BDPA Confers Lifetime Achievement Award to Linda Clement-Holmes (Procter & Gamble)

BDPA will honor Linda Clement-Holmes, Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) first female African American President and Special Advisor to the P&G Chairman and Chief Information Officer, with their Lifetime Achievement Award during BDPA’s 39th Annual National Technology Conference Awards gala on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

BDPA is the largest African American information technology association in the U.S., and the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Linda Clement-Holmes

Linda joined P&G in 1983 as a systems analyst, going on to become a global “executive of firsts” across several disciplines. She was the first African American senior vice president in the IT function, and the first female African American senior vice president, and now president, within P&G. Linda remains active in community, business, and service organizations, holding many Board of Director and Officer positions. As a role model for IT leaders, African Americans, and Women, Linda exemplifies Career Achievement.

Before serving as Special Advisor to the P&G Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Clement-Holmes served as the company’s Chief Information Officer. As CIO, Linda was responsible for building the capability of the Company’s Information Technology (IT) function as well as providing IT governance oversight. She also designed and maintained a best-in-class employee and workplace experience aimed to help P&G people work simpler, faster, and with greater agility.

Pamela Mathews

“We are privileged beyond words to present Linda Clement-Holmes with the Lifetime Achievement Award -- BDPA’s highest honor. Ms. Clement-Homes represents all that BDPA stands for in her illustration of supreme commitment and dedication to the Information Technology industry,” said Pamela Mathews, National BDPA Vice President and Conference Director.

For more details about the BDPA Lifetime Achievement Award or the BDPA corporate sponsorship program, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

BDPA Confers Lifetime Achievement Award to Melvin Greer (Intel Corporation)

Melvin Greer

BDPA will honor Cornell University graduate, Melvin Greer, Director of Data Science and Analytics at Intel, with their Lifetime Achievement Award during BDPA’s 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held July 26-29, 2017 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to his professional and investment roles, Melvin is responsible for building Intel’s data science platform through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cognitive computing. His systems and software engineering expertise has resulted in patented inventions in Cloud Computing and Synthetic Biology. Greer functions as a principal investigator in advanced research studies and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and U.S. National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

Mr. Greer has been awarded the BEYA Technologist of the Year Award, which recognizes his outstanding technical contribution and products that have a broad impact and high value to society. Melvin Greer is Managing Director of the Greer Institute for Leadership and Innovation where he leads science, technology, mathematical and engineering (STEM) research initiatives, directly contributing to a more diverse generation of leaders and technical talent.

Pamela Mathews

“It is an honor and pleasure to present Melvin Greer with the Lifetime Achievement Award -- BDPA’s highest honor. Mr. Greer exemplifies all that BDPA stands for in his supreme commitment and dedication to the Information Technology industry,” said Pamela Mathews, National BDPA Vice President.

BDPA is the largest African-American information technology association in the U.S., and the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

For more details about the BDPA Annual National Technology Conference & Career Fair or the corporate sponsorship program, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Message from National BDPA President

Pamela Mathews

Hello everyone!

I pray that each of you experienced a wonderful and safe holiday season. As we come to the close of 2015, I am excited and reflective about what WE were able to accomplish through strong teamwork, communication and collaboration. Here are my top three for the year:

1. BDPA celebrated 40 years of taking our members from the classroom to the boardroom.  We are the oldest and largest minority technology organization in the world and we are well-positioned for the next 40 years based on the momentum we have generated this year.  Please enjoy the 40th anniversary memories from one of our BDPA pioneers, Dr. Jesse Bemley.
2. Established a critical, mutually beneficial partnership with CompTIA. One of our key goals for this year was to increase our member value proposition. This partnership provides greater accessibility to resources that will strengthen and enhance our members current and future career opportunities; and
3. Elected a very strong team of leaders for 2016-2017. The incoming leadership team possesses the drive, experience, vision and tenacity required to build on our current momentum. I encourage everyone to read/listen intently, act expediently, share the good news about BDPA and support this team moving forward.

Mike Williams (2016-17 president), Pamela, Donna & Earl Pace

We have incredible momentum as we move into 2016. In January, your leadership team will meet to review and agree upon the tactics that will be employed to live out our strategy and fortify relationships that will be critical to our overall success.

Another imperative in 2016, will be furtherance of the regional organizational structure. While the national organization is here to support the chapters, the regional teams are the ears, eyes and legs that ensure the national strategy is understood and carried out locally and that our chapters are healthy, growing and sustainable. We have much work to do here and I am confident that our incoming Regional leaders are up for and will succeed with this challenge.

