Message from Charlotte Chapter President

On behalf of the BDPA Charlotte Executive Board, I would like to wish BDPA members, sponsors, partners, supporters and the entire Charlotte community a Happy New Year!

I am eager to begin serving you as a chapter president of this amazing and influential organization. People ask why I have spent the last 10 years being so actively involved with BDPA as a volunteer. The answer is simple. BDPA has allowed me to demonstrate my executive leadership potential when glass ceilings would not. My experiences with BDPA have allowed me to overcome those hurdles and grow as a professional. Now, I have the privilege to serve as chapter president and give back to this important technology organization. I have a deep passion for Information Technology & Engineering with a career that spans more than 20 years in Aerospace, Banking, Biotechnology, Insurance, Manufacturing and Information Security.

BDPA Charlotte is planning an exciting 2010. My first task as president was to create the brand new role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) for BDPA Charlotte. The CIO role will showcase the technical prowess that BDPA Charlotte is well known for by providing Information Technology Thought Leadership for its members, stakeholders and Charlotte community. My second task involved forming a partnership between BDPA Charlotte and the Urban League of the Carolinas. Together, we will have greater impact influencing students from underserved communities to pursue careers in Information Technology in the Charlotte area.

One of the most powerful benefits of BDPA; which I coined “IT Career Revival”, is the annual BDPA Technology Conference. The 2010 National Conference will be held in Philadelphia, July 28 – July 31, 2010; the city of brotherly love! Along with the many technology workshops and seminars held each day, employers from private industry, government and U.S. military participate in a two day career fair and some offer interviews right on the spot! If you are seeking a new career or wanting to relocate, the BDPA National Conference is an event you can’t afford to miss. We all have persevered and worked through challenges to make it to 2010.

Although positive news is being reported about the economy recovering, many of you are facing unemployment and looking for your next career opportunity. As the premier organization for African Americans in Information Technology, BDPA is here to help you meet this challenge. Businesses and entrepreneurs are poised for growth in 2010 and will rely on information technology more than ever to compete for market share. BDPA offers the business community the ability to interface and network with one of the most diverse and skilled talent pools in the country. Since BDPA offers the most diverse and skilled talent pools in Information Technology, corporations partner with us to acquire untapped talent.

Lastly, I want you all to know that the BDPA Charlotte Executive Board is committed to meeting your expectations for providing distinguished technology professionals as speakers at our monthly meetings, as well as career, and networking and opportunities. Now, we can’t do this alone and need your help. BDPA Charlotte needs savvy professionals; be you new to IT or a seasoned veteran. BDPA places its members at the forefront of the Information Technology field and as BDPA Charlotte’s new president I invite you to join our organization to reap its many benefits!

Additionally, your membership dollars help support our professional and K-12 educational programs, and your participation makes the organization more responsive to the people it serves.

In closing, I look forward to a mutually satisfying professional relationship with everyone associated with BDPA in the Charlotte community. The door is always open to you!

Sincerely,
Julius Clark Sr., MBA, CISSP, CISA
President BDPA Charlotte
Website http://www.bdpa-charlotte.org/
Blog: http:clarkthoughtleadership.blogspot.com
Phone: (704) 953-8379

Message from Charlotte Chapter President

Charles Moore ascended to the presidency of BDPA Charlotte chapter last month. His chapter, founded in September 1988, is currently the 15th largest chapter in the nation. Charles shared his vision for BDPA with his membership. We bring you his comments:

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BDPA Charlotte Friends and Family,

I would like to share with you my vision and expectations of our chapter as we embark on what will be a renaissance period for BDPA Charlotte. If I think back as to why I joined BDPA 5 years ago, the reason was very simple. I wanted to keep moving forward and keep giving back. Those two things are the reasons for my commitment to the BDPA and it’s mission. As you read this, our minority communities are falling further and further behind in the skills necessary to keep up with the rapid changes in the world of technology. The gap that is developing as a result is known as the great digital divide.

As IT professionals in Charlotte, I feel that it is our responsibility and duty to aid and assist where possible in bridging this digital divide. We must direct our efforts at serving the community, keeping the community educated, and keeping our community employed.

While we are doing this however, we must keep ourselves educated on the latest and greatest technologies and processes and be the leaders we are destined to be as a chapter. Remember, we are not only competing locally in our industry, but also on a global level. I hope that you consider this a call to action and plan to join me and the Charlotte Board of Directors over the next 2 years in fulfilling our responsibilities.

