“We are excited to be working together with so many passionate diversity advocates across various sectors and industries, who will use their platform to advocate for and champion cybersecurity workforce diversity and inclusion efforts,” said Beverly Benson, Executive Director at Cyversity.

NEW YORK (PRWEB) December 01, 2022

Cyversity, a 501(c)3 non-profit association dedicated to the academic and professional success of women and underrepresented minorities, last week announced the launch of the Cyversity Ambassador Program intended to convene changemakers and industry leaders with a demonstrated commitment to the creation of a more diverse cybersecurity workforce to amplify further the corporate efforts and community engagement of the 501c3 Non-profit organization.

“We are excited to be working together with so many passionate diversity advocates across various sectors and industries, who will use their platform to advocate for and champion cybersecurity workforce diversity and inclusion efforts, continuing our mission of achieving the consistent representation of women and underrepresented minorities in the cybersecurity industry,” said Beverly Benson, Executive Director at Cyversity.

This initial cadre of Cyversity Ambassadors are among the most recognizable names across the industry with an established track record and demonstrated commitment to tackling issues relating to the underrepresentation of women and minorities in the field of cybersecurity.

Cyversity Ambassadors will support the organization’s mission primarily through advocacy, stewardship and mentorship. Among the key requirements of the program are:

• Must be an active Cyversity member
• Must be enrolled in the Cyversity Mentoring Program
• Established track record of advocating for women and minorities

Ambassadors will serve for one-year terms and are expected to act with the Cyversity Speakers Bureau and Cyversity Writer’s Bureau.

The inaugural program includes the following Ambassadors:

DEVON BRYAN joined Carnival Corporation in October 2021 as the Global CISO with responsibilities for conceiving, implementing, and leading technology solutions that assure compliance, protect personal data and corporate assets, increase organizational capability and advance productivity within Carnival Corporation and our world-leading cruise line brands. Prior to Carnival Corporation, Devon held CISO roles at MUFG Union Bank N.A, KPMG US & Americas Ltd, US Federal Reserve, and ADP LLC. His information security career began in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a Captain and lead network security engineer working on systems and programs to protect the critical network and communications networks of the Air Force’s Air Combat Command. Devon is a co-founder of Cyversity, and co-chairs the Cyversity Ambassador Program with Nelson Soares.

NELSON SOARES is the Founder, President and CEO of C-Vision International, a global event and advisory firm dedicated to convening leading visionaries in an exclusive environment for peer-to-peer collaboration. Nelson is also a Board Member of Pocket Security, Inc. a cyber security nonprofit for nonprofits looking to educate, create awareness and develop a plan in cyber security, risk management and business continuity tailored to your nonprofit so individuals within your organization can make informed and strategic decisions as you continue to carry out your mission. Nelson earned his B.A. from University of Greenwich in London and also spent time in the United States on a soccer scholarship in various colleges. Nelson is a proud husband & father of two girls and enjoys cooking and traveling with his family in his spare time. Nelson co-chairs the Cyversity Ambassador Program with Devon Bryan.

COLONEL CANDICE E. FROST, is a U.S. Army officer serving as a commander in the United States Cyber Command. She has served in the past quarter of a decade in leadership positions across the military and intelligence community. Her focus on innovation combines strategy and policy with emerging technology. She is a tireless advocate for diversity in national security and the intelligence community. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Central Michigan University, and the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies. She teaches military strategy as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Col Frost also serves on the AFCEA Washington DC Executive Advisory Council.

NICOLE DARDEN FORD is Vice President, Global Information Security, and Chief Information Security Officer at Rockwell Automation. As the company’s cybersecurity leader, Nicole is entrusted to protect enterprise IT assets with scalable, future-ready platforms that enable the business. She has guided complex organizations through security transformation journeys, built best-in-class cybersecurity programs, and led high-performing teams. Nicole has 20-plus years of IT strategic leadership in the corporate sector and federal government, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to her role at Rockwell Automation, Nicole was the Chief Information Security Officer at Carrier Global Corporation, where she established Carrier’s cybersecurity program and initiatives that aligned with enterprise goals. Under Nicole’s leadership, Carrier teams were working to monetize cybersecurity by incorporating security features in products and developing security-as-a-service solutions to be sold to customers. Known as a future-focused technology executive, Nicole is most skilled at designing and executing complex business strategies, building best-in-class cybersecurity programs, and developing and leading high-performing teams.

