Harold Rush Podcast, 5/4/2016 (Reggie Rush)

BDPA Chicago President Reggie Rush. BDPA Chicago Chapter Media Correspondent Harold Lee Rush interviews Reggie Rush, BDPA Chicago Chapter President.



BDPA Chicago Chapter on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BDPAChicago/

Business Wire, 5/2/2016, (Mike Williams)

BDPA and FORTUNE Magazine Group Enter Partnership. Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) and FORTUNE’s Content Marketing & Strategies group entered into an agreement to publish and promote a special advertising section on diversity. FORTUNE's Content Marketing & Strategies group, the custom content division of FORTUNE, has been producing custom content for FORTUNE 1000 companies since 1954. BDPA is the largest African American Information Technology (IT) Association in the country and has 40 chapters across the United States. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in IT and continues to bridge the digital divide by providing training and career growth opportunities for its members.

"We view BDPA as a valuable resource for corporate America as they serve as a catalyst for growth in IT diversity," states Joel Baboolal, Project Manager, FORTUNE Content Marketing & Strategies. "Our group is thrilled to partner with BDPA. The issue of IT diversity has reached new heights and together we aim to cover solid examples of timely advancements on this front which will be featured in a special advertising section in our FORTUNE 500, June 15, 2016 issue," he added. The advertising close date is May 4th.

"We are ecstatic about our partnership with FORTUNE to pursue our shared mission of advancing diversity in IT across corporate America," said Mike A. Williams, BDPA National President. "As a leading national magazine whose focus is on the top 500 companies in the nation, BDPA could not ask for a better partner to tackle this issue with us," he added.

BDPA will host its 38th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair, August 9-13, 2016 at The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. BDPA’s Career Fair is free and open to the public.

Read full press release at Business Wire.

Rolling Out, 3/15/2016 (Reggie Rush)

Reggie Rush

5 Questions with BDPA Chicago Chapter President Reggie Rush. For those unfamiliar the organization, tell us a bit about the Chicago Chapter of Black Data Processing Association and its history?

BDPA is an international organization with a diverse membership of professionals and students at all levels in the fields of information technology, computer science and related S.T.E.M (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Members are actively engaged in serving the community through outreach and charting the future of the IT industry.

What’s next for the BDPA?

I think the biggest challenge for us is growing both our sponsorship base and membership. These are two important elements for our success. We are a nonprofit so we need the funding to run our programs. Eighty to 85 percent of our funding goes to programs. We have no paid staff within the chapter. Now that statement helps you understand why growing membership is important, we need the members to volunteer to assist in delivering the programs.

The BDPA Chicago Chapter Annual Awards gala will take place on Saturday, March 19 at the Hyatt Regency East Tower, Grand Ballroom A & B located at 151 E Wacker Dr., Chicago. The black-tie event will begin with a VIP reception at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner program at 7 p.m.

Read the full Rolling Out article here.

Geek Girl Rising * 2/13/2016 (Stephanie Lampkin)

Stephanie Lampkin

Meet the Geek Girls - Stephanie Lampkin. "Who or what inspired your career in tech? How so?" - My Auntie Greta (University of Maryland College Park, BS Computer Science 1984) was definitely my biggest inspiration. She took my mom in when my mom found out she was pregnant and needed a place to live, but soon thereafter she moved to Connecticut for a programmer job at Westinghouse. As I got older we used to visit her every year in Connecticut. I always loved visiting her because she’d have the latest gadgets and electronic. She’s the first person I ever knew to own a cell phone. She had such a fabulous lifestyle– she traveled the world on a whim. She got me involved in the Black Data Processing Association (BDPA) by introducing me to the high school computer competition. I wanted to participate years before I was eligible, but I ultimately started the summer before freshman year of high school. I was 13. The rest is history.

Read the rest of the Geek Girl Rising article.

PRWeb, 2/6/2016 (Calvetta Phair, Kevin Rabinovich)

TEDxYouth@ColumbiaSC

The On It Foundation Partners with 'TEDxYouth@ColumbiaSC' for By-Youth-For-Youth Conference March 5, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina - The On It Foundation has partnered with TEDxYouth@ColumbiaSC - South Carolina’s by-youth, for-youth conference that unites high school students from almost 50 schools for a day’s worth of Ideas Worth Spreading - to assist in community outreach to promote the event and assume Fiscal Sponsorship for obtaining donations and corporate sponsors. All proceeds will benefit TEDxYouth@ColumbiaSC and youth initiatives in South Carolina.

