Message from National BDPA President (January 2018)

BDPA’s Future is now present. #BDPAFuture is our national platform and how we will be presenting our 2018 goals: Create New Experiences, Grow Strategic Partnerships, and Build a Stronger Operational Foundation.

Terry Morris

The Digital economy is here and BDPA and its membership will play a key role in how tech is developed around the world. To make this real, we must increase exposure of high tech innovations and real-world applications. We must also empower our membership and friends with the leadership skills and career passion necessary to thrive in this vibrant landscape.

We are introducing BDPA Digital as our capability to articulate the evolution of IT and Business Trends occurring in the Digital Landscape. These trends include Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Robotic Automation, Wearables, Internet of Things, and Blockchain. These digital trends are built on an IT foundation of Security, User Experience, Operations, and Solution Delivery.

In addition to the BDPA Digital capability, we are launching a new focus on Leadership and Career Development. Many of our members have great skills and knowledge that need to be leveraged to the extreme of their potential. To aid your ability to reach your potential we are creating some focused attention on building your leadership foundation, including communication, influence, political awareness, performance management, etc...In addition, we are bringing a focus on career development to help our members chart and navigate the roadmap of their future whether they have corporate, non-profit, or entrepreneurial aspirations.

Our National Technology Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 9-11. We have also created two new channels to develop and expose our member to the tools and resources they need.

1. Leadership/Career Talks - On the Second Friday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm we will have leadership skills or career development talk aimed at helping you reach your full potential. This content will also be delivered by a strategic partner or experienced BDPA member.
2. Tech Talks - On the Fourth Friday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm we will have a tech talk from the High Tech industry or one of our BDPA members with deep experience in one of the BDPA Digital areas of focus.

In addition to what has already been shared, we are launching communities of practice in entrepreneurship, analytics, Security, and others over time. Stay tuned for additional press releases and posting about these new areas of focus.




For your youth and college students, we are looking to build upon the successes of our “Classroom to Boardroom” motto by enriching our current experiences (ie Mobile App Showcase, IT Showcase, HSCC, and YTC) using the BDPA Digital framework. We will be leveraging strategic partners in High Tech and Academia to created a  modern and standardized experienced around the country. We are also reinvesting in our college chapter construct to create more continuity and opportunities for students, schools, and corporations alike.

BDPA is a great organization with a rich and profound legacy. We appreciate the sacrifices, investments, and efforts of our founders (David Wimberly and Earl Pace), previous national and local leadership, sponsorship, and of course the many members and students around the country.

BDPA has been primarily a membership and volunteer-based organization. This construct has made it difficult to always deliver consistently at optimal levels. However, with the increased focus on value to membership and stakeholders, the organization is poised and ready to experience #BDPAFuture now. The time to get engaged and stay engaged with BDPA is NOW!

• If you aren’t a member, JOIN US
• If you are a member, ENGAGE WITH US
• If you are a partner, SUPPORT US

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Click here for a welcome video from National President, Terry Morris.

Message from National BDPA President

Mike Williams

Good morning BDPA members. As my first official post as your National President, I just wanted to tell you how excited I am about BDPA and what's to come in 2016 and beyond.

Over the weekend the National Board of Directors engaged in some very productive discussions about our strategy, our finances, brand rejuvenation, and our upcoming conference in Atlanta. We also welcomed our new regional leaders and board members (Ashton Clark, Hayward West, Curtis Jenkins and William Smith) and Andreana Dunbar as our new secretary.

As we discussed our conference, we all agreed that our conference theme should be about connecting. During our conferences we connect generations of professionals, professionals with employers, vendors with companies, and people with each other. Lastly, in this digital world we live in, everything is connected in one way or the other. So, we thought it was fitting that the theme of our conference for 2016 be 'BDPA CONNECT'.

We also talked about leading from the top. What that means is that at the national level we want to support and enable chapters at the local level by providing tools they can use for member orientation, sponsorship pitches, and general information about BDPA that can then be re-purposed and used at your discretion. Soon we will be forwarding a presentation and brochures that every chapter can use to enable you to achieve your chapter objectives.

