Long Story Short: Andrea Hodge (BDPA Greater Tampa Bay)

Andrea Hodge is a VP-Business Architect with JPMorgan Chase.  She is also the president of our BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter. Andrea has over 20 years experience in the banking industry and is currently responsible for IT product innovation for the Chase Auto Finance business. In addition, she drives multiyear business and IT strategies worth ~$24M in annual investment. Andrea also provides business architecture oversight for investment planning which entails defining target state operating models and ensuring well controlled architecture solutions are delivered that adhere to business goals and regulatory standards.

Andrea Hodge * BDPA Gr. Tampa Bay Chapter Prez

Andrea enjoys serving communities where she lives and works, and has held board roles in several non profit organizations including the State of Delaware YMCA (Board of Directors, member); Downtown Wilmington YMCA (Board of Directors, Chair); Concerned Citizens Organization (Chair); and NABA (JP Morgan Chase Chair). Andrea was also responsible for bringing Operation Hope to the state of Delaware, teaching financial literacy principles to 300+ middle and high school students in impoverished communities.

This blog wanted to get a more personal look into the personality of this rising BDPA leader.  We asked Andrea to give brief answers to some odd questions. We hope you enjoy this new feature that we simply call, 'Long Story Short...'

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1. Craziest thing you've ever done? I’d have to say the craziest thing I’ve done is participate in the Polar Bear Plunge. I joined hundreds of Special Olympics donors taking a dip in the Atlantic in the middle of the winter. It was a great thrill and experience for an awesome cause. I would definitely do it again, just in a warmer body of water like the Gulf of Mexico!
 
2. Favorite food you'd take with you on a desert island? I’d take any tropical fruit – but if I had to choose one, it would be the mango. I love this super fruit for its anti-oxidant benefits and taste. I imagine surviving on mangoes would get old after a while, but at least I’d be healthy!
 
3. Favorite Way to de-stress after a long week? After a stressful week, I enjoy unwinding by taking long nature walks. I am an animal lover and particularly enjoy bird watching. Living in the Tampa Bay area gives me lots of opportunities to experience the beautiful landscapes and natural architectural wonders. Getting in touch with nature helps me quiet my mind and focus on inner self.
 
4. Favorite way to exercise? I enjoy exercising on a regular basis by dancing. I’ve been a huge Zumba enthusiast for quite some time and really get a kick out of moving to a mix of urban hip hop and Latin sounds. I am always looking to connect friends to the art of Zumba, so if you haven’t tried it and you’re in the Tampa or Delaware area, lets chat!
 
5. How you kill time in airports? I usually past the time listening to calming music or reading the Harvard Business Review. I try to take advantage of the time to catch up on industry news and innovations in my field. I try not to do actual work while I am in airports not only for security reasons, but also to strike a balance between being physically in the office and not.
 
6. Least favorite chore? I’d have to say any chore is my least favorite. I’ve been both blessed and challenged to marry a man who does all of the cooking. Not having to toil in the kitchen unfortunately means my end of the deal covers cleaning. I guess its not so bad after all, considering the alternative – doing both!
 
7. Simple things that make you happiest? Watching animals in their natural habitat. As I mentioned, I absolutely love animals. I am less impressed with zoos and comparable establishments that cage animals…..and more interested in safaris and water habitats. I believe watching animals helps us get in tune with the present moment, which is a great way to connect with your inner peace.
 
8. Who You'd Like to Meet? I’d like to meet Fidel Castro. Studying international relations as a young person, I’ve always had a fascination with world figures who challenged industrial powers. Mr. Castro has lived through monumental global change, and has pretty much remained committed to his personal and political values. I’d like to understand firsthand, what has contributed most to his tenure as a national leader and what, if anything, he’d do differently given the chance.
 

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Andrea wants to meet one of the more interesting people in our 'Long Story Short' series!

Rest In Peace: Erni Moore (1958-2011)

We, the entire BDPA community, were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Erni Moore ... founder and long-time president of BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter ... on this date in 2011. Erni enabled many students and IT professionals in central Florida to experience the hands-on benefits of BDPA membership as evidenced by this June 2002 chapter newsletter.

