Microsoft Seeks Digital Divas for DigiGirlz High Tech Summer Camp

Microsoft is now accepting applications for their 2012 DigiGirlz High Tech Summer Camp. This program is a great learning opportunity that was developed to provide girls with a better understanding of what a career in technology is all about. This exciting three to five day experience provides opportunities to learn about careers in technology, talk with Microsoft employees about their life experiences, and enjoy hands-on computer and technology workshops.


DigiGirlz Summer Camps will be held this year in the following six locations:

1. Charlotte, NC
2. Fargo, ND
3. St. Louis, MO
4. Irving, TX
5. San Diego, CA
6. Redmond, WA

Students in the 7th thru 12th grade are eligible for this program. Click here if you have more questions about this summer camp.

BDPA iRadio Show: Angela Bryant (BDPA Indianapolis)

Angela Bryant

BDPA iRadio Show interviewed BDPA Indianapolis chapter president Angela Bryant on October 25, 2011.

BDPA Indianapolis chapter is one of the best-run chapters in the nation. They quietly have built a very effective organization that regularly competes in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition championship. The chapter has a strong program that attracts a large number of students (especially young women) and members into leadership positions. Also, the chapter has a very strong partnership with Fortune 100 company Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly provides scholarships, funding and mentorship for Angela and her chapter. These are all 'best practices' that Angela shared in her interview on BDPA iRadio Show.





The host of BDPA iRadio Show is Franne McNeal. Episodes of the BDPA iRadio Show are now available for immediate and FREE download from the iTunes Store.

The show is sponsored by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. This particular video clip was put together by BETF volunteers Gerald Belton and Michele Ortmann.

PCs and Tablets and Smartphones, Oh My!

by Rudy Duke
Born to Move Magazine

So you want an iPad? Do you need it? Don’t buy technology for technology sake – unless you got it like that! When it comes to technology equipment needs, you need to know what to expect from each type. For those of us on a budget, we should acquire our equipment in the following sequence:

PC (Laptops and Desktops)

When it comes to a PC, the only reason to buy a desktop is if you are in the graphic design business – and can use a 24” – 30” wide-screen monitor. For the rest of us, get a really good laptop first. The PC is for all your heavy duty computing needs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. Toshiba is my favorite. At time of this post, a good Toshiba 15.6” with i3 chip can be purchased between $300 – $350.

Tablet

Once you have a good laptop, you are now ready to add a tablet to your tech toolbox. Tablets will help check emails, browse the Internet, take notes, use apps for a wide range of needs, read e-books, etc. While there are lots of good competitors, the iPad is still the best in my book. I recommend waiting for the iPad 3 which comes out around March 2012.

SmartPhone

We all need a mobile phone these days. If you have a laptop and a tablet, a decent phone for calls is enough. If possible, step up to a smartphone, getting a good one with an affordable data plan. Here again, I would stay in the “iDevice” family with the iPhone – especially if you have an iPad tablet. You can now backup your data in the iCloud (Internet) for both your iPhone and iPad and access it wherever you are. Here too, there are lots of excellent options but try pairing your tablet and your smartphone as much as possible.

Rudy Duke

I know people who have bought a tablet to use in place of a PC or a smartphone and have been sorely disappointed. Buy in the order suggested here based on availability of funds and you won’t be disappointed.

Tell me what do you think? Drop me a comment about your experiences at rduke@nextiumsolutions.com

BDPA iRadio Show - February 28, 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 seven months with over 70 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.

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The guests on the show:

Janice Coleman - president, Janice Coleman Corporation - Janice Coleman, is President and CEO of Janice Coleman Corporation (JCC), a company that helps companies and individuals achieve their goals by maximizing the human resource potential through mind, heart, and action-provoking keynotes, training, and career management services. JCC also is an excellent choice for corporate event planning/management. She currently provides a monthly Career Triage webinar for BDPA members. You can follow Janice on Twitter - @JaniceMColeman

Dr. Jesse Bemley - HSCC and IT Showcase founder, National BDPA - Jesse is the director of the Joint Educational Facilities (JEF). JEF provides a wonderful service, giving High School students the ability to build and use sophisticated technology resources. His program makes his students attractive to colleges, universities, and employers and provides his students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Jesse is the inspiration behind over a quarter-century of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program as well as a decade of the BDPA IT Showcase. There are literally thousands of BDPA students that have benefited from the genius of Dr. Bemley. It should be interesting to learn about the history of his involvement with BDPA as well as with the future direction that he would like to see BDPA take with its student programs.

Pamela Sexton - chapter president, BDPA Chicago - Pam Sexton was recently re-elected to a second term of office as president of the largest BDPA chapter in the nation – BDPA Chicago. BDPA Chicago chapter earned the 2011 ‘Outstanding Community Service’ award under Pam’s leadership. Also, Pam served for the past three years as the national BDPA conference director. Pam can share some remarkable ‘best practice’ ideas because of her unique perspective as both a chapter president and conference director. It is also worth noting that Pam recently agreed to move up to the national level in a new leadership position as our national BDPA vice president, Strategy & Planning in 2012-2013.

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What questions would you like to see answered by these guests?

BDPA iRadio Show: Dr. Stephanie Parson (Crowned Grace)

BDPA iRadio Show interviewed Crowned Grace owner Dr. Stephanie Parson on November 22, 2011.

Stephanie reported to the Walt Disney chief information officer when the 2002 national BDPA conference was hosted at Walt Disney World in Orlando. She served on the national BDPA board of directors in 2003-2005 as both an outside director and vice president (strategy & planning). She was founder of the BDPA Rocky Mountain chapter. She started her own company (Crowned Grace) in 2005. Her company provides leadership development training to managers and executives around the world. She gave great insights in a number of areas to our iRadio audience.





The host of BDPA iRadio Show is Franne McNeal. The show is sponsored by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. This particular video clip was put together by BETF volunteers Michele Ortmann and Nicholas Scott.

Where Are They Now: 1991 BDPA Technology Conference Team

Our 13th annual BDPA Technology Conference was held August 14-18, 1991 in New York City. The conference theme was 'Getting to the Core of Technology'. It's been over 20 years since that major conference.

Here is a list of the folks who helped make the 1991 conference such a success:

1. National President - Vivian Wilson (Ohio Bell Telephone Company)
2. BDPA New York Chapter President - Antonio Codrington (Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company)
3. Honorary Chairman - J. Bruce Llewellyn (The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company)
4. Keynote Speaker - William Brown, Jr. (Mutual of New York Company)
5. Conference Chairperson - Thelma Gattis (New York Telephone Company)
6. Conference Team Leaders
• George Baker
• Roxanne Burrus
• Kelvin Diamond
• Roger Dunn
• Deborah English
• Sandra Gallier-Philpotts
• Carol Jennings
• Ena Malone
• Mitchel Messer
• David Miller
• Julia Seymore
• Stanley Seymore
• Janice Todman
• Nathalie Vargos
7. Conference Workshop Speakers
• Joe Arrington (UNISYS), 'OSI Overview'
• Dr. Alan Beckels, 'AI Medical Applications'
• Clayton Bell (International System Strategies), 'ISDN' and 'Seamless Computing'
• Dr. Jesse Bemley (US Army), 'Community Computing'
• Joe Brooks (University of South Carolina), 'Integrating DSS and ES Technology'
• Patricia Cleveland (Dun & Bradstreet Software), 'Understanding and Managing Male/Female Relationships in the Workplace'
• Yvonne Craycroft (Apple Computer), 'MacIntosh Connectivity'
• Deborah Finley, 'Intelligent Tutoring with Multimedia Systems'
• Henry Ford, 'Surviving Corporate America'
• Leroy George, 'Future of Data Processing'
• Midge Jennings (Booz Allen & Hamilton), 'Understanding and Managing Male/Female Relationships in the Workplace'
• Conrad Brian Law (US Department of Labor), 'Downsizing and Client/Server Technology'
• Keith Mantle (IMAGETEK), 'The Image Processing Frontier'
• Greta Nashed (The Travelers), SAS'
• Keitra Osborne (International System Strategies), 'CASE Tools'
• Robert Ralls (CIGNA), 'DB2 Distributed Database Facility'
• Dr. H.R. Silverstein, 'Stress Avoidance'
• Alusani Simpson (ATS Systems), 'Bulletin Board Systems Using Novell LANs'
• Bonnie Taylor, 'DB2: Concepts and Facilities'
• Stan White, 'IBM RS/6000 - AIX and AIX Windows Technology'
• Pam Williamson, 'Easing the Proposal Production Process'
• Daisy Yarbrough (Newark Board of Education), 'Learning Styles'

Do you know if these folks are still active with BDPA? Any feedback you can share would be very much appreciated!