During my time at Winston-Salem State, I was doing well in my studies and I felt as if I was doing what was just enough to make a positive contribution to society. In the back of my mind, however, I always felt as if I could do more, and that I needed to do more….Well, it wasn’t until I was pulled aside by a mentor at Winston-Salem State, that I learned that you get out of life what you put in to it. I was told that unless "you keep moving forward and keep giving back to help others move forward", then your greatest potential will never be truly realized. I really did not understand what that meant until I began working with the HSCC program here in Charlotte through the BDPA. To see students learn the necessary skills to bridge the digital divide and gain internships and become graduates of high school and college, that is when I realized what my mentor was referring to.

Now as President of the Charlotte Chapter, my focus is to ensure the same thing continues to happen with our students and also with adults and our community in general. I hope you will use the BDPA to help you fulfill all the potential you possess while helping others in the process. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me or anyone on the Charlotte Board of Directors. We are eager to have your help and your skills. Your contribution of time and effort will be just as invaluable to others as the rewards you will receive by giving back to our community.

I look forward to working and serving this great community over the next 2 years. Never hesitate to contact me to let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Charles Moore, President
BDPA Charlotte
Email: charlotte@bdpa.org
Phone: (704) 654-8114

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Care to share any words of encouragement for our brothers and sisters in Charlotte?

BDPA Online Community: YahooGroups

BDPA can be found on all of the major social networks. The organization has come a long way from the days when it created its own Bulletin Board System (BBS) known as BDPANet. That BBS network operated with 2400-baud dial-up modems ... and we thought it was 'sweet'! The first BDPA BBS was set-up by the BDPA Detroit chapter with technical direction from chapter members Ray Larkins and Dr. Ethelene Jones.

The next evolution of the online presence for BDPA was with eGroups ... a system that was eventually bought out by Yahoo and is now known as YahooGroups. The first-ever BDPA YahooGroup (YG) was created on October 26, 1998.

The second YahooGroup was created by BDPA New York chapter member James Supe and it was designed to support BDPA Entrepreneurs. James created the BDPA-Entrepreneur YG on December 29, 1998.

The next evolution of BDPA's online YahooGroup occurred almost a year later on December 3, 1999. That is when the BDPA-Cincy YG was created. It quickly became the largest BDPA-related YG in the nation with over 1,000 subscribers. BDPA Cincinnati chapter leadership used that communication channel to grow its membership ... and quickly the chapter became the 2nd-largest chapter in the nation!


BDPA has been part of the YahooGroups family for about 13 years. There are scores of BDPA-related YahooGroups based on geographic location or technical discipline. Here is a partial list of existing BDPA-related YahooGroups (with the number of current subscribers in parenthesis):

1. BETF (201)
2. BDPA (485)
3. BDPA-Africa (167)
4. BDPA-Atlanta (399)
5. BDPA-Austin (55)
6. BDPA-Baltimore (100)
7. BDPA-BayArea (170)
8. BDPA-Birmingham (203)
9. BDPA-Boston (74)
10. BDPA-Charlotte (309)
11. BDPA-Chicago (493)
12. BDPA-Chicago-Jobs (504)
13. BDPA-Cincy (1077)
14. BDPA-Columbus (115)
15. BDPA-Consultants (95)
16. BDPA-CorporateSponsorship (92)
17. BDPA-Dallas (24)
18. BDPA-DBAs (225)
19. BDPA-DC (385)
20. BDPA-Detroit (116)
21. BDPA-DigitalDivide (1000)
22. BDPA-Educators (139)
23. BDPA-Entrepreneurs (200)
24. BDPA-Florida (81)
25. BDPA-Government (107)
26. BDPA-HelpDesk (150)
27. BDPA-Houston (155)
28. BDPA-Internships (61)
29. BDPA-Jobs (2045)
30. BDPA-JobSeekerAdvice (71)
31. BDPA-LA (147)
32. BDPA-MemberServices (75)
33. BDPA-MembershipManagement (108)
34. BDPA-NY (626)
35. BDPA-Philadelphia (189)
36. BDPA-Press-Release (323)
37. BDPA-ProjectManagers (100)
38. BDPA-Recruiters (126)
39. BDPA-RhodeIsland (24)
40. BDPA-RMAC (120)
41. BDPA-SITES (110)
42. BDPA-SoFlorida (139)
43. BDPA-Software (79_
44. BDPA-Students (132)
45. BDPA-Tampa (174)
46. BDPA-Trainers (148)
47. BDPA-Triangle (72)
48. BDPA-Women (126)
49. BDPA-WritersNEditors (115)

There are dozens of other BDPA-related YahooGroups in the online universe. Let me know if you don't see one on this list that should be there. Also, let me know if you see any value in the continued existence of these YahooGroups. What say u?