In fact, Erni may be the only chapter president to ever host a national BDPA conference that was not held in his or her chapter city. BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter, under Erni's leadership, successfully hosted the 2002 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Orlando, Florida.

God has blessed our BDPA family with Erni for several seasons. His life and spirit has truly been a blessing. His legacy lives through his wife, Tracy, and their three daughters. Erni's legacy will continue to provide hope and inspiration to all who knew him.


Rest In Peace Erni

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?

HSCC Testimonial: Nazir Hassan (Greater Tampa Bay, 2000-2001)

Nazir Hassan was part of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team trained by BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter. He participated in national championships held in Washington DC (2000) and Chicago (2001). He agreed to share his memory of the HSCC experience with us.

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My memory is not the greatest, but I do have some advice. I do remember that it was quite an amazing experience and that it was one of the first times that I had gone out of town without my parents so I was slightly nervous but extremely excited throughout the whole trip. Not only was it a competition but a life changing experience. We got the chance to go sightseeing and trying different foods. Best of all is that everything was arranged and paid for by BDPA. These kinds of opportunities do not come up often. Trust me; it has been 10 years since.

There are a few things the team can do help improve their chances of winning. First they must divide and conquer. Everyone needs to be a specialist is doing something. Whether it’s passwords, tables, Java, SQL or whatever your requirements are for the competition. There should never be one person that does 90% of the work, no matter how good they are at programming. If you don't separate tasks then the main person will get burned out and creativity will be lacking.


Secondly someone must be responsible for the team’s time management. A small amount of time must be devoted to designing the project on paper first. Then this person needs to monitor progress and speed until time is up. An 8 hour competition can easily feel like you only had 1 hour to get the work done, so never lose track of time.

Next they have to remember to keep it simple. Start out by only doing what is required for the assignment without adding any fancy bells and whistles. This is where the majority of your points come from when the judges are calculating scores.

The final step would be to proof and polish. Once all basic requirements are met then you must test everything and it must be tested by a group member that did not design that particular portion. You can then add in extra features and show off your skills in order to impress the judges if you have any time left.

I wish you all the best and know you will make the Tampa chapter a force to be reckoned with!

Sincerely,
Nazir

This Week in BDPA (July 11-17)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you will continue to support Our Cause!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Jul 11: Triangle - Networking, 'Annual BDPA Cookout'
• Jul 12: National BDPA - Webinar, 'Career Coaching at BDPA Technology Conference'
• Jul 13: Greater Columbia - Program Meeting, 'Communication Strategies for Relationship Maintenance'
• Jul 15: Cincinnati - Program Meeting, 'The Purple Cow: Stand Out in Your Job Search'
• Jul 16: Detroit - Program Meeting, 'Starting a Career With Deloitte'
• Jul 16: Los Angeles - Program Meeting, 'Running Your Business with Open Source'
• Jul 16: Greater Tampa Bay - Fundraiser, 'Wine and Cheese Tasting Charity Event'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Message from Greater Tampa Bay Chapter President

Next Thursday is our final meeting of the year -- and what a year it has been! Here are a few highlights:

• Partnerships with Computer Mentors Group, Lives Under Construction, Univ of South Florida, the US Air Force Academy and Upward Bound


• First Annual Golf Charity Event with Computer Mentors


• At-Risk Youth: Student Computer, Biz and Life Skills Training (15 students)


• Three Students Participated in Annual High School Computer Competition


• First Annual Greater Tampa Bay Youth Awards Breakfast (30+ students given certificates or plaques)


• Initiated ACT, SAT College Prep Training led by Manish K.