A few reminders:

• Please remember to renew your membership as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss out on existing and new member services. Please log in to your account, via www.bdpa.org, to check your status.
• Register for the 2016 Conference (Atlanta, GA) as soon as possible. Visit the Conference site via www.bdpa.org for more information. The early bird registration will be extended until the end of January to ensure that everyone can take advantage of this incredible discount.

I would also like to recognize our outgoing National Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Chapter Leaders for another successful year. Finally, THANK YOU again for the privilege to serve our great organization as President. Please feel free to contact me at pamela.mathews@bdpa.org if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,
Pamela Mathews, president
National BDPA

Message from National BDPA President (Nov 2015)

Pamela Mathews

Hello everyone! Since my last update, we have continued to plan and execute strategy and tactics that will enable BDPA to thrive for the next 40 years. It has been a whirlwind to say the least, however your leadership completed or engaged in the following activities:

1. Completed our 37th Annual Technology Conference & Career Fair which included celebrating the 40th anniversary of our illustrious organization. The feedback from the Conference has been incredible and we saw a lot of “old faces” who have resumed their membership and commitment to BDPA;
2. Attended and spoke at the O’Reilly Media Velocity Conference in New York. BDPA was selected as the diverse association they chose to recognize this year. My talk focused on the purpose of BDPA, our desire to partner with like-minded organizations and how the participants should not take their ability to pursue and thrive in the technology profession for granted; and
3. Attended and represented BDPA at CompTIA’s annual ChannelCon conference in Chicago. During the Conference, we hosted a reception and participated in various leadership meetings and seminars aimed at strengthening our partnership and understanding of each other.

Our 37th Annual Technology Conference was absolutely incredible. The Opening Session featured General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State, sharing his life lessons with the conference attendees. Over the course of the week, several competitions took place including a Hack-a-thon, High School Computer Competition, Mobile Application Showcase and IT Showcase. BDPAConnect, our college engagement program, was successfully launched to cater to our college students and their specific needs.



In addition, there were a number of general sessions and adult professional workshops that educated and inspired our membership. A number of the presenters will be sharing their content in future webinars hosted by National BDPA. Finally, congratulations to our award and scholarship recipients that were presented during the Awards Gala and throughout the week of the conference.

I would like congratulate and welcome our newest chapter, BDPA Kansas City, on the activation of their chapter during the Conference. 2015 was an election year and the following individuals were elected to lead BDPA nationally and regionally in 2016-2017:

• Mike Williams (National President)
• Pamela Mathews (National Vice President)
• Coram Rimes (VP-Finance)
• Midwest Region: Michael Wulf (Vice President), William Smith (Regional Director)
• Northeast Region: Curtis Jenkins (Vice President), Hayward West (Regional Director)
• South Region: Felicia Francis (Vice President), Markita Payne (Regional Director)
• West Region: John Malonson (Vice President), Kirk Williams (Regional Director)

Please be advised that preparations are already underway for the 2016 BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair. The event will occur from August 10-13 at The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, GA. The reduced member rate, through January 1, 2016 is $350. Please visit www.bdpa.org to register and take advantage of this incredible reduction.

As we continue our brand rejuvenation efforts, we are evaluating all of our programs to determine what changes are required to ensure they stay or become more relevant to our members. To that end, our Programs Committee has begun to have weekly meetings to support this effort.

Our 4th Quarter Membership Drive Campaign is underway. We are soliciting everyone this quarter to become a Lifetime Member. The cost is $1,000 and payment options are available.

As you know BDPA is a volunteer organization, our membership has a vast skillset. We invite all members to get engaged! We need your support to continue making BDPA a success. Numerous volunteer opportunities exist locally and nationally, send a message to info@bdpa.org and tell us what area you would like to be involved with.

In closing, THANK YOU again for the privilege to serve our great organization as President. Please feel free to contact me at president@bdpa.org if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,
Pamela L. Mathews, president
National BDPA

Message from National BDPA President (July 2015)

Pamela Mathews

Can you believe that it’s July already? We have made incredible strides toward achievement of our strategic goals and are well positioned to begin the next 40 years of our existence in grand fashion. Since my last update, we have continued to drive momentum and readiness for:

• Our 2015 Annual Technology Conference & Career Fair, which will include celebration of our 40th Anniversary;
• Launch of the Brand rejuvenation campaign;
• Enhancing Member Benefit Value through increased industry partnership; and
• Annual Technology Conference & Career Fair site selection for 2016-2017.