We have a lot ahead in 2016. Our collective goal at every level should be "to do better and be better" than we were last year. That is not to say that last year was not a successful one; in fact, it was very successful by all accounts, however, we must continue to raise the bar and our own expectations of ourselves. My challenge for myself and to all of you is that we raise the bar and our expectations. Let's hold ourselves and each other accountable in 2016.

Fear is something you can overcome, doubt is just giving up before you even tried. Change can cause fear but fear never prevents you from stepping forward. Let's step forward.

We are already the champions, we just need to go pick up our trophy. Let's go!

#OneBDPA
Mike Williams, president
National BDPA

Mike Williams Selected for National BDPA Vice President

Mike Williams

National BDPA announced the appointment of Mike Williams as its National Vice President and member of its National Board of Directors. Mr. Williams is an experienced senior information technology executive, mentor and leader that is passionate about the development of future leaders and aspiring young professionals. Williams is currently the Senior Vice President and Head of Global ITO services for FIS. Williams is an author and leader with more than 27 years of management and executive experience in Information Technology.

“I am very excited about BDPA’s future and its continuation of building on the 40-year legacy of developing future technology talent. This year, which is our 40th Anniversary, will be an exciting time for BDPA members, students and sponsors. I am looking forward to helping grow our membership while expanding and developing quality programs for our members, as well as preparing our future digital leaders of tomorrow,” said National Vice President Williams.

A proud native of Paterson, New Jersey, Williams discovered his desire to give back in 1997 when he opened an Internet Café and began to provide free access to computers for disadvantaged youth. He taught them basic computer and Internet skills. Because of his commitment to community, mentorship and technology, Williams contributes his time, treasure, and talents to support local and national nonprofit organizations that align with his personal mission and values. Williams is a former board member of the National BDPA, Paterson YMCA, Greater Paterson OIC, Urban League of Bergen County and many others.

“We are very excited and pleased that Mr. Williams has accepted this leadership position at BDPA. He has proven to be a results-oriented leader and BDPA looks forward to his guidance with our ongoing efforts of membership growth, corporate sponsorship solutions and operational excellence,” said Pamela Sexton, National BDPA President.

Founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and the late David Wimberly, BDPA is a global member-focused organization that serves the professional well-being of its stakeholders. BDPA remains committed to excellence and providing a wide spectrum of resources to members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the African American community. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry. With over 40 chapters across the United States, BDPA is the premier organization for African Americans in technology. For more information please contact the National BDPA Office at (301) 584-3135 or Email: info@bdpa.org.

Message from National BDPA President

Greetings BDPA Family!

It’s been a few months since my last report to you. We are halfway through the 2014 BDPA year and the leadership team has been busy at work. I wanted to stop and share with you a few highlights of what has been happening thus far. The following are a list of initiatives, requests and accomplishments that the team is very proud of. We are continuously moving forward and the organization is already showing favor based on these items.

1. The leadership team has been asked to review and update all of the Standard Operating Procedures of the organization. This is important because most of these documents have not been updated since 2005. This means that the organization has been operating following the same procedures for almost 10 years! By updating these procedures, we can incorporate more efficient ways of providing better services to our local chapter leadership and membership.
   
   
2. The decision has been made to reorganize the National Office. The objectives of this reorganization is to identify areas where improvements can be made to accomplish the following:
   
   • Better support a Volunteer Leadership Team
   • Generate data that can be used long term to maintain quality control
   • Improve efficiency of day-to-day operations
   • Improve overall customer service (internally and externally)
   • Lower costs wherever possible
   
   
3. The CIO has been reviewing the organization’s technological needs and looking for solutions to balance workloads and increase productivity/efficiency. The following solutions have been implemented and are being rolled out for utilization:
   
   
   • Bizzabo Event Mobile Application (www.bizzabo.com) – This technology will make BDPA events and networking even better than before. It offers a wide range of configurable components that will help to captivate, motivate and inspire BDPA conference attendees like never before when it is launched at the 2014 National Conference! The following are a few benefits that will be available:
   • Conference agenda will be at the participant’s fingertips throughout the conference.
   • Conference attendees will be able to network and interact with each other through the app (shared feedback) and via social media.
   • Conference attendees will have access to venue maps and location finders at all times.
   • Conference speaker profiles will be available for review 24x7.
   • Smart Sheets (www.smartsheet.com) – This is a collaboration tool that will assist the leadership team with improving its management responsibilities.
   
