The Cyber Business Podcast

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn How Jedi helps financial advisors and RIAs clean, manage, and secure their databases Why optimizing tech stacks and eliminating redundancy is critical for business growth The role of automation and AI in scaling operations and improving workflows Key differences between working with small firms and large enterprises Insights on AI's future in CRM systems, incl...

Guest Introduction Marc Ashworth is the Chief Information Security Officer at First Bank, a fourth-generation, family-owned bank headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, with operations across six states. In his role, Marc oversees networking, physical security, financial crimes, and cybersecurity teams, providing a comprehensive approach to protecting both the institution and its customers. With a...

Guest Introduction James Barrell is the Chief Information Officer at Atlanta Mission, the largest and oldest homeless services provider in the Southeast. His career spans insurance, consulting, and corporate CRM systems before he transitioned to the nonprofit world in search of greater purpose and family balance. At Atlanta Mission, James has led a comprehensive digital transformation by building...

Guest Introduction Kyle Draisey serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Cybersecurity at Sagent, a leading fintech company specializing in mortgage servicing technology. With a military and intelligence background, Kyle has navigated high-stakes environments from tactical SIGINT missions in Iraq to cybersecurity leadership roles in the defense industry. At Sagent, he is levera...

Guest Introduction Jean-Philippe Gerbi is the Chief Information Officer at Metropolitan Commercial Bank, where he oversees technology strategy in a highly regulated and security-sensitive environment. With deep experience in building scalable and secure infrastructures for financial institutions, Gerbi takes a pragmatic and risk-aware approach to digital transformation. Before joining Metropolitan...

Guest Introduction Gerard Dwyer serves as the Chief Information Officer at Rivian, a pioneering electric vehicle company reshaping automotive technology. With a global background that spans from Ireland to Silicon Valley, Gerard's career journey includes executive roles at Google, Waymo, and Swisscom, as well as impactful work in South Africa during a post-apartheid transformation. At Rivian, he o...

Guest Introduction Stephen Ferraguti serves as Director of Information Technology at Hansen Properties, a historic and hospitality-rich organization that operates Normandy Farm Hotel, Blue Bell Country Club, and the Farmer's Daughter restaurant in Pennsylvania. With a background rooted in both tech and customer service, Stephen focuses on the often-overlooked role of IT in delivering five-star gue...

Guest Introduction Ted Williamson serves as the Chief Information Officer at Common Ground, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization specializing in crisis intervention and mental health services. He brings decades of experience across healthcare, enterprise IT, and consulting. He spent 15 years at Microsoft, where he led global consulting engagements and enterprise transformations. At Common Groun...

In This Episode Jason Frame begins by outlining the expansive responsibilities of the Southern Nevada Health District, from inspecting restaurants and regulating ambulances to delivering immunizations and managing public health labs. As the lead technology officer, Jason's team not only enabled operations during the COVID-19 crisis but also modernized how services were delivered under extraordinar...

In This Episode Carol Smith shares how her three-decade journey at DePauw University has been shaped by the powerful community of IT professionals in higher education. She reflects on the challenges of managing a lean IT team while delivering services at the same standard as large universities. By leveraging partnerships like the HESS Consortium and participating in organizations such as EDUCAUSE,...

In This Episode Silvano Silva details how Nevro is using high-frequency spinal stimulation to offer life-changing relief for chronic pain sufferers—especially those with type 2 diabetes. He explains how the implantable device communicates via Bluetooth with a mobile app and cloud infrastructure, creating a highly personalized AI-driven therapy model. As Nevro's CISO, Silvano's responsibility is no...

In This Episode Chris Bollerud shares how AppZen tackles fraud in expense and invoice processes using AI-driven automation. From scanning 100% of expense reports to matching invoices against purchase orders and flagging anomalous vendor behavior, AppZen is transforming how financial compliance is handled in enterprises of all sizes. Chris explains how AI helps detect changes in payment behavior, s...

