SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Paul Glidden, Security Architect, Procore Technologies

With over 20 years of IT experience, Paul possesses a versatile background that spans financial services and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies. His expertise in the financial services sector encompasses securing sensitive financial data, transaction processing, and compliance, while his experience in SaaS equips him with insights into the intricacies of cloud-based environments, data protection, and privacy. This dual exposure has honed his ability to tailor cybersecurity strategies that cater to the unique needs of both sectors, ensuring robust security measures that align with diverse business models and regulatory requirements.

Laszlo Gonc, Founder, Next Era Transformation Group

Laszlo is a recognized senior executive with thirty years of progressive experience in business and information technology. He is responsible for helping organizations – corporate and nonprofit alike – navigate the digital frontier, advising clients on cybersecurity, IT risk mitigation, and building digital technology strategies that drive both performance and business value. He has experience across several industries, consulting for senior executives and boards, developing cybersecurity strategies, evaluating IT risk, and spearheading critical security and transformation projects for senior leadership including, but not limited to, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, legal, insurance, marketing, advertising and banking.

Derek Milroy, Information Security, U.S. Cellular

Derek has been implementing security in corporate environments, as both an internal employee and a consultant, for five years. Although he has implemented firewalls, IDSs, and VPNs for various employers and clients he focuses heavily on securing Microsoft hosts and Domain structures. He has hardened hundreds of hosts in environments ranging from less than a dozen servers to enterprise environments with over 1000 servers and thousands of users. In conjunction with hardening he has also crafted and implemented standards, policies, and procedures to maintain the security of his employer’s / client’s environments.

James Mountain, Director of Information Security, Palmer College of Chiropractic

James Mountain is an experienced leader with over 16 years in IT. His current role is the Director of Information Security for Palmer College of Chiropractic providing strategic leadership and direction for campus academic technology applications and initiatives. His past work experiences include private, public and government industries. He has been a CISSP since 2011 while he worked for the Department of Defense. His main areas of focus are security, risk management, and infrastructure stability.

Brad Wyatt, Solutions Architect, Cloud Solutions Group (CSG), PSM Partners

Brad is a 4x Microsoft Most Valuable Professional with over 11 years of experience in the Information Technology industry. Brad has shared his expertise and insights at some of the most prestigious events in the industry, including the Global PowerShell Summit, various Microsoft events, and multiple PowerShell meetups nationwide. Brad has a passion for knowledge sharing and is a co-organizer of Chicago PowerShell group, the Chicago PowerShell conference, and the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit. Over the course of his career, he has migrated many companies, large and small, to the public cloud, performed thorough infrastructure audits and recommendations, implemented custom automations and efficiencies, and scoped projects based on client need for sustained future growth.