   
4. During this year’s national conference, in addition to the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program that showcases the talents of our students so successfully, students will have the opportunity to compete in a Mobile App Showcase sponsored by State Farm. This year’s showcase will act as a pilot and will be conducted with a small group of students. The results will help the leadership team determine the best way to implement the program full-scale during future conferences.
   
   
5. The leadership team is working towards building strategic partnerships with other organizations to help strengthen the BDPA programs and member services, bringing a stronger value proposition to its members. Partnerships with the following organizations are being considered:
   • BEYA
   • CODE2040
   • HBCU Career Development Marketplace
   • ITSMF
   • MainStreet Inclusion Advisors
   • NSBE
   • PEM
   • TechGirlz
   
   
6. The leadership team is looking for ways to increase the awareness of BDPA member services, attacking the 'best kept secret' scenario that has existed for many, many years. The team is looking into ways to:
   
   • Increase collaboration with similar organizations (Strategic Partnerships)
   • Increase use of social media
   • Re-brand the organization (coming /soon)
   • Improve the BDPA Website
   
   
7. The leadership team has developed and implemented a new BDPA Social Media Strategy and Policy that is currently available for chapters to implement locally. It was created to increase the organization’s social media presence and promote its messages. Analytics already show that interest in BDPA has increased.

RECRUITMENT of volunteers has been the key to success within BDPA. As a team, recruiting volunteers with the skill sets needed to keep progress going has made all the difference. Stay tuned for more information on how to recruit for success within BDPA! I am writing a series of documents that will show you how this can work on the chapter level.

We all have a responsibility to increase awareness of the BDPA Brand. The benefits are wide spread. We can vastly improve the BDPA member value proposition through improved services, stronger programs and collaborative initiatives.

Please visit the BDPA website (www.bdpa.org) and meet the National Leadership Team. Thanks for your support and it continues to be a pleasure to serve as your National President!

Sincerely,
Craig Brown, PhD, President
National BDPA

Wordless Wednesday: National BDPA Board of Directors (2012-2013)

Message from Incoming BDPA Midwest Region Vice-President

Michael Wulf

Last time I was in Reno, NV I bowled a 3-game series of #600 ("my best ever") ... this time its about what drives me: "Culture for Service, Service to Humanity" - now serving on the National BDPA board of directors.

This weekend marks my first ever meeting as a national officer representing the BDPA Midwest Region as Vice-President. I've had my reality checks and now I adjust and learn from my peers. I am truly honored to have been asked and selected to represent the fine work done by so many dedicated volunteers at BDPA. They work tirelessly to create networking and training opportunities for emerging and existing IT professionals.

In addition, a tradition of giving back by "raising up" youth in the community by offering incredible (free) application development training and more to middle & high school students that have an interest in making a career and bettering their odds at getting a six-figure income. Many kids trained by BDPA come out of high school ready to take on corporate application development roles in traditional and mobile platforms.

I thank God every day for allowing me enough strength to work, go to school, ride and volunteer. Everything I do must have a purpose, somehow, ... for some reason I am placed on this earth for a reason. Taking the Blessings others have given to me along my life and career and hopefully doing "good" for someone.

Regards,
Michael Wulf, VP-elect
BDPA Midwest Region

This Week in BDPA (November 10-16, 2013)

BDPA offers strong programs in 46 cities around the nation. Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Nov 10: BDPA Chicago - Workshop, 'Virtualization, Linux, Security and Cisco'
• Nov 12: BDPA Education and Technology Foundation - Webinar, 'BDPA iRadio Show'
• Nov 13: BDPA New Jersey - Webinar, 'How Cloud Computing Can Cut Your IT Costs by Half'
• Nov 14: BDPA Dallas - Program Meeting, 'Text Marketing is Taking Technology to the Next Level'
• Nov 14: BDPA Atlanta - Fundraiser, 'Awards & Recognition Banquet'
• Nov 15: BDPA Dallas - Workshop, '3D Printing & Robots'
• Nov 15-16: National BDPA - Meeting, '4Q-2013 National Board of Directors'
• Nov 16: BDPA Dallas - Workshop, '3D Printing & Robots'

Please let us know of other BDPA events 

that we may have missed! 