Asked how collaboration of The On It Foundation and TEDxYouth@ColumbiaSC came about, Calvetta Phair, President of The On It Foundation, stated that she saw an article about Kevin Rabinovich’s work in a blog post by the Black Data Processing Associates, a group with which both are involved.

“I contacted Kevin to express my admiration and support for his work with TEDxYouth@ColumbiaSC. We met and the rest is history. I am truly honored to offer any support for this event and believe that our organizations’ alliance will not only benefit the youth in South Carolina, but also provide support for future initiatives…it’s so much bigger than about us,” said Ms. Phair.

Read the full PRWeb media release here.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, 1/15/2016 (Fredrick Blocton, Sifora Tek-Lab)

2015 HSTP graduates (l-r) Isaiah Brown, Mohammed Abdi,
Kiani DeJuan Burkett, Diliet Tekie, and Jesus Vega (not pictured)

Tech Group Draws Students Into ‘Smart Zones’. On Friday, January 8, Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) celebrated its 11th year with a graduation and awards ceremony emceed by Dawn Stevens of FOX 9 news. The theme of the event: transformational leadership.

Approximately 50 students between fourth grade and college level were honored at the event. BDPA is an all-volunteer organization, from the instructors to the students they teach. It boast a 100 percent graduation rate.

Fredrick Blocton, the Twin Cities BDPA chapter president, described their role in creating a foundation for future transformational leaders: “All of our kids that come into BDPA come into what we consider a smart zone. A smart zone means that when you come into the BDPA program you get the opportunity to be as smart as you want to be. And when kids come in they see the other kids trudging away at technology…and they start to all do the same thing. They get in the smart zone and they are able to open up their brains,” Blocton continued. “And what it does is it flips on the switch for them and gives them the opportunity not only to learn in technology, but in other areas of their lives, too.”

Read the rest of the article on MSR Online.

Advance IT Minnesota, January 8, 2015 (Russell Fraenkel)

BDPA names Metropolitan State University & Advance IT Minnesota 2015 Community Supporter of the Year. The BDPA Community Supporter of the Year award acknowledges the efforts of a community organization that believes in and supports BDPA in its mission of increasing the participation of people of color in the information technology (IT) field. Advance IT Minnesota, a Center of Excellence in IT for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system and Metropolitan State University have supported BDPA for a number of years, providing in-kind resources and technology-equipped classrooms at their St. Paul campus.

Click here to read the full article.

Career Communications Group, 12/3/2015 (Perry Carter, Ogochukwu Eburuoh)

BDPA member Ogochukwu Eburuoh

Congressional Black Caucus, Leading African American Organizations Announce New Initiatives To Increase Tech Diversity. America's Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G. K. Butterfield and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, co-chairs of the CBC Diversity Task Force, have convened leading African American Organizations to announce new initiatives in tech diversity.

On Thursday, December 3rd, Chairman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), who serve as co-chairs of the CBC Diversity Task Force and CBC TECH 2020, brought together top technology professional organizations to announce new efforts to increase African American inclusion in the technology sector.

The seven national organizations include the American Association for Access, Equity & Diversity, Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA), Blacks In Technology, the Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and Career Communications Group, Inc., which publishes US Black Engineer magazine and has hosted the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference for 29 years.

Please click here to read the full article.

The Wildcat Roar, 9/23/15 (Jared Orange)

Jared Orange Competes in Code in D.C. Students came back to Westminster this year with many different, interesting stories. Summer seminars, Camp Westminster, and exciting vacations were only a few of the many tales told around the halls. Yet, one story has been mostly untold: a competition held in Washington D.C. for upcoming web designers (cough, hackers, cough cough). Jared Orange, senior, recently attended this prestigious competition with a group of other students in order to prove they have what it takes to be the coders of the future.

BDPA St. Louis HSCC Team

For those not familiar with this competition, the basic layout goes like this. Teams would have to design a webpage using different programs such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), JavaScript, PHP, among others. The teams are selected by chapter. The chapter’s sponsor would monitor those who signed up and teach them different skills to use on the computer. At the end of the training period, those who were deemed good were selected to compete with the team.

The team came in sixth place overall, much to Orange’s irritation.

“We lost to teams smaller than us which was pretty bad,” he says. “There were a lot of technical difficulties. I don’t know why. You would kinda expect an IT-centered organization to be on top of their game but it was kinda disorganized.”

Despite the loss, Orange says he would participate in the competition again if given the chance.

“It was just fun,” according to Orange, “and I’m opening my mind to more programming. Now I know things like PHP and now I can do a lot of other cool stuff besides Java.”

Read the full Wildcat Roar article.

Tell Us USA, 8/22/2015 (Gen. Colin Powell)

Gen. Colin Powell

National IT Conference Draws General Colin L. Powell. The influence of BDPA was clearly evident with the appearance of four-star General Colin L. Powell as the Town Hall speaker for the 2015 Annual Technology Conference and Career Fair. The connection between IT and a former Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Secretary of State, was a revelation to the capacity audience and one General Powell joked would surprise most people. “I am perhaps the only person in this room who can program in both Fortran and Cobol.”

Bringing his remarks back home, Powell said “All you young people here have to fully understand is, you are being given opportunity though the programs offered by this great organization, to learn a skill…you do your part to make sure nobody sees anything coming out of you except performance.”

The BDPA programs Powell was talking about include the annual High School Computer Competition [HSCC] and the Youth Technology Camp. The large contingent of young people at the conference also showcase their knowledge of IT with poster board displays, in keeping with the conference theme of “Evolution of IT: Embracing the Digital Future”.

Read the full Tell Us USA article.

Business Wire - 8/10/2015 (2015 National Technology Conference)

BDPA Names Top 2015 Honorary Chairs. Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) recently announced Marc Di Francisco, President of Premier Event Management; Terry Halvorsen, Principal Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Information Management/ Information Technology and Information Assurance; Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, congressional representative of the District of Columbia; David L. Steward, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Wide Technology; Dr. E. Faye Williams, National President/CEO of the National Congress of Black Women; and Harry Wingo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce as their top Honorary Chairs at this year’s 37th Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair, "Evolution of IT--Embracing the Digital Future," August 18-22, 2015 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Read the rest of this Business Wire article.

Cincinnati.com, 6/29/2015 (Tyra Oldham)

Dr. Tyra Oldham

Cincinnati Blacks in Technology: 'Why is the Smart Grid So Important?' So, do you want to collaborate with the like-minded technology professionals of color in our city? Please be our guest for the Cincinnati Blacks in Technology event at Brown Mackie College (1011 Glendale Milford Road; Cincinnati OH 45215) on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 6:00pm. Our discussion will answer the question, 'Why is the Smart Grid So Important?'.

Dr. Tyra Oldham, CEO of LANDsds, a management and consulting company providing sustainability and development, will provide an overview of smart grid and its importance to technology professionals. Smart technologies and smart providers and users are what make this unfolding system relevant and important. Dr. Oldham’s presentation is informative and interactive. Smart grid is not only relevant to our energy, but necessary for users to understand the importance on how we move forward considering people, infrastructure, facilities, business, systems, homes, technology and play. Learn about smart grid, smart grid technology, companies engaged in smart grid, careers

Click here to read the full Cincinnati.com article.

My CState Daily News, 4/16/2015 (Frank Hill)

Frank Hill

Cincinnati State Honored at BDPA Event. Cincinnati State was recognized as the Corporate Sponsor of the Year by the Cincinnati Chapter of the BDPA.  During an awards luncheon last week, the organization also recognized the work of Instructor Frank Hill (pictured above) from the Business Technologies Division and read a proclamation from Ohio Gov. John Kasich recognizing the College’s work in the field.

BDPA was originally known as Black Data Processing Associates. It is an international organization with a diverse membership of professionals and students in the fields of information technology, computer science and related STEM fields. Members are actively engaged in serving the community through outreach and charting the future of the IT industry.

Read the rest of the My CState Daily News article.

UCCA Ambassador Newsletter, 1/31/2015 (Carol Bell)

Carol Bell

Bootstrap Computer Gaming Algorithm Class.  Bootstrap Computer Gaming Algorithm and Career Enrichment Program is a pilot program developed for 7th grade students through BDPA Huntsville chapter (president, Carol Bell). The Bootstrap Computer Gaming and Algorithm Career Enrichment Program is designed to teach students how to develop a video game that can be played on their mobile devices.

