SecureWorld St. Louis 2024

Brian supports a wide variety of business units like Mars Wrigley, Kind, VetSource, and Blue Pearl, to name a few. Prior to joining Mars, Brian spent 20 years with General Electric as the Global DR Leader for GE Capital RE and running their VM program. He spent five years as a board member on the St. Louis Scott/AirForce ISC2 regional chapter and was president for three of those years. Brian is also a member of InfraGard and the St. Louis FBI citizens academy.

Lisa Plaggemier is Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. She is a recognized thought leader in security awareness and education with a track record of engaging and empowering people to protect themselves, their families, and their organizations. Lisa is a University of Michigan graduate (Go Blue!) and while she wasn’t born in Austin, Texas, she got there as fast as she could.

Eric is a lifelong St. Louisan and has been serving as the Democratic Director of Elections in St. Louis County since 2015. Eric received a BA in Political Science from Webster University and a MPPA (Public Policy Administration) from the University of Missouri St. Louis. Eric’s professional life has been devoted to public service, having worked in various roles in the field of public administration since graduating from college. As a matter of fact, Eric’s first foray into the field was serving as an election judge at the age of 19 while still in college. After an initial stint with the St. Louis County Board of Elections, Eric worked as an administrative assistant for the St. Louis County Council for four years prior to his tenure as Director of Elections.

Eric currently serves as President of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities (MACCEA) and Secretary of the International Association of Government Officials (IGO). In those roles Eric is primarily responsible for organizing professional development opportunities for fellow election administrators. Additionally, Eric serves as co-chair of the MACCEA legislative committee which entails legislative advocacy on behalf of MACCEA and frequent testimony in relevant committees regarding legislation pertinent to election administration.

Not only is election administration Eric’s occupation, but it’s also a labor of love. In 2021 Eric began co-hosting an election administration focused podcast called “High Turnout Wide Margins” along with Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon. The purpose of the podcast is to create a forum for election administrators to share their experiences and professional accomplishments. In 2022 Brianna and Eric received a philanthropic grant to support the podcast. With this support Brianna and Eric traveled to the national conference of the Election Center where they interviewed election officials from across the country on the significant challenges facing the field of election administration. As the challenges facing election administration aren’t just domestic, Brianna and Eric traveled to Moldova and Hungary in 2022 to interview election officials in those countries about running elections in often under resourced and conflict prone situations. High Turnout Wide Margins just finished its second season after posting its 86th episode.

In his free time Eric enjoys volunteering to serve on international election observation missions. As a volunteer, Eric has observed elections in 12 countries. Eric’s most enjoyable activity, however, is spending time with his wife and two children.

Mr. Graham serves as a Cybersecurity Advisor and Cybersecurity Coordinator for Missouri. Currently, based in Columbia, MO he supports the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) mission of strengthening the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure.

His programs coordinate cyber preparedness, risk mitigation and incident response. He provides Cybersecurity resource briefings, Cybersecurity assessments, and Incident Response planning to the nation’s sixteen critical infrastructure sectors and state, local, tribal, and territorial government entities.

Prior to joining CISA, Mr. Graham worked for Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), one of four Power Marketing Administrations under the Department of Energy. While at SWPA, Mr. Graham served as the senior Information Security Officer, acting Chief Information Security Officer and as a Responsible Subject Matter Expert for both Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Operational Technology (OT) systems for the North American Energy Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection requirements.

Prior to working for the Department of Energy, Mr. Graham worked in the Insurance industry as a Networking and Telecommunications Technician, Security Administrator, Senior Security Administrator,
and Chief Information Security Officer.

Mr. Graham spent 12 years active duty with the United States Air Force supporting the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP), the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Airborne Command Post (Looking Glass) and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. In addition, Mr. Graham served as an Air Force Technical Training Instructor for Aircraft Electrical Environmental Systems

Chrissy Peters is the Director of Elections for the State of Missouri. She has spent the majority of her professional career in state government and public service. She has worked at the Secretary of State’s office in the Elections Division for 16 years.

Zach is a seasoned IT executive with a distinguished career spanning strategic IT management, cybersecurity, risk mitigation, and budget oversight. As the AVP IT and CISO for a private higher education institution, Zach has orchestrated transformative initiatives that have fortified the institution's cybersecurity landscape while driving strategic growth. His leadership in negotiating vendor contracts, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and chairing the Enterprise Risk Management Committee has resulted in substantial cost savings and operational efficiencies.

With a focus on aligning IT strategies with organizational goals, Zach has led successful cloud migrations, implemented robust cybersecurity measures, and established a culture of transparency and collaboration. His expertise extends to compliance with GLBA and FERPA regulations, managing cybersecurity training programs, and optimizing network infrastructure. Zach's passion for innovation, user-centric approach, and ability to build cross-functional teams have been instrumental in driving organizational success, enhancing cybersecurity defenses, and positioning the institution as a leader in health education and operational excellence.

Zach is a 2X recipient of Cyber Defense Magazine’s Top Global CISOs, was named 40 Under 40 Security Leaders by CDO Magazine, and was St. Louis Non-Profit CISO of the Year. He’s a recent graduate of the FBI CISO Academy. Zach provides his industry expertise to others by speaking at conferences, webinars, and universities throughout the country.