You can always find BDPA programs, services or networking activity online at places such as:

• BDPA Facebook Group
• BDPA Foundation Facebook Page
• BDPA Foundation Twitter Account
• BDPA LinkedIn Network Group

BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to our Causes, our HSCC Scholarship Funds or Your Causes! We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events.

Message from BDPA Chicago Chapter President

Greetings,

I am seeking your support to become your next National Vice President of BDPA. I am passionate about the organization and know that I have what it takes to move us forward. My key focus areas will be Brand Rejuvenation, Member Value Proposition and Cultural Transformation of National BDPA.

Please review the attached brief summary and also share with your delegates to gain a little more insight about me.

Pamela Sexton, Candidate, National BDPA Vice President (2014-2015) from Wayne Hicks

I am looking forward to meeting you and your delegates next week to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have going into 2014. Thanks for your support.

Thanks & Regards,
Pamela Sexton
BDPA Chicago Chapter President
National BDPA VP Strategy & Planning
2013 National BDPA Conference Director
Email pamela.sexton@bdpa.org

BDPA Seeks Nominations for 2014-2015 Leadership Positions

BDPA Needs You. BDPA is looking for technology professionals that want a chance to make their voice heard and to effect change for the betterment of the technology profession. Good news is that nominations have been received, but the organization needs MORE.

If you are one of those individuals or know someone who is passionate about driving BDPA to higher level, please consider joining the National BDPA Board of Directors.

National BDPA is now accepting nominations for positions at the regional and national level. In accordance with the National BDPA Bylaws (dated August 6, 2010) Article 5 Section 4, nominations for the following national offices must be submitted no later than midnight on Saturday, April 13, 2013.

In accordance with its by-laws, the National BDPA's Election and By-laws Committee (EBC) is seeking BDPA members to serve on its Board of Directors, with a term beginning on January 1, 2014 and ending in December 31, 2015. The Committee invites those seeking to serve on the association's Board of Directors to declare their candidacies no later than midnight on Saturday, April 13, 2013.

Judaea Lane

Also, in accordance with the National BDPA Bylaws Article 12 Section 1, proposals for amendments of the Bylaws must be submitted no later than midnight on Saturday, April 13, 2013.

If you have questions or wish to discuss further please contact Judaea Lane, EBC Chair via email (ebc@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135) *or* you can visit the BDPA website on http://www.bdpa.org/?page=Election2013 for more information or to make a nomination.

BDPA iRadio Show: Mike Williams (South Region Director)

BDPA iRadio Show hostess Franne McNeal interviewed Mike Williams (BDPA South Region director) about his efforts to help encourage and promote careers in Technology for African Americans everywhere. Mike Williams is a BDPA Atlanta chapter member who recently was elected by the national body to serve as our first-ever director of the BDPA South Region. He will share his vision for the future of BDPA as it enters into this new regional governance model. Mike currently serves as the head of global infrastructure and delivery for FIS.



You can follow Mike on Twitter - @ITMikeWilliams

BDPA iRadio Show is sponsored by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. This particular video clip was put together by BETF volunteers Nicholas Scott and LaTisha Redding.

BDPA Leaders: George Brooks & Jimm Middleton

George Brooks (l) and Jimm Middleton (r) posed for this photo at the National BDPA Board of Directors meeting held in Cleveland on May 2005.

George is a long-time BDPA member with ties to our chapters in Chicago, Detroit and Columbus. He served as president of the BDPA Columbus chapter from 2004-2005.

Jimm is a long-time BDPA member with ties to our chapter in Washington DC and Orlando. He served as a chapter president in both chapters ... and in fact, is the founder of the BDPA Orlando chapter. Jimm met his soul-mate in BDPA. They are now married and living the good life in Orlando!

