Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Accenture Supports BDPA Diversity and STEM Mission

BDPA secures diversity and STEM support from highly respected global professional services company Accenture for their 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held July 26-29, 2017 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Accenture serves more than 120 countries, works with more than 40 industries, and of their top 100 clients, 98 have worked with Accenture at least 10 years. Diversity is part of what makes Accenture exceptional and inclusion and diversity are fundamental to their culture and core values. Accenture recognizes that each person has unique strengths and by embracing those strengths, Accenture delivers high performance.

Rupal Thanawala, Accenture Account Manager reported, "One of Accenture’s key strategic priorities is to promote STEM education among youth, empower minority students to pursue technology careers, and ultimately recruit them with Accenture at all levels. In fact, we have an internal process to help diverse candidates be successful and get promoted at senior leadership levels. Thus, a BDPA partnership fits naturally with our vision and my personal passion for inclusion and diversity."

BDPA is the largest African American information technology association in the U.S., and the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in STEM. BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

National BDPA President Mike Williams stated, "We thank Accenture for their generous donation and for their continued commitment to diversity and BDPA's mission."

For more details about the BDPA Annual National Technology Conference & Career Fair or the corporate sponsorship program, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Newsletter: BDPA Washington DC (May 2017)

We are very proud that our monthly publication of bdpatoday has been issued for May 2017. There are a number of great articles and updates in this issue. Check it out!

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

BDPA Confers Lifetime Achievement Award to Melvin Greer (Intel Corporation)

Melvin Greer
BDPA will honor Cornell University graduate, Melvin Greer, Director of Data Science and Analytics at Intel, with their Lifetime Achievement Award during BDPA’s 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held July 26-29, 2017 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to his professional and investment roles, Melvin is responsible for building Intel’s data science platform through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cognitive computing. His systems and software engineering expertise has resulted in patented inventions in Cloud Computing and Synthetic Biology. Greer functions as a principal investigator in advanced research studies and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and U.S. National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

Mr. Greer has been awarded the BEYA Technologist of the Year Award, which recognizes his outstanding technical contribution and products that have a broad impact and high value to society. Melvin Greer is Managing Director of the Greer Institute for Leadership and Innovation where he leads science, technology, mathematical and engineering (STEM) research initiatives, directly contributing to a more diverse generation of leaders and technical talent.

Pamela Mathews
It is an honor and pleasure to present Melvin Greer with the Lifetime Achievement Award -- BDPA’s highest honor. Mr. Greer exemplifies all that BDPA stands for in his supreme commitment and dedication to the Information Technology industry,” said Pamela Mathews, National BDPA Vice President.

BDPA is the largest African-American information technology association in the U.S., and the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

For more details about the BDPA Annual National Technology Conference & Career Fair or the corporate sponsorship program, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

BDPA Adds Valeisha Butterfield Jones to Their Prestigious Honorary Chairs' Group

Valeisha Butterfield Jones
BDPA recently added Valeisha Butterfield Jones to their prominent list of Honorary Chairs. Butterfield-Jones is Google’s head of Black Community Engagement. She joins BDPA Honorary Chairs’ General Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as TV Journalist Roland Martin in supporting BDPA’s 39th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair to be held July 26-29, 2017 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

BDPA is pleased to have such dynamic and pioneering Honorary Chairs,” said Mike A. Williams, BDPA National President. “They represent our continued support and advocacy of diversity inclusion, leadership, and entrepreneurship. We are excited about working with them during the next couple of months leading up to our 2017 National Technology Conference and Career Fair,” he added.

Jones’ long list of community engagement includes serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of Women in Entertainment Empowerment (WEEN), a nonprofit organization that is committed to ensuring an equitable and positive portrayal of women in entertainment and society. She’s also the author of “The Girlprint,” the ultimate blueprint for girls to propel their dreams into action.

Jones volunteered for President Barack Obama during his first presidential election and later served in his administration as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration and as the National Youth Vote Director for the 2012 “Obama for America” campaign. Additionally, she worked in the entertainment industry for music mogul Russell Simmons.

Recognized as a trailblazer by Forbes Magazine, Fast Company, Elle Magazine, Essence Magazine Top 40 under 40, Ebony Magazine Top 100, Black Enterprise, Marie Claire, Glamour and others, Jones continues to earn a reputation as someone who works hard. She has appeared on Centric TV’s “The Round,” Aspire TV’s “Exhale”, BET News, BET’s 106 and Park, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN “Light Girls,” and others. In 2016, Valeisha Butterfield Jones was a featured speaker and shared her work as Google’s first head of Black Community Engagement during BDPA’s Annual National Technology Conference.




BDPA is the largest African-American information technology association in the U.S., and the largest national non-profit organization continually involved in training students underrepresented in STEM across the country. BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.


For more details about the BDPA corporate sponsorship program or the Annual National Technology Conference & Career Fair, contact the corporate sales support team at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.