Conference Schedule
BDPA’s premier annual technology conference, now in it’s 42nd year, brings the best and brightest diverse talent together to discover the latest in technology and innovation. Through education, mentoring, business networking, immersive experiences, scholarships and jobs, the BDPA annual technology conference gives professionals, executives, entrepreneurs and students an IT pathway from the classroom to the boardroom and promotes innovation, technical skills, business savvy and personal growth.
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Day 1 – Thursday, August 20th
*all times are EST
12:00pm – 12:15pm
SPEAKER
Opening Ceremony
BDPA’s 45th Anniversary & 42nd National Technology Conference & Diversity Career Fair
Earl Pace – BDPA Founder
12:15pm – 1:15pm
Panel
Digital Transformation:
The Impact of a Digital Transformation Panel
Robert Partee (Amazon Web Services); facilitator,
Ibrahim Jackson (Leading Edge Forum);
Scot Lindsey (Eli Lilly);
Chris Jackson (Deloitte);
Michael Robinson (Healthcare VMWare);
Karl Elad (Google Cloud)
1:15PM-1:30PM
Intermission
1:30pm – 2:20pm
SPEAKERS
Education series:
Digital Transformation track:
“Tech Trends”
Chris Jackson (Deloitte)
Entrepreneurship Success Bootcamp track:
“Tech Exchange within the Airforce”
Anissa Lumpkin (Airforce SBIR/STTR)
Career Success Experiences:
“Positioning for Power”
Richelle Moore (Restore Counseling and Wellness Services)
HBCU Hackathon Workshop:
“Ensuring student career success”
Dr. Fay Cobb Payton (North Carolina State University)
2:20PM-2:30PM
Intermission
2:30pm – 3:20pm
Panel
“Talent Needs in Tech” panel
Valarie Mackey (Wrightnow) facilitator;
Jason Riley (GE);
Jaison Williams (Fitbit);
Namita Tirath (Pyramid Consulting)
3:20PM - 3:30PM
Intermission
3:30pm – 4:20pm
SPEAKERS
Education series:
Digital Transformation track:
“Articulating the African American Experience with Census Data”
Ryan Wade (Blue Granite)
Entrepreneurship Success Bootcamp track:
“Entrepreneurship panel”
Jonathan Quarles (Serial Entrepreneur),
Willie Pritchett (Rack Bunker Data Centers, LLC);
Anissa Lumpkin (AF SBIR/STTR);
Mark Martin (UK Black Tech);
Joey Womack (WeWork);
Adrian Ables (Element Soccer)
Career Success Experiences:
“Making the Business Case for Long-Term Digital Improvement”
Vincent Shorter (Abbott Lab)
HBCU Hackathon Workshop:
“Innovation in HBCU Computer Science Departments”
Kinnis Gosha, Ph.D. (Morehouse College)
4:20PM - 4:30PM
Intermission
4:30PM - 5:00PM
U.S. Coast Guard Technical Careers
U.S. Coast Guard Tech Careers, Scholarships, and College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI)
CAPT Warren Judge (U.S. Coast Guard)
5:00PM - 6:00PM
Dinner OYO (On Your Own)
5:30PM - 7:00PM
Eli Lilly Experience for college students
6:00PM - 8:00PM
Molson Coors sponsored virtual social hour
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Day 2 – Friday, August 21st
*all times are EST
All Day
Air Force STTR HBCU Collider
Multiple Topics
Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle (U.S. Air Force)
William Bill Harrison III (U.S. Air Force)
Joseph Gordon (U.S. Air Force)
David Shahady (U.S. Air Force)
Anissa Lumpkin (U.S. Air Force)
8:20AM - 9:20AM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
9:20AM - 9:30AM
Intermission
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Panel
Panel:
“Women in Tech: Breaking the Glass Ceiling”
Kailei Carr (The Asbury Group), facilitator;
Diana Caplinger (Truist);
Dwana Franklin-Davis (Reboot Representation);
Nicole Hart (Georgia State University);
Shayna Atkins (AtkCo)
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Panel
Panel:
“Men in Tech: Thriving as a Black Man”
Doug Ash (Deloitte), facilitator;
Eugene “Gene” Parker (Premeir, Inc.);
Ken Freeman (Gartner);
Vincent Shorter (Abbott Lab);
Chris Jackson (Deloitte)
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Career Success Experiences:
LinkedIn: Branding/Resume tips
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Just want to attend the Diversity Career Fair?
Click here!
Diversity Career Fair
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Lunch OYO
12:00PM - 12:50PM
Small Pitch Competition
Sponsored by 83 Ventures ($2500 prize)
1:00PM - 2:00PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
3:30pm – 4:20pm
SPEAKERS
Education series:
Digital Transformation track:
“Automation Age”
Justin Brown (Eli Lilly)
Digital Transformation track:
“Understanding Inequity: How Overcoming the Digital Divide can be a Catalyst for a New Future”
Dr. Kevin Berkopes (Crossroads Education)
Career Success Experiences:
“Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace & Life”
Samuel Davis IV (State of Ohio)
HBCU Hackathon Workshop:
“Digital Transformation at HBCUs”
Stanley St-Fleur (No Status Quo)
3:00PM - 4:00PM
SPEAKER
4:15PM - 4:25PM
Intermission
6:00PM - 7:00PM
ITSMF-BDPA Dignitaries Reception & Founder’s Reception
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Day 3 – Saturday, August 22nd
*all times are EST
8:30am – 9:20am
SPEAKERS
Education series:
Digital Transformation track:
“The Power and Future of Data”
Aubrey Rembert (Pandora)
Entrepreneurship Success Bootcamp track:
“How to Start my Own Business”
Joey Womack (WeWork)
Career Success Experiences:
“Inspiring Others through Effective Communication”
Helio Fred Garcia (Logos Consulting Group)
HBCU Hackathon Workshop:
“Chartering BDPA chapters at HBCUs”
Naim Hakeem (University of Memphis) and Mykaila Johnson (University of Memphis)
9:20AM - 9:30AM
Intermission
9:30AM - 10:30AM
Panel
Panel:
“CIO Panel”
Kathy Collins (Deloitte), facilitator;
Gary Brantley (City of Atlanta);
Rona Bunn (International Trade Administration);
Karriem Shakoor (UL);
Earl Newsome (Linde)
10:30AM - 11:20AM
SPEAKERS
Education series:
Digital Transformation track:
“AIXA: A chatbot changing the narrative for minorities in Tech”
Dorsh Deans (Eli Lilly and Company)
Entrepreneurship Success Bootcamp track:
“So You Want to be an Entrepreneur?”
Zack Lemelle (New Hope Coaching & Consulting)
Career Success Experiences:
“Conversation with a Billionaire”
Dave Steward (Worldwide Technology), interview;
11:20AM - 11:30AM
Intermission
11:30AM - 12:45PM
Lunch OYO
1:00PM - 2:00PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
2:00PM - 2:50PM
SPEAKERS
Education series:
Digital Transformation track:
“Hyper Automation – A Digital Journey”
John B. Sneh (IBM)
Entrepreneurship Success Bootcamp track:
“Hunting Whales: How to land the big business”
Gene Waddy (Alpha Business Systems & Diversant, LLC)
Career Success Experiences:
“How to get to the C-Suite – It’s never too early to start planning”
Shellye Archambeau (Verizon)
2:50PM - 3:00PM
Intermission
3:00PM - 4:30PM
Awards Ceremony
Wayne Hick’s Scholarship Fundraiser
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Register Now!
BDPA’s premier annual technology conference, now in it’s 42nd year, brings the best and brightest diverse talent together to discover the latest in technology and innovation.