Kris Rides is the CEO and Founder of Tiro Security - a Cybersecurity professional services and staffing firm.  He is one of the original founding Board Members of the Southern California Cloud Security Alliance Chapter, the previous President, and an honorary board member. He chairs the industry advisory board for the National Cybersecurity Training & Education Center (NCYTE) and is an advisory board member to The Cyber Helpline, Washington States Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, as well as for the non-profit; GRC for Intelligent Ecosystems (GRCIE).

When it comes to cyber security staffing Kris is recognized as one of the most experienced and knowledgeable specialists in the industry. He has spoken at some of the most prestigious conferences in our industry, including DEFCON, INFOSEC WORLD, RSA, BSidesLV, and the ISC2 Congress. 

Kris is committed to using his expertise to make a difference in the cybersecurity Industry.

Dr. Stiber earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA. Before coming to UW Bothell, he was an Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology and a Research Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He has also been a Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Florida and a Fulbright Scholar in the Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. His research lies at the intersection of complex networks, modeling, high performance simulation, data/metadata/paradata management, and analysis and visualization.

With over 20 years of experience in research and technology, John drives executive leadership and fosters key partnerships for board strategy advancement. His influential work as a technologist, researcher, and published author spans critical domains in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and next-generation technologies (Agentic AI, Quantum, IoT, and Blockchain). John's expertise encompasses comprehensive risk management, third-party assessment, threat intelligence, identity and access management, data protection, and incident response for complex modernized systems. He plays a critical role in technology innovation and business development across multiple industry sectors, including government, where his strategic insights have helped enterprises and governments adopt security technologies. His works and collaborations have been featured in prominent publications like The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, SC Magazine, USA Today, CBS, Information Week, and others.

An advocate for advancing the field, John's contributions continue with involvement in professional organizations such as CSA, IAPP, ISSA, ISC2, and ISACA. John sits on numerous technology committees in government and industry, including the FCC, NIST, ISO, CSA, IEEE, and CIS. He represents the US as a delegate for cybersecurity relations, strengthening international cooperation and policy development in cybersecurity.

Stefan Troutman is an Educational Technology Instructional Coach at the North Central Educational Service District in Wenatchee, where he supports schools across four counties. His work spans technology integration, AI in education, and cybersecurity awareness, with a focus on helping teachers and administrators use digital tools responsibly and effectively.

In his role, Stefan designs and facilitates professional development on a wide range of topics; from adaptive and assistive technologies to standards-based learning, blended instruction, and AI adoption. Recently, he has led workshops on cybersecurity for educators and digital navigators, covering issues such as phishing, cyberattacks, malware, and online safety. He believes strongly in making complex technology accessible, practical, and relevant for the everyday challenges educators and communities face.

Beyond technical skills, Stefan emphasizes ethical and thoughtful use of digital tools. He is passionate about preparing schools for the disruptive impacts of emerging technologies, helping educators see both the risks and opportunities ahead. His sessions are known for being interactive, reflective, and grounded in real-world applications.

I'm an education and library professional specializing in STEM and digital learning, committed to making technology and hands-on education accessible, equitable, and fun. I design and support community-driven programs that empower students, community members, and staff alike. I believe that libraries are more than repositories—they're launchpads for lifelong learning, digital empowerment, and community transformation.

My work centers on equity and access, aiming to reduce barriers and increase confidence for learners of all ages. From supporting community members and educators to collaborating with partners across sectors, I build programs that meet people where they are—and help them get where they want to go.

Dr. Stu Steiner is a cybersecurity professor at Eastern Washington University with 20+ years of teaching experience and a PhD in Computer Science. His research focuses on smart grids, IoT security, and intrusion detection. At EWU, he leads cyber operations initiatives and helps shape one of the region’s top cybersecurity programs, blending technical depth with real-world impact.

Heather Stratford is the Founder and CEO of Drip7, a cybersecurity and compliance training platform focused on driving real behavior change. A recognized thought leader and speaker, she helps organizations empower teams with practical, engaging tools for cybersecurity education.

