National BDPA Strengthens Cybersecurity Talent Pipelines and Celebrates a new 40-Year SITES High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Milestone

BALTIMORE, MD – This past Saturday, February 14, 2026, National BDPA successfully convened industry leaders, educators, and students for its National BDPA Quarterly Reception during the 40th Annual BEYA STEM Conference. The event, held at the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) in Room 301, featured the high-impact “Resilient America Forum: Cybersecurity and Workforce Strategies.” BDPA Baltimore served as the Association’s Host Chapter.

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^{(Above L-R)  Perry Carter, Publisher, bdpatoday®; Dr. Thelma Latson, BDPA SITES Data Science Academy; Keith Scott, Vice President, Northeast Region & Moderator; Angela Haskell, President, BDPA Baltimore; Ethan Haskell, BDPA Baltimore; and (seated) Joyce Hunter and Dr. Willie Sanders, Jr., Resilient America Forum panelists.}

^{— Photo ©2026 bdpatoday®}

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Resilient America Forum panelists:

• This quarter’s Cybersecurity and Workforce Strategies Fireside Chat was moderated by Keith Scott, National BPDA North Region Vice President
  
  → https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-scott-2872001/
  
• Dr. Willie Sanders, Jr. is a veteran technologist with more than 20 years of experience across industry, academia, and government, including technical roles with the U.S. federal government and global organizations such as Pearson. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Computer & Information Sciences at Towson University and serves as Associate Director of the Cyber4All Center. Dr. Sanders holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc) in Cybersecurity from Capitol Technology University and a master’s degree in Information Assurance from Towson University. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Pass IT On, Inc., and CEO of Pay IT Forward, LLC.
  
  →  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-willie-sanders-jr-51606958/
  
• Joyce Hunter is a renowned technology, cybersecurity, and data science leader with a distinguished career, including key roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she served as Deputy Chief Information Officer for Policy and Planning and interim Chief Information Officer, responsible for management of a $4 billion dollar information technology portfolio.
  
  → https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycehunter/

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About the BEYA STEM DTX™ Conference

The BEYA STEM DTX™ Conference (Becoming Everything You Are) is a premier annual event recognizing the contributions of Black professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

For four decades, the BEYA STEM DTX™ Conference has honored excellence in STEM—regardless of race, gender, or background. BEYA has served as a critical hub for talent acquisition, professional development, and high-level networking, bringing together K-12 students, college applicants, and corporate executives to celebrate excellence and expand the STEM pipeline.   

Now in its 41st year, BEYA reaffirms its commitment to equity, opportunity, and measurable impact. BEYA STEM events honor not only individual achievement but also the responsibility to invest in institutions, mentor future leaders, and champion inclusive innovation.  Conferences feature career fairs, professional development, and networking—but also a rallying call to action: Excellence comes with responsibility.  Visit BEYA.org for upcoming 2027 updates.

About BDPA

BDPA, formerly known as Black Data Processing Associates, is a global organization focused on its members, providing programs and services for technology professionals and students alike. With its mission to promote “Data Processing” careers, eliminate digital divides, and upskill a current digital workforce, National BDPA, Inc. remains a leader in local community technology ecosystems offering mentorship, technical training, and career opportunities through its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) portfolio. Programs such as the IT Showcase, High School Computer Competition (HSCC), eSports, Gaming, and SITES technology academies are established to ensure BDPA Members are at the forefront of innovation and the changing tech landscape. Visit BDPA.org to join and partner.

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