"I became a member of the BDPA in the fall of 2005 because I was looking to network with IT and business professionals, and to further advance my technical and business skills. Because Columbia College Chicago (my alma matter) does not concentrate heavily on core IT and business essentials I found it necessary to look outside the campus for a group that could provide me with what I was searching for. After doing an extensive search online I stumbled across the BDPA, and as I read through their website it dawned on me that this is the perfect group to belong to. Not only was it an IT group with a rich history and extensive background that also encompassed business and management, but it was an African American group catering to the needs of African American's like myself. So I wrote down the address of the Chicago office, and on my lunch break I made the trip out to speak with representatives of the Chicago chapter. I can't remember the gentleman's name, but after an extensive chat I decided right then and there to become a member of the BDPA. So I went online and purchased a student membership and attended the following meetings, including the first ever BDPA-Chicago Student Empowerment Conference. Ever since then I have been an active member, participating in most of the functions (The BDPA-Chicago 20th Anniversary Reception) and attending the monthly meetings. It was however at the January 2007 meeting where the then Marketing Department Director Lauren Prophet introduced me to her friend, Staci Freeman, who is a recruiter for a staffing agency. Over the next 6 months Staci worked with me to help me find my first real job after college, and eventually she helped me land my current position with Keno Kozie Associates as an IT Analyst."