BDPA is an international organization with a diverse membership of professionals and students at all levels in the fields of information technology, computer science and related Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

This front-page article appeared in the Jan 2015 issue of the Union Chapel Christian Academy newsletter.

BDPA Student IT Education & Scholarship (SITES) Program in Huntsville, Alabama from BDPA Education and Technology Foundation

Cincinnati.com, 1/28/2014 (Jessica Waddell)

Jessica Waddell

BDPA Cincinnati Announces New Leadership - 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.

Read the rest of this Cincinnati.com article.

My Fox Twin Cities, 1/9/2015 (Fred Blocton, Justin Wulf)

My Fox Twin Cities - BDPA Twin Cities is celebrating 25 years of education at its 10th annual awards ceremony. Students learn new technology and compete with other students all over the country.

KMSP-TV

See more.

Cincinnati.com, 12/6/2014 (Clifford Bailey)

Clifford Bailey

Prominent Business Leader to Discuss 'Productivity in the Workplace' with BDPA. BDPA, the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry, will host Clifford Bailey on Wednesday, December 17 @ 6:00pm at the campus of Brown Mackie College (1011 Glendale Milford Road; Cincinnati 45215). He will focus on 'Productivity in the Workplace'. Our guest speaker has a wealth of business success, inspiring thought leadership and passion for teaching that make him a sought after keynote speaker and educator for the past decade.

Read the full Cincinnati.com story.

Cincinnati.com, 12/6/2014 (Norman Phillips)

Norman Phillips

BDPA Cincinnati Announces New Leadership - Norman Phillips. BDPA Cincinnati chapter, a nonprofit organization made up of racially diverse information technology professionals, announced a new member of its executive team. Norman Phillips was named the Vice President of Strategy & Planning (VPSP). Norman is an IT architect and manager of business transformation for over 30 years at Procter & Gamble (P&G). P&G is the largest corporation in Cincinnati. Norman is a YMCA Black Achiever as well as a volunteer with the youth ministries at Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist. Norman received his computer sciences degree from Southern University.

Read the full Cincinnati.com story.

MillerCoors TapRoom, 10/1/2014 (Norm Fleming)

Norm Fleming

Norm Fleming Achieves National Recognition for MBA Leadership. Norm Fleming is the senior director of enterprise business solutions at MillerCoors, executive sponsor for our HOLA employee resource group and an active member of AAEN. He’s taken the lead to develop talent inside our walls and worked alongside colleagues to expand their reach into the community to empower and build a pipeline of diverse young IT talent.

“No matter your function, personal and business success is rooted in a network of strong relationships where you can achieve personal growth while also making a personal impact.”

During Diversity and Inclusion Week, Norm leveraged those relationships to help bring local retailers to the Chicago HQ to share insights on engaging multicultural consumers—contributing to a standing room only crowd. Retailers and attendees walked away with new ideas and perspectives on building a better partnership to reach our KBDs.

Norm’s leadership impact in the company and the community is why he was named among the “Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders” by Diversity MBA Magazine. Norm was also honored by National Black MBA Association, Inc. with the “Outstanding MBA of the Year Award” for his work developing future leaders and his commitment to building leadership, fostering an environment for lifelong learning and exemplifying high ethical standards.

NOTE: Norm Fleming is a lifetime member of our BDPA Chicago chapter.

Rochester Post-Bulletin, 9/16/2014 (BDPA Southern Minnesota)

HSCC Team Award winners, from left: Isaac Gullickson, Prabhjot Singh, Leo Alfred, Preethiya Sekar and Scott Swensen.

BDPA Southern Minnesota Hands Out Awards, Scholarships. The Rochester chapter of a national technology nonprofit presented a series of scholarships and awards at its annual banquet Sunday.

The Black Data Processing Associates, which matches high school students and mentors of all races and gender, held its 15th annual Scholarship and Education Banquet at the Rochester International Event Center. Through an extensive list of mentors and volunteers, BDPA delivers IT to its members, strategic partners and the community, "from the classroom to the boardroom."

Under the theme of "Diverse Opportunities in the Age of Convergence," the group led by founder Betty Hutchins of Mayo Clinic honored its outstanding members and volunteers during an event that featured many local alumni of the BDPA program who are either in college or have gone on to successful careers.

Read the rest of the Rochester Post-Bulletin article.

