Thursday, May 28, 2015

CRS Group Renews Corporate Support of BDPA Chicago Chapter

BDPA Chicago chapter provides a powerful return-on-investment to the CRS Group. As a result, the company agreed to renew its corporate support of BDPA Chicago by purchasing two memberships and a table at the chapter's annual Awards Banquet. The memberships will be used by CRS Group president Michael Gaines and senior account manager Nashunda Bolden. Nashunda also serves as the executive vice president for BDPA Chicago chapter.

Nashunda Bolden
Founded in 1994 as Computer Resource Solutions, CRS Group is a privately held company with offices in Itasca, IL and downtown Chicago.  CRS Group provides staffing solutions to Fortune 500 companies by successfully managing their IT contingent workforce needs. The company expanded its offerings to extend that same high-quality service to other business needs, including creative, marketing, finance, legal and human resources.

BDPA Chicago is the 2nd-largest chapter in the nation and one of the reasons for its success is corporate relationships developed with numerous companies in the area. BDPA delivers on its commitment to help its sponsors recruit diverse technology talent, retain current diverse technology workers, engage in active community outreach, maximize its supplier diversity achievements and increase market share within the organization and community.

Michael Gaines shared his thoughts about BDPA in a YouTube video a few years ago:



Our hope is that other corporations around the country will seek out ways to engage with BDPA on a local or national level. Learn more about the benefits of corporate sponsorship by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135, x108).

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Macy's Renews Corporate Support of BDPA Atlanta Chapter

BDPA Atlanta chapter is proud to announce that Macy's agreed to renew its corporate support for the second year in a row. The funding will support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Atlanta.

Derrick Brown
Macy’s, with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation’s premier retailers. The company operates about 840 stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, as well as the macys.com and bloomingdales.com websites. Macy’s diverse workforce includes approximately 175,700 employees.   BDPA leaders employed by Macy's include BDPA Atlanta chapter president Derrick Brown and BDPA South Region director Felicia Jones.

We encourage all BDPA members to ask about corporate sponsorship from their employer. BDPA prepares and enables the next generation of technology, STEM and digital thought leaders. We would love to talk with your employer by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or by phone (301.584-3135 ext. 108).

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

ThinkNext Invests in Future of BDPA Atlanta Students

Mike Williams
BDPA Atlanta chapter is proud to announce that ThinkNext agreed to invest half of the budget needed to take the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team to compete at the 37th Annual BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC on August 19-22, 2015. ThinkNext was founded by Mike Williams, a senior executive in the IT industry and the author of the book, 'The Advantage Factor: 12 Lessons Every Aspiring Young Professional Should Know'.



In addition to owning ThinkNext, Mike Williams is the current National BDPA vice president. 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.
I am very excited about BDPA’s future and its continuation of building on the 40-year legacy of developing future technology talent."
We encourage other senior IT leaders and business owners to find a way to support BDPA programs, scholarships or services at a local level. Please reach out to BDPA by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135, ext 108) if you want to follow the example set by Mike Williams in Atlanta.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Yusuph Mkangara Uses Bemley Scholarship at Harvard University

Yusuph Mkangara
We last heard from Yusuph Mkangara when he returned home after his first experience in the 2010 national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship. Since then this remarkable young man returned with his BDPA Columbus teammates to take home the bronze medal at the 2011 national HSCC championship ... earning a Bemley Scholarship. He graduated from high school and is now in his second year at Harvard University.

We asked this young man to update our audience on his educational journey:

My name is Yusuph Mkangara. I am from Columbus, Ohio and my family and I are originally from Tanzania. I participated in HSCC in 2010 and 2011 as a freshman and sophomore. I had never really thought about information technology as a career path but the program certainly paid dividends as our representative team from Columbus went on to take third place in 2011.
I received my high school diploma in 2013 and I am now attending Harvard University. My joint/double major is African Studies and Sociology. While I do not have a set career path yet, I am interested in the field of education and hope to teach and conduct research in education after graduation. In the past year, I have been fortunate enough to conduct research with the guidance of a professor at Harvard and a full research team as a partnership with a local Boston Area high school.
Rest assured, my interest in information technology and computer science is still alive and well. While my trajectory is not typical of those in the STEM fields, I am hoping to later on integrate IT skills in my work in education. One of the things that most excite me about the classroom of “tomorrow” is that technology has the potential to play a transformative role in how we approach education. I think with both technological know-how and experience as a teacher and researcher, I will be in a great position to innovate the field of education by using skills that I first began learning during preparation for my first HSCC."

Yusuph is an example of the powerful stories being told by all of the young people who participate in the K-12 STEM programs implemented by BDPA at a local, regional or national level. Many individuals and corporations see that BDPA is preparing and enabling the next generation of technology, STEM and digital thought leaders.

You can help! Please take a moment and make a donation to our Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Open Letter to Congressional Black Caucus from BDPA Member

Frank Anderson
To all of the Congressional Black Caucus members,

I’m writing in response to the article I read in the USA Today titled ‘Congressional Black Caucus seeks measures to improve tech diversity’. I have been in the Information Technology business for over 30 years. Over my career, I have seen some progress only to be followed by some digression in the information systems. Therefore, I was excited when I read about the 1.4 million new tech jobs being created. I’m in agreement with the Congressional Black Congress about ensuring that a large segment of the new hires are African Americans. There will be several things that would need to be put in place for that to become a reality. We need to ensure our community embraces technology, develop relationships with the business community and align with professional minority technology organizations.