Anil Karmel is a cybersecurity leader, serial entrepreneur, investor and startup 

advisor. Karmel founded two companies from 0 to 1 to exit, raising $20+M in VC and generating $100M+ in Enterprise Value. Most recently, he co-founded RegScale, which helps heavily regulated enterprises bridge security, risk and compliance in the world's first real-time CCM/GRC platform. Formerly, Anil served as the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Deputy Chief Technology Officer. Karmel began his government career as a Technical Staff Member of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and was responsible for inventing their cloud and collaboration technologies. 

Karmel and his team have garnered industry and government accolades, including the SANS National Cyber Security Innovators Award for Cloud Security, SINET Top 16 Cybersecurity Startups, InformationWeek 500 Top Government IT Innovators, and the DOE Secretary's Achievement Award. Anil serves as a Cloud Security Alliance Research Fellow and is a member of the CSA's CxO Trust Advisory Council.

Jenai Marinkovic is a 25-year cybersecurity veteran and trusted executive advisor who transforms cybersecurity from cost center to strategic business enabler. As President and Founder of the GRC for Intelligent Ecosystems Foundation, she leads next-generation security education while serving as vCISO for organizations across critical infrastructure, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

Marinkovic invented ISACA's AI Audit Toolkit, a 1,500+ control framework used globally to govern AI systems with security, explainability, and compliance at scale. She has designed and operated over 40 full-scale cybersecurity organizations, specializing in AI security, supply chain resilience, and cyber-physical threat defense. 

Her pioneering research examines how space weather and electromagnetic activity impact critical infrastructure, bridging cybersecurity with earth sciences to address emerging environmental threats to digital systems.  

Recognized as one of the top 13 women in cybersecurity defense and nominated for CTO of the Year, Marinkovic advises boards and C-suite executives on cyber risk quantification, security investment strategy, and regulatory alignment. She translates complex security challenges into boardroom clarity, ensuring cybersecurity drives tangible business value.

She has spoken at RSA, DefCon, ISC2, ISACA, SANS, and CloudCon, her work shapes industry discussions on AI risk, supply chain security, and next-generation compliance frameworks. She excels at partnering with executive leadership to build resilient, AI-integrated environments where security becomes inseparable from business success.

Charlie Van Liew has spent the last decade in tech Directing Customer Experience, Account Management, and Sales Teams. His passion for People and Technology has resulted in bringing greater Cybersecurity awareness and implementation to North Central Washington businesses as well as WA state and Local government clients.

Micki Boland is a global technologist #csuitecybersensei #realhuman #cyber warrior with Check Point Software Technologies Office of the CTO. A leader, innovator and practitioner with over 20 years in ICT, cybersecurity, and emerging technology innovation with expertise in financial, healthcare, energy, and high tech manufacturing sectors, Micki holds ISC2 CISSP, Master of Science in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin, and MBA with Global Security Concentration from East Carolina University. She recently completed MIT No Code AI and Machine Learning Building Data Science Solution certificate program. 

Micki is a United States Army veteran with a passion for global security. Micki frequently writes cybersecurity articles for Cybertalk.org, has contributed to articles for WSJ, Dark Reading, Silicon Angle, Decipher, Security Boulevard, and speaks frequently with the broadcast media and radio shows regarding cybersecurity and emerging technology, the global threat landscape, tips and resources for enterprise organizations and consumers, Dark Web research, Deepfake technologies and threats, cybercriminal gangs, cloud security, DevSecOps, and AI/MLSecOps. 

Her focus over the last few years is AI based proactive threat intelligence (ML/NN/deep learning), and Generative AI, helping organizations adopt GenAI without trading off security, and ways to leverage GenAI in cybersecurity to stay ahead of the adversary.

Dr. Tim Englund is a Professor of Mathematics at Central Washington University, where he’s been on faculty since 1998. His research spans representation theory and interdisciplinary work in health and nutrition. A former department chair and Ronald E. McNair Program coordinator, he brings deep experience in academic leadership and cross-sector collaboration.