Asante sana to long-time BDPA member Sandra Talley for sharing her copy of the 1991 BDPA Conference Guide with us.  This information came from that document.  I have great memories from the 1991 BDPA Technology Conference. How about you?

Grant Declination: Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities (BDPA Dallas)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is disappointed to report that our grant proposal to the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities on behalf of our BDPA Dallas chapter has been turned down.

The declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

Thank you for your recent grant request to Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities. The decision-making process for the Executive Board was a difficult one, with many worthwhile organizations vying for a limited amount of grant dollars.

Unfortunately, your organization was not selected for funding at this time. However, we appreciate your efforts in the community and wish you much success in the future.

Sincerely yours,
Lara Ashmore, executive director
Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities

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BETF will continue to work with BDPA Dallas chapter to locate funding in support of their youth education programs. Of course, you can help right now if you are so inclined.

Grant Proposal: The Harley Davidson Foundation (National BDPA)

National BDPA vice-president (member services) Allison Aheart worked with the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) to submit a $36,000 grant proposal to The Harley Davidson Foundation. We understand that our request is a long-shot ... but, our need to fully fund the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program is a good one ... so we're taking our shot!

We will keep you informed of the results of this effort.

BDPA iRadio Show: Hayward West (Philadelphia)

BDPA iRadio Show interviewed BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Hayward West on August 9, 2011 by Franne McNeal.

Hayward served as BDPA Philadelphia chapter president in 2010-2011. His chapter hosted the national conference in 2010. His chapter earned 'Chapter of the Year' honors from 2007-2010 ... reflecting sustained excellence in terms of community service, professional development, membership growth and financial management. He shares some outstanding 'best practices' culled from experiences with his local chapter.





The show is sponsored by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation. This particular video clip was put together by BETF volunteers Bridgette Rolle and Michele Ortmann.

Community Foundations

Did you know that there are over 400 community-based foundations in America?

BETF is willing to work with any BDPA chapter interested in applying to a community foundation in your area. Just take a moment to visit the online searchable database of 400+ community foundations in the U.S. sponsored by the Council of Foundations.

We can work this issue with multiple chapters at the same time. Next step is yours. Interested?

Payroll Pledges: United Way of Metro Chicago

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very pleased to report that there are five donors making payroll pledges to support BDPA programs and services through the United Way of Metro Chicago (UWMC).

All five donors are employed with BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois (a subsidiary of Health Care Service Corporation). Share some BDPA-Love with:

1. Sterling Blackmon
2. Diane Harrison-James
3. Sheila Marionneaux
4. Tanshaneika Swire
5. Kimberly Turner

Our goal is to have an increasing number of donors that take steps to make payroll pledges in support of BDPA programs, scholarships and services. Have you considered it?

Grant Proposal: Milken Family Foundation (BDPA New York)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA New York chapter on a grant proposal seeking $5,000 in funding support from the Milken Family Foundation. The funds are needed to support the youth education programs implemented by BDPA New York chapter in 2012.

BETF worked closely with BDPA New York chapter president Renetta English and the chapter's BETF liaison Shawn Reid to complete the grant proposal. We are not sure how Milken Family Foundation will respond. However, we would love your support. Won't you consider making a small donation in support of the BDPA New York HSCC Scholarship Fund?

Message from National BDPA President

Monique Berry

Volunteering Counts

Your volunteer BDPA hours COUNT and so we want to count your hours...we will use this information to report to federal, state and local governments and for grants and other funding sources. Locally, by tracking the volunteer hours generated by BDPA volunteers, we demonstrate where the community needs are by your time and the dollar equivalent of your volunteer service. Collectively, these hours demonstrate what an asset BDPA volunteers are to their community.

We understand that reporting your volunteer hours may be a nuisance, but it is necessary and tells a meaningful story about all of you. Please click here to submit information and give the best estimate of the number of BDPA volunteer service hours for 2011 (last year).

Thank you!
Monique Berry, president
National BDPA

HSCC Testimonial: Bikram Sapkota (Cincinnati, 2011)

Bikram Sapkota joined BDPA Cincinnati chapter in 2011 as part of its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. He participated in the chapter's computer camp and competed in the 2011 national BDPA High School Computer Competition championship here in Chicago.


He shared his testimonial on the experience with us:

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Most people gain skills from their education as a child. My situation was unique. My parents were Bhutanese. They were forced to leave their country because of ethnic cleansing. Our family was forced to move to Nepal, a landlocked country, where we settled for 17 years as refugees. We had few opportunities to develop our skills in various fields because our life was always in exile and in debt. We lived under United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) support while in Nepal.