• Helped members find consulting, part time & full-time jobs during the tough economic downturn

For our final meeting we will outline strategic plan for 2010 and highlight key dates. We will need assistance for:

1. Training midschool and high school students in computer tech, health and fitness, biz and career/life skills each Saturday morning from 9 to 12:00 noon (can alternate instructors so each of us would only have to train 1 or 2 times per month)


2. March Golf Charity Event - Need volunteers to help with planning and operations the day of the event as well as players for the tournament
   
3. ACT, SAT College Prep - Need volunteers to assist with online and some face-to-face training/mentorship for at-risk high school students

Finally, we sent out the following email to students and parents of college bound students:

BDPA & Computer Mentors Group Partner with US Air Force Academy and Air Force ROTC for College Scholarships (DEADLINE: 28 FEB 2010)

Dear Students and Parents:

First, I want to thank you for supporting Computer Mentors Group and BDPA and making 2009 an unqualified success even in the midst of the challenging economic recession. And it looks like we are finally seeing positive economic signs and the return of jobs. Now to the matter of college opportunities.

Earler in the year, we mentioned to many of the parents and students that there are amazing scholarship opportunities worth pursuing, but you need to remain active and move fast. We have an arrangement with Academy Admissions (US Air Force Academy (USAFA) / ROTC / Prep School) to support our Greater Tampa Bay Area students who wish to pursue college. Open enrollment for USAFA begins online now.

Here's what you need to do to get started:

Go to http://www.academyadmissions.com/, type Summer Seminar in the Search window (top right), and then click the link click here half way down the page. The summer seminar program allows you to visit USAFA first hand and tour the campus in Colorado Springs, CO.

Window Closes: 28 Feb 2010 (DEADLINE!!)

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Kind regards,
Frank Shines, president
BDPA Greater Tampa Bay
Mobile: (813) 454-5325
Skype: FShines

Pilgrim Software Receives BDPA Outstanding Achievement Award for Success & Support

Tampa-based Pilgrim Software announced it has received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter. The award was presented to acknowledge Pilgrim’s success as a world-leading provider of enterprise-wide compliance and quality management software solutions, and for its support for diversity in technology in the Florida region.

“Pilgrim has supported this organization through its memberships and donations at critical times, when we reached out to them,” said Frank Shines, BDPA Gr Tampa Bay chapter president. “Pilgrim employees have assisted the Tampa Bay chapter, helping us to train 15 at-risk teens this year and send three of them to the BDPA National High School Computer Competition in North Carolina earlier this month.”

Accepting the Outstanding Achievement award on behalf of Pilgrim was Nikki Willett, Vice President of Marketing and Regulatory Affairs.

“As a leader, Pilgrim is committed to education and giving back to the community – to our customers, to the industries we serve, and to our local community,” Willett said. “We’re proud of the work that Pilgrim employees are doing in mentoring our youth. Likewise, Pilgrim recognizes and appreciates the job the BDPA is doing in discovering the untapped potential in our young – which will be the key to technology and business success for our future – and for the outstanding performance and dedication of these kids.”

The award ceremony was held last month in conjunction with BDPA’s At-Risk Youth Charity Breakfast, presented to inspire and recognize local Greater Tampa Bay area teens for their achievements in business, technology, and health and fitness. In addition to the awards, the program included presentations by BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter president Shines and Ryan Nece, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and founder of the Ryan Nece Foundation.

HSCC Testimonial: Pentao 'Mac' Teng (Greater Tampa Bay)

BDPA leaders often talk about our efforts to advance the careers of our members from 'the classroom to the boardroom'. I am pleased that BETF is able to collect and share insights from some of the remarkable HSCC alumni around the country ... including Pengtao ‘Mac’ Teng who began training with BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter while he was still in middle school.

Mac was a member of the national team representing Tampa FL in 2002-2003, 2005 and 2007. The 2003 and 2005 teams both finished in 4th place at the national competition.

We asked Mac to share his thoughts on the HSCC experience. Here is what he wrote:

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I can say for a fact that BDPA changed my life. Prior to my experience with the Tampa Bay chapter, I was an ordinary middle school student who was complacent with what I was learning in class. I did not know anything about computers, much less how to make a web page, and my parents were not in the IT industry. My BDPA instructors taught me things I never would have learned in school, and their immense professionalism made a huge impact on my personal development. My BDPA training taught me to think like an engineer, and for a young kid, being able to see your ideas materialize in a web page was mind-blowing.

