Raj Thiagarajan spent 15+ years at Microsoft in growth, partnerships, and security leadership, most recently as a senior strategist inside the company's customer trust and security [Office of the CISO Organization] — delivering 500+ executive briefings to Fortune 500 and government leaders on security posture, governance, and resilience in the age of AI. Earlier in his career, he built a Swedish SaaS company's entire U.S. business from the ground up as its first American employee. Raj brings a rare blend of enterprise security depth and entrepreneurial instinct, and is passionate about translating enterprise-scale lessons into practical strategies organizations of any size can use.

Ian Fitzgerald, MBA, MSc, is Chief Technology Officer at Chelan County PUD, where his work connects technology strategy, cybersecurity, and utility operations. He focuses on secure systems integration, grid automation, and emerging AI applications that strengthen reliability and resilience. His technology initiatives have earned recognition through Gartner’s Power & Utilities Eye on Innovation Awards. Ian holds an Executive MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno, and previously served on the NCW Tech Alliance board of directors.

April Mardock is the CISO for WSIPC (Washington Schools Information Processing Cooperative), where she supports cybersecurity across more than 750,000 users and hundreds of k12 organizations. Featured in Tribe of Hackers Blue Team, she holds a Master's in IT, a CISSP, a CCRE, and is known for cutting through the technical noise to deliver practical, actionable security guidance — from the boardroom to the lunchroom.

Jennifer Walker is the Technology Programs Manager at NCW Tech Alliance, where she leads digital access initiatives and community AI education across North Central Washington. Previously, she spent more than 10 years as a natural language engineer and business analyst at Next IT, an AI company. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a graduate degree from Central Washington University. Jennifer brings both industry and community perspectives to her work helping people understand and use emerging technology.

As the Executive Director of the Highlands Community Support Coalition, Joan is a community leader, strategist, and advocate. She has extensive experience advancing international environmental, compliance, product safety, and responsible sourcing programs in complex organizations. Joan's career includes business leadership and legal roles supporting major companies such as Microsoft, American Airlines, and Pacific Gas & Electric. A recognized thought leader in sustainability and systems transformation, she has contributed to influential technology initiatives. Today, Joan is passionate about leveraging innovation, technology, and collaboration to create positive and healthy social, economic, and environmental outcomes for Okanogan County.

Salyna Gracie is the Executive Director of Methow At Home, an organization dedicated to supporting older adults as they navigate the transitions of aging with dignity and respect in the Methow Valley. Through community connections, programs, and services, Methow At Home helps older adults remain engaged and connected to the place they call home.

Joanna Wiggum is the founder and principal investigator of Countervail, a veteran-owned, Washington State–licensed private investigation agency specializing in cybercrime prevention and response.  

Before founding Countervail, Wiggum held cybersecurity leadership roles at Starbucks, Oracle, and Microsoft, spanning red teaming, incident response, trust and safety, enterprise risk, and investigations. She built Starbucks' first red team, led Oracle's cloud red team and anti-abuse program, and directed investigations involving enterprise systems, air-gapped cloud environments, and emerging technologies at Microsoft.  

A 12-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Wiggum served in both enlisted and commissioned roles across multiple joint military and international coalition mission sets. Her expertise spans aerospace control and warning systems' technology, global bomber strategic messaging and deterrence operations, and military leadership, culminating in her role as Executive Officer of a 200-person Operations Support Squadron, the capacity in which she completed her active-duty career. Her service included air-to-ground communications support for U.S. Central Command during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, followed by mission planning and leadership in B-52 operations. She holds a Master of Human Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in International Security Studies, both from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Williams is the Director of Cybersecurity Programs at Western Washington University and an associate professor in its computer science department. He is currently a visiting fellow at the National Security Institute and was previously a fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center. He was the Seattle director for PNNL and the global partner in charge of the cybersecurity practice at Infosys Consulting.

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.

Donna Baillie is the Education and Social Connections Manager at Methow At Home, where she helps create opportunities for learning, engagement, and meaningful social connections. She serves as the administrative lead for Tech Tuesdays at the Winthrop Library, helping community members build confidence and skills with technology in a welcoming, supportive environment.

My name is Prisma Corrales. Originally from Othello, I made Warden my home as an adult. As a first-generation college graduate, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Washington State University, with concentrations in Political Science and Anthropology and a minor in Spanish. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in Educational Technology and Instructional Design. For the past seven years, I have served the Warden School District as the Family Engagement and Communication Specialist, where I developed and launched the PCs for Parents program to help strengthen family access to technology and resources.

Wendy Brzezny is Senior Director of Programs at Thriving Together NCW, where she works across sectors to strengthen systems that support the health and well-being of communities throughout North Central Washington. With a background in nursing, public health, clinical integration, and project management, Wendy brings extensive experience convening partners around complex regional challenges. Her work has included advancing digital equity, telehealth access, workforce development, behavioral health, and whole-person care. Wendy is passionate about building collaborative solutions that address the conditions people need to thrive and creating stronger connections between organizations, resources, and communities across the region.