Topic: Strategic Management

Seminar Topics

[1 CPE] Has Security Awareness Been Forgotten? An Interactive Panel Discussion

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

“Just automate that process! The firewall is fine—we’ve got an AI tool watching it.”

Sound familiar? Despite significant investments in cybersecurity and advanced tools, the human element remains one of the greatest vulnerabilities in any organization. This isn’t a new problem—ransomware attacks continue to thrive due to human error.

Insider threats, whether intentional or accidental, are often at the root of security breaches. So, what proactive steps are you taking to mitigate these risks?

Join the INTERFACE Omaha Advisory Council for an engaging discussion on defending against internal threats. Local IT leaders will share their strategies, lessons learned, and practical tips for minimizing human error in cybersecurity. Bring your questions and join the conversation as we explore what’s working, what’s not, and what more needs to be done to protect our networks from within.

Panelists:

  • Rob LaMagna-Reiter, Chief information Security Officer, Woodman Life
  • Dr. Lisa McKee, Assistant Professor Cybersecurity, Bellevue University
  • Memory Trosper, Sr Director, Technology Services, Gothenburg Health
  • Dana Turner, Chief Information Security Officer, Union Bank and Trust

[1 CPE] How to Spend Wisely on Your IT Needs in Spokane: An Interactive Panel Discussion

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

Your budget has shrunk, and vendor costs have risen. Sound familiar?

So many IT leaders in Spokane are dealing with the challenges of vendor acquisitions that produce huge cost increases. At times it can seem there is no way to achieve everything expected with the budget allotted. How does anyone succeed in this environment?

Spokane isn’t home to the largest corporations in the country, and your IT budget reflects that. In this panel discussion, the Spoane Advisory Council will share their tricks to maximizing the impact of the money you have to spend. Please join us for an open discussion that will include your questions. We will share experiences in working with vendors, stretching a dollar, and finding alternatives to huge price increases from the vendor community.

Moderator: Adam Pyle, Information Systems Security Manager, Pyrotek, Inc.

Panelists:

  • Laurel Caldwell, Director, IT Services, Latah County, ID
  • Ben Calvert, Chief Information Officer, Vista Title & Escrow
  • Kai Dailey, Executive Director, Ragland Institute
  • Naci Seyhanli, IT Security Analyst, Spokane Regional Health District

[1 CPE] Go Hack Yourself: More War Stories from over 150,000 Pentests

  Presented by Jake Mickley, Sr Solutions Architect • Horizon3.ai

Join Jake Mickley, Senior Solutions Architect, for an engaging session on “Offense-Driven Defense.” Jake will challenge conventional risk assessment practices and unveil how focusing on real-world exploitability and impact can revolutionize your security approach. Drawing from insights gathered across more than 150,000 autonomous pentests, he’ll share compelling stories and actionable lessons that show how viewing your cyber terrain through an attacker’s lens can uncover hidden vulnerabilities, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen your defenses against advanced threats. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leading industry practitioner on why it’s time to “go hack yourself” and build resilience in today’s borderless threat environment.

[1 CPE] Has Security Awareness Been Forgotten? An Interactive Panel Discussion

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

“Just automate that process! The firewall is fine—we’ve got an AI tool watching it.”

Sound familiar? Despite significant investments in cybersecurity and advanced tools, the human element remains one of the greatest vulnerabilities in any organization. This isn’t a new problem—ransomware attacks continue to thrive due to human error.

Insider threats, whether intentional or accidental, are often at the root of security breaches. So, what proactive steps are you taking to mitigate these risks?

Join the INTERFACE Salt Lake City Advisory Council for an engaging discussion on defending against internal threats. Local IT leaders will share their strategies, lessons learned, and practical tips for minimizing human error in cybersecurity. Bring your questions and join the conversation as we explore what’s working, what’s not, and what more needs to be done to protect our networks from within.

Moderator: Bryan Wilkins, Sr Manager-Information Security, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Panelists:

  • James Duckett, Assistant Operations Director, Technology Division, City of St. George
  • Michael Hughes, Director, Information Technology, Mission Health Services
  • Mike O’Rourke, Manager, IT Operations, Tata Chemicals North America
  • Greg Pugh, Manager, COMSEC, Space Dynamics Laboratory

[1 CPE] SEDI: The Search for Intelligent Identity

  Presented by George McEwan • Privacy Architect, Dept of Government Operations, State of Utah

This presentation will cover the groundbreaking legislation enacted by Utah, which sets down the acceptable standards for digital identity with privacy and individual control by default. In this session, you’ll learn about the principles enshrined in law. Additionally, you’ll get exposure to the envisioned technology stack that will make it possible for individuals to maintain control over their data and how it is disclosed.

George McEwan is a multi-disciplined engineer and inventor credited with several US patents. As a husband, father, soldier, pilot, international traveler, and published author, he has more than a few ideas on how to unlock the value of digital government.

