SecureWorld Chicago 2025

Larry Wilson was formerly the Chief Information Security Officer for Sumitomo Pharma Americas, Inc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) President's Office. In the CISO role, Larry was responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing compliance with the SMPA / WPI / UMass Information Security Policy and Written Information Security Plan (WISP). In addition to designing and deploying the respective cybersecurity programs, Larry has developed and delivered cybersecurity training at multiple industry events, workshops, training venues, etc. Courses include Designing and Building a Cybersecurity Program, Designing and Building a Ransomware Program, and Designing and Building a Third-Party Risk Program. Larry has also worked with multiple companies in multiple industries to help design, build, and maintain their Cybersecurity Programs, Ransomware Program, and Third-Party Risk Programs.

Kip Boyle is the Virtual Chief Information Security Officer of Cyber Risk Opportunities, whose mission is to help executives become more proficient cyber risk managers. He has over 24 years of cybersecurity experience serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and in other IT risk management roles for organizations in the financial services, technology, telecom, military, civil engineering, and logistics industries.

Erik Hart oversees global information security for Cushman & Wakefield, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services firms. A recognized thought leader with more than 20 years of experience in providing information security services to various industries and organizations, he also serves in an advisory role for numerous companies and organizations in the information security field, including Mimecast, CrowdStrike, InfraGard Chicago Members Alliance and Western Illinois University.

Before joining Cushman & Wakefield in 2018, he served as CISO and Director of IT Risk Management for Zebra Technologies, a provider of mobile, logistics and point-of-sale technology and systems to retail, health care, transportation, manufacturing and other industries. Erik earned his Bachelors from Western Illinois University and Masters from Western Governors University.

Lynn Dohm brings more than 25 years of organizational and leadership experience to the WiCyS team as the Executive Director. She has long been committed to cybersecurity education and for the last 14 years held active roles in grant-funded programs and nonprofits that assist in providing educational solutions for the cybersecurity workforce. She is passionate about the need for diverse mindsets, skill sets and perspectives to solve problems that never previously existed and aims to facilitate learning opportunities and discussions on leading with inclusion, equity and allyship. In addition to Lynn being awarded Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity by Cyber Defense Magazine, she accepted the Nonprofit of the Year Award for WiCyS in 2020 and 2021, is on numerous cybersecurity judging panels, advisory boards, and is an inaugural member of (ISC)2’s DEI Task Force. She has been interviewed on TV and radio throughout the nation and is a keynote presenter, panelist and moderator for multiple international conferences, events and organizations.

Bruce Coffing is an information security professional with over twenty-five years industry experience in information technology and cybersecurity. He is currently the Chief Information Security Officer for the City of Chicago. Prior to joining the City of Chicago, Mr. Coffing held Senior Vice President information security positions at Bank of America and was a Senior Manager at consulting firm Accenture. Mr. Coffing holds the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.

Todd is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with over two decades of experience driving information security strategies in highly regulated environments. As Chief Information Security Officer at National General, he has spearheaded transformative initiatives and the integration of acquired organizations. With a passion for fostering proactive security cultures and driving innovation responsibly, he is committed to empowering organizations to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape with confidence.

A trusted advisor to senior leadership, he excels in aligning security initiatives with business objectives, ensuring compliance with regulations such as NY DFS, HIPAA, GDPR, and meeting PCI DSS requirements.
Todd holds an MBA and multiple certifications, including CISSP, CDPSE and Associate C|CISO.

Erika Dean is Chief Security Officer of Robinhood Markets. She oversees the Security, Privacy and Corporate Engineering organizations, which include the information security and productivity functions. Erika has over 20 years of experience in the security industry. Prior to joining Robinhood, she spent over 20 years at Capital One Financial, where she held a variety of leadership positions in cybersecurity, including serving as the Chief Information Security Officer for US Card, International, and Small Business.

Erik Hart oversees global information security for Cushman & Wakefield, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services firms. A recognized thought leader with more than 20 years of experience in providing information security services to various industries and organizations, he also serves in an advisory role for numerous companies and organizations in the information security field, including Mimecast, CrowdStrike, InfraGard Chicago Members Alliance and Western Illinois University.

