The Data Processing Management Organization (DPMA) began in 1949 as the National Machine Accountants Association (NMAA). NMAA was incorporated in late 1951 and held its first convention in 1952 in Minneapolis, MN. Ten years later, NMAA changed its name to expand its membership beyond finance and accounting professionals. The change to DPMA to enabled the organization to encompass the broadening spectrum of data processing users in the 1960s. DPMA retained the organizational structure of NMAA with numerous chapters placed in geographic divisions. Later these divisions were replaced with regions. Each region had a representative on the Executive Council who served with several executive officers and implemented policy decisions from the International Board of Directors.In 1997, DPMA was renamed the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), to better reflect its broad membership.