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The 2007 national technology conference of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) in Washington, DC had something for everyone: youth activities and competitions, high-powered technical seminars, career-building panel discussions and wonderful networking opportunities. Corporate sponsors were recognized at several events, and the conference wound up with a well-attended two-day career fair and a gala banquet.
The Philadelphia, PA chapter took away honors as chapter of the year. The Cincinnati chapter was first runner-up.
The ever-popular HSCC
In the annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC), a team sponsored by the southern Minnesota chapter took first place followed by teams from the District of Columbia, Chicago, Detroit and Chattanooga, TN. Recognition for best T-shirt design went to the St. Louis, MO team, followed by teams from DC and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.
During the year, BDPA members train hundreds of high school and middle school students for the HSCC, which involves oral, written and design competitions. Former HSCC members credit the experience with launching them on college careers, often in IT.
Corporate sponsors; ITSMF
Corporate sponsors are essential to BDPA’s work, and many were recognized at the conference. Merck was named corporation of the year, and the top-honor Epsilon award went to IBM.
Again this year the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF, www.itsmfonline.org) held a quarterly meeting during the conference, and sponsored several panels and presentations for attendees. ITSMF is a professional development and mentoring organization designed to bring more diversity to the top ranks of IT.
Globalization was a theme running through the conference, and the focus of a panel discussion chaired by Microsoft’s Michael D. Robinson. Robinson, based in Dubai, UAE, is general manager for the company’s public sector in the Middle East and Africa. The panel had a lot to say about the challenges and rewards of global careers.
Yvette Graham elected
At the conference, the election of Yvette Graham, systems director for enterprise infrastructure services at Allstate, as BDPA’s next president-elect was announced. Gina Billings, the current president, will become immediate past president in January. Denise Holland, an IT pro at Amtrak who has been president-elect for the last two years, will step into the president’s role, and Graham will start her two-year term as president-elect. “That gives us continuity and a smooth transition,” Holland explains.
Check www.bdpa.org for next year’s conference dates and venue as available.
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