Going to the national competitions, at the time, was a cool and fun experience. Now that I am in college, I have come to realize how extraordinary it was that I, as a rising high-school student, was able to meet leaders of industry at a professional conference My experience with the high school computer competition is an opportunity that many of my peers would fight tooth and nail for today. Attending the various national BDPA conferences and competing in the national competitions allowed me to see that nothing is impossible through hard work and a little bit of luck.

BDPA has not only developed my academic interests -- I am studying engineering at Penn -- but also made me realize the importance of community and of giving back. I remind myself that I am who I am today because of all the efforts of other people who devoted time and energy for my benefit, and I try to do the same by reaching out in my spare time to be a resource for young students through volunteer organizations.

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I look forward to watching the upward career path of Mac Teng. My hope is he becomes a multi-millionaire and helps us with donations to support our scholarship programs in the future. Of course, I hope that some of you are inspired to make a secure online donation right now! What say u?

This Week in BDPA (May 24-30)

BDPA has 51 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry.

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• May 26: Dallas - Program Meeting, 'Career Resilliancy'


• May 28: Greater Tampa Bay - Program Meeting, 'Project Management for Enterprise Apps'


• May 28: New York - Fundraiser, 'Book Signing Party'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA CollectiveX Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Finally, I hope you will consider making a tax-deductible online donation to the BDPA Foundation in honor of Darius Gaines (HSCC Alumni 2005-2007). Do it now!

This Week in BDPA (Apr 19-25)

BDPA has 51 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry.

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Apr 21: National BDPA - Webinar, 'What is Agile?'
  
• Apr 22: Atlanta - Program Meeting, 'Extreme Career Makeover'
  
• Apr 23: Greater Tampa Bay - Program Meeting, 'Freeconomics: Making Money on Free Products & Services'
  
• Apr 25: Atlanta - Networking, '2nd annual HSCC Cookout'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA CollectiveX Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Finally, I hope you will consider making a tax-deductible online donation to the BDPA Foundation in honor of Lauren Pemberton (HSCC Alumni 2005-2007). Do it now!

This Week in BDPA (Jan 18-24)

President Barack Obama is now in the White House doing his thing. It is time for BDPA members to take care of our business as well. Our foundation provides funding for programs that advance the careers of African Americans in the IT industry. Are you taking advantage of these programs?

Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the BDPA CollectiveX Calendar and elsewhere:

• Jan 22: Greater Tampa Bay - Program Meeting, 'Improve Your Executive Presence: A Practical Approach for Techies and Non-Techies Alike'
  
• Jan 24: Chicago - Banquet, 'Awards Banquet'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the BDPA CollectiveX Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Please make tax-deductible online donation to the BDPA Foundation to start the beginning of the Obama era. Do it now!

Message from Greater Tampa Bay Chapter President

One of our favorite chapter presidents is Frank Shines. This young brother is using his project management and leadership skills to take the BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter to new heights. Here is message he shared with his chapter members and supporters this month:

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BDPA Members and Friends,

On behalf of the BDPA Greater Tampa Bay leadership team I want to thank you all for a very successful 2008 and wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!

We've got an extraordinary line-up in 2009, so don't miss out. Here are some highlights:

• Jan 20th: Lean Six Sigma 2.0.* Frank Shines will present a 40 minute presentation followed by Q&A as a guest speaker to about 80-100 biz leaders and customers of Pilgrim Software, a Tampa Bay hi-tech company specializing in Enterprise Compliance and Quality software. Details will be posted next week on TampaBDPA.org.


• Jan 22nd: Next monthly meeting and call-in*. Chapter president will present a 'State of the Chapter' update and an exciting and upbeat motivational session on 'Recession-Proofing Your Career and the Power of Persuasion'. Details at TampaBDPA.org.


• Feb 15-21: Family Technology Awareness Week*: In an effort to help close the digital divide, the BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter in conjuction with IBM and the Computer Mentors Group will participate in a series of weeklong events designed to provide bring technology awareness to at-risk youth and their families. Details will be posted on TampaBDPA.org next week.