Besides the activities mentioned above, we received an overwhelming response to the June incentives from the membership. During the month of June, we had over 600 membership renewals. As a result, we now have over 2,000 active members! As we rejuvenate our brand, programs and services, our reach and effectiveness will increase, further elevating us as the preeminent minority technology organization.

In the March and April updates, I announced that we had solidified our partnership with CompTIA. As a reminder, CompTIA is a non-profit association that advances the global interests of IT professionals and channel organizations. It enables them to be more successful with industry-leading IT certifications and IT business credentials, IT education, resources and the ability to connect with like-minded, leading IT industry experts. Please visit their website, www.comptia.org, for more information about their industry leading programs and certifications.

What does this partnership mean for you?
• Active BDPA members are entitled to a 40% - 50% discount on CompTIA certification exams such as A+, Network+, Security+, among others. You must be current with your membership dues. Any member wishing to take advantage of this remarkable benefit may email the National Office at info@bdpa.org.

• Complimentary registration to the CompTIA ChannelCon annual industry conference. This fantastic networking and educational conference will take place Aug 3-5, 2015 at Hilton Chicago. BDPA will be hosting the Welcome Reception on Sunday, August 2 at 7:00 pm. All BDPA members (active or inactive) are welcome to attend both the reception or conference. Please register using this unique discount registration link - https://www.comptia.org/channelcon/registration/registration-form?pc=StaffBDPA

• Complimentary individual membership to CompTIA and discount channel partner membership. Get access to valuable industry research, networking events and training by becoming a member of CompTIA http://offers.comptia.org/bdpa/

• During the National BDPA Annual Conference, CompTIA has agreed to provide a handful of training workshops to BDPA members. This is another great reason to register ASAP for the conference. This complimentary training is a valuable member service benefit and I highly encourage you to take advantage of this special opportunity. More details will be in the Conference agenda.

We are less than 30 days out from our 2015 Annual Technology Conference & Career Fair. To ensure we are able to deliver and execute a great Conference, please be mindful of the following:

1. Chapter Presidents must register their delegates no later than August 8. Please refer to the email sent by the Election and By-Laws Committee on July 6 to complete this process; and
2. Register for the Conference as soon as possible. This will help us manage expenses and ensure that we are adequately prepared to accommodate you in terms of lodging, meals, etc.
3. Make your hotel reservation today - https://resweb.passkey.com/go/BDPA2015CONFERENCE

In closing, THANK YOU again for the privilege to serve our great organization as President. Please feel free to contact me at info@bdpa.org if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,
Pamela L. Mathews, president
National BDPA

Message from the National BDPA President

Pamela Mathews

Hello everyone! I am pleased to report that BDPA continues to accelerate its progress toward achievement of our strategic objectives. Over the last three months, your leadership completed or engaged in the following activities:

• Strategic partnership meetings with CompTIA which included attending their Annual Members Meeting in Jacksonville, Florida and a planning session in Chicago;
• Regional Conferences supporting the South and Midwest regional leadership through professional development talks and strategic messaging;
• Planning for the 2015 Annual Technology Conference & Career Fair, which will include celebration of our 40th Anniversary;
• Review and communication of proposed National By-Laws amendments;
• Launch of the Brand rejuvenation campaign; and
• Successful execution of the second quarter National BDPA Board of Directors meeting in Delaware.

I am very pleased with the level of trust, teamwork, commitment, communication and collaboration that the national, regional and local chapter leadership have exhibited. I encourage everyone to partner with us as we begin the next 40 years of taking our members from “the classroom to the boardroom”.

We are just under 90 days from convening in Washington DC to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. To spark further excitement around the Conference and BDPA overall, there will be two June incentives:

1. During the month of June ALL expired membership renewals will be complimentary. Please visit our website www.bdpa.org to renew your membership today and use code (juneonly); and
2. Conference Registration, currently priced at $1,000, is being offered at only 40% of the current registration price of $1,000 or $400 during the month of June. Please visit our website and conference registration page at www.bdpa.org, and use code (40% for 40 years) during checkout to receive this incredible discount.