Senior cybersecurity professional with years of experience (Engineer/Architect, Senior Manager, Director, and CISO roles) architecting and managing large scale IT Security, Network Infrastructure, and Development projects. Heavy experience collaborating with diverse cross-functional groups of people, both domestic and international. Recognized for building products, platforms, and IT teams from the ground up along with developing and implementing IT and OT (cyber) security standards, processes, and initiatives with high dollar impact, reduced costs, lower risk, increased revenue, and high customer satisfaction.

Mike McGrail leads SentinelOne's data solutions engineering team, focused on using data to uplevel the security posture of customers moving on from legacy SIEM troubles.
After over a decade as a practitioner in the insurance industry, he moved to the vendor space to help more customers solve similar problems. Mike holds a master's degree in computer science from Georgia Tech and resides near Toronto, Ontario.

Reanna Schultz is from Kansas City, MO, and attended the University of Central Missouri (UCM). She graduated in 2018 with her Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity: Secure Software Development and in 2020 for Master of Science in Cybersecurity: Information Assurance. While being in the industry, Reanna has been exposed to numerous SANS hosted classes. Reanna volunteers as a National Cyber League coach and provides her industry expertise by doing guest speaker talks for numerous colleges and high schools across the Midwest to STEM students. Reanna currently works as a Team Lead at Garmin and directly reports out of their SOC.

Bill is an IT professional with over 20 years of experience driving DevOps, secure SDLC, cloud security, and security architecture initiatives. Holding both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, he brings a strong academic foundation to his work. Bill's certification portfolio includes CISSP and GWAPT, among others. As a recognized expert, he regularly shares his insights as a presenter at his company's Security Champions speaker series.

Debra Brown brings over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity. Starting her career at Xerox and then honing her experience in high-growth startups like Ping Identity and Chainalysis, Debra excels in introducing innovative security technologies to the market. Her dedication extends beyond her professional sphere as she is also a passionate learner, book lover, and a devoted mother and wife in a loving, blended family.

Minhal Gardezi is a seasoned Solutions Architect at Aqua Security, where he has been making significant contributions for the past three years. With a robust background in computer science, Minhal earned his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Case Western Reserve University. His role at Aqua Security involves designing and implementing cutting-edge security solutions, leveraging his expertise to address complex challenges in the ever-evolving field of cloud native security. Minhal's blend of technical acumen and innovative problem-solving makes him a valuable asset to his team and a trusted advisor to clients seeking to safeguard their cloud environments.

Yiannis Vassiliades is currently serving as CISO in Residence at Zscaler, the global leader in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust IT Transformation. With over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, Yiannis has been deeply committed to productizing transformative technologies that align with organizations’ strategic cybersecurity and risk objectives. He began his career specializing in Resilience and Disaster Recovery before diversifying his expertise to encompass various cybersecurity domains such as Security Analytics, Data Protection, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and Cyber Risk Management. Yiannis has held leadership roles in prominent enterprises including IBM, Raytheon, and CA Technologies (acquired by Broadcom), as well as contributing to the growth of emerging companies from their seed stages to acquisition. Prior to joining Zscaler, Yiannis served as the Chief Product Officer at Ostrich Cyber-Risk, where he spearheaded the development and launch of cyber risk quantification solutions. Before that, he played a founding role in establishing and expanding the MDR division at Sophos, which has since become the largest MDR service provider with over 20,000 customers. Yiannis holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from University of Maryland and earned his MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Travis Nichols is a seasoned leader in Information Security at Shelter Insurance, where he spearheads the safeguarding the organization’s digital assets. With a robust background in software development, cybersecurity, and management, Travis has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence and innovation. His journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and dedication to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning, both within his team and the broader community. Travis’s leadership philosophy centers on growth, value creation, and enhancing the lives of those around him, including his wife and two grown children. Through his strategic vision and passion for leadership, Travis continues to drive impactful change and inspire those he leads. One of his favorite questions to ask is: “How can I help you be your best?”

Author of the highly acclaimed book, “Your Success is in YOU!: Empowering and Equipping You to Create Your Best Career Ever!”, Bernie Frazier, SPHR, is an author, speaker, career coach/strategist, and talent acquisition expert whose mission is to help people overcome barriers to create greater career success. Bernie has over 30 years of experience in the corporate recruiting space, has served as keynote speaker for Fortune 500 corporations and organizations, and coached clients globally from C-Suite executives to individual contributors. She has also served as the “Career Coach” on KSDK’s Today in St. Louis – the St. Louis NBC affiliate, shared timeless job search tips on SiriusXM and KTRS 550 AM radio in St. Louis, been featured in the New York Times and St. Louis American newspapers, and profiled in the St. Louis Business Journal.

To learn more about Bernie, please visit her website at www.CAREERCompassLLC.com.

Renita M. Rhodes is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of distinguished experience in Information Technology (IT), IT Audit, Risk Management, Compliance, and Cybersecurity. She currently holds the role of Vice President, Audit Manager - Cybersecurity Manager at a prominent global bank, where her expertise is instrumental in safeguarding critical information security controls and conducting audits of paramount significance.