Message from Charlotte Chapter President

BDPA Charlotte is the 21st largest chapter in the nation. The chapter was very active in the recently-concluded national conference. BDPA Charlotte chapter president Charles Moore shared some insights on the 30th annual BDPA Technology Conference with his members, sponsors and supporters. Here is what he had to say:

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BDPA Charlotte Friends and Family,

Greetings! For those of you who had the pleasure of attending our 2008 National Conference, I am sure you will agree that our time in Atlanta was amazing! I hope you found your way back to Charlotte safe and soundly. From the technical sessions, career development seminars, to the opening and closing ceremonies, and the networking opportunities, the conference had something to offer everyone in attendance. If you take a moment to read the highlights from this year’s conference you will see why I am excited and pleased to announce that the 2009 National Conference will be held in Raleigh, NC!!!!

National Board of Directors Meeting
As president of the Charlotte Chapter, I had the opportunity to participate in the National Board of Directors meeting. Chapter Presidents from around the country as well as our National President, Denise Holland, and her executive committee focused on matters related to keeping this beloved organization moving forward. These topics ranged from redesign of the national and local websites, to the offering of new programs and services. Expect great things to come out from our national leaders over the next few months and quarter.

Opening Ceremony – Ephren Taylor
BDPA corporation of the year, Johnson and Johnson sponsored the opening ceremonies featuring the humorous Mario Armstrong as master of ceremonies. Our founder Earl Pace Jr., told us that in order to advance our careers and move our community forward, we simply need to “Cast Down Our Buckets Where We Are” in the BDPA to gain the resources needed to propel us forward. We also had the honor of hearing Ephren Taylor inspire and motivate the crowd as the key note speaker. Ephren, known as the “Wealth Engineer,” shared with us his amazing journey to becoming the youngest black CEO in history. Ephran, who created his first video game at the age of 12 and a millionaire by 17, told the 1500 in attendance that perseverance and hard work are the keys to success and to always seize opportunities when they are presented, no matter your age or situation.

Career Development & Technical Seminars
This year, the BDPA national conference offered over 50 career development and technical sessions were offered to help members advance their careers and enhance their technical capabilities. Also a 2 day PMP Certification exam preparation series was conducted. Like our monthly program meetings, all of the sessions at the national conference were eligible for continuing education credits needed to maintain professional certifications such as PMP, CISA, and CISSP. These topics included topics such as Business Intelligence, Enterprise Architecture, Off-shoring/Outsourcing, Career Networking, and The Art of Persuasion.

I want to extend a word of thanks and appreciation to our presenters from the Charlotte Chapter who presented excellent topics:

• Kimberly Green – ADKG Worldwide
• John Hoffler –Wachovia Corporation
• Evan Hilliard – Novant Healthcare

High School Computer Competition
Several HSCC teams assembled in Atlanta to participate in the 23rd year of this esteemed competition. Students from around the nation participated in a 2 day competition where they were quizzed on several technical topics. They were also given 7 hours on Friday to build an online banking program from the ground up using ASP.NET. I want to thank our local Charlotte team for their hard work, participation, and effort. They continued the legacy here in Charlotte of participation in this marquee event. The team members listed below were led by Aaron Johnson and Markus Beamer as trainers and sponsored by Wachovia:

1. Trevor Williams (captain) - Vance High School
2. Mykel Pendergrass - Sequoia Academy
3. Sheldon Abrams - Harding University High School
4. Jerron Jamerson - Berry Academy of Technology
5. Brett Bailey - Berry Academy of Technology

Women in IT Breakfast – Sponsored by Wachovia
On Saturday morning, the women of BDPA had the privilege to join Wachovia’s Sharon Murphy for breakfast to discuss the issues and challenges facing women in the field of Information Technology. Sharon is the newly appointed director of finance technology for Wachovia. This session was inspiring and gave women the opportunity to converse on issues and tactics used to overcome issues faced in our industry. This was also a great beginning of a strong network that will yield wonderful benefits to the women members of the BDPA. I am proud to announce that the Charlotte chapter will be launching quarterly lunch and learn seminars to continue this initiative locally. Please stay tuned for more details!

Technology Career Fair
Top employers from around the country assembled in Atlanta to recruit top IT talent at this year’s national conference. Several companies were pleased with quality of candidates attending the career fair. It is obvious that members such as yourselves should be among those advancing their career at such a wonderful event. Let’s be sure to take advantage of this in Raleigh during 2009!

Awards Gala – Dr. Randal Pinkett
The week’s activities were closed on Saturday evening with our annual gala and awards ceremony. During the evening’s events, we honored top achievements in the field of Information Technology. Our keynote speaker was the winner of NBC’s Apprentice, Dr. Randal Pinkett. His topic for the evening was “Is Success Your Objective, or is Greatness Your Goal?” This excellent speech reminded us all of the differences between success and greatness and that while completing a task is the definition of success; greatness comes from going above and beyond the call of duty. Success is quickly forgotten, but Greatness endures the test of time. Join BDPA Today!!!