Besides the June incentives, please be aware of the following:

• We have negotiated special pricing for Conference lodging at the Washington Hilton. After you register for the Conference, please proceed to the Hotel section and book your room(s);
• WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Please bring to the Conference or upload your BDPA memorabilia or pictures from the past 40 years (more details to come). Thank you in advance for your support!

In closing, THANK YOU again for the privilege to serve our great organization as President. Please feel free to contact me at president@bdpa.org if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,
Pamela Mathews, president
National BDPA

Deloitte Renews BDPA Sponsorship for 12th Straight Year

Deloitte renewed its Bronze level corporate sponsorship with BDPA … making it over a decade of sponsorship. The company agreed to sponsor the BDPA Founders reception and a career fair booth at the 2015 National BDPA Technology Conference as well as giving specific support to our BDPA chapters in Nashville and Philadelphia.

With more than $34.2 billion in revenues for fiscal year 2014, Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, including 70% of the Fortune 500. Deloitte has over 210,000 professionals at member firms delivering services in audit, tax, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and related services in more than 150 countries and territories.

Kendall Norris

"I am delighted with the partnerships that we have with companies such as Deloitte. Without support from Deloitte and other partners, BDPA could not provide the programs, development and networking opportunities we do for our members and students,” stated Kendall Norris, BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter president.

Founded in 1975, BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the technology industry. And, with 46 chapters across the United States, BDPA is the largest African American Information Technology association in the country. The organization continues to bridge the digital divide by providing professional growth and technical development for people of color in technology industry.

"BDPA is elated to continue our partnership with Deloitte in 2015. We have established a solid relationship and are grateful that as we approach the celebration of our 40th year in existence, Deloitte continues to support the BDPA mission and vision," said National BDPA president Pamela Mathews.

BDPA remains committed to excellence and providing a wide spectrum of resources to its members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the African American community.  To become a BDPA partner or sponsor like Deloitte or to learn more sponsorship opportunities, please contact BDPA Corporate Sales Team by email at corpsales@bdpa.org or call us on (301) 584-3135 x108.

BDPA and CompTIA Announce a Strategic Alliance

With more than 2,000 members, 3,000 academic and training partners and tens of thousands of registered users spanning the entire information technology (IT) industry, CompTIA has become a leading voice for the technology ecosystem. They focus their initiatives on supporting the success of businesses across the full IT channel, from the largest vendors on one end to smaller businesses providing IT hardware, software and services on the other, as well as the IT professionals that make the industry run.

“We empower IT companies and professionals worldwide with knowledge and resources to enhance their businesses and careers; after all, their success is our success,” said Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO, CompTIA. “Thanks to our collaboration with BDPA, we’re making our resources available to a new audience. Together, we can equip individuals and organizations with the right education, tools and training to make a positive impact in our industry.”

CompTIA has invested millions to develop a growing portfolio of resources in the areas of IT education, IT certification, IT advocacy and IT philanthropy to help professionals such as BDPA members to become more successful. With the CompTIA and BDPA partnership agreement, BDPA members will receive a 40% discount on certification courses, discounted CompTIA membership, presence on the CompTIA website and much more. BDPA will provide CompTIA with brand exposure of its products and services to BDPA members, logo presence on the BDPA website, features in BDPA newsletters, and a complimentary booth at the Annual BDPA Technology Conference & Career Fair to be held at the Washington DC Hilton, August 18-22, 2015.

“I am honored to announce the strategic alliance of CompTIA Member Services and BDPA. This partnership with CompTIA will allow BDPA to continue to bring quality programs and training to its members through its local chapter communities,” said National BDPA President Pamela Mathews.

Founded in 1975, BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the IT industry. And, with over 40 chapters across the United States, BDPA is the largest African American Information Technology Association in the country. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in IT and continues to bridge the digital divide by providing training and career growth opportunities for its members. BDPA remains committed to excellence and providing a wide spectrum of resources to its members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the African American community.

To become a BDPA partner or sponsor like CompTIA or to learn more about BDPA’s National Conference and sponsorship opportunities, please contact BDPA Corporate Sales Team by email at corpsales@bdpa.org or (301) 584-3135 x108.

Johnson & Johnson Renews Its Platinum Level Sponsorship

The long-term investment into BDPA by Johnson & Johnson has been ongoing for well over a decade. It continues into 2015 as Johnson & Johnson renewed its Platinum Level corporate sponsorship of the 37th Annual BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC. Johnson & Johnson agreed to underwrite a variety of activities that include the BDPA IT Showcase, college scholarships, career fair, BDPA Job Board participation and an investment in three Northeast region chapters. Johnson & Johnson believes in the BDPA mission of advancing the careers of African Americans in the information technology industry ‘from the classroom to the boardroom’.

