BDPA, formerly Black Data Processing Associates, Inc., was founded
in 1975 by Earl A. Pace, Jr. and the late David Wimberly
after the two met in Philadelphia to discuss their concerns
about minorities in data processing fields. Their concern,
which subsequently was shared with industry, was very few minorities in middle and upper management, low
recruitment and poor preparation of minorities for these
positions. An overall lack of upward career mobility and
little or no community outreach from industry continued to
perpetuate these concerns.
Our founders built an organization
of 35 members, hosted presentations to improve data
processing skillsets and launched job opportunity
announcement services. This nucleus eventually grew to 55
chapters throughout the United States with thousands of
members and IT executives industry-wide.
The Washington, D.C.
Chapter was founded in 1978 by Norman Mays. It was
incorporated in 1981 as a domestic not-for-profit
corporation in the District of Columbia. In February of
1988, Black Data Processing Associates of Washington, D.C.
Metropolitan Area (BDPA-DC) became an IRS Section
501(c)(3) Public Charity.
Today, BDPA is a global
member focused organization serving the professional
well-being of its stakeholders. Washington, D.C. and
Northern Virginia chapters of BDPA remain committed to
excellence while providing a wide spectrum of resources to
members, corporate sponsors, small business owners,
educational institutions and local communities in the
National Capital Region.
BDPA
organizations continue to serve as catalysts primarily for
professional growth and technical development for those in
or entering information technology (IT) oriented fields of
interest and
related industries. Local BDPA chapters also work with
or support technology councils, chambers of commerce,
industry trade associations, and minority-owned business
enterprises (MBEs) in public sector, private sector, and
academia.
BDPA National
headquarters office is located at:
9500 Arena Drive
Suite 350
Largo, Maryland 20774
For more information
about BDPA:
E-mail:
