These are the short biographies of the National BDPA Presidents (1976-2011).

1. Past National BDPA Presidents
1976-1980 - Earl A. Pace, Jr. - Earl A. Pace Jr. has been in the Information Technology
industry since 1965. He began as a computer programmer trainee at the Pennsylvania
Railroad. He left the PRR in 1967. Over the next ten years, he rose through the ranks of
programmer, programmer analyst, programming manager to Vice President of a financial
telecommunications company in Philadelphia, PA. He became a business owner in 1976
when he incorporated Pace Data Systems for which he is still president. Pace Data
Systems is a full service Information Technology firm providing services through its
Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC offices primarily to Banks and Savings Banks. In
1975, he co-founded Black Data Processing Associates in Philadelphia and operated as
its president for two years; in 1978, he coordinated the formation of BDPA into a national
organization and functioned as its First National President until 1980. Earl earned the
National Technical Association's Computer Scientist of the Year award in November
1987. BDPA has grown into the largest national professional organization representing
minorities in the IT industry. Within BDPA and on a broader national scale, Earl Pace
has been a vocal advocate for business ownership. His primary message since starting
BDPA has been that minorities should strive to rise above just a job to Board of
Director’s membership and beyond that to owning and operating their own business. Earl
Pace continues to be very active in the business and education community in
Philadelphia, Washington DC and Baltimore, MD. As well as other cities in which he has
business interests that enable him to be present regularly.
1981-1984 – Norman Mays - Norman is a native Clevelander who graduated from the
“old” Glenville High School in January of 1959. In August of that year, he entered the
US Army where he served for 20 years, specializing in administration, military
intelligence and computers. During various assignments, he attended several colleges
and began the national expansion of a professional computer organization. Upon retiring
from the service in 1979, he spent ten years in the corporate world. Tiring of corporate
downsizings, and recognizing the need to have a “safety net”, he became an entrepreneur.
1985-1988 – Gerard Anderson – We need a bio of Gerald Anderson placed on this page
for posterity.
1989-1992 – Vivian Wilson - Vivian C. Wilson has a BS in Business Administration
Capital University. She has worked since 1999 as the Marketing Manager at Karamu
House, Inc., the oldest African American Cultural Arts Center in the United States. Her
duties include Public Relations, Marketing, procurement of advertisers, development of
press releases and advertising, conducting tours of facility, preparations of all
publications relative to theatre, two-day care facilities and cultural arts and education
programs and operation of Theatre Complex on Sundays. Vivian retired as a Data Center
Manager of Ameritech after 33 years of service, 20 of which was in both Computer
Operations/Security/ and Data Systems Areas for North East Ohio. She was the first
woman to serve as National BDPA president. She was also the first winner of National
Board of Directors Award, first winner of President's Award, former member of BDPA
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2. Education & Technology Foundation, winner of Professional Business Woman of the
Year City of Cleveland 1990. Vivian was also listed in Who's Who of Professional
Women 1986. She is married with children and grandchildren!
1993-1994 – Diane Davis - Diane L. Davis has over 20 years experience in the
technology industry. Her work as a consultant with Hewlett-Packard’s Managed Services
Division utilized her knowledge of local and global engagements in the manufacturing,
government, and health care industries. Her role has been to advise C level management
teams of Fortune 500 corporations on infrastructure support practices, organization
design, and the implementation of strategies, technology and principles to meet their
specialized business requirements. Before this position, Diane was a Program Manager
for multi million dollar worldwide accounts and served as the CIO for a major
automotive supplier. Diane has lived and traveled throughout the United States, Canada,
and South America as a software engineer and consultant in the design and
implementation of management systems. Her technical career began developing robotic
systems for the automotive industry. Later, she led the artificial intelligence development
and implementation teams responsible for the support of corporate executives with “state
of the art” technology including voice activation and annotation. In 2003, Diane
established her own consulting firm that provides strategic, organizational, and leadership
services. In 2004, she expanded her business to include a robust Wellness Program
established to help people improve their health, quality of life, and become financially
independent. Diane has volunteered her time and supported several professional,
community based, and educational organizations during her career, including BDPA.
She has worked as an instructor at University of Detroit Mercy, led numerous strategic,
leadership, quality, and team building workshops internationally for both profit and non-
profit organizations.
1995 - Ollie Morgan – We need a bio of Ollie Morgan placed on this page for posterity.