My life as a refugee was not satisfying. I could never explore my interest in computer technology because my family couldn’t afford the money to do so. Fortunately, we were able to re-locate in the United States a few years ago. I am now at high school in Ohio and I am able to learn what it takes to be successful in computer technology world. Also, I want to be able to do something for the community and my new country in the future.

Many people would fear a move to a place where they have few acquaintances.
However, I am confident in my ability to make a valuable contribution because of my experiences in meeting new people in the past. I hope that my experiences in America will continue to be free from prejudice and premature judgments. I do my part by pulling together groups of people into leisure activities and outings that provide an incentive for people to learn about each other and be nice to each other.

I think that my best assets are my communication skills and various computer skills. I gained most of my computer skills from BDPA Cincinnati chapter when I participated in their 2011 computer camp. I plan to use many of the skills that BDPA taught me to eventually study interactive web multimedia when I go to college.

 My skills in multimedia, web design and teamwork improved during my time with BDPA. I was proud to be selected on the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team that represented Cincinnati in the 2012 national HSCC championship in Chicago. It was my first computer competition. It was a friendly environment and our coaches and judges cared about us at every step as we tried to find success. I had fun while in Chicago, but it was also very challenging.

I think that my BDPA experiences have also made me want to become an entrepreneur in the future. Entrepreneurs tend to demonstrate a driving ambition to succeed. I want to go college and setup my future so that I have choices. Mostly, I want to be a great person in the future.

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Bikram has a unique story ... however, it is a story that is shared by hundreds of young people every year who participate in BDPA programs around the nation. It is the reason that BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) works so hard to raise the money to increase the number of students engaged with BDPA chapters around the nation.

You can make a difference by donating to any of our BDPA scholarship programs. Share some BDPA-Love for Bikram and other HSCC alumni by replying to this message or making a donation or both!

This Week in BDPA (Feb 19-25)

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 :

• Feb 23: New Jersey - Fundraiser, 'Annual Awards Scholarship Banquet'
  
• Feb 23: Dallas - Program Meeting, 'Using Virtual Technology for Training'
  
• Feb 25: Cincinnati - SITES, 'Youth Technology Seminar Series, Week #8'
• Feb 25: New York - Seminar, 'BFTAW: Black History Celebration'
• Feb 25: Charlotte - Seminar, 'Microsoft Career Open House'
• Feb 25: Baton Rouge - Seminar, 'BFTAW: Applying Technology to Your Family's Quality of Life'

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!

Book Shelf of BDPA Authors

This will be a recurring post sharing information on BDPA members that have authored books. BDPA members come from a diverse background. As such, we should not be surprised to see our members writing fiction and non-fiction books on a wide variety of topics.

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1. Choose to Lead (Paperback) - by Deborah Chima (BDPA Chicago), Business Growth Publications, May 2006, 168 pages.
   
   Are you doing all you can to become a leader? This book that will show you the path to leadership and how to make a conscious choice to lead rather than falling into a leadership role by chance. This book is for women who want to learn to lead in powerful and effective ways. Choose to Lead addresses the main issues that challenge women such as constant pressure to achieve a manageable work/life balance. You learn how to determine "what matters most" in the ongoing quest for managing a career and personal life.
   
   Deborah Chambers Chima, president and CEO of Chambers Consulting Group (CCG) is passionate about helping leaders unleash their leadership potential. She is a longtime member of our BDPA Chicago chapter. Among the high profile clients signing on to her high-energy organizational consulting programs are Navistar International, Ortho- Biotech (J&J), Shell Oil, Alltel Wireless, Pro-Line International, Sears Holding Company, CSL Behring, Lowes and McDonald’s Corporation.
2. Due North (Hardback) - by Jylla Foster (BDPA Chicago), Crystal Stairs, November 2002, 180 pages.
   
   Jylla Moore Foster shares her leadership journey in Due North! through stories about her life experiences as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, community activist and mother. The roadmap she offers those who join her on this journey includes mile markers of Coachable Moments, masterfully intertwined with elements of her professional training as an executive coach. She provides a Coach Approach for you to develop greater self-awareness, achieve professional breakthroughs and reach personal goals.
   
