Topic: Strategic Management

Seminar Topics

[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

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

  Presented by Ramzi Harb, Sr Solutions Architect • Horizon3.ai

Join Ramzi Harb, Senior Solutions Architect, for an engaging session on “Offense-Driven Defense.” Ramzi 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] From Back-End to Boardroom: Securing Your Seat at the Table

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

Decisions are made every day at your organization that will impact all employees. Budgets, policies procedures, and more are discussed in board rooms, on conference calls, or at a staff lunch. Who is a part of these discussions? Are you? So often Information Technology departments are not included in key decisions about the direction of an organization, and they should be.

Join the INTERFACE Advisory Council for an open discussion about securing your “seat at the table.” IT performs so many crucial services that help all aspects of a business, it makes sense that you are offering up the needed insight into technology’s role in key decisions. Join this panel discussion to hear from your peers about how you can accomplish this tough task.

Moderator: Brad Somers, Manager, Information Technology, Livingston HealthCare

Panelists:

  • JJ Bestgen, Sr Identity Management Administrator, Town Pump
  • Kelly Ferriter, Manager, Network Services, NorthWestern Energy
  • Ryan Knutson, CIO, Vice President, Information Technology, Montana State University
  • Peter Martinson, Managing Director, Strategic IT, Montana State University

[1 CPE] Balancing Innovation & Security: Montana’s Journey to Secure AI Integration

  Presented by Chris Santucci • Chief Information Security Officer, State of Montana

The State of Montana has embraced a transformative approach to artificial intelligence (AI), shifting from a traditional “no-first” security mindset to one that enables business objectives while managing risk. This keynote will explore how Montana has strategically implemented AI to enhance efficiency and innovation, all while safeguarding citizen data and ensuring business continuity.

Key highlights include:

  • Empowering Users: Recognizing that AI is an inevitable tool for workers, the state has developed frameworks to ensure its secure use while recognizing the efficiencies gained for the average user.
  • AI Governance: Establishing an AI Acceptable Use Standard, mandatory training programs to educate users on critical evaluation and responsible usage, as well as establishing an AI Governance Committee and AI Community of Practice.
  • Secure Implementation: Vetting applications, setting guardrails, and partnering with vendors who meet stringent security requirements.

This presentation will also delve into why Montana has pursued this path – encouraging innovation while providing secure tools and clear direction in an era where not all AI is created equal. Attendees will leave with actionable insights into how to enable AI adoption responsibly, foster efficiency, and lead from the front in cybersecurity.

Chris Santucci is the State Chief Information Security Officer for Montana, with over five years of service to the state, including two years as State CISO. Chris leads Montana’s enterprise security strategy with a focus on proactive risk management, business partnership, and transparency. He is passionate about empowering users to interact with technology securely, ensuring both citizen data protection and business continuity. Chris holds an MBA in IT Management and is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

[1 CPE] FBI Cybersecurity Briefing: Safeguarding Against Modern Threats

  Presented by Nick Smith • FBI Special Agent

Join FBI Special Agent Nick Smith for a discussion on the top cyber threats of today. This presentation will cover some of the basic mitigation strategies available that users can enact right now. This discussion will also provide an overview of the FBI’s role in addressing various cyber threats.

Special Agent Nick Smith is a cyber agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Division, focusing on criminal cyber matters including computer intrusions, malware, ransomware, and combating criminal infrastructures. Prior to working for the FBI, Nick served several cyber-related roles across government and within the U.S. Intelligence Community. He also served as a Police Officer in Ohio for several years and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Nick holds a BS in Homeland Security from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MS in Information Systems Engineering from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. He also maintains certification as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).

[1 CPE] Strengthening the Cyber Shield: Private-Public Partnerships at the State and Local Level

  Presented by ACTRA

This session focuses on maturing actionable strategies and collaborative frameworks designed to help IT leaders and cybersecurity professionals navigate today’s dynamic threat landscape. As adversaries increasingly target state and local systems, Arizona’s model for public-private cooperation demonstrates how trusted partnerships, timely threat intelligence sharing, and coordinated incident response can significantly enhance cyber resilience. This session will update participants on practical timely insights into how cross-sector collaboration is being operationalized to protect infrastructure, ensure business continuity, and support a unified cybersecurity posture across the state.

Speakers:

  • Frank J. Grimmelmann, President & CEO, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance, Inc. (ACTRA)
  • Ryan Murray, Deputy Director, AZ Dept of Homeland Security, CISO, State of Arizona

[1 CPE] Empowering Hawai’i’s Future: Leading IT Innovation in State Government

  Presented by Christine Sakuda • Chief Information Officer, State of Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi State Chief Information Officer Christine Sakuda shares her journey transitioning from private sector leadership into her current role in the state’s central technology division. Sakuda will offer insights on how she fulfills the governors’ priorities while partnering with all executive departments to develop common IT solutions and will discuss her experience of learning to work with the legislature on bills and budget priorities.

Christine Sakuda has more than 25 years of experience in leading enterprise-level IT initiatives including leading community IT systems development, managing stakeholder relations, and collaborating with IT vendors to implement a range of technology modernization projects. She is the State’s first female CIO of Native Hawaiian ancestry. She also served as the first executive director of Transform Hawaii Government (THG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to catalyzing the modernization of public services through people, processes, and technology, and as the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Health Information Exchange (HHIE).