NSBE - January/February 2009 - (Page 62)

2010 toronto Making it hAppEN By Eric addison like work,” says Stephens, a computer engineer whose first full-time job is with Procter & Gamble in Toronto, as a digital marketing manager. “It’s something that you do and know what has to be done. And you know what the outcome will be. I think we all feel the same level of energy.” So what does the 2010 convention mean? For NSBE, Stephens says, “It represents the first time we’re taking our conference, the largest revenue-generating event that NSBE has, and bringing it outside of the United States. It’s something that has a lot of risk to it, but it’s making a major statement. And we all know this is going to be the biggest convention we’ve ever had.” For NSBE’s Canadian members, Stephens says, there is the knowledge that the convention will be the largest black professional conference in their nation’s history. “Canada, especially Toronto, has the same problems that a lot of the major cities are facing in the U.S. A lot of black kids are not finishing high school, and blacks are underrepresented in Canada in business, government and universities,” Stephens says. “There are a lot of black people in Canada, especially black youth, who will be able to look at NSBE’s event and see black people who are about education, technology and leadership and are working together to make something like this happen. I think it’s actually going to change the way a lot of our youth think.” For U.S. members, Stephens says, the 2010 convention will be an opportunity to get global. “NSBE is an international organization, and going to Toronto is bringing that to life,” she says. “I think that for our U.S. members, in light of the economy today, we want to make the statement that our engineers are global in their thinking and understand global issues.” Many people in Canada — NSBE members, Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson, the Toronto Tourism and Visitors Association (Tourism Toronto) and others — are working to ensure the success of the event, Stephens reports. “One of the things Tourism Toronto said was this is the first time they’ve ever worked with an organization that already had promotional material 18 months in advance,” Stephens says. “Already, we’ve set the standard for the event.” ■ b eing a member of the team planning NSBE’s first International Annual Convention is not just a “second full-time job,” it’s also a cause, says Tanya Stephens, Marketing and Promotions manager for the National Society of Black Engineers’ 2010 Convention Planning Committee. The big event is set for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada, March 17–21, 2010. “Because we’re so passionate about 2010 and about what this convention really means, it doesn’t actually feel CONvENTION UPDaTEs PassPORT COMPETITION Submissions were due Dec. 26; winners will be announced at the 2009 NSBE Annual National Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. sPONsORshIP CONfIRMaTIONs • Nvidius LLC has agreed to design and create the 2010 convention website and promotional videos, free of charge. • toronto City Hall and Metro Hall, on behalf of the toronto City Council, have agreed to donate their meeting facilities for Convention Planning Committee meetings. sTRaTEgIC PaRTNERshIPs • the Law Office of Courtney Betty has agreed to yield pro-bono advice in regard to NSBE’s Canadian incorporation • toronto event planner Joan Pierre has agreed to link NSBE with her Canadianbased contacts to address several areas of convention planning. • the NSBE chapter at the university of toronto has acquired meeting space and audio/visual equipment for the Convention Planning Committee at their main campus. 62 • january/february 2009 • NSBE 2010 Convention Planning Committee Chair Ainsley A. Stewart Jr. (far left) with (center) students from Mother Teresa High School and (far right) Kia Muktar of IBM Canada, at a NSBE Reception at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Oct. 17, 2008 www.nsbe.org http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - January/February 2009

NSBE - January/February 2009
Contents
Image or Action?
Bringing It Home
Your Time
Nigerian Students Celebrate
Region III Makes ‘iImpact’
Fall Regional Energy
A Walk for Education
Member Benefits from Microsoft!
Success Catches On
Grad Conference Seeks Heavyweights
Al Collins of Fluor Corporation
What the meltdown may mean for U.S. engineers
Boosting NSBE on Wall Street
“Energizing Creativity to Achieve Exponential Growth”
NSBE Golden Torch Awards
The AE Niche
Jobs in Green Industries
AE Members on the Move
NSBE for Life!
Toronto 2010: Making It Happen
NSBE Calendar
Advertisers Index

NSBE - January/February 2009