"Johnson & Johnson continues to set the bar, both financially and collaboratively, in terms of partnership with BDPA. This is a wonderful way to start our 2015 campaign and 40 years of BDPA," said National BDPA president Pamela Mathews.

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. BDPA has seen the commitment by Johnson & Johnson to diversity in its workplace, marketplace and its relationships with suppliers.

"Johnson & Johnson is excited to partner with BDPA in 2015," says Johnson & Johnson chief information officer Guillermo Ardon. "As we look to accelerate innovation to better serve the more than one billion people a day who rely on Johnson & Johnson’s products, we’re excited that our partnership with BDPA will help us strengthen our talent through diversity and encourage young minds to embrace science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

Founded in 1975, BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry. BDPA has fulfilled its mission and worked to bridge the digital divide by providing career growth opportunities for its members.

Please contact the BDPA corporate sales team by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135, x108) if you want information on becoming a corporate sponsor.

Message from National BDPA President

Pamela Mathews

Hello everyone! Can you believe that we are already in the month of February? Time flies when you work with a controlled sense of urgency! This phrase best summarizes how your national and regional leadership performed in the month of January -- accelerating efforts around the following key activities:

• Appointed Coram Rimes as Vice President of Finance;
• Brand rejuvenation focused on visual optics and updating programming that will increase our member value proposition for current and prospective members, corporate partners, sponsors and students;
•  Registration or training opened for the High School Computer Competition, Mobile Application and IT Showcase programs. I encourage all students, trainers and sponsors to engage in one of these signature programs;
• Reviewed and confirmed organizational finances, including evaluation of 2014 Conference expenses and our plan of action to retire this debt; and
• The 2015 Technology Conference and Career Fair planning is underway and the team is positioned to deliver our best Conference ever. The discount conference registration rate of $300 has been extended until February 28th.

As you can tell, we are not just planning or talking about the tactics that bring our strategy to life, but we are EXECUTING. 2015 is most definitely all about execution and I hope that this energy transcends the entire organization, especially as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary.

In that same spirit, February is also the month we celebrate Black History. Our legacy is one that we can all be proud of and commemorate every day, but especially over the next twenty-six days. In addition, I am encouraging everyone to participate in local Black Family Technology Awareness Week activities.

Furthermore, please remember to renew your membership, register for the Conference and get busy with your local chapter. As a reminder, your local, regional and national leadership stand ready to listen, learn and lead based on your feedback and participation. Thank you in advance for your continued support and collaboration.

In closing, I want to THANK YOU again for the opportunity to serve our great organization as President and please feel free to contact me at info@bdpa.org if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Sincerely,
Pamela L. Mathews, president
National BDPA

Message from the National BDPA President

Greetings! I pray that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed your time with family and friends. 2014 has been an incredible year for BDPA. As I mentioned in my December 1st update, we experienced transition, celebration and collaboration. In addition, through the generosity of our corporate partners and sponsors, we awarded over $120,000 in scholarships to our students! Talk about making a difference in the lives of our student members. But the best is yet to come…

I am very excited about 2015 and hope you share my enthusiasm. 2015 represents the 40th year of existence for our beloved BDPA! The vision of our Founders is alive and well. We have over 30 active chapters, 100 corporate partners and sponsors, and 2,100 members who comprise the largest minority Information Technology organization in the world! This is something that we can all be proud of and celebrate. However, we are not done and have much work to do.

In 2015, we begin year two of our 2014-2018 National Strategy. As a reminder, we are focused on:

• BDPA 2.0, specifically brand rejuvenation;
• Organizational growth and efficiency; and
• Enhancement of our member value proposition.

We have a very strong national and regional leadership team in place to bring this strategy to life across the organization. The team and I look forward to working and visiting with all of you throughout the year and celebrating our accomplishments. Please know that in order to realize our National Strategy, we need your help.

We need your active participation, teamwork, input and support to achieve our strategic and growth goals. As we begin a new year, I encourage each of you to partner with your regional and local leadership on the development and execution of your respective plans. Finally, please remember to renew your membership, visit bdpa.org on a regular basis to stay abreast of organization activities, AND register for our 2015 Technology Conference and Career Fair (early bird registration is extended until January 31, 2015) as soon as possible.