Dr. Pinkett, and Ephren Taylor are 2 of the BDPA’s newest members. They see the value in belonging to this esteemed organization, and we ask that you take the time to join them. Membership is a simple 2 step process!

Take a moment to review our benefits, programs, and services. Once you are ready to become a member, you may do so by clicking here to join the BDPA!

Over the next few weeks, you will be receiving communications about events, activities, and opportunities that have been planned for you as members going forward. As always, we look forward to serving you and continuing to meet your professional and technical needs as well as having you involved in any capacity you wish to serve. If there is anything myself or anyone else in the chapter can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact me and using the information below.

Thanks,
Charles Moore, President
BDPA Charlotte
Phone: 704-654-8114

Message from BDPA Charlotte Chapter President

Hello BDPA Charlotte chapter family and friends! I want to update you on a few events and programs that we gearing up for at the start of the new year.

High School Computer Competition - We are getting our 2013 HSCC program ready for kick off in February.

• Our HSCC program teaches high school students how to build web sites and web applications in .Net
• HSCC open house will be on 02/09/2013, registration is not required to visit the open house
• For more information on what the HSCC program is please visit our chapter web site. You will find a flyer that can be used to share this information with others.
• If you are interested in registering a student please use our registration process through EventBrite - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5180683564
• I am happy to announce that this year students that are enrolled in our HSCC program will receive Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District internship credits which will be recorded with their transcripts and report cards.
• Thanks to a few key folks that made this happen: Kevin Robinson, John Hoffler, Jean Beachem, and Melvin Rogers

IT Showcase - We are also looking for a few students to join the BDPA IT Showcase.

• The IT Showcase is a program which teaches students how to research and present IT topics. They work with a PhD-level instructor and present their papers and research at the 35th annual National BDPA Technology Conference in Washington, DC on August 14-17, 2013.
• This program runs from February to August.
• More information about this program can be found on our national web site
• If you are interested, or have a student that is interested in this program please use our registration process - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5180789882#

February Workshop - In February we will also be holding a Seminar and hands-on Workshop.

• The workshop will walk you through how to setup a website using Go-Daddy and Wordpress.
• This workshop will be geared to the non-programming professional
• We will meet at the Urban League on 5th Street
• Meeting will start at 6:30
• Food and Beverages will be available

Member Benefits - If you are a BDPA member, we have also renewed our relationship with HF Mutual

• They are offering a free review and advice on your financial plans
• They offer up to 15% off on financial services and products exclusively for BDPA Charlotte chapter members.
• HF Mutual presented two (2) financial management seminars last year for BDPA Charlotte chapter
• If you are interested in what they have to offer please reach out to Steven Block (sblock@financialguide.com)

It is an election year, so if you are interested in joining our Board and making a difference in your community please let me know. My email address is president@bdpacharlotte.org.

If you are interested in presenting a topic to our membership at one of our future seminars or hands-on workshops, please reach out to us at info@bdpacharlotte.org. Prior presenting experience is not needed.

If you are interested in assisting with any of our training programs, we are always in desperate need for volunteers, again please call or reach out to us at info@bdpacharlotte.org.

Sincerely,
Markus Beamer, president
BDPA Charlotte Chapter

Take Five: Julius Clark (Charlotte)

I must admit that I'm excited to see the the future evolution of the BDPA chapter in Charlotte, NC. The chapter is about to be energized by the youthful intensity and integrity of the incoming president -- Julius Clark. Julius is part of the new generation of African American leadership that is beginning to take control of our BDPA chapters around the nation.

Julius participated in our Take Five interview series:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - I am a native of Boston and first heard of BDPA while living there, but I never had the opportunity to attend a meeting. I built a good IT employment network in Boston and after moving to Charlotte in 1999 it was very important for me to establish my employment network in this city. In 2000 I discovered that BDPA had a Charlotte chapter. I attended my first BDPA Charlotte meeting and was delighted to be in the company of African American brothers and sisters who all shared a passion for Information Technology like I did. Being new to Charlotte I made sure I attended every monthly meeting. At that time Archie Lucy was president. He followed up with me each month after I had attended to a few meetings, which made me feel very connected with the local BDPA organization. The board asked if I would like to talk to Johnson C. Smith College students about the Information Technology profession, and soon after that they asked me to become Coordinator for our High School Computer Competition program.
   