Rochester Post-Bulletin, 9/8/2014 (BDPA Southern Minnesota)

BDPA Scholarship Banquet is Sept. 14. The Black Data Processing Associates, Rochester Chapter will hold its 15th annual Scholarship and Education Banquet on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Rochester International Event Center, 7333 Airport View Drive S.W. A silent auction will be at 4:30 p.m. and dinner at 5:30 p.m.

The annual fundraiser will include awards, scholarship presentations and a celebration of BDPA's contributions to the Rochester community.

Tickets are $45 for adults and $30 for alumni and students.

See the full Rochester Post-Bulletin announcement.

Cincinnati Herald, 9/4/2014 (Hasani Harrigan)

Hasani Harrigan and Frank Hill

Reaching for the Stars honors 2015 Leaders for the Future. The Reaching for the Stars Program takes great pride in identifying, honoring, and creating awareness of young, emerging leaders in the African American community destined to be future leaders of our City. These exceptional leaders epitomize excellence in character, service, leadership, and achievements. The 2015 Leaders for the Future were honored in June in a very special ceremony at the University of Cincinnati’s African American Cultural and Resource Center.

Hasani Harrigan, Seven Hills High School, junior. Hasani is an honor student and a three-sport athlete. He received the Coaches Award for Golf, was the team MVP in baseball, and he played on the basketball team. He was awarded Best Overall Science Portfolio by the Emerging Ethnic Engineers, Outstanding Technical Achievement recognition by the BDPA Cincinnati.

Read the rest of the Cincinnati Herald article.

Fox 6 Now, 8/14/2014 (Norman Fleming, Daijah Kennedy, Makyle McIntyre, Sandra Scott)

BDPA Milwaukee HSCC Team & Instructors

“We did good!” Milwaukee students enter their first computer competition, and come away champions! They may have been part of the only inexperienced team -- but eight Milwaukee students demonstrated their computer skills in a national competition in Indianapolis this past weekend, and they came away with the national championship! Now, with one event under their belt, they are ready for more!

This group of students is being recognized for their tenacity, courage and skill.

The students are part of the Milwaukee chapter of "Black Data Processing Associates" -- or BDPA, which held its national high school computer competition in Indianapolis this past weekend.

"The competition, it was a little intimidating. There was a lot of people to talk to and do all this other stuff and see how far they got as well, but it was fun too to actually do the project," Makyle McIntyre said.

Read the rest of Fox 6 News story.

Indianapolis Recorder, 8/6/2014 (Terry Morris)

Ogochukwu Eburuoh (Bowie State University)

Top Indianapolis STEM Students to be Recognized by BDPA. In conjunction with the 36th annual National Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) Technology Conference, top Indianapolis students will be recognized at the BDPA Information Technology (IT) Showcase on August 6-8, 2014, at the JW Marriott, 10 S. West Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The showcase allows students from Indianapolis and United States educational institutions to present and demonstrate their research in Emerging Technology, Wireless, Biometrics, Digital Imaging, Video Production, and Security Professional Development. The presentations represent advanced computing and technical topics presented by college and high school students to an audience of corporate representatives and IT professionals.

More than 100 students will converge in Indianapolis to participate in internships, IT careers, Youth Entrepreneurship, Networking Computers, Software Development, and Building Computers. Training in Academic Enhancement, College Selection and Scholarships, SAT/ACT Preparation, Lifelong Learning Skills, and Personal Development will also be offered. The student presentations and research projects are judged by a panel of three judges in college and high school categories. Awards are made in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place categories and all participants will receive a Certificate of Appreciation award.

“BDPA Indianapolis chapter thanks Dr. Jesse Bemley, Louis Shack, Jeffrey Musgrove, and Clarence T. Moore, Jr., for their continuous commitment to preparing our students for our IT Showcase and competitions,” said Terry Morris, Indianapolis Chapter president. “There is no doubt that we would not be successful without them,” he added.

Read the full Indianapolis Recorder article.

Indianapolis Recorder, 8/6/2014 (Pamela Sexton)

2014 BDPA Career Fair

Black Technology Organization presents Fortune 100 Job Fair. The 36th annual National Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) Technology Conference will be hosting a two-day free Fortune 1000 Career Fair that is set for August 8-9, 2014, JW Marriott, 10 S. West Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

Companies interviewing at the BDPA Fortune 1000 Career Fair include: Accenture, BlueCross BlueShield of IL, MT, NM, OK & TX, Deloitte, Eli Lilly and Company, Fifth Third Bank, Hilton Worldwide, Johnson & Johnson, Mayo Clinic, MillerCoors, Monsanto, National Security Agency, NextEra Energy, Oracle, Prudential Financial, RYAN Consulting Group, State Farm, Travelers, University of Phoenix, US Air Force, WellPoint and Wells Fargo.