Renita's commitment to knowledge dissemination is evident through her roles as an Adjunct Instructor at Maryville University and Harris-Stowe State University. She imparts her knowledge through various courses, spanning Cyber Law, Policy, and Compliance, Security Information and Event Management, Introduction to Information Security, Applied Programming - Python, Cybersecurity Operations, and Systems Analysis and Design.

Her academic journey includes a Bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems from Tennessee State University, a Master's degree in Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Cybersecurity Certificate from Saint Louis University. During her graduate studies, she published a whitepaper titled "Developing Dynamic PeopleSoft Field Security Applications: A PeopleSoft Developer's Guide."

Beyond her professional and academic achievements, Renita is a passionate cybersecurity awareness and training advocate. She actively engages in various organizations such as the NIST NICE Cybersecurity Careers Ambassadors Program and CyberUp, where she is a Board Member and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cybersecurity sector. Renita has also participated as a conference panelist and podcast guest discussing cybersecurity and AI.

Tina Lampe, CISSP, CISM, PMP, is a highly-effective, seasoned, and influential technology delivery leader with 20+ years of experience working in varied Critical Software Development and Strategic Technical Program Management roles including groundbreaking automation. Tina recently obtained a Master of Science in Cybersecurity – Leadership focus from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. Tina is a specialized advocate of Business and Technology Strategies including Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies. Tina has demonstrated experience leading global teams to successful completion of complex technical software and infrastructure initiatives.

Tony, CyberUp’s Executive Director, has served the nonprofit community for more than 14 years. He spent nine years serving in the United States Army, where he was known as the youngest Military Police Sergeant in Brigade. Succeeding his time in the Military, Tony was appointed by the Governor of Missouri to serve on the Workforce Development Board and chosen to lead CyberUp. As the Executive Director of a nationally recognized organization, Tony remains passionate for growing apprenticeship opportunities to energize the country’s workforce. He was chosen to serve as the co-chair for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Apprenticeship Sub Working Group. Outside of work, you can see Tony adventuring outdoors or playing video games.

Currently heading cybersecurity for Nestlé Purina Petcare North America, Heather Reed has a proven track record of making a positive impact on her organization and those she leads. With more than seven years of experience in security and compliance, she utilizes her unique background in marketing and learning & development to foster a cybersmart culture. Her passion for cybersecurity and dedication to driving tangible results make her an asset in the field.

Navy Veteran with a current role as a Dev Sec Ops engineer focusing in infrastructure resiliency. Past careers in banking software, web application, and construction worker while through college. (Construction applies more to security than I ever thought) Also love coffee.

Josh Knopp is Vice President & CISO for Enterprise Mobility. In this role, Knopp is responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of Enterprise’s global information security strategy in a manner that enables business and reduces friction. Knopp joined Enterprise in April 2016. He has more than 24 years of experience working in in the field of information security.

Currently, Knopp is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Global Center for Cybersecurity at Cortex, a member of the PCI Security Standards Council’s Board of Advisors, and an adjunct professor at Washington University in St Louis. He completed his Executive MBA from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Aman Raheja has been at Humana since 2020. In this role, Aman is transforming the Information Protection program leveraging threat and risk-based approaches. He is building a strong team and proactive culture, while keeping the focus on serving our members and associates.

Prior to joining Humana, Aman served as Global CISO for BMO Financial Group, one of the top ten banks by asset size in North America, where he led transformative changes that focused on cross-disciplinary resiliency and business enablement capabilities.

Prior to BMO, Aman orchestrated and executed the Information Security strategy at Express Scripts. Aman also spent over seven years at Citibank, most recently serving as the Group Information Security Officer, leading security programs for CitiMortgage and OneMain Financial.

Aman serves on the Board of security organizations, ClearData and HITRUST, and is an Advisory Board member for SixThirty Cyber. He has created and shared an open information security strategy framework, B-I-C-T, that balances business value, industry standards, compliance and threat management.

Erica Wilson has more than twenty-five years of IT experience, majority of which have been directly in cybersecurity. She has worked in various industries including manufacturing, higher education, financial services and most recently reinsurance. She has served in all capacities of security, including the role of Chief Information Security Officer. Erica is currently the VP of the Global Security Risk Management for RGA. In this role, she serves as a key advisor for the organization regarding cyber and technology risks where she leads a dynamic team of professionals that ensures issues are effectively addressed and managed. Outside of work, Erica is an advocate for helping girls and women explore career options in STEM & Cyber. She is also serves as a Board member for CyberUp.

Marc Ashworth, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at First Bank, is a respected professional with over 25 years of experience in cyber and physical security, IT/security architecture, business and departmental strategy, budgeting, project management and is a public speaker. He is a board member of St. Louis Chapter of InfraGard and a Lifetime member of FBI Citizens Academy. Possessing security certifications in CISSP, CISM, CRISC, and Security+, Ashworth currently oversees First Bank’s Information Security Department and the Network Services Department. You may reach him at Marc.Ashworth@fbol.com or Marc@AshworthCorp.com.