Dr. NIDA DAVIS is currently leading Microsoft’s Digital Security & Resilience (DSR) security architecture team, which is dedicated to ensuring the security and resilience of every aspect of the Microsoft business. DSR is responsible for Microsoft’s company-wide information security and compliance, with a strategic focus on information protection, assessment, awareness, governance, and enterprise business continuity. As the Director of Security Architecture, Nida leads a highly performing team of Microsoft PMs and Security Architects entrusted with all aspects of security architecture design, execution, and partner engagement. Previously Nida served as an Associate Director in the Federal Reserve’s Division of Supervision and Regulation (S&R) and was responsible for providing oversight and guidance on business operational resiliency, information technology, cybersecurity, data protection, and emerging technologies. Nida has received her Doctor of Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the American University in Cairo, a Master of Arts in Leadership from Bellevue University, a graduate degree from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Chemical engineering from Jordan University. Lastly, Nida was recognized as an award recipient of the prestigious Computer World Premier Top One Hundred IT Leaders for 2006.

TODD HELFRICH has more than 20 years of experience on the front lines of cyber security, having advanced a wide range of cybersecurity solutions across an industry that protects commercial and federal government enterprises. Currently the Vice President of Federal for SentinelOne and the Identity Portfolio where he is responsible for all federal government go-to-market activities. In this role, he and his team, support industry mission partners across the government by reducing the identity attack surface and deploying active cyber defense capabilities aligned with NIST cyber resilience, which empowers cyber operators. He advises innovation technology partners and serves as an Ambassador to Cyversity which is a non-profit organization focused on increasing diversity and inclusion within the cybersecurity industry. And lastly, he has supported the AFCEA Cyber Committee, which is a volunteer group of public and private sector information technology and security experts which fosters collaboration between government and industry.

MK PALMORE currently serves as Director, Office of the CISO, for Google Cloud. His responsibilities include the support of strategic accounts in the digital transformation journey. Prior to joining Google, MK served as the Field Chief Security Officer (Americas) for Palo Alto Networks. MK spent an extensive career in the U.S. Federal Government prior to entering the private sector. In a 22-year career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), MK provided leadership and conducted investigations in a number of areas, including Cybersecurity, Crisis Response/Management, Risk Management Advisory, and Counter-Terrorism. MK’s cybersecurity certifications include the CISM, CISSP, CISM, CISSP, GCCC, and the Carnegie Mellon University CISO Certification. He earned a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA from Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School. MK began his professional career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps

ROBERT COWANS is a Cyber Security Leader and Computer Forensic Examiner with certifications as a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Digital Forensic Examiner, and Harvard Business Publishing Leadership Program to name a few. Robert has guided, coached, and developed leaders and senior professionals across the public and private sectors for more than 20+ years. He is currently serving as a Cyber Security Manager over Threat Intelligence and Hunting, Digital Forensics, and Personnel Investigations. His passion is mentoring others to be their best, protecting children from being exploited and trafficked, and is committed to making a substantive difference in the lives of others –enabling their success is his mission.

JENNY MENNA is the Vice President for Threat Management and Response at Humana, Inc. Her current and past industry leadership roles include the FS-ISAC Board of Directors, the Global Cybersecurity Alliance Strategic Advisory Committee, the Risk Committee of Early Warning Services, and the National Cybersecurity Alliance Board of Directors. She is a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University’s National Security Institute. Prior to joining Humana, Jenny served as the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for U.S. Bank. Jenny also held a variety of senior cybersecurity leadership positions in the Department of Homeland Security. Her responsibilities ranged from industry outreach to front-line operational and technical activities – including serving as US-CERT Director, to leading national-level policy initiatives. Jenny received both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Chicago and is a Certified Information Security Manager and Certified Cloud Security Professional.

KIMBERLY SANDERS is the Director of Security Operations for the Nation’s passenger rail provider, Amtrak. She is a goal-oriented, results-driven cybersecurity professional with more than 17 years of experience. Kim is a proud graduate of Bowie State University and enjoys giving back to the Industrial Control System and Cyber communities as a mentor. As part of DHS’s Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program, Kim co-authored The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): Opportunity, Risks, Mitigations and is a recent graduate of the InspireCIO Leadership Development Program.