I belong to a Black nonprofit organization known as BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates). For 40 years, since 1975, BDPA through its more than 45 chapters across the United States has promulgated the upward mobility of African Americans in Information Technology. Through local chapter program meetings, workshops, local community outreach and its Annual Conferences it has become the largest technology organization representing minorities in the nation. Its mantra is 'from the classroom to the boardroom'.

BDPA has given me the ability to embrace technology with the various levels of experiences of people that I have met since joining the organization in 1989. Secondly, its membership has allowed me to develop important relationships within the business community. Finally, during the early stages of my career, there were countless mentors that shared my common experiences that kept me on the path to my successful career.

To the Congressional Black Caucus, I believe that BDPA is ideally suited to help America reach your stated goal to ensure that a fair share of the 1.4 million new tech jobs can become a reality for the African American community and not just a wishful pursuit. I encourage you to reach out to our national BDPA president Pamela Mathews by email (president@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 ext. 111) and forge a strategic alliance that will make a difference for Blacks in technology.

Sincerely
Frank L. Anderson, Member
BDPA Chicago
Twitter: @fander4276
Phone: (312)636-9340

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Message from the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb
Spring has arrived! Hopefully you will be excited at the most recent news about your chapter entering into the second month of this quarter has the LARGEST chapter amongst the 46 BDPA chapters nationwide! Reaching NUMBER ONE status is no simple accomplishment and takes the coordinated efforts of all of our volunteer leaders as well as our ability to deliver programs and activities that are of interest and value to the members of our communities. Congratulations to all!

Our VP-Member Services Karen Lipscomb and her team completed the first phase of our 2015 computer camp program. Over 20 dedicated middle and high school students completed our 13-week (every Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm) program at Cincinnati State Technical College. Congratulations to all the students who participated and to the seven students who will proceed forward into phase two of the program. You can read more about the students and their projects here. We are very much looking forward to the BDPA Midwest HSCC regional being held on June 20, 2015. This event allows our students to practice the skills and techniques to WIN at the national technology conference in August 2015!

Speaking of winning, the June program meeting is one you CERTAINLY do not want to miss featuring Kevin Murray speaking on the 'Internet of Things'! This is another great informative session you do not want to miss! As always, all are welcomed and we encourage you to bring a friend. Register to attend this session by clicking here.

As we turn out attention towards the hot and lazy days of summer rapidly approaching, with school being out for most students, be sure to stay closely connected to your BDPA chapter for great opportunities such as the Xavier University Summer STEM Program for Girls or the 2015 Reaching for the Stars Leaders of the Future program. BDPA in its partnerships within the local community will share information of this nature to our members as soon as it is available. We hope you find it useful for yourself or for others.

Our next social event is the annual BDPA Cincinnati Cookout being held on June 27, 2015. We hope to see you there for this fun and engaging opportunity to meet and greet your fellow BDPA members! Our most recent social event was held at Margaritaville. A fun time was had by all. Check out the pictures and attendee comments by clicking here. You can find our entire calendar of events at our BDPA Cincinnati Groupsite or to register to attend any of our events. Please share your input and feedback on these events and any others you would like to see or participate in. We value your opinion and recommendations.

There are still a couple of 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 business areas that might be more of a match for your particular interest in giving back. Send me an email and lets chat about it.

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

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, President
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Booz Allen Hamilton Seeks Diverse Technology Talent via BDPA

BDPA is pleased to welcome on board a brand new corporate sponsor -- Booz Allen Hamilton. The company seeks to recruit diverse technology talent via the BDPA Job Board and the annual Career Fair being held in Washington DC on August 21-22. Also, the company registered four of its technology consultants to obtain the world-class professional development offered at the 37th Annual National BDPA Technology Conference.

Booz Allen Hamilton has been at the forefront of strategy and technology consulting for 100 years. Today, Booz Allen is a leading provider of management consulting, technology, and engineering services to the US government in defense, intelligence, and civil markets, and to major corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm is a well-known, trusted, and long-term partner to many BDPA sponsors, who seek its expertise and objective advice to address their most important and complex problems.

We encourage you to add your current resume to the BDPA Job Board as Booz Allen will be aggressively seeking new talent over the coming weeks and months. The company plans to interview and hire folks during the two days of the career fair as well.

You can learn more about the benefits of the BDPA corporate sponsorship program by calling us on (301) 584-3135, ext. 108.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

MTC Integration 'Three-Peats' as a BDPA Corporate Sponsor

Masai Troutman
BDPA is proud to announce that MTC Integration renewed its corporate sponsorship for the third year in a row. MASAI Technologies Corporation (dba “MTC Integration”) is a HubZone, SDB and Minority Business Enterprise. Since 1997, MTC Integration has developed a reputation for delivering excellence in Business Management and Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) implementation and sustainment management services. MTC Integration provides strategic consulting, business system integration and application services, technology solutions and managed services to commercial companies and government organizations.

BDPA appreciates the efforts of MTC Integration chief executive officer Masai Troutman as he reaches out to engage college students in BDPA. Over the past three years, his funding has been used to sponsor memberships at the following colleges or universities:
  1. Capitol Technology University
  2. George Washington University
  3. Kaplan University
  4. Lincoln University
  5. Notre Dame University
  6. Paul Smith's College
  7. Peirce College
  8. Per Scholas (2)
  9. Rainy River Community College
  10. University of Minnesota
  11. University of Wisconsin
Mr. Troutman plans to attend the 2015 National BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC later this year. Make a point to reach out and thank him for the difference that he is making! In the meantime, we encourage you to contact our corporate sales team via email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 ext. 108) if you want to emulate MTC Integration with your own company!