1995-1999 – George Williams - George Williams has an information technology and
business career background that spans thirty years of professional experience in
marketing, sales and management within corporate, small business, non-profit and civic
organizations. While serving as National BDPA President (1995-1999), George was
responsible for establishing the vision and strategic direction for the 40+ Chapters and
Board of Directors. He provided oversight of the national office, operations budget,
fundraising and annual conference. He served as official spokesperson and liaison with
external stakeholders, advisors and media. Significant accomplishments during his term
included:
a. National Corporate Alliance Program to increase annual sponsorship contributions
b. Enterprise Transformation Plan to completely reorganize the national organization
c. Memorandum of Understanding to promote joint technology projects between BDPA
and National Urban League
George served in the past as the national BDPA vice president (1993-1994), Cleveland
chapter president (1989-1993) and Cleveland chapter membership & program director
(1987-1989). As a life-long Clevelander, graduate of the Cleveland Public School
System, John Carroll University and Leadership Cleveland, George understands the
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3. intricacies of doing business and volunteering time in the Northeast Ohio community.
George was a co-founder of the Consortium of African America Organizations (CAAO).
He organized the concept, strategy and incorporation of Cleveland’s 30 + professional
African-American organizations to be a community resource that stimulates economic
development and empowerment opportunities for their member constituents. He has
actively served on the Board of the Cleveland Education Fund, the Cuyahoga Community
College Unified Technologies Center and the John Adams High School Vocational
Education Advisory Group. Throughout the 1990s, he led the volunteer management
teams during the grand opening of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the American Red
Cross Conference, the City of Cleveland Thanksgiving Food Basket Program and the
U.S. Conference of Mayors annual convention. As a father of two daughters and
grandfather of four children, he appreciates the value of family and being a positive role
model. George is currently the Board President at church where he also provides resume
and career planning counseling.
1999-2001 – Renee McClure - Renee is Senior Software Engineer with KeySpan, the
premiere energy company in the North East. She has over 18 years of IT experience that
includes, but is not limited to, mainframe, data warehouse, client server and project
management experience. She currently leads several intranet related corporate projects. In
addition, she is a facilitator, trainer and motivational public speaker. She graduated from
New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer
Technology. She also holds a Master in the Ministry, graduating from the Southern
California School of Ministry, Summa Cum Laude. Renee also serves in the following
other organizations; Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF),
American Association of Blacks in Engineer(AABE), NY State Mentoring Program, NY
Mediation Program, Corporate Speaker Bureau(ACE) and others.
2002-2003 – Milt Haynes - Milt Haynes served on the national board of directors for
over a decade as BDPA Chicago chapter president (1996-1999), national president-elect
(2000-2001), national president (2002-2003) and immediate past president (2004-2005).
He brought great skill to the organization as parliamentarian, historian and chair of the
BDPA Issues Council. His proudest accomplishments as national president include:
doubling membership to over 3,000
lobbying on Capital Hill for legislation to improve the Job Outlook for African
Americans in IT
introducing the salesforce.com customer relationship management system
developing the BDPA Coaching Program
selling the first Platinum sponsorship
increasing annual corporate sponsorship revenue to over $1 million dollars
chartering seven (7) new chapters
building strategic alliances with organizations including the IT Senior Management
Forum (ITSMF)
implementing the Global DB Membership System
implementing Epsilon Awards Program for the Best Company for Blacks in
Technology
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4. improving BDPA communication via regular monthly newsletter, internet radio and
online community with over 22,000 subscribers
He currently serves on the Corporate Sales Team, manages the Best Companies for
Blacks in Technology Awards program, chairs the BDPA Chicago Corporate Advisory
Council, manages the Who’s Hiring Initiative, and serves as an advisor, mentor and
coach to many BDPA leaders around the country. Abbott Laboratories employs him as
an Information Technology Directory responsible for IT Strategy and Planning,
Enterprise Architecture, Business Continuity Planning and Crisis Management. Milt is a
certified Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP)
and founding member of the PMI Chicagoland Executive Council. He is a seasoned IT
Professional with over 35 years of IT experience managing people, projects and technical
resources in the feasibility, analysis, design, implementation, installation, deployment,
and procurement for information technology products and telecommunications facilities.
Milt has been a BDPA member for over 15 years and has received over 15 awards and
honors at the local chapter and National level including the most prestigious National
BDPA Outstanding Chapter President Award, Member of the Year Award, Presidents
Award, Service Award and the Spirit Award. Milt graduated from Columbia University
with a BS degree in Computing Science. Milt, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is the proud
father of six children and four grandchildren. Milt currently lives in Naperville, Illinois
with his loving wife, Marsha Haynes, and his twin daughters, Jade and Jada Haynes.
2004-2005 – Wayne Hicks - Wayne Hicks served as National BDPA President in 2004-
2005. Wayne previously served in a number of BDPA leadership positions including
Cincinnati Chapter President, National BDPA Vice President and Executive Director of
the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF). Wayne is a two-time winner
of the National BDPA Chapter President's Award (1991, 2001) and Chapter of the Year
honors went to Cincinnati Chapter for their efforts in 2000-2001 under his leadership. R.