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - Being able to help introduce high school students to the Information Technology and mentor adults in the field is the most rewarding. Since I graduated from high school, I always wanted to give back to the African American community in a huge way. The BDPA allows me to give back to my community with something I love; technology!
   
3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - One defining life moment was when I received my BS in Electronic Engineering, with both of my parents both in the audience; I was the first person in my family to earn a college degree.
   
4. Who is your hero and why? - Besides my parents, Malcolm X became my hero. After reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley at the age of 21, my perspective on my life and community changed; It’s like a light switch got turned on in my thinking and I instantly knew how to be a strong Black leader for my community.
   
5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - My advice is to give what you can afford, and just don’t allow it to only be monetary-- get involved with your local BDPA Chapter or the BETF and donate Thought Leadership to make it more personal and share your experience and excitement about our cause with others.

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Julius is taking over a chapter that is the 15th largest in the nation. I suspect his leadership team will have BDPA Charlotte chapter in the Top 10 before long! What say u?

HSCC Testimonial: Nikki Hoffler (BDPA Charlotte, 2008-2012)

Nikki Hoffler

Nikki Hoffler comes from BDPA royalty. Her brother, Christopher, is a multi-year participant in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships. Her father, John, has served as president of local BDPA chapters in both St. Louis and Greenville. In fact, her father will become a local BDPA president for a record-setting third time in January 2013 when he takes on the role as BDPA Charlotte chapter president.

However, Nikki stands alone with her own personal BDPA legacy ... she has been a 5-time participant in the National BDPA HSCC championships (2008-2012) on teams trained by BDPA Charlotte chapter.

Nikki is entering into her sophomore year at Mount Holyoke College.  She won a 2013 Oracle Scholarship for BDPA Students earlier this summer.  We've asked Nikki to share remembrances of her BDPA experiences.

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"A few years ago my HSCC team went to a ropes course to do team building exercises. I especially remember the 'Leap of Faith' where each team member would climb to the top of a telephone pole and jump off, knowing that their safety rope was held by the rest of the team. It was amazing to see how our team dynamics transferred seamlessly from coding on a computer to physical trust exercises. We had a great time.

Every year I look forward to doing the Cha Cha Slide with everyone: my teammates, my friendly competitors, and our lovely volunteer chaperones. Once the competition is over and the banquet is done, everyone starts to relax a little. But it still takes a little coaxing to get all the students to dance. Luckily, we have chaperones like Melvin Rogers, Markus Beamer, and Jamesetta James, who are brave enough to take the floor. It amazes the new students every time!

First of all, it was my experience in HSCC and BDPA that made me such a strong candidate for college applications. I applied to many "reach schools" and got into nine out of the ten universities to which I applied, four of which awarded me additional merit-based scholarships.

When I came to Mount Holyoke College, I knew I wanted to be a Computer Science (CS) major and although I consider myself to be an introvert, networking at BDPA conferences gave me the skills to take advantage of the resources I have at college. This year I will be both a writing mentor and a teaching assistant for a CS freshman seminar that is based upon the research I did for the department this summer.

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Our hope is that Nikki will consider becoming part of the BDPA IT Showcase in 2014. For now, we wish her nothing but success as she enters her freshman year in college. At the same time, we encourage you to Support BDPA Charlotte HSCC Training with a secure online donation!

Election Results: BDPA Charlotte (2010-2011)

BDPA Charlotte chapter was created in September 1988. The chapter has a rich history of leadership in the BDPA community. The legacy of the chapter will continue into 2010-2011 based on recent election results.

• Chapter President, Julius Clark (Wells Fargo)
• Chapter President-Elect, Markus Beamer (Bank of America)

Julius Clark wrote,

"I am happy to announce that Markus Beamer, current VP of Strategy & Planning, was elected as the 2010-2011 President-Elect for BDPA Charlotte. Markus has been a dedicated member of the BDPA Charlotte family, most notably as trainer for the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program. Markus has demonstrated a strong passion of educating the next generation of students and walks the talk of our creed; “Advancing Careers From the Classroom to the Boardroom”. Markus is a rising leader in the IT industry who also has a tremendous passion for developing online video/strategy games in his spare time. Markus is a very talented individual and will serve the Charlotte community well."

Markus Beamer wrote,

"My name is Markus Beamer. I was born in Tacoma Washington but was raised in Columbia South Carolina. I come from a family of 4 boys and 2 girls and thus am used to a very hectic environment. “Never a dull moment” is certainly the motto for our home growing up. That’s probably why 11 years ago I turned to technology for a career, “Never a dull moment” sums up its progress quite nicely.

