GSK Joins a Growing List of BDPA Corporate Sponsors

GSK purchased a basic corporate sponsorship package as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of BDPA. The purchase will provide GSK with unlimited access to the BDPA Job Board for the next year as well as corporate memberships for up to ten (10) employees.

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company that researches and develops a broad range of innovative products in three primary areas of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare. As one of the few healthcare companies researching both medicines and vaccines for the World Health Organization’s three priority diseases – HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, they are very proud to have developed some of the leading global medicines in these fields.



GSK operations in America cover a diverse range of business functions. As well as corporate headquarters in Philadelphia and North Carolina, they have three separate research centers, two focusing on biologicals, as well as many more focusing on consumer healthcare and manufacturing. We anticipate that IT-related career opportunities will be consistently posted on the BDPA Job Board. BDPA members and supporters are encouraged to upload a current resume so that they are prepared for the opportunities as they arise.

Please contact the BDPA corporate sales team on (301) 584-3135 x108 if you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities for your company!

BDPA Cincinnati Announces New VP-Finance – Jessica Waddell

BDPA Cincinnati chapter, a nonprofit organization made up of racially diverse information technology professionals, announced a new member of its executive team. Jessica Waddell was named the Vice President of Finance. Jessica is a financial analyst at GE Aviation. She handles financial planning, cash forecasting, billing and project management in her current position. She has been working for almost nine years at GE Aviation, one of the largest corporations in Cincinnati. Jessica was vice president of the National Black MBA Association chapter on the campus of Ohio State University, where she earned her degree in Finance.

“I’m excited to join and provide finance support to an organization with such a great mission and am looking forward to getting involved this year,” says Jessica Waddell.

In her new role, Jessica works with a team of volunteers to develop and maintain the BDPA Cincinnati financial processes. Her responsibilities include maintaining complete financial records of all monies received and disbursed by the organization and issuing periodic financial reports.

"We are excited to have Jessica join the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter Board of Directors in the volunteer role of Vice President of Finance”, says BDPA Cincinnati chapter president Dalric Webb. “Jessica brings an energetic and professional outlook to our high energy team. She is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of our youth, our members, and our communities."

BDPA Cincinnati chapter is the second-largest chapter in the nation. The chapter meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Mayo Clinic Supports Diversity IT Hiring via BDPA Career Fair

Mayo Clinic has been coming to the annual BDPA career fair for over a decade. They do so because it works! Mayo Clinic agreed to renew its commitment to the 2015 National BDPA Career Fair being held on August 21-22, 2015 in Washington DC. BDPA seeks to have over 60 companies in attendance at the career fair this year.



You can get a glimpse of the types of jobs being offered on the BDPA Job Board. What are you waiting for? Add your current resume to the BDPA Job Board today!

Mike Williams Selected for National BDPA Vice President

Mike Williams

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

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

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

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

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

Message from BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb

Happy New Year wishes to all our BDPA Cincinnati chapter members, their families and friends. Fresh off the successes of an OUTSTANDING year in 2014 serving the needs of our members and our communities, the team of volunteers that comprise the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter Board of Directors is EXCITED at the potential greatness we plan to accomplish in 2015!

Kicking this year off we first welcome NaShawnda Peterson (GE Aviation) to the BDPA Board as our incoming President-Elect! NaShawnda brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the board and will help steer the organization toward even greater success in the years ahead. Be sure to say hello and welcome her at our next program meeting. Speaking of which, have you registered to attend the next DYNAMIC program meeting on January 21st? The topic is 'Electronic Publishing'!

We kicked off our annual Computer Camp program on Saturday, January 10th at Cincinnati State. Please stop by and say hello to the eager students we will train in our weekly Computer Camp ... these young people will impact the world of tomorrow! Share with them some of your personal and professional experiences as we prepare them with instructions on coding, web development, professional development and improving their confidence levels on the journey BDPA takes them 'from the classroom to the boardroom'!

Steve Gutter

Steve Gutter (The Kroger Co.) stepped down after over a decade of service in a variety of leadership positions including both VP-Strategy & Planning and VP-Finance. Steve contributed his time and expertise as a speaker on Mobile Applications Development at program meetings and chapter camp sessions. Steve was an exceptional example of the professional volunteers that have joined the BDPA team over the years to further the organizational mission and make a positive difference in the lives of our youth, our members and within our communities. Steve will certainly be missed on the board of directors!

The incoming VP-Finance is Jessica Waddell (GE Aviation).  Jessica is a financial planning analyst by trade. She is eager and energized at the opportunity to volunteer in support of the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. Please join me in welcoming Jessica to the team!