In closing, THANK YOU again for the opportunity to serve our great organization as President and please feel free to contact me at info@bdpa.org if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Sincerely,
Pamela Mathews, president
National BDPA

Walgreens Renews Its Silver Sponsorship of BDPA

The long-term investment into BDPA by Walgreens has been ongoing for well over a decade. It continues as Walgreens renewed its Silver Level corporate sponsorship of National BDPA. Walgreens agreed to underwrite a variety of activities that include the renewal of corporate memberships, BDPA Job Board participation and an investment in the BDPA Chicago chapter annual awards banquet. Walgreens believes in the BDPA mission of advancing the careers of African Americans in the information technology industry ‘from the classroom to the boardroom’.

Pam Mathews

National BDPA president Pamela Mathews said, "I'm very excited that Walgreens has renewed our partnership. They have been a supportive and committed partner to our vision and mission. I look forward to celebrating 40 years of BDPA with Walgreens in 2015."

Diversity and inclusion at Walgreens are more than business initiatives; they are a way of life, embedded deep in its culture. As a retailer in diverse communities across the country and Puerto Rico, they want to reflect that diversity in many ways - in the products and services they offer, in their choice of the vendors and other entities with which they do business and in their everyday interactions with customers, patients and each other. BDPA has watched careers being launched at Walgreens. Walgreens recruits, retains and develops strong talent. The company offers development classes, goal setting training and mentoring to help drive success in the workplace.

Millie Liggins

“At Walgreens, we are dedicated to the well-being of our customers, employees, and communities we all call home. In addition, we are committed to sustaining a strong, technologically trained work force where innovation thrives and growth opportunities exist for varied skills, experience and backgrounds who reflect the people and communities we serve globally”, said Millie Liggins, Walgreens Strategic Implementations Team Lead. “That is why we continue to invest in organizations like BDPA … organizations that promote diversity and inclusion and help us meet our corporate objectives for talent acquisition, employee development, and philanthropic endeavors. We look forward to a successful partnership as we work together to help people get well, stay well and live well.”

Founded in 1975, BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry. BDPA has fulfilled its mission and worked to bridge the digital divide by providing career growth opportunities for its members.

Reggie Rush

“BDPA Chicago wants to thank Walgreens for their dedication, support and commitment to help BDPA impact our members and students through their contributions,” noted BDPA Chicago chapter president Reggie Rush. “It takes sponsors like Walgreens to provide the necessary resources that make it possible for BDPA to continue forward with its mission to ensure a diverse talent pipeline for the future and to encourage young people to explore careers in science and technology."

For more information about BDPA or its sponsorship program, please contact us by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 x108).

BDPA Announces New President -- Pamela Mathews

BDPA announced the appointment of Mrs. Pamela Mathews to serve as President of BDPA. The BDPA National Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Dr. Craig Brown at a special Board meeting on October 30, 2014.

BDPA, a national organization, is the premier organization for African Americans in Information Technology (IT). Founded in 1975, BDPA is celebrating its 40-year anniversary in 2015 and will continue to close the digital divide for minorities in Information Technology. BDPA has been committed to increasing the upward mobility of its membership; informing and preparing those interested in pursuing careers in IT and making the minority community as a whole aware of the opportunities available and long-term benefits of our industry.

"We are very pleased Pamela has accepted this leadership position at BDPA. Pamela has proven to be not only a great people leader, but a results-driven business executive. We look forward to her continued leadership with our on-going efforts of operational excellence, innovative programming, membership growth and customized corporate sponsorship solutions that BDPA is committed to delivering to our stakeholders. The appointment now permanently packages her extensive management experience, corporate partnerships and membership focused solutions with an organization committed to advancing the mission of BDPA," said BDPA Co-Founder, Mr. Earl Pace, Jr.

Mrs. Mathews previously held several leadership positions as an active BDPA Board member, BDPA National Executive Committee and the former President of the BDPA Chicago Chapter.

“As BDPA members and sponsors prepare to celebrate BDPA’s 40th year of existence next year in Washington DC, this is the time to rededicate ourselves to BDPA’s objectives, which are more relevant today, than in the entire history of the Information Technology industry. We must grow our members from the Classroom to the Boardroom,” said National President, Mrs. Pamela Mathews.

Wordless Wednesday: BDPA Networking (Wayne Hicks, Pamela Sexton, John Harris)

SOURCE: Flickr