Erik Avakian is former state chief information security officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Erik has over 22 years enterprise experience in security and program management, strategy, service delivery, relationship management, cross-collaboration, program execution, and leading and mentoring teams.

Caleb Buhs serves as the chief deputy director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), a position he was appointed to in 2023. In his role, Buhs directs the business and administrative operations for the agency of 2,800 employees, who provide information technology, business, and administrative services to Michigan residents, businesses, state agencies, state employees, and retirees.
Driven by a passion for public service, Buhs has spent nearly two decades working to improve government services for the benefit of all Michiganders. As a member of DTMB’s leadership team, he helps foster a culture of engaged employees to ensure the delivery of outstanding customer service, areas in which DTMB has consistently exceeded national benchmarks.
Buhs began his public service career with the State of Michigan in 2004 and has served as the public information officer and economic development advisor for the Department of Insurance and Financial Service, deputy press secretary for the governor, and communications specialist for the Department of Treasury.  Prior to being named chief deputy director, he served more than eight years as the communications director for DTMB.
Buhs holds a bachelor’s degree in integrative public relations from Central Michigan University. He maintains an active presence in his community, serving as a school board member for Charlotte Public Schools, including two terms as president, and having coached numerous youth sports teams.

With over 25 years of dedicated experience in the field of cybersecurity, Michelle specializes in Data Security and the implementation of Microsoft Purview solutions. Michelle’s career has spanned state and local government agencies, government contractors, and the finance industry, enabling her to develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges and evolving threats faced by public and private sector organizations. Michelle is passionate about helping organizations safeguard their critical information assets, ensure regulatory compliance, and build resilient security frameworks. Her expertise includes developing robust data protection strategies, leading security awareness initiatives, and optimizing information governance using cutting-edge technologies.

Laura Clark serves as the chief information officer (CIO) for the State of Michigan, directing the state’s technology and security efforts. As deputy director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), she also oversees operations for the department, which provides information technology, business, and administrative services to state employees and stakeholders, as well as Michigan residents, visitors, and businesses.
During her 20-year career in public service, Clark has embraced a hands-on, adaptable approach to leadership. Since being appointed as CIO by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, she has helped the State of Michigan achieve success through many initiatives, such as the launch of the award-winning Michigan Secure mobile app and successfully securing $20 million in critical cybersecurity funding from the Michigan Legislature for statewide security enhancements.
In her day-to-day work, Clark values the contributions of every person on DTMB’s 5,000 member team and has the unique ability to connect her sense of purpose and service with the overall work and mission of directing the State of Michigan’s technology and security efforts. She leads by example, seeking out opportunities that will allow those around her to succeed. Throughout these efforts, Clark’s compassion, patience, experience, and skills as are helping DTMB and the entire state forge a successful path into the digital future.

Brad is a principal security and compliance specialist for Amazon Web Services supporting customers globally in the worldwide public sector group. Brad works as subject matter expert in the AWS security group and specializes in security and compliance-based workloads.

Shawn Ewing serves as the Exercise Program Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB), bringing more than two decades of experience in  emergency management and cybersecurity. A U.S. Army veteran with two combat deployments, Shawn applies a mission-focused mindset to crisis preparedness and response. He has led numerous state-level exercises, including Michigan’s 2019 functional exercise of the Cyber Disruption Response Plan. Following the plan’s 2024 update, Shawn is spearheading a new series of exercises to test and strengthen cross-agency coordination, ensuring that IT, security, legal, and communications teams can respond with speed and unity during cyber crises. His work emphasizes breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across government and private-sector partners to build resilience against evolving threats.

Dr. Gogolin is the Director of Cybersecurity & Data Science and a Distinguished Professor at Ferris State University. He holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, post graduate certificates in Artificial Intelligence from Purdue and the University of Texas at Austin, and multiple certifications including CISSP. He is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and the author of the Information Security & Intelligence undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as the undergraduate Artificial Intelligence degree at Ferris State. Dr. Gogolin has authored many journal articles and books in digital forensics and cybersecurity, as well as presented at dozens of conferences. His research has been cited in the United States Supreme Court. He has taught on four continents and worked with law enforcement agencies in multiple countries on computer crime casework while also providing digital forensic investigator training. Dr. Gogolin worked in the Information Technology field for about 15 years for multibillion dollar international corporations prior to becoming a professor at Ferris State University.

Amit Hammer is the CEO of Salvador-Tech and a recognized leader in Operational Technology and Industrial Control Systems cyber resilience. With over 20 years of leadership in defense, semiconductors, AI, and energy, he brings deep expertise in securing critical infrastructure. He began his career as an officer in an elite intelligence R&D unit, later holding global leadership roles at Texas Instruments in IoT and wireless connectivity. He went on to lead Neura, an AI and big data company, through its acquisition by Otonomo, and later drove major operational programs at SolarEdge. Today at Salvador-Tech, Amit leads the mission to eliminate downtime in OT environments, helping organizations achieve true cyber resilience and operational continuity.