Before joining Cushman & Wakefield in 2018, he served as CISO and Director of IT Risk Management for Zebra Technologies, a provider of mobile, logistics and point-of-sale technology and systems to retail, health care, transportation, manufacturing and other industries. Erik earned his Bachelors from Western Illinois University and Masters from Western Governors University.

Lynn Dohm brings more than 25 years of organizational and leadership experience to the WiCyS team as the Executive Director. She has long been committed to cybersecurity education and for the last 14 years held active roles in grant-funded programs and nonprofits that assist in providing educational solutions for the cybersecurity workforce. She is passionate about the need for diverse mindsets, skill sets and perspectives to solve problems that never previously existed and aims to facilitate learning opportunities and discussions on leading with inclusion, equity and allyship. In addition to Lynn being awarded Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity by Cyber Defense Magazine, she accepted the Nonprofit of the Year Award for WiCyS in 2020 and 2021, is on numerous cybersecurity judging panels, advisory boards, and is an inaugural member of (ISC)2’s DEI Task Force. She has been interviewed on TV and radio throughout the nation and is a keynote presenter, panelist and moderator for multiple international conferences, events and organizations.

Karen Habercoss is the Vice President, Chief Information Security and Privacy Officer for The University of Chicago Medicine health system. She is responsible for the enterprise strategy and operations of the health system Information Security and Privacy Office. Karen has a Master’s Degrees in Business Administration and Clinical Social Work. Prior to her current role, she worked in the Compliance Department at The Joint Commission and as the Corporate Compliance and Quality Officer for PRS, LLC. Karen holds the following certifications: CIPM, CDPSE, AIGP, CCEP, CHC, CHPC, and CHRC and maintains her licensure in clinical social work. She is the current chair of the HIMSS Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Security Committee and has been an active member of the Association of American Medical Colleges Compliance Officers’ Forum for many years where she is the chair-elect of the Steering Committee. Karen is the past co-lead the Privacy-Security Task Group for the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group. She speaks regularly on the topic of Privacy-Security collaboration strategies to reduce enterprise risk.

Jatin Mannepalli, CISSP, CCSP, is an Information Security Officer (ISO) at IMC Trading, with more than 10 years of experience in the InfoSec field. He has led information security and risk management teams, and worked as a security consultant for major firms like McKinsey & Company. Jatin specializes in security governance, risk management, and creating customer-centric, technology-driven security strategies. His approach focuses on aligning security with organizational goals, and he is recognized as a top voice in Information Security on LinkedIn. He has published articles in Dark Reading, contributes to cybersecurity by developing ISC2 exams, and volunteers to raise security awareness in local communities.

Kenneth Townsend is a proven results-oriented CISO with a successful track record of delivering business value by leveraging technology and leading transformational cybersecurity strategies. Kenneth’s understanding of the digital technology stack across the enterprise and cyber risk management has allowed him to successfully operate in a variety of industries and become a highly respected leader in Financial Services, Retail, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.

As the Global CISO for Ingredion, Kenneth is responsible for establishing and executing a cyber strategy to manage risk across the corporate and manufacturing environments. He brings a deep understanding of cybersecurity threats, regulations, and best practices to the role to build a strong security culture. Beyond his core responsibilities, Kenneth is a dedicated thought leader in the cybersecurity community. He is a cyber product advisor, active speaker at various industry events, and volunteers time to support and mentor youth in STEM fields.

Sean has over three decades of experience in the Information Technology field, with a focus on information security best practices and compliance. He currently serves as the Head of Information Security and Compliance at KinderCare, one of the nation’s largest accredited early learning education systems, implementing and maintaining the company’s security and compliance Prior to KinderCare, Sean Served as the Chief Information Security Officer, at Atmosera, providing security and compliance expert advisory to Atmosera’s clientele. He brings extensive experience in lean team management within infrastructure and security business units, providing a reliable and secure environment across a wide range of regulatory and legal frameworks. Sean has held progressively more senior roles with ESCO one the world’s largest steel manufacturer of ground engagement equipment, Gogo Air, providing security advisory and design for all the commercial wireless services, DDB/Omnicom, a worldwide marketing communications firm, as well as financial institutions, and national retail chains.

Shefali is a seasoned professional with expertise in information security, privacy, higher education, HIPAA, research, healthcare policy and strategy, promoting Interoperability (PI), and compliance. With 20+ years of cybersecurity, privacy, and higher education experience—including 30+ years of healthcare experience. She is acknowledged as a cybersecurity and privacy subject matter expert (SME) and highly sought after for thought leadership opportunities. Shefali also has a keen interest in the adoption of innovative technology and provides leadership, consultation, coordination, and integration of information processes with enterprise-wide information technology and information security and privacy strategies.

Myriah Jaworski is a Member, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity, at Clark Hill Law. She represents clients in data breach actions, technology disputes, and in the defense of consumer class actions and related regulatory investigations stemming from alleged privacy torts and violations of the TCPA, BIPA, IRPA, and other state and federal privacy laws. Myriah also works with clients to devise and implement privacy and security compliance programs and to evaluate and implement new technologies, including enterprise-wide AI and machine learning tools. She is also been recognized as a Super Lawyer® for her Civil Litigation practice in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

George is a business technology leader with over 30 years’ experience in startup, mid-sized and Fortune 500 firms. As the Chief Marketing Officer at PTP, George is responsible for strategic growth, client relationships, and new business development. George was also a former CIO and COO with industry experiences in seven different verticals.

George has a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a MS in Engineering Management from National Technological University. In addition to his work with PTP, George also serves on the board of SIM Chicago and volunteers for various non-profits, including I.C.Stars, Northeastern Illinois University Advisory Board, and Teen Innovators Board.

Steve Shelton founded Green Shoe Consulting with a singular mission: to alleviate the suffering caused by chronic distress and burnout in the cybersecurity industry. Having spent nearly 20 years on the front lines of cybersecurity sales with companies like CDW, Symantec, RSA, Proofpoint, and Check Point, Steve witnessed firsthand the relentless stress, high stakes, and emotional toll that security professionals endure daily. He saw talented leaders and teams struggle under the weight of constant crisis response, organizational pressure, and the personal cost of burnout—and he knew something had to change.

Drawing from his expertise as a cognitive performance professional, Steve now applies evidence-based mental skills training to help CISOs and cybersecurity teams thrive under pressure, make better decisions in crisis, and sustain long-term performance without sacrificing well-being. His work bridges the gap between cybersecurity’s unique demands and the science of resilience, offering practical, high-impact strategies to leaders and teams navigating one of the most stressful industries in the world.

Through Green Shoe Consulting, Steve is leading a new movement in cybersecurity—one where resilience is a strategic advantage, burnout is preventable, and professionals no longer have to choose between success and their own mental health.

Brandon K. Borodach is a cybersecurity thought leader and Field CTO at Sumo Logic, specializing in SIEM evolution, detection engineering, and cloud security. With deep expertise in security analytics, AI-driven threat detection, and multi-platform SIEM strategies, he has helped organizations modernize their security operations. Brandon has led security engineering and pre-sales teams at Sumo Logic and Anvilogic, pioneering detection-as-code methodologies and scalable security architectures across cloud-native and hybrid environments.

Holding a Master of Science in Cybersecurity with a concentration in Information Assurance, Brandon combines technical depth with strategic vision to drive cybersecurity innovation. He is passionate about enabling organizations to enhance their security posture in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Andrei has been in cybersecurity for 20 years; the last 13 he has been working for Bitdefender. In his day to day role, he helps enterprises to adopt Bitdefender inside their security stack while ensuring a smooth transition to our tools and services.