During my college years, at the College of Charleston, my first exploration into technology was as a web developer for a software licensing firm. I started out typing HTML and Javascript into a simple notepad window. Through the years I touched upon CSS, Java, Visual Basic, PHP, mySQL, Photoshop, Access, Oracle and MS SQL Server in that exact order. However, I find it quite amusing that to this day when I want to write a bit of code I reach for my notepad application first ... no matter the language. Needless to say, I found a love in technology. No matter how much I knew, I never was bored, as something new was but a day away. Change was always going to come.

Of course change can come when you grow the family. Currently my family is in Charlotte North Carolina. I am the lucky husband to one fine lady and the proud father of two rambunctious boys. I am happy to say that my household carries on the tradition of “Never a dull moment”. My oldest son is crazy for electronics and all things technical. My youngest son is definitely the outdoor, rough and tumble kinda fella. They both attract their fair share of friends and our house has become the “neighborhood” house. (much to my wife’s dismay!)

I currently work at Bank of America as a Business Process Consultant. When asked, I tell friends and family that my role is to help “leadership” make the best use of technology and in truth this is what I do. However the role affords me much more than that, I am at a crucial nexus where the needs, desires and ambitions of the business meet the calculations, formulas and algorithms of technology. It’s a great place to be and I don’t think I’ll change it for some time to come.

But…

At times one gets bored with the day to day. It is in those times that I turn to my hobby of game building. Like most hobbies it is silly yet fulfilling. I build small games that can be played in a browser; my specialty is to build them with JavaScript so they do not require any plug-ins or downloads to play. Sometimes the games are role based, sometimes they are card based, other times they are …different. I have been doing this since 1999. I laugh when I think of the number of games I have written and thrown by the wayside (at last count 24). But that is what a hobby is…a wasted time that allows the mind, body and soul to reset.

I hope that having learned a little more about me, you will reach out and shake my hand. I am always happy to meet new folks."

I hope that you will take a moment and share some BDPA-Love with Markus and Julius as they embark on this remarkable journey!

Where Are They Now? BDPA Charlotte Chapter

BDPA Charlotte became a chapter in September 1988. I recall visiting the chapter to serve as a guest speaker for one of their membership drives back in 1990 or so.  The meeting was held at a downtown library and I was treated with ol' school Southern hospitality of chapter president James Mitchell, chapter VP-membership management Kathy Procope and the other chapter officers.  It is worth noting that James later became a multi-term member of the Charlotte city council.

The chapter legacy is strong -- Developing Chapter of the Year (1992), Chapter of the Year (2002), Chapter Management Award (2003), Outstanding Member (Tiffany Bonds, 2003) and Comeback Chapter of the Year (2006).

The chapter trains high school students to participate in the annual national BDPA HSCC championships.  The team's highest placement in the national championship occurred in 2007 when they finished in 6th place. The members of the 2007 national championship are: Khalia Braswell, Monique Jones, Mykel Pendergrass, Dennis Rankin and Trevor Williams.

I hope that these HSCC alumni are still connected to BDPA. We want HSCC testimonials from each of these young people if they can be located.

Two of the past BDPA Charlotte chapter presidents (Cassandra Seibles and Charles Moore) served as members of the National BDPA Executive Committee. It would be great if we could hear from each of the past BDPA Charlotte chapter presidents:

• Markus Beamer (2012-2013)
• Julius Clark (2010-2011)
• Charles Moore (2008-2009)
• Kimberly Green (2006-2007)
• Cassandra Seibles (2003-2005)
• Leonard Scriven (2003, 2 months only)
• Cassandra Seibles (2002)
• Archie Lucy (2001)
• Wanda White (2000)
• Rodney Howard (1996-1999)
• Candace Anderson (1995)
• Norman Procope (1992-1994)
• James Mitchell (1990-1991) [shown in photo]
• Who Was the Founding President? (1988-1989)

Where are they now?

State of the Chapter (Charlotte)

BDPA Charlotte chapter, founded in September 1988, enters its 20th year of existence as the 12th largest chapter in the nation. The chapter recently announced their new board of directors for 2008-2009. Join us in welcoming to new leaders for our BDPA Charlotte chapter:

• President - Charles Moore (Wachovia)
• President-Elect - Julius Clark (Wachovia)
• VP-Finance - Lawrence Belton (Wachovia)
• VP-Strategy & Planning - Sandra Howell (Wachovia)
• VP-Member Services - Cassandra Seibles (Wachovia)
• VP-Membership Management - Sherri Sonnier-Johnson (Quill Ink
• VP-SITES - John Hoffler (Wachovia)
• Immediate Past-President - Kimberly Green (Self-Employed)
• Corporate Advisory Council Chairman - Wade Younger (Fruition Consulting)

These brothers and sisters plan to lead BDPA to new heights in Charlotte. If you live in the Charlotte area, then you are encouraged to meet with them on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 as they discuss the 'State of the Chapter' at the upcoming program meeting. Chapter president Charles Moore and his team will share their strategy and plans for 2008-2009.