Message from National BDPA President

The National BDPA Board of Directors (NBOD) meeting was held last month. Our executive officers continued their work on the Strategic Plan for 2012. The Strategic Plan is a fluid and living document. It helps guide our National Executive Committee and enables them to ensure that we accomplish the priorities that have been set forth by the NBOD.

On the horizon, we have the 34th National BDPA Technology Conference in Baltimore, Maryland scheduled for August. This year, in partnership with CompTIA, we will offer certification classes on Monday and Tuesday. We will also have an panel and reception on Tuesday evening focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The panel will discuss “Broadening the Participation of Minorities in STEM at HBCUs”.

The general sessions will run from August 1-4, 2012. The Career Fair will take place on Friday and Saturday, so spruce up your resumes and come prepared to meet our sponsors. Our final event is the Saturday evening Awards Gala – come prepared to dress to impress.

Mark your calendars and save the first week of August 2012 for your association! National BDPA will be celebrating the members who have been so dedicated to our mission since the formation of the association in 1975.

I wish to thank all of our members in assisting us with our common goal in advancing careers in technology.

Warm regards,
Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

Where Are They Now: 2003 BDPA Chapter Presidents

We like to use this blog to document the BDPA legacy. We want to reach out to those heroes and sheroes that created our legacy over the past few years. For example, we would love to hear updates on those brothers and sisters that served as BDPA Chapter Presidents in 2003.



Where Are They Now?

1. Albany (Walter McKay)
2. Atlanta (Perry Chase)
3. Baltimore (Denise Holland)
4. Bay Area (Christopher Epperson)
5. Boston (Edwin Sapp)
6. Central Illinois (Lorenzo Marshall)
7. Central Savannah River Area (Lisa Coleman)
8. Charlotte (Cassandra Seibles)
9. Chattanooga (Lynette Ramsey)
10. Cincinnati (Gina Billings)
11. Cincinnati State (Robin Brown)
12. Cleveland (Beverly Peterson)
13. Columbus (Howard Brooks)
14. Dallas (Letitia Andrews)
15. Dayton (Charles Crawford III)
16. Detroit (Jovan Roberts)
17. Ft. Wayne (Regan Scruggs)
18. Gr Birmingham (Cedrick Moore)
19. Gr Columbia (Mildred Allen)
20. Gr Tampa Bay (Erni Moore)
21. Greenville (Judy Jones)
22. Hartford (Clarrance Williams)
23. Houston (Aaron Jones)
24. Kansas City (Larry Harris)
25. Los Angeles (Angela White-Parker)
26. Memphis (Joseph Taylor III)
27. Miami-OH University (Kikia Carter)
28. New Jersey (Coram Rimes)
29. New York (Jeffry Kimble)
30. NW Indiana (Adrian Muhammad)
31. Orlando (Jimm Middleton)
32. Philadelphia (Beverly Chandran)
33. Phoenix (Bill Trotter)
34. Pittsburgh (Stanley Lowe)
35. Richmond (Bill Manns)
36. Rocky Mountain (Chris Williams)
37. Rhode Island (Lisa Ranglin)
38. Seattle (Monique Roberts)
39. So Minnesota (David Tines)
40. So Florida (Renea Adderley)
41. St. Louis (Lovis Daniels
42. Toledo (Pa'Trice Pettaway)
43. Triangle (Darryl Hamilton)
44. Twin Cities (Aaron Young)
45. Virginia Commonwealth University (Candace Johnson)
46. Virginia State University (Ayanna Gormley)
47. Washington DC (Gerald Peppers)

I am hopeful that we can encourage each of these 2003 chapter presidents to provide us with their electronic autograph in the COMMENTS section below.

What say u?