Born with a screwdriver in his hand, Andy has been digging into the internals of technology since he opened his eyes and in the security industry since the era of dial-up. Proudly a generalist, Andy has turned his hand at a wide swath of security industry focuses on both the offensive and defensive sides over the last 25 years. When he’s not breaking systems and questioning assumptions, you can find him suspiciously connecting his laptop to things, pushing buttons that say “Do not press,” biking mountains, and climbing rocks.

Connor Surkau-Parkinson is a Product Manager at Cloud Storage Security, where he collaborates with a skilled team to develop innovative security solutions for organizations that store, ingest, and transmit data in the cloud. During his time at CSS, Connor has played a key role in delivering major enhancements across multiple initiatives — including deepening AWS integrations, refining scanning capabilities, and broadening support for various storage types. His technical expertise and strategic insight have been instrumental in driving impactful product improvements that align with the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

A transformational leader with nearly thirty years of experience in information security and technology delivering business resilience to defend against the latest threats. Strategic, tactical, and a true hands-on practitioner… a business aligned pragmatic builder with over ten years of experience leading the information security program across four companies: two Fortune500’s, and two start-up organizations. Service oriented, began his career as a consultant (Accenture, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Deloitte) building security capabilities for clients in Healthcare, Financial Services, and Manufacturing. Having led teams as small as five and as large as two hundred with budgets ranging from seven to eight figures. Delivering cohesiveness and optimal performance from his teams while developing future leaders; CEO, CIO, CISO, VP InfoSec, etc.

He has revamped existing information security programs to expand capabilities and defend against the latest threats, as well as built programs from the ground up at high-growth organizations. He has been instrumental in building information security capabilities focused on compliance, security operations, and product development.

Dr. Eric Cole, DPS is a cybersecurity expert, entrepreneur, public figure, and best-selling author. Dr. Cole has built a solid reputation in the cybersecurity industry over the last three decades. His career has advanced from starting as a professional hacker for the CIA to becoming the 44th President's com-missioner on cyber security to currently advising companies and teaching professionals on how to implement security measures that serve as a business enabler. His accomplishments have earned him an in-duction into the Information Security Hall of Fame and have awarded him as a Cyber Wingman from the US Air Force. His recognition has caught the interest of current clients, who include international banking institutions, Fortune 500 organizations, Bill Gates, and Saudi Aramco. His entrepreneurial accomplishments include three successful exits building eight-, nine-, and ten-figure organizations. Se-cure Anchor Consulting is his fourth cyber security business venture. Aside from his seasoned technical expertise, Dr. Cole is a well-known public figure and author of various publications. He recently released his eighth book, Cyber Crisis, which debuted at #1 on the Wall Street Journal's bestseller list. Dr. Cole is currently focusing on fulfilling his purpose of being on this planet to end suffering in cyber-space and his mission to secure cyberspace, by making cyberspace a safe place to live, work and raise a family.

Steve Shelton founded Green Shoe Consulting with a singular mission: to alleviate the suffering caused by chronic distress and burnout in the cybersecurity industry. Having spent nearly 20 years on the front lines of cybersecurity sales with companies like CDW, Symantec, RSA, Proofpoint, and Check Point, Steve witnessed firsthand the relentless stress, high stakes, and emotional toll that security professionals endure daily. He saw talented leaders and teams struggle under the weight of constant crisis response, organizational pressure, and the personal cost of burnout—and he knew something had to change.

Drawing from his expertise as a cognitive performance professional, Steve now applies evidence-based mental skills training to help CISOs and cybersecurity teams thrive under pressure, make better decisions in crisis, and sustain long-term performance without sacrificing well-being. His work bridges the gap between cybersecurity’s unique demands and the science of resilience, offering practical, high-impact strategies to leaders and teams navigating one of the most stressful industries in the world.

Through Green Shoe Consulting, Steve is leading a new movement in cybersecurity—one where resilience is a strategic advantage, burnout is preventable, and professionals no longer have to choose between success and their own mental health.

