Speakers
Dr. Chase Cunningham
DrZeroTrust
Opening Keynote
Dr. Chase Cunningham is a cybersecurity strategist and thought leader, celebrated for pioneering the influential Zero Trust Extended (ZTX) Framework at Forrester Research, significantly accelerating the adoption of Zero Trust principles globally. With extensive executive leadership experience, including roles as Chief Strategy Officer at Demo-Force.com and Ericom Software, Dr. Cunningham has consistently driven market innovation, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives. His unique talent for aligning complex cybersecurity strategies with practical business objectives has consistently delivered impactful market results and heightened technology adoption. Beyond his executive roles, Dr. Cunningham advises senior leaders within the U.S. Department of Defense and international governments, shaping critical cybersecurity policies and frameworks. A sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor, he is known for translating sophisticated cybersecurity challenges into clear, actionable insights, earning multiple accolades for his engaging presentations. Committed passionately to the belief that cybersecurity is a fundamental human right, Dr. Cunningham leverages his visionary approach, innovative thinking, and extensive industry connections to foster secure, resilient digital environments. Connect: Twitter: @cynjachasec Podcast: https://anchor.fm/chase-cunningham8 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chasecunningham
Richard Rieben
Partner & HITRUST Practice Lead at Linford & Co.
Building Resilient AI: Security Frameworks and Certification Standards
Richard Rieben is a recovering IT guy who found his true calling in the world of audits and assessments. As a Partner and HITRUST Practice Lead at Linford & Co., he helps organizations navigate security frameworks like HITRUST, SOC, CMMC, and NIST—without losing their minds. With 20+ years in IT and cybersecurity and certs like CISSP, PMP, GSNA, and CASP+ under his belt, Richard brings a practical, real-world perspective to building better security programs. He holds a BS and MBA from Western Governors University and enjoys translating compliance-speak into something humans can actually understand.
Patrick Scherrer
Information Security Manager at Rea Magnet Wire
All the times I really screwed up
Patrick Scherrer began his IT Career working the helpdesk in a call center while studying Chemical Engineering. The work demands and passion for IT quickly took over and he abandoned his studies for a career in IT serving roles in Unix and Linux, database and network administration. With the birth of his youngest son in 2009, he returned to finish his degree in Information Technology at Indiana Tech in 2013, followed by an MBA from IPFW in 2014. He enjoys being and adult learner, completing a Masters in Cybersecurity Management from Purdue Global in 2022 and will begin studies in a DBA program in the fall. He also holds an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification and is a United States Marine Corps veteran. Patrick has been the Information Security and IT Operations manager at Rea Magnet Wire since 2014. Focusing on Cybersecurity, IT resiliency and IT Operations. He is deeply committed to furthering STEM education and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana and Michigan.
Emma Clouse
Quality Assurance Manager at Sweetwater Sound
Build Trust as a Leader
Emma Clouse is currently a Quality Assurance Manager at Sweetwater Sound, with a primary focus on supporting the business CRM. Previously she worked as a Quality Assurance Manager at Epic Systems overseeing the projects and QA team responsible for the Radiology and Gastroenterology applications (Radiant and Lumens, respectively). She holds a master's degree in philosophy and uses this training, particularly in formal logic, to find bugs breaking the hearts of developers everywhere.
Chris Ritchhart
Solutions Architect at Check Point Software Technologies
The AI Revolution: Past, Present, and the Road Ahead
Chris Ritchhart is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over 25 years in IT and more than a decade specializing in cybersecurity. As a Solutions Architect at Check Point Software Technologies, he is dedicated to helping organizations strengthen their security posture through innovative and effective solutions. With deep expertise in AI technologies—both in development and malicious applications—Chris specializes in endpoint security, offensive tactics, evasion techniques, and advanced defensive measures. His extensive experience in cyber threat mitigation, attack simulation, and security optimization makes him a trusted advisor in the field. Beyond cybersecurity, Chris is a passionate photographer with a keen eye for landscapes and architectural photography. He also enjoys spending time with his 19-year-old son and his loyal pit mix, Jax.
Reet Kaur
CEO at Sekaurity
Hacking the Machine: Unmasking the top 10 LLM Vulnerabiliities & Real World Exploits
Reet Kaur is the CEO of Sekaurity, a consultancy specializing in AI, Cloud, and On-Prem security, as well as risk management, compliance, and governance. With over 24 years of experience, she has built and led security programs for Fortune 100 and 500 companies, as well as the public sector, focusing on risk-driven security strategies, governance, and innovation. Previously, Reet served as the CISO at Portland Community College, Executive Director of Digital IT Risk at Merck, and Director of Security GRC at Nike. She has led initiatives in Cloud and Application Security, AI-driven Risk Management, Post-Quantum Cryptography, and Threat Analytics. Her work emphasizes automation-first cybersecurity and cultivating a culture of continuous compliance powered by AI. A recognized industry thought leader and speaker, Reet has presented at premier security conferences, including RSA Conference, Black Hat, and CISO Summits. She actively contributes to Cyversity, serves on nonprofit boards, and mentors emerging cybersecurity professionals. Reet holds several cybersecurity certifications and remains at the forefront of AI security, governance, and cyber risk management—helping organizations navigate today's dynamic threat landscape
Arvin Freeland
CDN Systems Administrator at Marriott International
Introduction to Content Delivery Networks
Arvin is a CDN Systems Administrator with a background in online threat managed services.
Haris Qazi
Cybersecurity Engineer at Deloitte
Privacy in a world of Surveillance Capitalism
Certified cybersecurity consultant with a proven track record in identifying and mitigating cyber threats to protect sensitive data and prevent potential breaches. Skilled in conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing robust security measures, and providing strategic solutions to enhance overall cybersecurity posture.
Brett Gilsinger
President and Chief Technology Officer at Endeavor Communications and GigTel
Making of the 2025 BSidesFW Badge Panel
Brett Gilsinger is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of expertise in the telecommunications industry. He currently serves as the President and Chief Technology Officer at Endeavor Communications and GigTel. Before joining Endeavor in 2020, Brett had a distinguished 20-year career at Frontier Communications, where he held various leadership roles, including Vice President of Network Operations at a national level. Throughout his career, Brett has led large technical teams responsible for resolving complex network issues for millions of customers across the U.S. In addition to his Bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from Millikin University, Brett holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), further enhancing his strategic and operational leadership capabilities. With a deep technical understanding of telecom infrastructure, including broadband delivery technologies and fiber-optic systems, Brett's expertise has led to significant operational efficiencies and improved customer satisfaction throughout his career.
Michael Contino
Principal Security Engineer at Bark.co
From Code to Clicks: Transitioning to Low-Code Engineering and Its Impact on Information Security
Michael Contino is an accomplished cybersecurity expert serving as the Principal Security Engineer at Bark.co, a leading dog products and services company. Specializing in vulnerability management, cloud security, and containerization. Michael excels in securing digital infrastructures for financial services and e-commerce sectors. His primary expertise lies in Linux-based environments, where he leverages advanced skills in secure architecture, data security and risk management. A graduate of the Indiana Institute of Technology with degrees in networking and information security, Michael holds the OSCP, LPIC-3 Security, is an exam developer for the Linux foundation, and on his way to completing the cloud native foundations kubestronaut program. His career is driven by a passion for protecting organizational assets through culture-driven solutions and modern technical strategies.