Topic: Strategic Management

Seminar Topics

[1 CPE] Building Trust for What’s Next: PKI Modernization & Quantum Readiness

  Presented by Jared Mensinger, Sr Solutions Engineer  • DigiCert

Certificate lifetimes are shrinking. Browser requirements are evolving. Machine identities are growing exponentially. At the same time, organizations are beginning to plan for post-quantum cryptography while supporting new AI-driven systems that depend on trusted digital interactions.

These changes are transforming PKI from a traditional security function into the operational trust layer for modern business.

This session provides a practical roadmap for modernizing PKI, improving visibility into machine identities, automating certificate lifecycle management, and building crypto-agility for future cryptographic transitions. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to reduce operational risk today while preparing for post-quantum security and the next generation of digital trust.

[1 CPE] AI Governance in Action: Building Policy, Oversight, and Trust in the Public Sector

  Presented by Matt Weber, Chief Information Security Officer, Pima County, AZ • The INTERFACE Advisory Council

As organizations race to adopt AI, effective governance is becoming essential. Join Matt Weber as he shares how Pima County developed a practical framework for AI governance, including the creation of an AI subcommittee and the implementation of an AI usage policy. Attendees will gain real-world insights, lessons learned, and actionable guidance they can use to establish or strengthen AI governance programs within their own organizations.

[1 CPE] The New CyberSec Workforce: Leading Through Change, Strengthening Collective Defense

  Presented by Frank J. Grimmelman, President & CEO, and Christian Taillon, Threat Intelligence Director • ACTRA

Cybersecurity is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The traditional security workforce model is being reshaped by automation, AI-driven operations, evolving skill requirements, hybrid work environments, and persistent talent shortages. At the same time, organizations are under increasing pressure to deliver measurable security outcomes faster, with fewer resources and greater accountability.

This session explores how leading organizations are adapting through workforce modernization, process transformation, and smarter operating models that maximize existing talent. It will also examine why collective defense has become an increasingly important force multiplier—enabling organizations to strengthen resilience through trusted collaboration, shared intelligence, and coordinated response.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how modern cybersecurity teams can overcome talent pressures, improve efficiency, and achieve stronger results in today’s rapidly evolving threat environment.

Mr. Frank J. Grimmelmann serves as President & CEO for the Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA), a non-profit entity that was developed collaboratively with the Arizona InfraGard Program, the FBI, USDHS and law enforcement, and independently launched in 2013 to enable its private/public sector member organizations across all critical sectors to enable themselves to respond to the escalating national cybersecurity threat.

[1 CPE] Building Trust for What’s Next: PKI Modernization & Quantum Readiness

  Presented by Jared Mensinger, Sr Solutions Engineer  • DigiCert

Certificate lifetimes are shrinking. Browser requirements are evolving. Machine identities are growing exponentially. At the same time, organizations are beginning to plan for post-quantum cryptography while supporting new AI-driven systems that depend on trusted digital interactions.

These changes are transforming PKI from a traditional security function into the operational trust layer for modern business.

This session provides a practical roadmap for modernizing PKI, improving visibility into machine identities, automating certificate lifecycle management, and building crypto-agility for future cryptographic transitions. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to reduce operational risk today while preparing for post-quantum security and the next generation of digital trust.

[1 CPE] Three Wins to Chase, Three Disasters to Dodge

  Presented by Amy McLaughlin • Chief Information Officer, University of Wyoming

Amy McLaughlin cuts through the noise surrounding artificial intelligence and focuses on what leaders should actually be doing today. Drawing on real-world experience, she will walk through three high-impact ways AI is already delivering value and three common missteps that are creating unnecessary risk, wasted effort, and loss of trust. Rather than chasing tools or trends, Amy will talk about how to make better decisions: where to lean in, where to slow down, and how to approach AI as a leadership and governance challenge, not just a technology one.

Amy McLaughlin is the Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Wyoming, the state’s flagship and only public university, where she leads the technology organization responsible for enabling teaching, learning, research, and statewide outreach.