In This Episode Matthew Mudry dives into his origin story, starting with a childhood fascination for dismantling and rebuilding computers and his entry into the tech world via Circuit City. He shares how a chance encounter with a bank executive launched his career and how pivotal mentorship moments at companies like Clayton and Castleton Commodities reshaped his thinking. Instead of clinging to te...

In This Episode: William Curtiss reflects on his evolution from engineering secure operating systems evaluated by the NSA to becoming an influential cybersecurity executive and peer group leader. As Co-Chair of Evanta's CISO Governing Body, he explains how conferences foster collaboration in a field where everyone is facing the same threats—and why peer support is critical in a high-pressure envir...

Zac Streelman joins The Cyber Business Podcast at a pivotal moment in his career: day 15 as the new CIO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union. Despite being new to the role, Zac brings a deep and varied background that uniquely equips him to navigate Allegacy's transformation. From his early days building PCs with Cyrix 686 chips to roles in education, manufacturing, and logistics, Zac's unconventional...

Kathryn shares how Brightpoint operates at scale with a team of nearly 950 staff supporting families in areas like mental health, early education, and child welfare. While funding comes largely from state and federal partnerships, Kathryn emphasizes the importance of both public and private collaborators—including AWS, a key supporter of Brightpoint's emerging AI solutions. As CIO, she's leading e...

Fred Clayton shares the story of how his career started not in a university, but through military service. After joining the Army to see the world, he was thrust into a technical role that would eventually evolve into a two-decade journey through networking, systems administration, cyber operations, and leadership. He became one of the early architects of cybersecurity for the Army when U.S. Cyber...

In This Episode John Cahill opens up about what it takes to manage the technology behind a massive public pension fund and the immense responsibility of delivering secure and seamless services to members who depend on monthly benefits. He shares the unique challenges of overseeing systems that handle both sensitive financial data and legislative updates in a hybrid work environment. John's pragmat...

In This Episode Anthony shares how an early brush with an APT shaped his entire security career. At the time, he was managing infrastructure for a global business when federal agents revealed that his organization had been compromised. That launched a one-year investigation that taught him more than any course ever could. The APT used subtle techniques like PowerShell commands and login impersonat...

Rick Scot recounts his unexpected path to cybersecurity leadership, beginning with tech support at Disney and evolving into high-level roles at Bank of America and Bank of New York Mellon. He highlights how his passion for continuous learning and pattern recognition made data and threat intelligence natural fits, eventually landing him leadership roles tackling global cybercrime and even represent...

In This Episode Sai opens the conversation by offering insight into the scale and strategy behind YNCU's cybersecurity posture—supporting 50,000+ members with just 300 employees. He explains how the credit union maintains the same core infrastructure as major banks while relying on collaboration, efficient vendor partnerships, and agile leadership to stay secure on a tighter budget. Sai emphasizes...

In This Episode Trent Johannesson brings a unique voice to cybersecurity—one shaped by decades of field experience and a determination to learn from the ground up. In this conversation, he explains how Phoenix Energy's broad service portfolio led to hosting client data and prompted the need for internal reorganization, ultimately landing him in the CSO role. With honesty and humor, Trent discusses...

In This Episode Bryan Finney walks through the massive IT and business transformation he's spearheading at Vector Security—an organization rooted in legacy infrastructure, complex acquisitions, and a fast-evolving physical security market. He breaks down how he unified siloed teams across two companies into "One IT," introduced enterprise architecture practices, and began reshaping the tech stack...

In This Episode Gina Nichols discusses the unique position Nymbus holds as a core banking provider for regional banks and credit unions, offering a full- service modern platform or modular " sidecar" systems. She describes how the company enables financial institutions to test new digital experiences without disrupting their legacy systems— giving them a competitive edge in a conservative market....

In This Episode Kenny Mullican's journey begins in software development but quickly takes off when his startup gets acquired by Connectix— the original makers of the QuickCam webcam. He soon transitions from California tech to remote work in Tulsa, working for Logitech and managing video tools long before Zoom was a household name. His early passion for problem- solving through code paved the way...