A New York-based Bermudian is striving to introduce more African-Americans into the United States technology industry, as part of a Congressional initiative.

Cameron Snaith, 38, served as a panellist at the “Ready, Willing and Able” presentation in Washington DC last week.

The event formed part of the Tech 2020 plan from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which represents black members of US Congress.

“Tech 2020 aims to increase diversity, specifically African-American diversity, in tech companies at all levels,” Mr Snaith, originally from Somerset, told The Royal Gazette.

His company, talent development firm Bleeker, was one of seven identified by the CBC as having concrete ideas on how to achieve this goal.

“That’s to move businesses from giving lip service about increasing their African-American inclusion to developing a concrete plan,” Mr Snaith said, adding that his company offered a blueprint which sought to award fellowship grants to African-American technologists between now and 2020.

Founded in 2012 by Mr Snaith and his childhood friend Jason Liddell, Bleeker looks to discover and nurture exceptionally talented people, then help them achieve their professional goals.

Its fellowship programme, which debuts next year, will be split evenly between employer-sponsored individuals, and those in whom Bleeker invests its own money.

It will host six professional development workshops, partnering with relevant organisations for each one.

Diversity is of paramount importance to Bleeker, which seeks to unearth untapped potential within companies.

“Sometimes a minority candidate might be an outlier in their company,” Mr Snaith said. “It’s someone who is very talented but doesn’t have a natural community or peer group within the company. Our fellowship was designed for those people.”

The chairman of the CBC is Congressman GK Butterfield, whose father was Bermudian. This link to the Island saw him introduced to Mr Snaith several years ago, which led to the pair keeping in touch.

“As long as the CBC want my help, they can always call on me for advice or support on this or other initiative,” said Mr Snaith, who also founded the charity Giving Opportunities to Others in 2001, sending youngsters to arts and music summer camps.

“We’re not planning to run Bleeker for a few years then sell it. We’re building this business for the long run.

“Our goal is to help professionals so that when they finish their careers, they can look back and be proud at what they’ve done.”