A nationally recognized technology and cybersecurity leader with more than two decades of experience, Amy is known for driving practical innovation, modernizing complex environments, and building high-performing teams across higher education and government. Her career spans leadership roles in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and network services, including senior positions at Oregon State University and the State of Oregon, where she led large-scale transformation efforts, strengthened infrastructure resilience, and advanced security programs. Amy brings a strategic, people-centered approach to technology leadership, grounded in deep operational experience and a strong commitment to mission-driven outcomes.

[1 CPE] Beyond Cybersecurity: Assembling Resiliency for the Inevitable Breach

  Presented by BJ Deonarain, Global Quantum and Classic Cyber Security Director • Hitachi Vantara

The Imperative for Resiliency, 100% cyber security is unachievable; breaches are inevitable, where modern threats demand a shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience. Resilience requires mindset and culture change, not just new technology, while focus can sustain operations and limit damage when security fails.

Assembling the resiliency strategic pillars and actions:

  • Risk Assessment: continuous evaluation of assets and vulnerabilities
  • Incident Response: develop, test, and update comprehensive crisis plans
  • Employee Training: ongoing education to make staff the first line of defense
  • Systems Testing: regular audits, penetration tests, and vulnerability scans
  • Partnerships: collaborate with industry experts for knowledge sharing
  • Culture: embed resiliency throughout the organization at every level

BJ Deonarain is a globally focused cybersecurity executive responsible for driving cyber security and cyber resiliency strategy at Hitachi Vantara. With a career spanning technical innovation, client solutions, and cross-functional leadership, BJ combines deep technical expertise with a client-centric approach to mitigate risk and elevate organizational security postures.

[1 CPE] Building and Retaining Your IT Staff: How to Find Success Amid Challenge

  Presented by The INTERFACE Advisory Council

Identifying the correct candidates to fill IT vacancies is not as simple as posting a job description. This process is often time consuming, tedious, and challenging. An IT leader has a specific set of qualifications for a position, and the candidate pool may not align as hoped. How do you handle this dynamic?

Join the INTERFACE Wyoming Advisory Council for an open panel discussion about finding the right person for your job openings. We will discuss the challenges of limited candidate pools, geography, applicant expectations, and more. The Cheyenne and Fort Collins regions face a different IT hiring landscape than larger cities, but there are encouraging opportunities to build and grow a strong local technology workforce.

Our speakers will share their experiences in hiring and what changes they have made to improve their approach. They will cover strategies for retaining IT staff to ensure long-term cohesion and success. For the IT professional that is looking to advance, join this discussion to hear from hiring managers and gain insight to help you achieve your career goals. Bring your questions for this open discussion with your peers.

Panelists:

  • Jesse Ballard, Deputy CIO, University of Wyoming
  • Devrim Goktan, Sr Digital Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft
  • Kristie Twitchell, Chief Information Officer, Trihydro
  • Timothy Walsh, Wyoming Cybersecurity State Coordinator, CISA

[1 CPE] Securing Our Mission: A Non-Profit’s Journey to Zero Trust

  Presented by Troy Villar, Director, Information Technology, Child & Family Service • The Advisory Council

This presentation offers a non-technical, firsthand account of a nonprofit’s journey to a Zero Trust security model on a limited budget. It covers core Zero Trust principles and how they were applied in practice, while addressing key challenges such as HIPAA compliance, budget constraints, and COVID-19 disruptions. The 2020–2026 roadmap highlights major milestones, including achieving a fully cloud-based environment, network redesign and segmentation, and the implementation of NAC and Unified Access Control. It also shares lessons learned, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, effective communication, and maintaining team well-being throughout the transformation.