Thomas J. Holt is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Director of the Center for Cybercrime Investigation and Training at Michigan State University.  His research focuses on all manner of cybercrime and deviance, and the policy responses to these problems.  He has authored mutliple textbooks on the topic of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and policing, and has published in journals such as the British Journal of Criminology, Criminology & Public Policy, and Journal of Criminal Justice.  Dr. Holt's work has been funded by various federal and national agencies in the US, Australia, and the Netherlands.  He is also a regular speaker at academic and practitioner conferences around the world.  Lastly, he is the co-host of the podcast "Crossing the Firewall," focusing on cybercrime and cybersecurity issues.  

Jeremy currently serves as the State of Michigan’s Security Operation Center (MiSOC) Emergency Coordination Center liaison, working together with SOM Emergency Management staff to ensure fluid and coordinated escalation of cyber incidents into the State’s emergency management procedures. Previously, Jeremy held cybersecurity roles in the private sector in Higher Education and Financial Services, focusing on the development of Incident Response teams, plans, and training.

Brian has spent many years as an information technology leader and consultant with extensive and diverse experience in cybersecurity, project management, Information Technology (IT) management, infrastructure, application development, desktop support, training delivery, proposal development, customer service and testing. He has also led process and quality improvement initiatives and focuses on customer satisfaction. He is passionate about everything he does and has a reputation as a results-driven, “out of the box thinker” and problem solver.
Brian holds his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP®) certification from the Business Relationship Management Institute.
In his spare time Brian is a beekeeper and maintains the local bee club’s website. He also enjoys low light photography such as eclipses, aurora borealis, and nightscapes.

Stephanie Jeppesen serves as the Business Services Manager for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection (CIP) at the Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). With over 20 years of experience in healthcare administration and state government, Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her role.
Throughout her career, she has excelled in support services, project management, financial and budget analysis, and contract portfolio management. As the leader of the Business Services work area within CIP, Stephanie oversees a wide range of operational functions, including financial management and analysis, staff onboarding and offboarding coordination, asset management, data analytics, external engagements, communications, project support, and purchasing coordination.
Stephanie and her team are committed to delivering high-quality internal services with a focus on consistency, efficiency, and eliminating operational pain points. Her team’s dedication to continuous improvement makes them key contributors to CIP’s success.

Brian Kaselak is the Engineering Director for Fortinet and a frequent speaker at cyber security focused events. For the past twenty-one years, Brian has worked in the IT security industry in both sales and implementation of solutions ranging from Endpoint to Cloud. His current position brought him back to technical sales, evangelizing the importance of a security fabric in order to protect your environment in an ever-changing world.

Andrew Mason is a seasoned Information Technology Executive with more than a decade of experience leading large-scale IT initiatives across multiple State of Michigan agencies. As an IT General Manager at DTMB, he oversees delivery of IT systems and services for Agencies including the Michigan Department of State (MDOS), Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) and the Michigan Lottery.  Andrew is a recognized leader in managing large teams and resources with a proven track record of leading the delivery of secure, scalable solutions that align with both mission-critical needs and regulatory standards. He brings deep insight into the intersection of cybersecurity and IT operations, making him a fitting moderator for the session "Cybersecurity Has an IT Problem."

Justin is a  Specialist Leader at Deloitte, with 20+ years of service and experience within the DoD, and Intelligence Community participating in advanced Red Team activities.
Dynamic Adversary Intelligence Lead, responsible for developing advanced behavioral analytics of Net-flow data records and open source intelligence to identify malware, advanced persistent threats, malicious, and anomalous activity.
Leading teams using and developing AI and GenAI based analytics to detect anomalous network activity, autonomously collect threat intelligence, and map adversarial infrastructure to deliver real time intelligence to security operations teams to assist with defending and hardening their attack surface. 

Joseph Spero is a Principal Incident Response Consultant on the Google Public Sector Incident Response team, primarily responsible for leading technical investigations for intrusions into Government and Education sector client environments. Grounded in dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice Sciences and Cyber Security, his career features deep, hands-on experience across Digital Forensics, Incident Response, Threat Intelligence, and offensive security disciplines. Joseph employs a profound understanding of criminal and nation-state adversaries in the cyber defense of US national security and private organizations.
Joseph has held analyst roles within organizations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 across the Financial, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Fintech, and Technology industries. Prior to joining Google in 2023, he was an incident responder with IBM X-Force, contributing research to the Security Intelligence blog on topics including AlphV ransomware and Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS) attacks. He holds the GPEN, GCFA, GNFA, and GCFR certifications.