The logistics are listed below:


When: February 19th, 2008, 6:30pm
Where: Fruition Consulting,

10925 David Taylor Dr,

Charlotte, NC (“University of Phoenix Building”)

Take a moment to share some BDPA-Love with these shining stars from BDPA Charlotte chapter!

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Charlotte ($6,150)

BDPA Charlotte chapter president Markus Beamer submitted a $6,500 funding request in accordance with the guidelines laid out by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).

Markus indicated that the funds would be used for the "BDPA Charlotte chapter high school computer competition (HSCC) program ... an information technology class made up of 22, 3-hour sessions in which 8th-to-12th grade students are taught how to build web applications. This program is connected to the National BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. A majority of these funds are to be used to provide transportation and lodging for the national competition."

BETF approved the request in full.

A check for $6,150 is being processed for disbursement to the BDPA Charlotte chapter. Our hope is that the other 44 local BDPA chapters will contact BETF if they are interested in getting funding support! The plan works ... if only each chapter would work the plan!

BDPA iRadio Show: May 14, 2013 (Khalia Braswell, Craig Brown and Derrick Brown)

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!

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on BlogTalkRadio

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The guests on the May 14th show:

Khalia Braswell - 2007 HSCC Alumni, BDPA Charlotte Chapter - 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 (NCSU). 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. It is worth noting that BDPA and Eli Lilly are accepting applications for the 2013 Eli Lilly Scholarship right now. Also, Khalia was recently featured for her work at NCSU. Her twitter handle is @KhaliaBraswell.

Dr. Craig Brown - Vice President, National BDPA - Dr. Craig Brown was elected to be National BDPA Vice President (2012-2013). He works with national president Monique Berry and the regional officers to ensure that BDPA is moving towards its vision. Dr. Brown has a 25 year career serving as an expert systems and database architect within leading technologies like Oracle, Oracle-PeopleSoft, SAP, IBM and Microsoft. His experiences are more particular to the Enterprise Resource Planning, Decision Support and Relational Database Management Systems technologies. He earned over 20 certifications within these technological areas and currently provides implementation and integration expertise along with a variety of other technological disciplines. He holds a BS in Computer Science as well as a Master's in Business and a Doctorate in Management Information Systems. He has over 1 million followers on Twitter and thousands of followers on his Facebook page. Dr. Brown should be able to share with our iRadio Show audience his vision for the future of BDPA. His twitter handle is @craigbrownphd.

Derrick Brown - President-Elect, BDPA Atlanta Chapter - Derrick Brown is the president-elect of the BDPA Atlanta chapter. As such, he has been part of the leadership team in Atlanta that has rocked the BDPA-nation over the past two years with its new programs, new energy and remarkable new results. Derrick is poised to take on the chapter presidency in 2014-2015. Our listeners will be intrigued to get the inside scoop on the magical journey of BDPA Atlanta chapter from one of its architects.. His twitter handle is @DSBrown3000.

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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!

BDPA iRadio Show: July 28, 2015 (Bridget Baggett, Mike Williams, Sharnecia Williams)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog. FREE download from the iTunes Store is also available for our listeners!

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

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The guest on the July 28th show:

Bridget Baggett - vice president, BDPA Charlotte - Bridget is the VP-Member Services with BDPA Charlotte chapter.  In that role she is responsible for professional development, community outreach, career development and communications.   Bridget will also be a presenter at the 37th annual BDPA Technology Conference being held August 19-22, 2015 in Washington DC.   Her workshop is entitled, 'How Technology Has Changed the Way We Recruit & Retain IT Professionals'.    The objectives of her workshop is to show the audience ways to leverage technology in the recruiting process as well as ways to gain a competitive advantage in the recruiting process.   Bridgett will give a preview of her conference workshop to our BDPA iRadio Show audience. 

Mike Williams - vice president, National BDPA - Mike Williams accepted appointment as National BDPA vice president in January 2014.  He is the global head of information technology (IT) operations for Cigna.  As a senior IT executive, his reputation has been built on developing and leading high-performing IT teams that deliver on the promise of service. As a change agent and strategist, He works with teams to define innovative and pragmatic approaches to business problems while aligning IT strategies with business objectives. He leads teams that consistently attain service delivery excellence, reduce costs, and optimize IT investments and resources. Mike is running unopposed in the upcoming National BDPA election to become the 17th national president in the 40-year history of the organization.  Our iRadio Show audience will be interested to learn his vision for BDPA as we move into the next level our development. You can find Mike via Twitter: @ITMikeWilliams.

