increase the amount of college scholarships that we will give out to high-performing HSCC students. BDPA is truly 'Making Moves' and I'm grateful to be part of it."

7. Cedrick Moore (National BDPA career development director) -

   "I just returned from the 2012 BDPA Technology Conference in Baltimore, MD. I just want to let you know that the jobs recovery is REAL. Not since the early 2000's have I seen employers so anxious in seeking jobs candidates. Here are a few that truly demonstrated to me they are ready to hire today: GE, JP Morgan Chase, State Farm, Microsoft, MillerCoors, Johnson & Johnson, WellPoint, Wells Fargo, etc. Not minor players here.
   
   The funny thing is, I was consistently being told that YOU (minority I.T. professionals) DO NOT EXIST or in other words, you are hard to find and hire. They were certainly looking for YOU so....
   
   What do you think? Comments?"

8. Sharrarne Morton (Morton Media president) -

   "Just witnessed a room full of remarkable young scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technologists win thousands of dollars in scholarships at the BDPA National Conference in Baltimore, Md. Where were the TV cameras? There are brilliant young people doing spectacular things to ensure a brighter future for all of us. Congratulations to them all! We will see you at next year's conference in DC!!"

9. Stacy Stewart (BDPA Dallas chapter president) -

   

   "Hello BDPA family, I'm currently in the air returning from the 34th annual National BDPA Technology Conference that was held in Baltimore and I must say this was an exhilarating experience, from the opening ceremony to the formal gala held on the last day of the conference. The professional sessions, dignitaries reception and networking with other BDPA members across the nation was exceptional. Teams from seventeen chapters competed in the High School Computer Competition in which the Atlanta chapter won thousands of dollars in scholarship monies and received high-end HP laptop computers. The Youth Technology Camp produced and edited videos this year with one of our Dallas students on a winning team.
   
   Next year our National BDPA Conference will be held in Washington DC on August 14-17. I encourage all of our members to attend! If you have not experienced a National BDPA Conference you don't want to miss this one ... if you have experienced a National BDPA Conference before, then I know you will be there."

African American Women and Girls Take Center Stage at BDPA Technology Conference

National BDPA, the largest and oldest non-profit organization of African American professionals working in or having an interest in the computer science and information technology fields is gearing up for their 34th Annual Technology Conference & Career Fair in Baltimore, MD, August 1-4. In what is slated to be one of their most innovative events to date, it is the women of BDPA that are steering the helm on the conference's ship to success.

Founded by Earl Pace and the late David Wimberly as an answer to the lack of Black representation in the technology field; BDPA now serves a diverse membership including programmers, analysts, engineers, managers, instructors, and entrepreneurs, many of which are women. Since its inception in 1975, nearly 50 percent of BDPA national and local presidents have been women. There has been a woman in the top spot since 2006 with over 13 regional chapters led by women. Of the four top national leadership positions, three belong to women overseeing strategy, finance and member services.

"There is a noticeable lack of women, and specifically women in leadership roles within the science, technology, engineering and math fields. It's important for women to take on leadership roles in the STEM fields because women leaders can attract and, as mentors, help guide more women and girls toward rewarding careers in these fields," says current national president Monique Berry. "STEM careers are extremely important to the global economy. Attracting and retaining more women in STEM careers will help to improve diversity, maximize creativity, and boost competitiveness. The United States, compared to many other leading and steadily emerging countries, lacks a strong focus on educating scientists and engineers."

Committed to leading the charge, the women of BDPA are paying it forward with the addition of the Youth Technology Camp to the upcoming conference. Students from around the country will join their peers and parents for a series of hands-on sessions and workshops spanning from robotics to mobile app development. The camp is an added bonus to the hundreds of interactive expositions and a series of workshops that will take place over the course of the 4-day conference.

Berry adds, "If we want to attract the best and brightest minds into the fields that will move us forward, we can no longer look to only half of the population. More women can contribute to our field and BDPA is helping to make that happen."

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

BDPA iRadio Show: June 26, 2012

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. Our Internet Radio Show has been up and running for nine months with over 80 guests. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog.

Episodes of the BDPA iRadio Show are now available for immediate and FREE download from the iTunes Store.

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

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The guests on the June 26th show:

Monique Berry - President, National BDPA - Monique has a powerful BDPA legacy. Her chapter won chapter-of-the-year honors during both of the years that she was a chapter president. She currently serves as our national president. She is our leader and she has a vibrant vision for where she would like to take BDPA in 2012-2013 when she becomes national president.  Her twitter handle is @Monique_Berry

Wilson Toussaint - President & CEO, Erin Gerald Affiliates - Wilson is the president and CEO of Erin Gerald Affiliates (EGA). EGA is a BDPA corporate supporter and a growing small business located in the greater Philadelphia area. Wilson feels that BDPA has a compelling, education-based social mission that has helped many students, professionals and entrepreneurs.  His twitter handle is @wtoussaint

Khalia Braswell - HSCC Alumni, 2007 BDPA Charlotte - Khalia competed in the 2007 national BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship as a member of the team trained by BDPA Charlotte chapter. Her team finished in 6th place. Khalia earned a Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students in 2008. She used that scholarship to help offset the costs for college studies at North Carolina State University. She plans to graduate with a Computer Science degree in 2013. She can share some excellent insights in the impact that BDPA had on her college and career choices. My understanding is that Khalia recently decided that she wants to pursue a Ph.D. before she’s done!  Her twitter handle is @DJCEO3SIX5

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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!