Troy Villar has served as Director of IT at Child & Family Service since 2020, supporting Hawaii’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to strengthening families. A CISSP with over 30 years of experience, he has led software development, hardware design, and enterprise network implementations, including the design and development of a full-scale POS system for a major Hawaii retail chain. He is Vice President of ISC2 Hawaii and leads the Cybergenerations program, advancing cybersecurity education and awareness. Troy holds a degree in Information Systems from Hawaii Pacific University, where he previously served as Associate Director of Data Services, and is currently completing his Master’s in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance at WGU. Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and spending time with his family and their dogs.

[1 CPE] The New Media Stack: How AI is Rewriting Cybersecurity Journalism

  Presented by Karissa Breen • Founder & Head of Cybersecurity Journalism, KBI.Media
 Keynote presentation brought to you by Business Improvement Group

The way cybersecurity professionals consume information is undergoing a fundamental shift. For years, the industry relied on a traditional media pipeline, like vendor announcements, PR outreach, journalist coverage, and static articles. But the rise of large language models and AI-powered discovery tools is dismantling that model.

Instead of searching for articles or relying on outdated reports, professionals ask AI systems to synthesize information, explain threats and summarize events. In this new environment, AI effectively becomes the front page of the internet, determining which voices, sources and insights are surfaced.

In this keynote, Karissa Breen (KB) examines how AI is reshaping cybersecurity journalism, the rise of “reference media” that LLMs trust and cite and why credibility and original reporting matter more than ever in the algorithmically mediated game. Drawing on her experience building a modern cybersecurity media platform, Breen will explore what the next generation of cyber media looks like and how organizations can adapt to a future where AI curates the conversation and this means for staying on top of cyber content and the retention of the knowledge.

Karissa Breen, more commonly known as KB, is crowned a LinkedIn ‘Top Voice in Technology’ and widely recognized across the global cybersecurity industry. A serial entrepreneur, she is the co-founder of the TMFE Group, a portfolio of cybersecurity-focused businesses spanning an industry-leading media platform, a specialist marketing agency, a content production studio, and the executive headhunting firm, MercSec. Now based in the United States, KB oversees US editorial operations and leads the expansion of the group’s media footprint across North America, while maintaining a strong presence in Australia, and the broader global market. She is the former Producer and Host of the streaming show 2Fa.tv, and currently sits at the helm of journalism for the group’s flagship arm, KBI.Media, the independent cybersecurity media company. As a cybersecurity investigative journalist, KB hosts her globally-renowned podcast, KBKast, where she interviews leading cybersecurity practitioners, CISOs, government officials including heads-of-state, and industry pioneers from around the world. The podcast has been downloaded in over 65 countries with more than 400,000 global downloads, influencing billions of dollars in cybersecurity budgets. KB is known for asking the hard questions and extracting real, commercially relevant insights. Her approach provides an uncolored, strategic lens on the evolving cybersecurity landscape, demystifying complex security issues and translating them into practical intelligence for executives navigating risk, regulation, and rapid technological change.

[1 CPE] Leading Through Crisis: IT Lessons from Alaska’s Emergency Response

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

In October 2025, Typhoon Halong caused widespread disruption across Western Alaska, testing the resilience of infrastructure, communications, and response teams. The event offered a powerful case study in organizational resilience. While many had disaster recovery plans in place, the ability to execute under pressure—while maintaining clear, reliable communication—proved to be the defining factor.

IT teams were at the center of response efforts, from restoring systems to enabling critical lines of communication for employees, partners, and communities. The experience revealed that resilience isn’t just technical—it’s operational.

In this interactive panel, regional leaders share hard-earned lessons from the field. Discover how to strengthen your response plans, run effective drills, and ensure your organization is ready when it matters most. Audience Q&A will provide an opportunity to explore challenges specific to your environment.

Panelists:

  • Paul Fussey, Operations Manager, Alaska Land Mobile Radio
  • Aaron Mute, Director, Information Technology, Association of Village Council Presidents
  • Brian Noonan, Systems Engineer, Alaska Railroad Corp.
  • Dave Reilly, Planning Program Manager, AK Department of Military and Veterans Affairs