Sharnecia Williams - vice president, BDPA Atlanta - Sharnecia Williams is a Systems Specialist with Macy's.  She has over 11 years’ experience as an IT professional who specializes in application development. Throughout her career, she has functioned as a developer, tester, operations advocate and a development lead managing multiple projects. For the past few years she has served as the Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for BDPA Atlanta chapter.  She has worked to ensure that the BDPA brand in the greater Atlanta area.  Her chapter has a strong presence on a number of social media platforms.  She decided to offer her skill-set to the national organization as it implements its new branding efforts.  Sharnecia is running for election as the BDPA South Region director.  Our iRadio Show audience would love to learn about her success as an officer for one of the most active local chapters in the nation ... and we want to hear her vision for the growth and development of the BDPA South Region.  Sharnecia can be found on Twitter - @ATL_Sharnecia

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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!

Blacks At Microsoft: Minority Student Day (Charlotte)

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

BDPA & BAM Leaders

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

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








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


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

BDPA Students Demonstrate STEM Skills at BDPA Southeast Regional High School Computer Competition

The BDPA Southeastern Regional High School Computer Competition (HSCC) was held on Saturday, June 18th, at IT-oLogy, a local sponsor of the event. BDPA Greater Columbia chapter hosted the event with participants arriving in South Carolina from as far away as Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham. The regional HSCC championship is a warm-up for the national HSCC championship held August 3-6, 2011 at the National BDPA Technology Conference in Chicago.

BDPA is an internationally recognized organization of IT professionals whose goals include preparing young people who are interested in becoming the next generation of 'Information Technology Thought Leaders' in academia and Corporate America. The regional and national HSCC championships are part of the BDPA science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pipeline summarized in its motto, 'From the Classroom to the Boardroom'.

Each year BDPA chapters across the country offer website and database design classes to middle and high-school students. In addition to technical subjects, students are also exposed to soft skills training, current technology topics and speakers from various professions.

At the national level, BDPA hosts a computer competition at its annual conference and each chapter is invited to bring a five-member team to compete. Winners at the national level are rewarded with scholarships and sponsor-donated items, up to and including laptop computers.

For students who are not on competition teams, the National BDPA Technology Conference holds a Youth Technology Camp where students attend seminars and hands-on workshops on technology, entrepreneurship and soft skills topics offered by leaders in their fields. The X-Box competition workshops are always a favorite.

This year’s BDPA Southeast Regional HSCC featured 38 students, representing 19 middle and high schools from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina plus over 30 instructors, chaperones, parents and spectators. The competition consisted of a written test, oral team round-robin test and a web/database design problem – all timed.

BDPA Atlanta Wins 1st Place

Winners of the 2011 SE Regional HSCC:

1. BDPA Atlanta
2. BDPA Triangle
3. BDPA Greater Columbia
4. BDPA Charlotte

For more information about the BDPA Southeast Regional HSCC you can contact BDPA Greater Columbia chapter president Phyllis Coleman at (803) 414-2461.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Charlotte ($9,063)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce approval of $9,063 grant disbursement to BDPA Greater Charlotte chapter. This grant disbursement flows smoothly with our vision to achieve, through investment in education and technology, an informed Black community prepared to lead and leverage the knowledge revolution for the benefit of the community-at-large.

BDPA Charlotte chapter president Markus Beamer requested the funding to pay for its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in 2013.  This project lasted for eight months and allowed IT professionals to teach high school students how to build 3-tier web applications.  The SITES program introduces these young people to real-world problems and assists them in building solutions for those problems.  The highest performers from this program were awarded an all-expenses paid trip to Washington DC to participate in the Youth Technology Camp and compete in the 2013 National BDPA High School Computer Competition championship!

Congratulations to BDPA Charlotte chapter for its strong efforts to provide meaningful STEM-related programs to its young people. BDPA is making a difference in its efforts to promote the 'future faces of technology'.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Charlotte ($1,000)

BDPA Education & Technology Foundation (BETF) approved $1,000 grant to BDPA Charlotte chapter. This grant is in response to request from BDPA Charlotte chapter president Charles Moore.

The funding supports the BDPA Southeast Regional High School Computer Competition (HSCC) held at the ImaginOn Center on 6/27/2009. Regional competitions are scaled down versions of the National competition. Students trained by chapters in Charlotte NC, Columbia SC and Raleigh NC plan to participate in this regional competition.

All BDPA chapters are encouraged to explore funding opportunities with the BDPA Foundation.

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!