Message from National BDPA President

by Monique Berry
National BDPA President

I'll See You in Baltimore

Over the years, the National BDPA Technology Conferences have taken on unique personalities based on the venues in which they were held, as well as the character of their host chapters and leadership team. Attendees have access to top-notch keynote speakers, topical educational sessions, and a myriad of networking opportunities along with recreation; all in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere--and they do so at affordable prices.

Given the opportunity, conference attendees like to play almost as hard as they work. So it's no surprise that our conferences give them the chance to do both by combining quality educational and networking events with challenging and enjoyable recreational activities.

To kick off the 2012 Conference, a few preconference events have been added to this year's schedule. We can look forward to a Tuesday HBCU panel and reception as well as two certification classes; Healthcare IT and Cloud Essentials.

Recreational offerings include golf at Bulle Rock, a premier Maryland golf course. Conference attendees can also try their luck on the gaming tables or laugh the night away at Casino Night. Other activities will include a visit to the Great Blacks in the Wax Museum, the ability to soak up the atmosphere at the Baltimore Inner Harbor, or check out the Leaping lizards and Diving dolphins at the National Aquarium.

In addition to the recreational offerings, the events bring together members and corporate sponsors in an informal and collegial setting, allowing them to expand their network of contacts while keeping abreast of important developments in the information technology industry. The educational sessions are excellent, and feature higher profile keynote speakers that may be economically more feasible for many local chapter events. The events also strengthen the bond among BDPA's chapters as volunteers work together to plan each conference.

The annual conference has worked well for us over the years, and there are plans for future regional conferences. The Washington D.C. chapter currently hosts a regional conference attracting many local executives, government officials, and others from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas. The program includes a Regional High School Computer Competition and IT showcase as a precursor to the national competitions.

So, join us in Baltimore, July 31 through August 4, where I'm sure you'll find the right combination of work and play for you.

Message from the National BDPA President

by Monique Berry
National BDPA President

 Why You Should Attend the BDPA Technology Conference

As strange as this may sound it has never occurred to most members to go to the BDPA Technology Conference. They know about it - they've been getting emails since joining letting them know about it, but it has never even come up as something to do.

This is how I felt when I joined. The conference was is in Dallas, Texas and I lived hundreds of miles away, and I already had my own summer plans.

As it turned out, my plans changed, I had some free time so I went to the 2004 conference in Dallas. I can honestly say it was the single best thing I'd experienced with my BDPA membership since I joined in 2001.

There were a number of reasons the conference was fantastic - any one of them alone made it worth going:

1. I was not a minority among attendees. Do you know what it's like to attend a conference where there may be one or two (.5%) other people who look like you?
2. I networked with members of Chapters from around the country. I sat next to them in seminars, ate with them at the plenary luncheons and socialized with them during the corporate receptions.
3. We talked about our careers, issues, challenges, opportunities, the companies we worked for and companies that we wanted to work for.
4. We talked about our chapters; what we've done that was successful; mistakes we've made; and new ideas for how our chapters could move forward.

I walked away from the conference with a notepad full of action items for my personal development as well as ideas for the Chapter (enough to keep us busy the whole year if we wanted); a pocket full of business cards of peers, recruiters and decision makers; and a stronger feeling of optimism for my Chapter and what we could accomplish than I would have ever imagined.

Perhaps the most important thing I got from the conference was competency. I was amazed at how much tangible, real-world advice was given. There were talks on how to use technology, chapter building, closing the digital divide, leadership skills, team building, and much more. In short, I received a lot of information on developing oneself and everything necessary to know how to run a successful Chapter. I've attended dozens of conferences and this was by far one of the most tangible and beneficial.

So within a two-week span, I went from never attending a program meeting to showing up in Dallas not knowing anyone or what to expect, to meeting two new BFFs (Allstate employees: Marvie Barton and Kimberly Vaughn), falling in love with BDPA and the conference.

When I later became president of the Philadelphia chapter, the conference was at the top of our budget. Every year, we were going to send several of our members and students to the conference. We would take full advantage of BDPA Education and Technology Foundation grant awards or disbursements, but whether we get those or not, conference, airfare, and lodging fees, would be covered for that year. Our goal was to win the Chapter of the Year Award to cover some of the registration fees.

So if you haven't attended a Technology conference where you are one of the 99.5% and not the 0.5%, this is the conference for you. This is my personal invitation to you. I would love to meet you in Baltimore!

Warm regards,
Monique