“The career fair will enable the public and conference attendees to visit with numerous public, private and government companies and agencies regarding career opportunities,” said National BDPA vice president Pamela Sexton. “Since admission to the career fair is complimentary, BDPA is able to give back to the community in terms of employment opportunities and further promote our brand through this effort.”

Read the full Indianapolis Recorder article.

Technology Expresso Cafe, 7/31/2014 (Wayne Hicks)

Read All About It – #TechXOradio Interview’s BETF Executive Director Wayne Hicks (Part 1 & 2) - David Blackman and Jacqueline Sanders are the co-founders of Technology Expresso Cafe, a multimedia platform that promotes all aspects of the IT industry with a focus on BDPA programs, scholarships and services.

An Internet radio interview was conducted with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation executive director Wayne Hicks, however, due to technical difficulties, the show was never archived. David and Jacqueline were kind enough to post a complete transcript of the interview on their website.

Click here to read Part 1 & 2 of the interview.

Click here to read Part 3 & 4 of the interview.

NBC Philadelphia, 6/25/14 (Christian Butts)

Straight A Student Gives Back, Tutors Peers at No Cost. Cherry Hill High School East graduating senior Christian Butts took an honors club requirement to tutor kids after school a step further. Butts made himself available to his peers around-the-clock for online tutoring help at no cost during the school year.

"Well in my mind, I was just trying to help a student in need," said 18-year-old Butts. "For me to ask for money -- it wouldn't be right."

Read the rest of the NBC Philadelphia article.

NOTE: Christian Butts is a member of our BDPA Philadelphia chapter.

Cincinnati.com, 6/10/2014 (Patrick Nelson)

BDPA Announces New Board Leadership. BDPA Cincinnati chapter, a nonprofit organization made up of racially diverse information technology professionals, today announced a new member of its board of directors. Patrick Nelson is appointed to serve as the director of the chapter’s benefits department.

BDPA Cincinnati is the 2nd largest (out of 46) chapters in the nation. The Benefits Department procures discounts and other benefits for BDPA Cincinnati chapter members. These benefits fall into the following categories: computer hardware, magazine subscriptions, software, and training. All relevant member benefits are provided to each of the members, and available on the chapter website.

Read rest of this Cincinnati.com article.

Bloomfield College, 6/12/2014 (Coram Rimes)

College Partners with BDPA to Host Non-Profit Computer Camp. Bloomfield College is doing its part to help reverse a declining trend in technological education by teaching young adults the far-reaching powers of computer science.

The four-year, private institution has partnered with BDPA New Jersey to give minority middle school and high school students the chance to expand their knowledge in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines through the Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) Program, held on the College’s 11-acre campus each Saturday.

Bloomfield’s Computer Information Systems department has taken on the role of sponsor for the program, helping to staff the weekly lessons with current undergraduate C.I.S. students who serve as peer mentors for their younger pupils through a College-approved service-learning project.

Read the rest of the Bloomfield College article.

Financial Post, 6/5/2014 (Larry Quinlan)

Larry Quinlan

‘Now IT is Getting Love Letters': How a Company Culture Celebrating Tech Pays Off. When Larry Quinlan, global CIO at Deloitte LLP, took over his post, he freely admits that everyone hated IT.

“Now,” he said, “IT is getting love letters.”

So what changed? The company culture, that’s what. Mr. Quinlan said that what had to be done was build a culture that celebrates technology, so people would change their attitudes towards the technology organization.

During a keynote address at the Interop conference in Las Vegas, he talked attendees through the journey towards an IT culture at Deloitte.

“I’m in the people business,” he said, “and that’s my context.”

Given that context, the fact that many people would rather have a root canal than deal with IT bothers him. A lot. Not only because people are his context, but because if nobody wants to deal with you, you’ll never get a seat at the boardroom table.

Read the rest of the Financial Post article.

NOTE: Larry Quinlan is a member of our BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter and serves on the board for BDPA Education and Technology Foundation.