Dr. Fred Kwong has been in the information security and technology field for the past 20 years in working in education, financial, telecommunication, healthcare, and insurance sectors. He is an award-winning thought leader in security and currently works at DeVry University where he currently serves as the VP and Chief Information Security Officer. He is a member of several advisory boards and is a frequent speaker at national security forums on cyber security and information technology and is often asked to consult on matters of security and leadership

Fred also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Roosevelt and Benedictine Universities. He received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology and professional communications, Master of Business Administration in management information systems from Roosevelt University, and holds his Doctorate in organization development from Benedictine University. Fred has earned several certifications including the CISSP, CISA, CISM, CDPE, PCIP, PMP and ITILv3f.

Stella is a distinguished risk management executive with a proven track record of transforming global organizations to drive meaningful risk reduction, optimize operational costs, and enable sustainable growth in an increasingly data-driven world. With deep expertise in aligning business strategy with technology, security, and privacy, she ensures organizations achieve legal and regulatory excellence while fostering innovation.
Stella’s career spans diverse industries, including e-commerce, retail, quick service restaurants, consumer packaged goods (CPG), telecommunications, insurance, and investments. She has contributed to the success of iconic global brands such as Optus Communications and Siemens in Australia, as well as 3Com, Allstate, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, and most recently, Expedia Group in the United States.

An expert in designing and implementing enterprise-scale information security and business transformation programs, Stella consistently drives initiatives that enhance organizational resilience, boost business performance, and develop top-tier talent. Her efforts have established her as a leader in crafting strategies that unify security, privacy, and governance.

Stella is highly adept at leading global, strategic security and privacy initiatives, leveraging internationally recognized frameworks such as ISO 27001 and NIST. She champions privacy-by-design principles and AI risk management frameworks, leveraging industry best practices to deliver operational excellence, drive standardization, and orchestrate seamless business outcomes. Her ability to bridge technical expertise with strategic vision has made her an invaluable asset to the organizations she serves.

David DellaPelle is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dune Security. With a visionary yet pragmatic approach, he leads Dune in tackling one of today's most pressing enterprise challenges: employee-based cyber risks. David holds a BS in Economics and Management from Cornell University and an MBA from NYU, where he received the prestigious Andre Koo Tech Scholarship. He drove security product innovation and revenue growth at leading cybersecurity and AI companies, including Perimeter 81, At-Bay, and Waycare, following an early career in management consulting at EY.

Travis Smith is the Vice President of ML Threat Operations at HiddenLayer where he is responsible for the services offered by the organization, including red-teaming machine learning systems and teaching adversarial machine learning courses. He has spent the last 20 years building enterprise security products and leading world class security research teams. Travis has presented his original research at information security conferences around the world including Black Hat, RSA Conference, SecTor, and DEF CON Villages.

Danny Manimbo is a Principal with Schellman based in Denver, Colorado. As a member of Schellman’s West Coast / Mountain region management team, Danny is primarily responsible for leading Schellman's AI and ISO practices as well as the development and oversight of Schellman's attestation services. Danny has been with Schellman for 10 years and has over 13 years of experience in providing information security and data privacy audit and compliance services. Danny has achieved the following certifications relevant to the fields of accounting, auditing, and information systems security and privacy: • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) • Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) • Certified Information Privacy Professional – United States (CIPP/US)

Walter Lefmann is recently retired from Director of Security at CTC Trading Group LLC, a capital markets trading firm. That role has included Information Security, Physical Security and Life Safety, Privacy, and BCP/DR.
He has been practicing cybersecurity with varying focus for his entire professional career. The balance has shifted back and forth over time between technology engineering/operations and security over the years, which has led to a well-balanced business-focused approach to security.

The professional journey to CTC came by way Goldman Sachs, Hull Trading Company, and Motorola; from an early career as an experimental physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Walter holds a PhD, MPhil, and MA in Physics from Columbia University, and a BS in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology. While at Columbia University, Walter also served for five years as a volunteer NYC Auxiliary Police Officer and Sergeant. The experience of working closely with the public sector to serve and improve the community was tremendously rewarding, and has shaped a lifelong respect for the dedicated people who face the challenges of that service!