   Jylla Foster is a former BDPA Chicago chapter member. She is founder, president and CEO of Crystal Stairs. She is also a nationally renowned business executive, whose corporate, entrepreneurial, and coaching experiences, as well as her expertise in marketing, sales, channels, operations and technology across multiple industries and various customer sizes, have propelled her to the forefront of her field.
3. Corporate Leadership Selection: Impact on American Business, Employees, and Society (Paperback) - by Dr. Reginald Gardner (BDPA Chicago), AuthorHouse, January 2009, 152 pages.
   
   We are watching unethical and immoral corporate leadership behavior in the current economic crisis in companies like AIG. This book strikes a nerve in those who have the moral courage to blow the whistle on their observed corporate wrongdoing; and open the hearts of those who will encounter questionable leadership activity in the future. This book is geared toward existing corporate leaders; newly selected corporate leaders; those who aspire to become corporate leaders; and students who study and research corporate leader selection. The U.S. remains the greatest country in the world. It is fueled by successful American corporations. However, like any other entity or process, there is always room for improvement.
   
   Dr. Gardner is a long-time BDPA leader. He served as president of our Chicago chapter, national vice-president, and director of BDPA Education & Technology Foundation. Gardner obtained his Ph.D. after a long career in corporate America. He currently serves as CIO for a family-owned business in the Chicago area.
4. Read Between the Lines: Principles of Communicating and Facilitating (Paperback) - by Andree Justin (BDPA Los Angeles), Unlock Publishing House, November 2010.
   
   It is not just the spoken words that complete the communication; it is your entire being that is presented to the receiver of your words, expression and emotions that complete the process. Successful meetings occur when you know how to plan an agenda, understand the communication process and possess skills to keep you on the path to achieving your goals. Use this book as a handy guide to give yourself a tune-up when preparing for meetings, small or large. Use it as a refresher course in years to come and you will find that facilitating successful meetings is one of your better skills, and a skill that allows you to be successful in many other endeavors.
   
   Andree Justin is past president of BDPA Los Angeles chapter and a certified project manager with extensive experience in software development projects in a variety of industries. It is wonderful that she has taken her experiences and placed them into a book for the rest of us!
5. New Science of Success: How to Outsource Proof Your Job and Prosper in a Web 2.0 Economy (Paperback) - by Frank Shines (BDPA Greater Tampa Bay), Skill of Success Publishing, April 2007, 155 pages.
   
   We stand at the brink of a new era of wealth creation in which India, China and other emerging countries are positioned to outpace the economic growth of the U.S. By mid-century China will become the largest economy in the world. For the USA, this brings with it the growing fear of American jobs being outsourced en masse to low-cost labor markets. This book outlines what you can do to survive -- and thrive -- in the new DIY Web 2.0 economy.
   
   Frank Shines is president of our Tampa Bay chapter. Currently, Frank serves as the Director of Business Development at Industriaplex, a next generation global sourcing and consulting firm, where he focuses on the intersection of business, technology and organizational change. He holds a BS in Management from the US Air Force Academy and MBA in Marketing Statistics from National University of Sacramento.

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Please let us know if there are other current or former BDPA members who have published a book. We would love to add them to this recurring blog post.

Do you have any books that you recommend for BDPA members? What are you reading now?

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Los Angeles ($1,778)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) approved a grant disbursement of $1,778 to the BDPA Los Angeles chapter this month. The chapter wants "to fund our beginning-of-the year initiatives." The funds would be used on radio advertising to raise awareness of the SITES program, school supplies, lunch and books.

BDPA Los Angeles took advantage of the grants and funding process used by BETF to enhance the Student Information Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. Our hope is that the other 44 local BDPA chapters will contact BETF if they are interested in getting funding support!

This particular grant disbursement was direct result of the good works of BDPA Los Angeles chapter president John Malonson and the chapter's BETF liaison David Malonson.

Should BDPA Change Its Name?

BDPA was founded in 1975 under the name, 'Black Data Processing Associates'. Not long afterwards folks began to wonder if the name should be changed. Would we offend people by having 'Black' in the name? Would we be seen as old and outdated by having 'Data Processing' in the name?

BDPA Chicago member Ricky Penick shared with us the challenges of changing the BDPA logo ... and he noted that the issue of changing the name would be much more difficult.

My response has been simple -- I just use the acronym, 'BDPA' in all of my written and spoken discussions about our organization. As such, I was pleased to see how our national president, Monique Berry, responded to the question, 'Should BDPA Change Its Name?:

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• American Telephone & Telegraph, who still uses a telegraph?
• National Cash Register, still in use but no longer manual.
• International Business Machines, what are they and who makes 'em?

