BDPA Rounds Out Its Third Decade

Atlanta, GA was the setting for the thirtieth annual national technology conference of BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates). The event featured a variety of workshops, panel discussions and technical sessions, and brought together African American IT pros from all parts of the country.

Women in the spotlight
The Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) presented several sessions at the conference, including a well-attended panel discussion on "career advancement and planning inside and outside the corporate walls." The panelists were accomplished women IT professionals: a former IBM IT pro who's now CEO of her own company; a top Microsoft IT exec; the recently-retired CIO of Delta Air Lines; the managing director for IT at the American Cancer Society; and the VP of shared services for Procter and Gamble's European, Middle East and Africa regions.

The frank and lively discussion touched on the career planning and decisions of these high-powered women, and their struggles to balance professional and personal concerns and responsibilities. Shirley Bridges, former CIO at Delta Air Lines, said that successful black women need to realize "It's important to be impatient." The must be willing to take risks, even if that means occasional failure.

Elaine Norman, IT director for the American Cancer Society, added, "Be good, be prepared, then ask and expect to be recognized." Linda Holmes, whose duties for P&G have taken her to many locations, talked about relocating her entrepreneur husband, tow children and her seventy-eight-year-old mother to Geneva, Switzerland.

ITSMF gets new support
As it has for a number of years, ITSMF held a quarterly meeting in conjunction with the BDPA conference. ITSMF is an independent organization that promotes intense structured mentoring to bring African American IT professionals into the top levels of their companies. Its members are SVPs, directors, CIOs and CTOs of their organizations, and nearly all are also members of BDPA.

At a members' reception during the conference, ITSMF recognized financial services firm UBS, which stepped up its corporate support of ITSMF in 2008.

"We see the value in ITSMF's mission to develop African American IT leaders from both a requirement and an employee development perspective," says Denise Hebner UBS director and chief of staff for regional IT management.

David Olivencia, president of the Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC), an organization modeled on ITSMF and focused on Latinos in IT, was a guest at the reception.