Doug Start is a seasoned IT executive dedicated to leveraging technology for transformative impact. He began his career as an educator in hardware repair, computer programming, and web design, laying the foundation for his advancement through the ranks of IT to become the Director of Instructional Technology for Grand Haven Area Public Schools.  
Currently, Doug is the Director of Technology for the City of Grand Rapids, where he focuses on developing a sustainable and resilient IT program. His recent efforts include development of the City’s AI strategy, fortifying the City's IT security infrastructure and promoting the IT department as a strategic partner, rebranding it as the Department of "Yes If...". 
Doug holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from Western Michigan University. He is also a Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) through the University of North Carolina School of Government.  
Outside of work, Doug enjoys spending quality time with his family, golfing, and cooking. 

Jennifer Tisdale is the Senior Director, Strategic Engagements, North America for Upstream a data analytics company focused on data management for the automotive industry focused on cybersecurity, product quality, and reducing recall costs. Jennifer is an experienced mobility professional who has built a reputation for helping organizations address critical challenges from strengthening vehicle and fleet cybersecurity to improving product quality, reducing recall costs, and delivering safer, more trusted customer experiences.
Jennifer previously served as CEO of GRIMM Cyber, where she guided the company’s strategic vision to focus on Cyber-Physical Systems security across all modalities of mobility and critical infrastructure more than doubling the company’s portfolio in her first two years. Before that, Jennifer led R&D Product Security at Mazda North America, establishing and scaling programs to safeguard connected vehicle technologies while working closely with global engineering teams to embed security into product design and development.
Prior to her time at Mazda, Jennifer developed the first economic strategy for the State of Michigan focused on cybersecurity, with an emphasis on advancing the state’s automotive, defense, and aerospace industries. This groundbreaking work connected public and private stakeholders and laid the foundation for regional growth in cybersecurity innovation and workforce development.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Jennifer serves on the Board of Directors for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Michigan. In this role, she leads strategic partnerships and cybersecurity initiatives, fostering stronger collaboration between the automotive industry, defense sector, and government stakeholders.
Known for her collaborative style and ability to bridge technical complexity with business priorities, Jennifer blends industry insight with hands-on leadership experience. Her career reflects a consistent focus on delivering strategies that make mobility smarter, safer, and more resilient.

In 2021, Mayor Mike Duggan tapped Art Thompson to be the next Chief Information Officer for the City of Detroit, making him the City’s youngest CIO in history at age 34. Thompson has had many great accomplishments since stepping into his current role - including leading the technical security, cybersecurity and technology for the largest NFL draft in history in 2024, as well as successfully maintaining a balanced budget of $61M+ annually for the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT).
Prior to becoming CIO, Thompson served as the Director of Public Safety and Cyber Security for DoIT, where he led the implementation of the City’s first police body camera program. He has over sixteen years of technical experience in IT management and operations. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Supply Chain Management and holds a Certificate in Cybersecurity from Harvard University.

Clay Taylor is a Principal PM Architect in the Microsoft Intune Product Group.  His main focus areas are Zero Trust security and cross-platform device management. 

[LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethwestbrook/

Ken Westbrook is Founder and CEO of Stop Scams Alliance, a nonprofit whose mission is to significantly reduce scams in the United States through a comprehensive, systemic approach involving public-private partnership and cross-sector cooperation from technology, telecom, financial institutions, consumer advocacy groups, and government. The focus is to stop scams at the source, before they reach the consumer in the first place.
Ken served as an executive in the Intelligence Community (IC), specializing in analysis and information management. He received numerous IC awards and subsequently held senior positions with two Fortune 500 software firms, co-invented a patented security technology, and created and taught a course in Information Management at Georgetown University.

Gina holds the position of Advisory Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Trace3, focusing on the Mountain State Region and resides in Denver, Colorado. Her role includes advising senior security leaders on emerging trends in cybersecurity, identifying and addressing security gaps, developing robust defense mechanisms, and implementing targeted, advanced security measures to protect critical digital information. Additionally, Gina leads compliance efforts within her region and provides virtual CISO (vCISO) services to two organizations. Gina received several prestigious honors, including Cybersecurity Woman of the Year 2024, LinkedIn Top Security Voice, recognition as one of the Top 9 vCISO Influencers of 2024, and a spot among the Top 20 Women of the World.
As a firm believer in continuous professional development and active community engagement, Gina earned a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of New Hampshire’s School of Engineering, and is highly regarded figure in cybersecurity, she has spoken at over 150 conferences and/or events and is an active member of several industry organizations, including the Colorado Technology Association (CTA), InfraGard, ISSA, ISACA, and Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS). Gina currently serves as Vice President of ISSA Denver, which is the 3rd largest ISSA chapter in the world.