George is currently serving as the Privacy Architect for the State of Utah in the Department of Government Operations. Prior to taking on the challenges of his current role, George was the Chief Strategy Officer for the Division of Technology Services. He is uniquely qualified to advocate on behalf of the digital citizen as he served as the IT Director for the Department of Health during the pandemic, where he witnessed firsthand how the digital divide fractured communities.

Combining his talents as a technologist and award-winning storyteller, George promotes improved government transparency in data collection and the introduction of privacy-preserving verifiable digital credentials in venues across the United States.

[1 CPE] Go Hack Yourself: More War Stories from over 150,000 Pentests

  Presented by Tony Taylor, Sr Solutions Architect • Horizon3.ai

Join Tony Taylor, Senior Solutions Architect, for an engaging session on “Offense-Driven Defense.” Tony will challenge conventional risk assessment practices and unveil how focusing on real-world exploitability and impact can revolutionize your security approach. Drawing from insights gathered across more than 150,000 autonomous pentests, he’ll share compelling stories and actionable lessons that show how viewing your cyber terrain through an attacker’s lens can uncover hidden vulnerabilities, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen your defenses against advanced threats. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leading industry practitioner on why it’s time to “go hack yourself” and build resilience in today’s borderless threat environment.

[1 CPE] How to Spend Wisely on Your IT Needs in Boise: An Interactive Panel Discussion

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

Your budget has shrunk, and vendor costs have risen. Sound familiar?

So many IT leaders in Boise are dealing with the challenges of vendor acquisitions that produce huge cost increases. At times it can seem there is no way to achieve everything expected with the budget allotted. How does anyone succeed in this environment?

Boise isn’t home to the largest corporations in the country, and your IT budget reflects that. In this panel discussion, the BOISE Advisory Council will share their tricks to maximizing the impact of the money you have to spend. Please join us for an open discussion that will include your questions. We will share experiences in working with vendors, stretching a dollar, and finding alternatives to huge price increases from the vendor community.

Moderator: Will Miller, Sr IT Manager, Idaho Transportation Dept

Panelists:

  • Lloyd Barron, Chief Information Security Officer, ID Secretary of State
  • Josh Borglund, Manager, Information Technology, Aviation Specialties Unlimited
  • Kevin Malloy, Chief Technology Officer, Dynamis Energy, LLC
  • Robert Peterson, Information Technology Director, Washington County, ID

[1 CPE] Operation Cyber Idaho: Modernizing Cyber Defense Statewide

  Presented by Jerred Edgar • Chief Information Security Officer, State of Idaho

Operation Cyber Idaho is an initiative focused on improving Idaho’s cyber resilience through Idaho Readiness Training (IRT), cyber infrastructure services, and collective defense. This program aims to modernize infrastructure by establishing the Idaho Readiness Training program, developing a cybersecurity workforce via a statewide apprenticeship program, and offering comprehensive cyber infrastructure services such as threat detection, vulnerability scanning, and remediation efforts.

Jerred serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services. Jerred has over 24 years of military service, with 20 of those years focused on managing, overseeing, and developing secure and redundant cyber capabilities for military operations within contested environments.

Before retiring, he served as the Director of Cyber Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) for the Idaho Army National Guard (IDARNG), where he established a strategic partnership across Idaho and within the Department of Defense. This partnership facilitated cyber assessments, consultations, and assistance by leveraging military readiness objectives, funding, and personnel from 2019 through 2024. Prior to this role, he held various leadership positions within the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT). His responsibilities included managing the 116th CBCT’s enterprise communication suite for numerous training exercises and modernization efforts, two National Training Center rotations, Operation Saber Guardian 2016, and participating in two combat deployments since 2001.

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

  Presented by BJ Deonarain, Global Alliance Cybersecurity Solutions 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] Has Security Awareness Been Forgotten? An Interactive Panel Discussion

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

“Just automate that process! The firewall is fine—we’ve got an AI tool watching it.”

Sound familiar? Despite significant investments in cybersecurity and advanced tools, the human element remains one of the greatest vulnerabilities in any organization. This isn’t a new problem—ransomware attacks continue to thrive due to human error.

Insider threats, whether intentional or accidental, are often at the root of security breaches. So, what proactive steps are you taking to mitigate these risks?

Join the INTERFACE Kansas City Advisory Council for an engaging discussion on defending against internal threats. Local IT leaders will share their strategies, lessons learned, and practical tips for minimizing human error in cybersecurity. Bring your questions and join the conversation as we explore what’s working, what’s not, and what more needs to be done to protect our networks from within.

Moderator: Holly Giammanco, Director of Information Security, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Panelists:

  • Amy Botts, Manager, Information Security Risk, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
  • Bill Kim, Chief Information Security Officer, Security Bank of Kansas City
  • Chris Smalley, Director, Information Technology, Hoefer Welker
  • Melissa Spicer, Director, Cybersecurity, Evergy