• March 19th: Inaugural Golf Charity Event at MacDill AFB Golf Course.* We need golf players, volunteers and sponsors. Proceeds will benefit 15 at-risk youth that will be trained by BDPA members at the Computer Mentors Group facility in preparation for the 2009 National BDPA High School Computer Competition in Raleigh, NC. Winners will receive national exposure, college scholarships, tech gadgets and computers as well as cash rewards from such companies at IBM, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase and others.


• Ongoing Monthly Meetings (each 4th Thursday at 6pm ET):* Some topics for 2009: Improving Your Public Speaking, How to Manage a Virtual Project Team, Developing Executive Presence for Career Advancement, Managing Your Online Reputation, Why On Demand and Cloud Computing Will Thrive During the Recession, Polishing Your Skills for the Next Big Thing in Biz & Tech, Entrepreneurship / Intrapreneurship and much more.


• Monthly Management and Leadership Development Webinars* on topics such as Creating Biz Cases & Value Propositions, Project Management, Business Strategy 101, How to Lead Change, SAP, Web Apps & Zoho, Digital Signage...

We wish you all the best in 2009 and look forward to seeing you in person or online. The "in-person" events listed above occur at:

PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 3109 W. MLK Jr. Blvd,
Building Lake Pointe I, 6th Floor, Room 6097
(near the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stadium)

The online events listed above can be reach via your computer or telephone:

Computer: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/139000329
Conference Call: (312) 780-0467, access code 139-000-329 Meeting ID: 139-000-329

Happy New Year!
Frank Shines, President
BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter
Mobile: 813-345-5325
Skype: FShines

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BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter is currently the 36th largest chapter in the nation. However, I am confident that they will grow their membership significantly in the coming weeks and months. What are your thoughts about Frank's message?

Message from Greater Tampa Bay Chapter President

One of my great joys in BDPA is to watch the successful growth of the BDPA vision in a community. I've been watching that growth in Tampa Bay, FL over the past few months under the focused leadership of BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter president Frank Shines. Frank stepped up to challenge issued earlier this year by immediate past president Leslie Mozon.

Here is the message that Frank shared with his members and supporters about the progress over the past year and plans for next year:

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Beginning in August 2008 we began an effort to rebuild the Greater Tampa Bay chapter. Our chapter had become dormant over the past three years and only 2-3 members were showing up for monthly program meetings. However, in the past five months, we have made enormous strides; this due largely to the efforts of our immediate past president, Leslie Mozon, Wayne Hicks and our current officers: Gilda Mack (VP of Strategy & Planning), Michelle Graham (VP of Finance) and Ian Elius (VP of Member Services).

The end of a year is a great milestone point to pause, reflect and plan for the future. Let me take a moment to tell you what we have achieved this year and where the Tampa Bay chapter is headed in 2009. First, we took the time to look at other top-performing chapters and conduct some benchmarking against other national and local competitors. We also spent lots of time listening to the wise counsel of Wayne Hicks, whose invaluable experience, business insights and uncanny ability to detect trends in IT, were a Godsend. Based on that input and the hard work of our officers in 2008 we:

• Completed our three year strategic plan (an ongoing work in progress)
• Created our program for 2009 HSCC/SITES competitions
• Launched twice-monthly chapter communiques to all members and partners
• Added conference call-ins and Web meetings to all monthly program meetings
• Developed and launched chapter website and added Web 2.0 and cloud computing tools
• Increased our monthly attendance and membership by 4-5 times its past level
• Developed partnerships with Computer Mentors Group (IT training to at-risk youth), Smarter Solutions, Skill of Success, and Streale to further grow membership, and to increase marketing and branding in both the local and online communities
• Developed a roster of public speakers from Wachovia, Pilgrim Software, Camstar, Industriaplex, and Skill of Success who spoke with us on the topics of SOA/Web Services, Project Management, Six Sigma, Regulatory Compliance, Enterprise Quality and Wealth Management

In 2009 we have very ambitious plans, chief among these:

• Working with IBM and Computer Mentors Group to showcase events for the Feb 2009 Black Family Technology Awareness Week
• Following up on more than 23 grant and sponsorship opportunities
• Executing the March 2009 charity golf tournament with Computer Mentors Group and many local businesses and sponsors
• Developing our team for HSCC/SITES to compete at the national conference
• Launching training curriculum and entrepreneurship programs for at-risk youth working with Computer Mentors Group, Apex Digital Imaging and Skill of Success
• Providing Web based training on Management & Communication Skills, Executive Presence, SaaS/Cloud Computing and Building Your Online Image
• Speaker topics will include: Recession-Proofing Your Career, Building Your Online Image, Becoming an Accomplished Public Speaker, The Growth of Saas/Cloud Computing, Zoho and Google Apps, Entrepreneurship / Intrapreneurship, Future of SAP, Lean Six Sigma 2.0, ITIL & Virtualization, Money Matters and Getting Promoted

Our heartfelt thanks go out to our founder, Earl Pace, the national BDPA leadership and staff, and all of the chapter presidents who have helped us to revitalize the Tampa Bay chapter in 2008. We wish you all peace and joy this holiday season...and all the success in 2009!

Frank Shines, president
BDPA Greater Tampa Bay

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BDPA Greater Tampa Bay is the 36th largest chapter in the nation. I anticipate that they will be in the 'Top 20' before the end of next quarter! Please share your COMMENTS on Frank's message if you have time or inclination.

This Week in BDPA (Dec 14-20)

Our foundation hopes that you find value in the work that we are doing. If not, please feel free to share your thoughts on ways we can improve. In the meantime, we hope that you will seek out the BDPA chapter in your area. Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the BDPA CollectiveX Calendar and elsewhere:

• Dec 16: Cleveland - Networking, 'Christmas Gathering'


• Dec 17: Philadelphia - Networking, 'Holiday Happy Hour & Pink Slip Party'


• Dec 17: Greater Tampa Bay - Program Meeting, 'Financial Bailout and Your Investments'


• Dec 18: Richmond - Networking, 'Holiday Party'


• Dec 18: New York - Networking, 'DETOX THIRSTday'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the BDPA CollectiveX Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Please make tax-deductible online donation to the BDPA Foundation before the end of the year. Do it now!

This Week in BDPA (Oct 19-25)

Our foundation seeks to support BDPA programs and services. As such, it is important that our blog readers know about the plethora of BDPA activity all around the country. Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the BDPA CollectiveX Calendar and elsewhere:

• Oct 20: New York - Networking Event, 'Taste of Technology Small Business Series'
• Oct 21: Austin - Program Meeting, 'Congressional Black Caucus Recap'
• Oct 22: Atlanta - Program Meeting, 'Project Management'
• Oct 22: Los Angeles - Program Meeting, 'Articulating Your Skills and Job Search in the 21st Century'
• Oct 23: Greater Tampa Bay - Program Meeting, 'Regulatory Compliance'
• Oct 23: New Jersey - Program Meeting, 'How to Effectively Tighten Your Belt Straps During Difficult Times'
• Oct 23: New York - Program Meeting, 'The Role of IT in Voting Machines'
• Oct 23: Washington DC - Program Meeting, 'Town Hall Meeting'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the BDPA CollectiveX Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

If you like what you are seeing on this blog ... please consider making an online donation to the BDPA Foundation so that we can continue to fund these events in the future.

President Profile: BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter (Frank Shines)

Frank Shines, President
BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter

Address: PO Box 47105
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: (813) 454-5325
Website: http://www.tampabdpa.org/
Newsletter: None

BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter was at a crossroads earlier this year. The chapter activity slowed down considerably over the past year or so. The chapter either needed a new leader to emerge or face possible end of BDPA in that city. Frank Shines rose to the challenge when he agreed to become acting president pending elections.

Frank Shines is a former IBM executive and Ernst & Young consultant. Frank has flown Air Force jets, trained and competed with Olympic athletes and traveled the world as an award-winning business advisor to Fortune 500 executives. He has worked under the guidance of management and quality pioneers, Drs. W. Edwards Deming (the American who taught the Japanese quality) and Mikel J. Harry (co-founder of Six Sigma). Frank has been published by John Wiley & Sons (The Controller's Function: "Performance Measurement" Chapter, 1999) and is the author of a book examining the impact of the next generation of the Internet and its impact on individuals and organizations (The New Science of Success: How to Outsource Proof Your Job in a Web 2.0 Economy, 2007).