This Week in BDPA (Mar 11-17)

BDPA is a strong offering of programs in 45 cities around the nation. Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Mar 13: Greater Columbia - Program Meeting, 'ReEducate, ReTool and ReEnergize'
• Mar 13: BETF - Webinar, 'BDPA iRadio Show'
  
• Mar 14: CompTIA - Webinar, 'Advancing Women in IT: Insights from a Leader and Her Path to Success'
  
• Mar 14: Philadelphia - Networking, 'Gathering at 1518 Bar and Grill'
  
• Mar 14: New Jersey - Webinar, 'BRICS: Business Process Management'
  
• Mar 15: Cincinnati - Program Meeting, 'Road Map to Success: An IT Executive Story'
  
• Mar 15: Detroit - Program Meeting, 'Move Your Office to the Cloud'
• Mar 15: New York - Program Meeting, 'Emerging Trends in Health IT and Certification Opportunities'
• Mar 15: Charlotte - Program Meeting, '6th Annual Recruiting Roundtable'
• Mar 16: Baton Rouge - Program Meeting, 'Tax Talking'
• Mar 16: Chicago - Program Meeting, 'Reaching Beyond Your Limitations'
• Mar 16-17: National BDPA - Board Meeting, 'Winter Leadership Conference'
• Mar 17: National BDPA - Webinar, 'Career Triage: Resume Rescue'

Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed.

You can always find BDPA programs, services or networking activity online at places such as:

• BDPA Facebook Group
• BDPA Foundation Facebook Page
• BDPA LinkedIn Network Group.

BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to our Causes, our HSCC Scholarship Funds or Your Causes!

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events!

Message from National BDPA President

Monique Berry

2012 New Year's Greetings to You!

I would like to thank you for the opportunity and honor of being the president of National BDPA (NBDPA) for the next two years. I am thrilled to serve this incredible association and its extraordinary members. It is relatively easier to lead an organization that continues to flourish.

Much of the credit for NBDPA's recent accomplishments goes to Yvette Graham, the immediate past president and her leadership team. We appreciate their tireless efforts, continued support and dedication.

NBDPA will continue to grow and develop with the support of its committed leadership, chapters, members, and partners. Together, with the members of the new governing body, we will continue to move forward striving for excellence in every endeavor we undertake. Meet our Board of Directors.

As with any established organization, we have some challenges ahead: getting our members involved and serving them, recruiting new members, establishing new chapters and much more! Along with meeting these challenges for years 2012 and 2013, we will work to improve communication, increase corporate participation and identify additional revenue streams.


Here's a brief look ahead at what you can expect during the first 90 days:

1. Registration opens for the 2012 conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
2. Career Triage, a live webinar series presenting a 21st Century look at how to revive a stalled career presented by career coach, Janice Coleman. FREE! for members and $25.00 per class for non-members.
3. Our membership campaign begins. Members who refer new members are eligible to win prizes such as a: Kindle, iTouch, Nano, Nook and more! Sign in now to refer your friends and peers.
4. National officer appearances on BDPA iRadio Show.
5. Eastern Regional Leadership Conference and National BDPA Board of Directors meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.
6. STEM Online Simulations page added to the National Website
7. Regional Vice President Chapter assessments begin.
8. Regional Vice President teleconferences with Chapter Presidents.

Check out our website as we continue to develop new partnerships that will provide more resources and opportunities for members in the coming year. View our calendar to watch for NBDPA events at a chapter near you! You will also see regular communications, news and updates on the website and in BDPAToday. I encourage you to reach out, contribute, volunteer, and get involved. VISIT our Facebook page, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and JOIN our LinkedIn group.

Members are invited to provide suggestions, comments, and questions anytime, especially during the next 90 days, by using the Contact Us form available on the website. I assure you, they will be reviewed carefully. Your voice is important to me, as it is to all of NBDPA and we can't do this without you. I commit my best efforts to NBDPA and its members.

National BDPA Board of Directors (2012-2013)

On behalf of the NBDPA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, I wish you all a prosperous and successful year!

Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

National BDPA Board of Directors (2012-2013)

The beginning of the 2012-2013 leadership team began on November 5 when the appointment of a number of the officers was approved during the 4Q-2011 NBOD meeting held in Las Vegas.

