Greetings from the National Board of Directors Chair

GREETINGS FROM NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ CHAIR

Welcome National Training Attendees,

On behalf of Blacks In Government National Board of Directors (NBoD) it is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to our 42nd National Training Institute and our 1st Virtual Environment. I want to thank you for continuing to support BIG and are committed to experiencing all of the fantastic learning opportunities we have to offer during the Virtual NTI. This year’s theme, Training Matters – Roadmap to Securing Your Career. This training will help you to enhance your personal and professional skills. We are availing you to participate in some awesome virtual workshops where you will have a front row seat whereby you will be able receive important information to guide you navigate through career. We will have Agency Forums where you will receive updated from your own specific agencies. There will be special programs presented such as the Virtual Gospel Extravaganza, Exhibitors, Opening and Closing Plenaries and a solemn presentation of the Memorial Wall which will represents our fallen members. I hope that you will take advantage of everything we had to offer and take it back to your agencies and share you wonderful experience.

I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many of us and yet we continue to persevere. I believe that many of our BIG members and their families have had a rough couple of years and yet with God’s Grace he has seen us through. First I want to thank the presenters, speakers, exhibitors and our corporate sponsors for making BIG the premier training organization. I want to the thank National Executive Committee for taking on this enormous job of putting on this 42nd Virtual NTI. It was the vision of our National President who believed the NEC could effectively and efficiently put on this Virtual NTI – thank you Madam President Honorable Shirley A. Jones Esq.!!! Special thanks to Ms. Paula E. Davis, our National Secretary and National Training Institute Chair; Melinda Deloatch-Speight National Training Deputy Chair; Mr. Stephan Matthews, National Training Institute Host City Coordinator, and the National Training Institute Planning Committee for another successful training presentation. To Region XI thank you for “showing up and showing out” as you served as our host city for our 1st Virtual NTI.

Once again to those attending the 42nd NTI you can now set a new pathway to success by learning as much as you can. You will now be able to use the outstanding training presented to you and with confidence conquer the world. Knowledge is power but you have to use it in order to be for the next level. Thank you for validating BIG’s work – and thank you for thinking BIG!!!

Blessings, G y L. Blackm

Honorable Gary L. Blackmon National Board of Directors Chair Blacks In Government, Inc. 5