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.

He resides with his wife in Tampa, FL and mentors at-risk youth through the Tiger Woods Foundation and Skill of Success. Frank is an avid golfer and enjoys world travel.

Frank's favorite quote: "The mind can only see what it is prepared to see" - Dr. Edward DeBono.

His favorite BDPA memory: "First learning of the history, vision and accomplishments of BDPA."

Message from Greater Tampa Bay Chapter President

BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Chapter (GTBC), founded May 1993, is the 26th largest country in the nation. However, the chapter is at a crossroads in many ways. Chapter president Leslie Mozon writes:

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"BDPA GTBC is in jeopardy of becoming defunct. To continue as a chapter we need new leadership and more members!

BDPA GTBC has limped along for the past few years primarily due to good leadership and participation in our Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) computer camp program. Much thanks for this success goes to our SITES coordinators, lead instructors, faithful parents and students. Thanks to the Computer Mentors organization for partnering with us in training and sponsorship of part of the SITES team. Much thanks also to Verizon IT and Syniverse Technologies, who made in-kind donations of their training facilities.

The training facilities may be available to GTBC again this year. Several inquiries about the continuance of the SITES program have been made from both parents and students wishing to participate. However, we are greatly in need of dedicated IT professionals willing to volunteer their time and talent to continue this program.

During this last year BDPA GTBC has consistently held monthly program meetings featuring several guest speakers on a variety of topics pertinent to the IT professional and novelist. Much thanks to PricewaterhouseCoopers and their HR staff for providing an in-kind donation of an outstanding meeting place, for hosting a few of the meetings, and for providing several of the featured presenters. Unfortunately participation and attendance has waned to a level that is less than complimentary to the program meeting organizers and presenters.

This meeting facility is available for GTBC again this year. Presenters can be ascertained and scheduled. However we are greatly in need of dedicated IT professionals and novelist desiring to participate in this experience of sharing their experiences and growing their experiences through planning and participating in these program meetings.

These are just two of several ways BDPA GTBC has shared with this community lately. There are several other programs that have been offered in the past, and there are several more that can be offered in the future. It would be a great shame for it all to continue to dissipate to nothing.

The bottom line is BDPA GTBC NEEDS MEMBERS! Is that you? If you find that a Tampa Bay area chapter of BDPA is something that must have a future, and you are willing to put some effort toward assuring that it does, then I encourage you to make a way to attend our next meeting, or contact me directly.

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We encourage all BETF-Blog Readers in the Tampa Bay area to attend their upcoming program meeting and discuss 'The Continuance of This Chapter'. Here are the logistics for the meeting:


Thursday, January 24, 2008
6:00 PM - 7:30 pm

PricewaterhouseCoopers Office Complex
3109 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 6th Floor
Tampa, FL 33607

Please reach out to Leslie Mozon by email or phone (813.215-5902).

Leading BDPA Greater Tampa Bay Into Tomorrow

BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter was founded in May 1993. The chapter is currently the 23rd largest chapter in the nation. However, they have visions of getting into the top 10 in the coming weeks and months. Part of the process is the incoming ideas and energy of the next group of leaders to carry their chapter into tomorrow.

Leslie Mozon, chapter president, plans to deal with the logistics and excitement of nominations for upcoming election at the program meeting later this week. In fact, the theme for the meeting will be 'Focus: Leading BDPA-GTBC Into Tomorrow'

The logistics for the meeting are as follows:

Date: Thursday, November 29, 2007
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: PricewaterhouseCoopers Office Complex
6th Floor, LakePoint One
3109 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607

BETF-Blog Readers are invited to share this information with any IT professional that you know in the Greater Tampa Bay area. Heck, if you can get this message to Buccaneers coach John Gruden ... that would be good as well!

Please RSVP to Leslie Mozon by email (tampa@bdpa.org) or phone (813.215-5902).