Meet the 2012-2013 National BDPA Board of Directors:

L-R (standing): Mike Williams (regional director - South), Fred Smith (regional VP - North), Chad White (VPMM), Theonnie Shields (regional director - Midwest), Barbara Allen (regional VP - Midwest), William Flowers (outside director), Allison Aheart Haymore (VPMS), Milt Haynes (CIO), Glenda Chappell (secretary), Jesse Mathews (outside director) and Coram Rimes (regional director - North)

L-R (sitting): Pamela Sexton (VPSP), Loraine Stewart (VPF), Monique Berry (president), Craig Brown (vice president) and Teresa Williams (regional VP - South)

Photo Credit: Charlie Perkins

This Week in BDPA (Oct 30 - Nov 5)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry.

Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to us here, here or here!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Nov 1: Los Angeles - Program Meeting, 'Fireside Geek Chat'
  
• Nov 2: New York - Networking, 'BDPA Meet & Greet'
  
• Nov 4: Rochester (MN) - Networking, 'Business Networking Breakfast'
  
• Nov 5: Las Vegas - Meeting, '4th Quarter National BDPA Board of Directors Meeting'
  

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Where Are They Now: 1996 BDPA Leaders

I came across a list of our National BDPA Board of Directors from 1996 while cleaning up my home office. It includes chapter presidents and national officers who served in leadership positions back in the day. I would love for these powerful brothers and sisters to come visit with us on this blog. Perhaps we can get them to POST A COMMENT to let us know what they are up to now. Here are those 1996 leaders:

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• Midge Johnson, Executive Director
• George Williams, National President
• Roxanne Burrus, National Treasurer
• Barbara Fuller, National Secretary
• Earl Pace, Founder
• Michael McCrimmon, Atlanta President
• Zina Foote, Baltimore President
• Paul Seabrook, Bay Area President
• Richard Bell, Central Arkansas President
• Candice Anderson, Charlotte President
• Betty Hutchins, Chattanooga President
• Patrick Nelson, Cincinnati President
• Judy Williams, Cleveland President
• Leonard Rivers, Columbus President
• Henry Fields, Colorado President
• Clifford Clarke, Ft. Wayne President
• Caryl Thomas, Gr San Fernando Valley President
• Anne York, Gr Tampa Bay President
• Valerie Thomas, Hartford President
• Terrell Jean, Houston President
• Richard Clement, Lansing President
• Reggie Watson, Los Angeles President
• Tim Wilson, Mass Metrowest President
• Jeffrey Cunningham, Memphis President
• Louis Lezama, Miami President
• Beverly Johnson, No. New Jersey President
• Deborah Williams, Northwest Indiana President
• John Wright, Omaha President
• Frank Bright, Philadelphia President
• Bill Trotter, Phoenix President
• Hubert Harris, Richmond President
• Ken Walker, Rocky Mountain President
• Donald Gerard, Silicon Valley President
• Neil Baptiste, St. Louis President
• Paulette Lalor, Toledo President
• Gerardette Furlow, Triangle President
• Greg Douglass, Twin Cities President
• Rudy Duke, Washington DC President

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These are remarkable brothers and sisters. I hope that you will share your thoughts and rememberances on the 1996 BDPA leadership team down in the POST A COMMENT link down below. What say u?

Fact Sheet: 4Q-2010 National BDPA Board of Directors Meeting

Fact Sheet: 4Q-2010 Nat'l BDPA Board of Directors Mtg

View more documents from BDPA Foundation.

National BDPA Board of Directors Meeting, Memphis TN (May 2009)

The BDPA Foundation executive director is a member of the National BDPA Board of Directors (NBOD). The NBOD meets quarterly. The 2nd quarter meeting is being held in Memphis, TN on May 1-3, 2009.

NBOD meetings are open to any BDPA member. I hope that we see many of the Memphis chapter members in attendance.

I am aware that BDPA Memphis chapter seeks to renew enthusiasm and support from the IT community. This is a wonderful opportunity that the chapter should leverage as much as possible over the weeks leading up to the NBOD meeting.

I encourage all BDPA leaders to reach out to the Memphis chapter president and offer your support, encouragement and ideas!

Logistical fact sheet for the NBOD meeting can be found here.