Long Story Short: Glenda Chappell (BDPA Baton Rouge Founder)

Glenda Chappell

Glenda Chappell is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and an Information Technology (IT) professional with over thirty (30) years of experience. She is currently employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana as an Actuarial Advisory Programmer Analyst.

Each year, the BCBS-Louisiana also honors a "Blue Angel," an employee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana who has shown extraordinary commitment to children. This year, BCBS-Louisiana selected Glenda Chappell – who, over the last decade, have provided hands-on training, mentoring and career development to Baton Rouge youth through the local chapter of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) - and will make a $5,000 grant to BDPA in Chappell’s names.

Glenda is a founding member of the BDPA Baton Rouge chapter. Her experience with the organization in other parts of the country since becoming a member in 1998 convinced her that BDPA had worlds to offer the community of Baton Rouge and gave her the drive and desire to introduce the two communities. She now serves as the VP-Finance for that chapter, and organizes its training efforts. Glenda has also served on the National BDPA Board of Directors.

Glenda is also the owner and manager of GDC Consulting. Through this corporation, Glenda offers computer training at discounted rates to the Baton Rouge community, offering training on topics as the need arises in the community. It is her desire that, through this company and BDPA, she can help obtain her goal of “providing training to the community in all things IT”.

Glenda is a 1978 graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., with a degree in Secondary Business Education and a minor in Computer Science. She serves as secretary of the Scotlandville Hornets High School Alumni Association, where she graduated high school, and coordinator of the Young Adult Ministry at Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, where she teaches Sunday school, works with the hospitality and membership committees, and sings in three choirs. She is the mother of two adult sons and grandmother to three grandsons and two granddaughters.

This blog wanted to get a more personal look into the personality of this rising BDPA leader. We asked Glenda 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. Favorite food you’d take with you on a desert island? Ice cream. No point in existing without ice cream.
 
2. How you kill time in airports? On my laptop/tablet. If there’s work to complete, I complete it; if there’s an e-book I haven’t finished, I read; if there’s nothing else calling my attention, I play card games. Unless, of course, there’s a game on. That is going to get my attention first.
 
3. Least favorite chore? Cooking. The purpose of my kitchen in my house is to hold the refrigerator that houses my ice cream and the milk for my cereal. I am from Louisiana, and do have some specialty dishes that I make (i.e., gumbo, banana pudding), but I am no cook. Those things are made at special requests or for special events only.
 
4. Simple things that make you happiest? Making others happy. I long ago decided this was my sole purpose in life. I love to see others enjoy my cooking, even though I don’t do it much. I love to see the light bulb go off in the eyes of students when they finally understand a concept they’ve been having trouble grasping. I love to see the relief on a person’s face when they learn that something they needed is being provided. That is what keeps me going.

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Nothing wrong with a sistah who likes ice cream!

Matching Gift: BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) to process a matching gift check. The company's community relations department wrote:

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Glenda is at far right

Dear Mr. Hicks,

We have completed processing of the matching gift request recently received from Glenda Chappell and Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA). I am pleased to inform you that BDPA has met all of the qualification requirements for the matching gift program, and our check is enclosed.

As you know, BCBSLA will match personal contributions from eligible participants to qualified non-profit organizations as outlined in our matching gift program guidelines. More information can be found on our website, www.bcbsla.com, in the Community section at the top of the screen.

We appreciate the efforts you are making in our state and wish you success.

Sincerely,
Paula M. Neck
Employee Giving Administrator

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BETF thanks BDPA Baton Rouge co-founder Glenda Chappell for her generosity. It is great that Glenda took the time to leverage her donation with her employer's 100% matching gift program. Our hope is that our readers will research existence of matching gifts programs to see if the same potential exists at your workplace.

Another option is that our readers reach out to support our efforts to raise funds for college scholarships to support the young people being trained by BDPA Baton Rouge.

BDPA Teaches Technology to Teens in Baton Rouge

BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) published the following article in their internal newsletter:

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BCBSLA employees and sisters Glenda Chappell (Senior Programmer Analyst, Actuarial Systems) and Billie Davis-Lomas (Senior Business Engineering Analyst, IT-Medical Management/Managed Care) spend their Saturday mornings preparing local teens for their futures in higher education and the workforce.

Billie Davis-Lomas, far left, and her sister and Blue Cross coworker Glenda Chappell, far right, pose with some of the teens they mentor through Black Data Processing Associates.

Chappell and Davis-Lomas work with an organization called BDPA Baton Rouge (BDPA-BR). Chappell is one of the chapter’s charter members. Both sisters have been involved in the organization for decades, serving in cities across the nation.

BDPA-BR provides hands-on computer training and skill-building exercises for local students. With an emphasis on team building, presentation skills and professional etiquette, each BDPA class is led by local volunteer mentors like Chappell and Davis-Lomas. Students are guided by their mentors to compete for scholarships at regional and national conferences, which are often attended by top-level executives from companies like Microsoft and QVC.

“We don’t just teach them computer skills. We teach them how to conduct themselves in a professional setting, which is something they can always use,” says Davis-Lomas.

“The students are very enthusiastic and eager to start creating projects,” Chappell adds. “It’s very rewarding to see them succeed.”

BDPA-BR is open to all middle- and high-school students, and the Baton Rouge chapter targets those considered “at-risk” because of socioeconomic factors.
BDPA-BR is a professional organization for information technology professionals, providing community service and professional development opportunities for its members. The group is open to those working in the IT field and other technology-focused careers.

If you are interested in supporting BDPA-BR, the organization is looking for members, volunteer instructors and financial support for supplies and conference fees. BDPA-BR is on Blue Cross’ list of qualified non-profit organizations for which the company will match financial gifts beginning at $100 (up to $1,500 annually).

To learn more about BDPA, visit their website or follow the group on Facebook or Twitter. You may also contact them by e-mail.

I have known Glenda and Billie for many years. BDPA Baton Rouge is lucky to have both of them as chapter leaders. I look for great things to come from Louisiana in the coming months and years!

Matching Gift * BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) received our second gift from the matching gift program donation to support the BDPA Baton Rouge chapter from BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBSLA).    Glenda Chappell is the BCBSLA associate who made the donation that was matched by her employer.  Glenda truly leveraged her donation with this 100% matching gift program.

Does your employer have a matching gift program?   Have you leveraged it to support your BDPA chapter?

Matching Gift * BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) received a donation to support the BDPA Baton Rouge chapter from BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana. The letter that came with the check read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

We have completed processing of the matching gift request recently received from Glenda Chappell and [the BDPA Foundation]. I am pleased to inform you that [BETF] has met all of the qualifaction requirements for the matching gift program, and our check is enclosed.

As you know, BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana will match personal contributions from eligible participants to qualified non-profit organizations as outlined in our matching gifts program guidelines. More information regarding our matching program can be found on our website, www.bcbsla.com, in the Community section at the top of the screen.

We appreciate the efforts you are making in our state and wish you success.

Sincerely,
Paula M. Neck
Employee Giving Administrator

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My hope is that all BDPA members that are working in Corporate America will take a close look at their company intranet to see if they would be eligible for volunteer grant or matching gift. In the meantime, we appreciate the work of Glenda Chappell, BCBSLA and BDPA Baton Rouge chapter!