COLONEL J. CARLOS VEGA, US ARMY (RETIRED) is a trailblazer in the cybersecurity discipline, a trusted strategic advisor, and digital governance, risk, and compliance leader. He is at the forefront of the information technology, cyber, and national security disciplines in business and government. He has held board of director and advisor roles in private corporations, non-profits, and government organizations. Carlos is currently on the Board of Directors for Sorenson Communications and chair of the Cyber and Privacy Subcommittee. With over two decades of cybersecurity experience, he has pioneered collaboration between the government and the private sector regarding cyber and national security.

RAMI El OUTA Global Technology Executive has over 12 years of experience in Consulting, FMCG, and Biotechnology. Rami successfully creates self-sufficient teams and empowers people in IT. Rami has a priority of ensuring diversity in the technology world and walks the talk on that objective. Coming from a Computer Sciences background with a Masters in data mining and process automation, Rami can speak both the IT and the business language. Specializing in IT strategy and execution, keeping the cost component under control while ensuring a healthy and balanced work environment.

ARIC K. PERMINTER is the Founder & Chairman of Lynx Technology Partners, an information security and risk management consulting services company. In addition to chairing the board of directors, Mr. Perminter is responsible for managing the company, formulating, and executing long-term strategies, and interacting with clients, employees, and other stakeholders. He is Lynx’s primary decision and policymaker – setting the tone for the company’s values, ethics, and culture. Mr. Perminter exemplifies Lynx’s commitment to helping its clients achieve high performance. He is a proven leader with deep expertise in developing strong customer relationships, a passion for building outstanding client teams, and a disciplined focus on operations and execution. Aric is a founding member of Cyversity and served as its former president.

RICH AGOSTINO is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Target. In this role, he leads Target’s global cybersecurity team to protect the company, team members, and guests from cybercriminals and fraudsters. Target deploys a proactive threat-driven strategy that leverages advanced in-house experts and capabilities, 24×7 Cyber Fusion Center operations, and innovative custom-developed solutions. Rich joined Target in 2014 and played a pivotal role in fostering a strong security culture through Target’s technology transformation. Prior to Target, he held executive roles in Information Security at General Electric across a global portfolio of businesses and industries. Rich is passionate about inspiring and diversifying the next generation of cyber professionals. He’s long been a champion for career development programs both at Target and in the broader security community. Rich serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Retail & Hospitality ISAC, and he is a member of the PCI Security Standards Council Board of Advisors and Google’s CISO Advisory Board.

SHAMLA NAIDOO Head of Cloud Strategy & Innovation at Netskope, has led global cybersecurity programs for IBM, Starwood/Marriott, Anthem/Wellpoint, Northern Trust, and others, and serves as an independent board director for multiple global companies. She regularly consults for Federal, State, defense, and intelligence organizations domestically and overseas. She helps mature the cybersecurity profession through leadership roles in organizations like Security50, the Shared Security Assessments Group, Institute for Applied Network Security (IANS), HMG Strategy Group, and the Round Table Network. As the former Committee Chair on Legal Technology for the Illinois State Bar Association, she frequently speaks at legal forums for the ABA, ISBA, and others. By creating and teaching ABA-accredited courses on law, technology, and global privacy for the UIC School of Law, she educates the next generation of lawyers and adjudicators in areas of critical importance.

CARLOS EDWARDS SR currently serves as Director, Global Incident Response for MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Carlos has over 20 years of experience in several facets of cyber security that encompass incident response, forensic analysis, identity management, information governance, risk analytics, and compliance management. Prior to his current role, Carlos most recently fulfilled the responsibilities as the Associate Director, of the Cyber Threat Fusion Center for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Program Director, Security Risk Analytics for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with leadership across the realms of Incident Response and IT Security Implementation programs within SEC and IRS. Carlos was responsible for establishing and leading the operational security risk management framework, Computer Security Incident Response Center (CSIRC), and Situational Awareness Management Center (SAMC) capabilities, along with several enterprise initiatives that touch all aspects of cyber security strategy and deliverables in the safeguard of business processes, enhance the enterprise security posture and provide rapid response to the cyber crisis.

About Cyversity
Cyversity was created as a 501(c)3 non-profit association dedicated to the academic and professional success of minority cybersecurity students and professionals. Cyversity tackles the ‘great cyber divide’ with scholarship opportunities, diverse workforce development, innovative outreach, and mentoring programs.

Contact
Leslie Kesselring
Cyversity

leslie.kesselring@cyversity.org

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