There are still several opportunities to join the BDPA Cincinnati Board of Directors and volunteer your time and energy towards making a positive difference in the lives of others. Won’t you step forward to join the team? Please take a look at the currently vacant positions listed on our chapter landing page. Also, we have several volunteering opportunities within each of the board committees that might be more of a match for your particular interest in giving back. Send me an email and lets chat about it.

2015 is going to be a FANTASTIC year! We have several social events planned including the upcoming 'Meet & Greet at Nada Restaurant' on January 22nd. Please take a look at our GroupSite calendar for more information and to register to attend.

Take a moment to complete the online Membership Satisfaction Survey. We plan to use your feedback to improve on the ways that we engage with you in the future. Please show your support by participating AND providing feedback on what is or is not working for you in the chapter operations. We value your input and participation.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

KPMG Renew Its Commitment to Diversity Recruiting via BDPA Job Board

BDPA is pleased to announce that KPMG agreed to renew its access to the BDPA Job Board - www.ITDiversityCareers.com - in its continuing effort to recruit diverse information technology talent from all over the nation! KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. The company operates in 156 countries and has 150,000 people working in member firms around the world. With a worldwide presence, KPMG continues to build on its successes thanks to clear vision, defined values and, above all, its people.

BDPA provides remarkable return-on-investment to our sponsors who purchase access to the BDPA Job Board. We will continue to report on those companies who renew their commitment to BDPA via this remarkable asset. This tool also benefits our members who are unemployed, under-employed or simply seeking to determine their marketability in the IT industry!

Please contact the BDPA corporate sales team on (301) 584-3135 x108 if you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities for your company!

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

Grant Award: Sempra Energy Foundation ($2,500)

The Sempra Energy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation based in San Diego, California, USA. The foundation was founded by Sempra Energy, a Fortune 250 energy services company that serves the largest customer base of any energy utility in the United States. With 13,800 employees worldwide, the Sempra Energy companies develop energy infrastructure, operate utilities, and provide related products and services to more than 29 million consumers worldwide.

We recently learned that our $2,500 grant proposal made to the Southern California Gas Company, subsidiary of Sempra Energy, has been approved. The proposal was submitted jointly by BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Los Angeles chapter president David Malonson.

The approval letter partially read:

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Dear Mr. Malonson,

On behalf of all of us at SoCalGas, thanks for all you do in the community. We are proud to provide a $2,500 grant to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation in support of the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We are pleased to support!

We would appreciate any communications you can send to highlight our partnership in the community. Any additional recognition on newsletters, websites or social media (Facebook and Twitter) would be appreciated. We have thousands of followers who will have the opportunity to learn about your program if you are able to tag us. You can find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SoCalGas) and follow us on Twitter (@socalgas). Please also keep us informed of these communication activities so that we can pass it onto our leadership team.

At SoCalGas, we believe that supporting local organizations like yours helps us create meaningful and important community partnerships. We look forward to working with you!

Best wishes,
Carolyn Williams
Community Relations Manager

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BETF hopes that we can replicate this success with all local BDPA chapters. There are many funding sources out there. You can learn more from our website or by reaching out to the BETF executive director.

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, December 2014)

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership.  BDPA membership grew by 23% in 2014.   December 2014 marked the first time in a year that our membership total declined.  However, it is likely that the growth will continue in 2014 under the leadership of National BDPA VP-Membership Management Mildred Allen.  She works with local, regional and national leaders to provide a value proposition to members (and potential members) with robust BDPA programs, scholarships and services.

Beverly Moore

One of the largest membership moves in December came from our BDPA Detroit chapter (president, Beverly Moore).  The chapter grew by over 66% in the past year to become the 8th largest chapter in the nation.  The chapter effectively used its monthly program meetings to introduce itself to the community. 

We believe in the management maxim -- you get what you measure.  Let us assess the numbers in order to honor those local BDPA chapters who are demonstrating success in their efforts to recruit and retain members. Let's take a look at the ten largest chapters in BDPA-Nation:

1. Chicago - president, Reggie Rush
2. Cincinnati - president, Dalric Webb
   
3. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter 
4. Philadelphia - president, Eileen Gadsden (up 1 spot)
5. Atlanta - president, Derrick Brown (down 1 spot)
6. Southern Minnesota - president, Will Smith
   
7. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney (up 1 spot)
8. Detroit - president, Beverly Moore (up 2 spots)
9. Dallas - president, Chad White (down 2 spots)
10. Los Angeles - president, David Malonson (down 1 spot)

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The top five chapters on the list remain in the 'BDPA Century Club'! The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Washington DC each have over 100 members. One of the common denominators for each of these chapters is that they place a high premium on the delivery of quality programs and services to their members. These chapters work hard to ensure that there is a strong return on the $100 investment that each member makes thru annual dues.

What are your thoughts about the value of BDPA membership? What can your local chapter do to improve the value-proposition for you on a personal or professional level?

Happy New Year, BDPA!