Walter in retirement is focused on giving back to the community via professional and public/private outreach organizations, including FBI InfraGard (currently serving as a Chicago Chapter Board Chair), Chicago FIRST (Board Officer), US Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, FS-ISAC, the National Technology Security Coalition, and ASIS, and is one of the founders of the ChiBrrCon security conference and recently volunteering with Docent.org and the CornCon conference.

Walter received the Infragard North Central Region “Meeting the Challenge” award for 2022, and the 2022 “Chicago CISO of the Year” award in the MIDCAP category. Outside of work, Walter is an avid scuba diver (even diving in Lake Michigan… yes, it’s COLD!), sings tenor in the Harper Festival Chorus community group, and dances with his wife whenever he can.

Arvin Verma is a highly motivated cybersecurity professional, with over 14 years of experience across a multitude of cyber and IT domains. He has worked in multiple industries spanning over 5 Fortune 500 companies and Big 4 consulting. He is currently a vCISO within the SMB segment.
In addition, Arvin proudly served in the US Navy Reserves as a Cryptologic Warfare Officer. He also serves as a research fellow with the Cybersecurity Forum Initiative where he has co-authored several research papers in new cyber trends and best practices.
Arvin holds several leadership positions with InfraGard Chicago and InfraGard National. He currently serves as the National Sector Chief for the Information Technology Sector, National Sector Security and Resilience Program of InfraGard National.

He also serves as an advisor to several private and public entities, several startup organizations and is a guest lecturer at several universities across the State of Illinois.
Arvin is ISC2 CISSP certified, CompTIA Security+ certified, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certified and a CMMC Registered Practitioner.

David Malcom is a creative thought leader with over 24 years of experience in cybersecurity, internal audit, data analytics, and risk consulting. David launched Malcom Risk Advisors in July 2024 with a mission to ensure that all small and medium sized businesses could gain access to a cybersecurity executives, at a cost that fits their budget. Prior to launching Malcom Risk Advisors, David held multiple executive leadership positions at global organizations, including Chief Audit Executive at Groupon, Managing Director of Internal Audit at The Northern Trust Company, Global IT Audit and Data Analytics Leader at Accenture, and Chief Information Security Officer at Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Recognized as the 2023 Auditor of the Year by the Institute of Internal Auditors (Chicago Chapter), David has transformed high-performing, global teams through the implementation of data-driven strategies that enhance control testing, quantify risk assessment processes, and create continuous auditing capabilities that increases the assurance of the operating effectiveness of controls in real-time.

David has also consulted with multiple venture capital and private equity organizations to increase their awareness and understanding of cyber security risks related to emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence) and data protection as part of completing their due diligence activities. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Illinois Wesleyan University and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

In addition to leading Malcom Risk Advisors, David is also a pastoral resident at Renewal Church of Chicago and is pursuing his Master’s in Biblical Preaching at Moody Bible Institute. Outside of work, David leads an active lifestyle and is proficient in multiple martial arts.

Mary Elizabeth Faulkner serves as VP, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and VP of IT Operations for Thrivent , its subsidiaries and affiliates. This role reports directly to the Chief Digital, Data & Technology Officer.

As the CISO and head of IT Operations, Mary Elizabeth is responsible for leading teams that execute the Fortune 500 diversified financial service organization’s information security strategy; provide management and oversight; support cyber defense engineering, identity and access management engineering and operations; incident response; information risk management and assurance services; technology service centers; fulfillment; IT incident response; and operations centers.

Mary Elizabeth has over 25 years of experience in information security, litigation advisory services, and audit. She has served in security advisory roles for a number of industries, including technology, insurance, retail, gaming, government, automotive and manufacturing. She has led global IT organizations driving maturity in information security, network and security operations.. Her experience spans across many domains of information security strategy, information risk management, cyber defense operations, cyber defense engineering, identity and access management, IT general controls, incident response, and forensic investigations.

Mary Elizabeth received a master’s in technology management from Georgetown University. She holds CRISC and CDPSE certifications. Mary Elizabeth is a Board of Director member for the FAIR Institute.