Wayne is currently the executive director for the BDPA Education & Technology
Foundation (www.betf.org), the non-profit fundraising arm for BDPA. He owns a
consulting firm based in Cincinnati that focuses on Internet online marketing, leadership
consultation and product sales. One of his major clients is the Cincinnati Business
Incubator (CBI). Wayne accepted the challenge of serving as the CBI President in May
2003. Under his leadership, CBI has more than tripled its corporate clients while
promoting economic development and job creation throughout the community. CBI was
named “2006 Non-Profit of the Year” by the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.
Wayne is active on a number of community-based initiatives including the Regional
Technology Initiative [www.cincytechusa.com/] and Cincinnati Creates Companies
[www.cincinnaticreatescompanies.org/]. The Business Courier recognized him as one
of the “Forty-Under-40” leaders in Cincinnati and he was a finalist for the Applause
Magazine ImageMaker Award for his work in the technology arena. He is the proud
father of three children.
2006-2007 – Gina Billings – Gina Billings was the founder of the BDPA Cincinnati
chapter. She served as president of that chapter from 2002-2003. BDPA members
elected her as National President-Elect (2004-2005) before serving a 2-year term as the
national president. She is a dedicated employee of 23 years with Hewlett Packard
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5. coordinating vendor service delivery throughout the United States and Canada. Who’s
Who in Black Cincinnati featured her in the 2004 inaugural issue, which designated her
as an African American woman on the move in Cincinnati. In 1992, Ms. Billings
received an Associates of Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in
Ohio. Subsequently, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Xavier
University in 1997. To add to her list of educational accomplishments, in 2001 she earned
a master’s certificate in project management from the George Washington University,
Washington, DC. As a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Ms. Billings works to support
technology initiatives around America and in her home town by serving on a number of
advisory boards: CincyTechUSA USA, Xavier University’s MIS Executive Advisory
Board, BDPA National Executive Board, BDPA National Board of Directors, and BDPA
Cincinnati Executive Board.
2008-2009 – Denise Holland – Denise Holland is the National BDPA President Elect for
2006-2007. In this position, she is responsible for overseeing the internal business
operations of the organization, including corporate sales and delivery, and corporate
relations. Ms. Holland will reign as the BDPA National President from 2008-2009.
Ms. Holland has over 30 years of professional experience including Human Resource
Management/HRIS, IT Project Management, IS Security Management, Change and
Problem Management, and Financial Management Systems. Currently, she is the
Principal Officer - HRIS Department Manager for Amtrak. She is responsible for
overseeing the SAP HRIS Production System; managing Payroll, HR, Time
Management, BASIS, Security, and Training Teams; chairing the Change Review Board;
ensuring departmental processes and procedures are developed; and participating in SAP
project implementations. In addition, Ms. Holland has been an Adjunct Instructor for the
Baltimore City Community College, winning the “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” and
“Excellence Awards.” She also serves on the college’s Microcomputer Technology
Board of Directors. Ms. Holland has an Associate of Arts in Business and Industrial
Management (1981), an Associate of Science in Computer Programming and Technology
(1984) and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management (1983). Ms. Holland is a native
Baltimorean and has been in BDPA since 1987, serving in various roles: Chapter
President, National Director of Relationship Management. Ms. Holland is also a member
of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE).
2010-2011 – Yvette Graham –Yvette has held many leadership positions within BDPA
since 1997 including Bylaws Committee Chair, Internship Program Director, National
President-Elect and National President. For the Chicago Chapter; she was the Director of
Finance, Student Development, and the Professional Services Departments. She has also
held the offices of Administrative Vice President, Executive Vice President, and the
President of the Chicago Chapter. Before becoming the National President Elect of
BDPA, Yvette served as the chairperson of the Election & Bylaws Committee, Internship
Program. Yvette also served a couple of years as a Director on the BDPA Education and
Technology Foundation.
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6. Yvette is currently employed with Allstate Insurance Company as the Director of the
Project Development and Operations organization for the Claims Department. Yvette has
over 20 years of experience in Information Technology, working in a number of positions
from instructor, to application developer and quality control analyst. Yvette holds an
MBA with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of
Science in Computer Science from Bradley University. She also attended the Kellogg
School of Management - Center for Executive Women’s Leadership Program. When not
working, Yvette enjoys golfing, bowling, and spending time with her husband Brian
Keith Graham and their son Brandon McClain Graham, who attends Howard University
in Washington D.C.
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