Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas Renews BDPA Gold Level Sponsorship

Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL, MT, NM, OK and TX earned the highest honors that BDPA offers as its Epsilon Award winner - 'Top Company for Blacks in IT' - in three different years ... most recently in 2013. As such, National BDPA proudly announced that the company renewed its sponsorship commitment in 2014 at the Gold level. The continuing support of BDPA on-going diversity and inclusion efforts on behalf of the information technology industry is rapidly becoming legendary.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and several subsidiaries are part of Health Care Service Corporation, the largest customer-owned health benefits company in the United States and fourth largest overall.

Sheila Marionneaux

Ms. Sheila Marionneaux, Office of the Chief Information Office, said "At Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL, MT, NM, OK and TX, we are committed to BDPA, a longtime community partner, to sustain and further develop valuable technology and leadership competencies for both students and adults. We are excited and devoted to our partnership and look forward to an ongoing alliance with BDPA in 2014 to meet our mutual objectives".

There are dozens of BCBS employees in both Chicago and Dallas.  The 2014 sponsorship includes funding support for programs and services implemented by local BDPA chapters in those two chapters.

BDPA Chicago chapter president Reggie Rush said,  "BDPA Chicago Chapter is proud of our long standing partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL. BDPA professional and educational programming, access to experienced professionals and development of future IT Talent through our student programs afford companies such as BCBS to achieve their Diversity/Inclusion and citizenship objectives."

The company plans to take full advantage of the BDPA Job Board in its efforts to recruit diverse information technology talent in the coming weeks and months.  Also, the company will have major visibility at the 2014 National BDPA Technology Conference in a variety of venues.

Dr. Craig Brown

“On behalf of the National Board of Directors and the National Executive Committee It is my honor and privilege to welcome Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL, MT, NM, OK & TX as a returning Gold Level Sponsor. We could not provide the member services that our professional and student members receive without the support of organizations like Blue Cross Blue Shield IL, MT, NM, OK & TX” said Dr. Craig Brown, National BDPA president.

BDPA is recognized nationally as a global member-focused technology organization with over 45 active chapters in the United States. BDPA continues to stand as a leader in delivering 21st century technological programs, college scholarships, mentoring, support and services for youth and adult Information Technology professionals.

For more information on sponsorship options, contact Wayne Hicks, Director, BDPA Corporate Sales Department, corpsales@bdpa.org, (301) 584-3135 ext. 108.

Related articles

• University of Cincinnati Subscribes to the BDPA Job Board

BDPA Welcomes State Farm as Gold Level Corporate Sponsor

State Farm has become the latest Gold Level partner at the highly anticipated 2014 National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana, 5-9 August 2014.

Dr. Craig Brown

Dr. Craig Brown, National BDPA president said: "On behalf of the National Board of Directors and the National Executive Committee It is my honor and privilege to welcome State Farm as a returning Gold Level Sponsor. We could not provide the member services that our professional and student members receive without the support of organizations like State Farm.”

The event has grown tremendously in both size and recognition since inception, and has become well known for its unique networking style and high value content and creative social events.  BDPA is pleased to have substantial State Farm funding to pilot its 1st Annual BDPA Mobility Application Showcase this year in Indianapolis.

Theonnie Shields, State Farm systems manager, commented: "State Farm is proud to be a Gold Level partner of BDPA. We continue to value our partnership with BDPA. We look forward to being a sponsor of the BDPA Mobile Application Showcase Pilot at the 2014 National BDPA conference in Indianapolis Indiana."

BDPA is recognized nationally as a global member-focused technology organization with over 45 active chapters in the United States. BDPA continues to stand as a leader in delivering 21st century technological programs, college scholarships, mentoring, support and services for youth and adult Information Technology professionals.

For more information on 36th Annual National BDPA Conference, contact Wayne Hicks, Director, BDPA Corporate Sales Department, corpsales@bdpa.org, (301) 584-3135 ext. 108.

Nominations Open for 2014 BDPA Individual Epsilon Awards

The National BDPA Individual Epsilon Awards recognize members who have demonstrated exceptional results in one of the five (5) categories below. Nominations are accepted and evaluated by a team of National BDPA members in accordance with the descriptions below. In 2014, we will award one (1) recipient per category.

Nominations are due: May 9, 2014 [nomination form]
Award recipients will be announced: June 6, 2014

Nominations packages must include:

• Career resume including education, positions held, awards and recognition and professional association affiliations
• A completed Nomination form. Incomplete submissions will result in a candidate being disqualified from consideration.
• A professional portrait image of the candidate, appropriate for publication with the award citation.

The Award categories and descriptions are:

• Career Achievement - Experienced professionals who have achieved significant career accomplishments and/or made contributions throughout their career to their company or industry
• Community Service - Significant demonstration, by meaningful results, strong partnership and collaboration with entities in the communities they reside
• Most Promising Technologist - Individuals who have been recognized as future technology leaders based on their drive, commitment and results thus far in their career
• Outstanding Technical Contribution - Individuals who have pioneered new or leveraged existing technology to solve a critical business or technical problem
• Professional Achievement - Individuals who have reached or realized a significant milestone in their career, corporate or otherwise, that is noteworthy

Please submit all nominations and direct any questions or inquiries regarding the award or award categories to epsilon-awards@bdpa.org. You will receive a response within seventy-two (72) hours.

Call for Presenters: 2014 National BDPA Technology Conference

BDPA seeks dynamic, engaging, and knowledgeable presenters for the 2014 National BDPA Technology Conference. Read or download the Call for Presenters.

Call for Presenters: 2014 BDPA Technology Conference from BDPA Education and Technology Foundation

Contest: 2014 BDPA Technology Conference Theme

BDPA is hosting the 2014 Annual Technology Conference & Career Expo in Indianapolis, IN and we need YOU to help us! We need a conference theme. The conference theme sets the overall tone for the conference and draws in technology professionals from local, national and global corners. A theme should catch our attention and make us want to head to the conference.

Here are themes from the past 35 BDPA conferences:

History: BDPA Conference Themes from Wayne Hicks

We're offering a $100 gift card prize for a winning theme!

Please enter your submission on the BDPA member portal for your chance to win. The members will vote and select the winning theme. The winning theme and writer will be announced at the conference later this year in Washington DC.

Deadline for submission is July 15, 2013

National BDPA Technology Conferences (2013-2015)

I encourage all BETF-Blog readers to make plans to attend the 2013 National BDPA Technology Conference to be held in Washington DC on August 14-17, 2013.  Our National BDPA Board of Directors is thinking ahead. They have selected the location for the next three conferences ... Washington DC (2013), Indianapolis (2014) and Washington DC (2015)