Message from BDPA Atlanta Chapter President

New Year! New You! New BDPA Atlanta!

Learn. Grow. Achieve. - The BDPA Atlanta Career Life Cycle

When a new year rushes in, we automatically think about reinventing ourselves whether it’s physically, emotionally, or intellectually; we want an overhaul. With any reinvention it requires real work and 100% commitment.

Felicia Jones

BDPA Atlanta’s mission is to develop career-minded IT professionals through networking and education to become leaders and innovators in the IT industry. To accomplish our mission, we are launching our Learn, Grow, Achieve initiative which are the key components in our new Atlanta BDPA Career Life Cycle.

In 2013, we are dedicated to mentoring and training our members according to their current position in the new BDPA Atlanta Career Life-cycle; our 2013 programs are aligned around it. The BDPA Atlanta Career Life-cycle can assist you in your reinvention and help put you on that path. You can:

LEARN: Acquire knowledge and develop your skills.
Learn a new professional and/or technical skill to apply towards your current career or to land a new position or promotion.

• Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program – HSCC/ACE
• New Virtual LBD – Learn By Doing (delivered by TechnologyExpresso.com); Real world on the job experience through an on-line self-paced program with interactive mentoring and coaching by successful industry veterans
• Technical Workshops
• National BDPA Webinars – Career Clinic
• 3FE - The critical thinker’s methodological tool for motivational empowerment.

GROW: Leverage your knowledge and skills while gaining experience to advance your career.
Applying academic knowledge to ‘real world’ scenarios/experience; fine-tuning your academic skills with experience.

• Success Alliance – Professional Support Group (Invitation Only)
• Volunteerism – Gain experience through various BDPA committees
• Professional Development Bootcamp
• Professional Networking (Spring/Summer Mixers) Technical Workshop
• National BDPA Webinars – Career Clinic
• Meet-ups 3FE - Use the tool and leverage critical thinking skills in acquiring a job or seeking a promotion

ACHIEVE: Redirect your knowledge and skills to obtain your goals.
Build upon your success and reputation by mentoring successors which will lead to you elevating your skills to the next level.

• Annual Minority IT Executive Forum
• Executive Meet-ups
• Volunteerism – Mentor IT Professionals
• Executive IT Minority Who’s Who

As we know, when we take responsibility and make a commitment, we see real progress in ourselves and our careers. Once you decide to put in the real work and be 100% committed to start the new year with a new you, make sure you start it right with the new BDPA Atlanta where you will Learn, Grow, and Achieve!

Sincerely,
Felicia Jones, president
BDPA Atlanta Chapter