As an experienced information security strategist and collaborative executive leader, Gene Kingsley builds and leads scalable, highly effective cybersecurity programs that enable organizations to protect their intellectual property and maintain critical operations while maximizing profitability. Gene is passionate about designing secure, compliant infrastructures that proactively mitigate potential risk, preparing organizations across diverse industries for incident response, disaster recovery, and sustained business continuity.

Gene’s robust industry experience gives him a comprehensive view of the broader security landscape, informing his innovative and collaborative approach. He began his career in IT help desk and operations roles and continuously progressed into information security leadership positions across the higher education, healthcare, and financial services industries.

One of Gene’s greatest accomplishments was developing and launching a security-as-a-service program for the University of Massachusetts in 2015, known as the Massachusetts Advanced Secure Technologies (MAST) program. He was recognized by the governor of Massachusetts in 2017 for this effort. To this day, MAST provides crucial security support to 501(c)3 nonprofits and institutions of higher education as well as local municipalities and government organizations at the request of the Massachusetts governor.

During his tenure with Reliant Medical Group, Gene managed the cybersecurity and data protection practice across 23 urgent care clinics and hospital facilities, ensuring the uninterrupted functionality of the critical operational infrastructure and healthcare platforms required for ongoing patient care. In this role, Gene managed the oversight and mitigation of potential HIPAA concerns and ensured continuous alignment with the requirements of a highly regulated environment.

In his most recent role with Farm Credit Financial Partners, Gene supported six separate farm credit associations and agricultural banks across the US. He designed and proposed a consolidated information security strategy that was accepted and even championed by the leaders of all six partners on the first draft, demonstrating his ability to navigate the competing priorities of multiple stakeholders while influencing the adoption of new processes that optimize the organizational security posture.

A common thread throughout each of Gene’s experiences has been his willingness to educate and drive awareness around information security and cloud computing practices. He has created and led tabletop incident response exercises, and since 2010 he has been an advisor, keynote speaker, panelist, and workshop facilitator for The Seguro Group. He develops and presents his own content and facilitates certificate-based workshops that are sought after by information security practitioners of all levels at Seguro’s SecureWorld and Secure Plus conferences.

Gene holds a Master of Science in Communications and Information Management from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management in Amherst. He has two Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC)—Certified Information Security Professional and Certified Forensic Examiner—as well as an ITIL 4th Edition Foundation Certificate in IT Management. Gene is also certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) and is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He currently resides in the Springfield, Massachusetts area.