Whatever the reason for the renaming, engineering a successful name change is hard work, and it can cost a bundle. Many companies enlist the expertise of a branding agency - a service that usually costs between $30,000 and $150,000. For that price, agencies typically provide detailed market research and a list of about 60 possible new names. To make the exercise more realistic, many shops also produce "demos" of the best potential names, including mock-ups of annual reports, business cards, and websites.

The process should also include legal and URL vetting - a serious headache when trying to navigate the 11.8 million active trademarks and 83 million registered domain names around the world.

Once a new name has been chosen, the practical mechanics of the switch begin. Selling the new name and explaining its rationale to workers is the first step. Suppliers, clients, and customers should be the focus of a similar effort. Then comes the most expensive part: introducing the new name to the world. In addition to buying new letterhead and business cards or altering logos and signs, many companies also launch a formal marketing campaign - advertising and promotions that call attention to the new identity.

At the end of the day, we've got to deliver a great-quality chapter programs and member benefits. That's what members buy.

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What's your thought on the issue. Should BDPA change its name?

Entrepreneurs Discuss 'How To Avoid 7 Common Traps' (BDPA New Jersey)

BDPA New Jersey chapter marketing director Derris Boomer is leading an aggressive effort to provide a monthly webinar series designed to advance the careers of African Americans in the IT industry from the classroom to the boardroom. The February 2012 webinar was focused on those BDPA members interested in moving forward as entrepreneurs or business owners. The guest speaker was Hicks Enterprises chief executive officer Wayne Hicks. The topic was 'Small Business Opportunities in a Down Market: How to Avoid 7 Common Traps'.

The back-and-forth exchange of ideas by the presenter and the online participants was both enlightening and educational. Here is the 14-page PowerPoint deck used by the presenter during the webinar:

Small Business Opportunities in a Down Market

View more PowerPoint from Wayne Hicks

Our hope is that BDPA members across the nation will review the webinar seminar series offered by our New Jersey chapter ... and add relevant webinars to your personal calendar. Ongoing professional education is an important part of the BDPA experience!

BDPA Cincinnati Shares a Road Map to Success: An Entrepreneur's Story w/ ConnXus CEO Rod Robinson

Our community continues to march into a brave new world. The idea of working for a large employer for 40 years to get the ‘gold watch’ at retirement seems like a nostalgic memory. The influence of entrepreneurs in the marketplace is more prevalent today than ever. Jobs continue to shift overseas and the workforce for Fortune 100 companies continues to shrink. All of these trends position the entrepreneur as a major factor in filling the gaps that now exist in the job market.

BDPA Cincinnati chapter, a nonprofit organization made up of racially diverse information technology professionals who advance the careers of African Americans from the classroom to the boardroom, wants to assist BDPA entrepreneurs with programs that allow them to grown in knowledge and influence.

The education and networking process continues on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Procter and Gamble Winton Hills Business Center (6105 Center Hill Drive, Cincinnati 45224), when BDPA shares the entrepreneurial story of ConnXus chief executive officer Rod Robinson. As the founder and managing partner of consulting firm Accell Advisors, Rod has worked with Fortune 100 companies to improve or create strategic sourcing and supplier diversity programs. He previously served as Chief Procurement Officer for Cincinnati Bell, where he drove more than $14 million in annual purchasing cost reductions while increasing spending with minority business enterprises by 42%.

Come hear how Rod has taken his expertise and background in corporate America to create profitable businesses as an entrepreneur. His company, ConnXus, is an online service that seeks to revolutionize supplier diversity by making it easy for minority- and woman-owned businesses to connect with corporations looking for diverse suppliers and offering real contract opportunities. Since launching in December 2010, corporate buyer members have posted more than $75 million in contract opportunities for diverse supplier members on the site.

BDPA Cincinnati chapter president Clarence Larcarte said, “There has never been more of a need for what BDPA offers; an opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge and relationships that will enable you to prosper in this and any other economic climate.”

BDPA stays on the leading edge from innovations in technology, to influencing how businesses are managed, to mentoring a new generation of "would be" entrepreneurs. The chapter meeting on February 16th is free and open to the public. Please RSVP - http://cincy-2012feb.eventbrite.com/ and you are encouraged to bring colleagues, co-workers or friends with you as well!

For more information you can reach BDPA by email (cincinnati@bdpa.org) or phone (513.956-0636).