WELCOME TO OUR 2020 VIRTUAL FOOD SHOW

Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of The Gate 15 Company (Gate 15), where he oversees Gate 15 operations providing Gate 15’s threat-informed and risk based approach to analysis, preparedness and operations in support of private sector and government partners across the critical infrastructure environment, including support to the several information sharing and analysis centers. Andy also participates in Gate 15's podcasts, as a part of the monthly Risk Roundtable and in his monthly Gate 15 Interview. He is also the founder and member of the board of directors for the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) and the Cannabis ISAO. He is a member of the InfraGardNCR Board of Directors and a faculty member for the International Association of Venue Managers safety and security academy.

Shawn Whitcomb has been appointed to the Chief Security Officer and serving also as the Interim Chief Information Officer for Cherokee Nation Businesses based in Tulsa, OK.  Shawn has been with Cherokee Federal since March of 2021.   Mr. Whitcomb brings over 15 years of Cyber Security professional experience and over 25+ years of technology leadership serving in a wide range of leadership positions such as CISO, CIO, CTO, COO, CDO, and Chief of Staff.   His leadership experience extends across a variety of industry from healthcare, engineering, government, entertainment, manufacturing, advertising/media, and retail.   

Most recently, he served as Chief Information Security Officer and Chief of Staff for global 4,000+ law firm based in London.   He also was the COO/CTO for a National Healthcare Service Provider, where he was responsible for leading the operations of the organization’s nationwide healthcare services utilizing a global team and IT, R&D, Cyber Security, Legal, and Compliance.

Whitcomb earned a master's in science management from Baker University and a bachelor's degree in computer science and history from MidAmerica Nazarene University.   He received his CIO certificate in government from the University of North Carolina; and his CIO certification in Health Care from CHIME.  

Meet Bishal Thapa, an Information Security Officer at the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Nepal. Bishal initially pursued a career as an Environmental Lab Scientist for 11 years and contributed in protecting the environment and improve health and well-being of people. Driven by passion and curiosity for technology and cybersecurity, he transitioned into the realm of Information Security 4 years ago. Bishal has honed his skills over the past two years, safeguarding the digital infrastructure of a tribal organization. His journey reflects not only a commitment to adaptability but also a passion for protecting valuable data in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Bishal Thapa embodies the fusion of traditional values with cutting-edge technology in his professional journey.

Brent Hutfless leads the information security program for Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality enterprise of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek offers a variety of hotel, casino, dining, shopping, and entertainment venues at 10 locations throughout the US and Caribbean. Prior to his transition into gaming and hospitality, he held technology and security leadership roles at US Navy headquarters-level commands and a top US Federal contractor. His career covers active-duty service, aviation, defense, gaming, hospitality, healthcare, intelligence, manufacturing, and training. Brent holds degrees in Computer Science from Troy University and Software Engineering from the University of West Florida, in addition to CISSP and Medical Informatics certifications. He has contributed to post-secondary textbooks, peer-reviewed medical research, and enjoys presenting subjects like artificial intelligence, dark web, foreign espionage, hacking, identity theft, and other interesting topics that educate and entertain.

I am a dedicated IT professional with a passion for cybersecurity and a proven track record of driving positive change in both people and systems. With a keen eye for trends and a relentless commitment to enhancing operations, I inspire individuals and teams to thrive in both business and life while ensuring the utmost security of digital assets.

 

My career is marked by a deep focus on cybersecurity, where I have consistently improved customer experiences, provided critical research and analysis, and played a pivotal role in system design and implementation with a strong emphasis on safeguarding against cyber threats.

 

As an IT Director, I have elevated IT infrastructure, policies, and processes, working collaboratively with stakeholders to support business growth while enhancing the organization's cybersecurity posture with new resources and guidance.

Greg is currently the Director of Information Security at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Northern California.  He originally started his IT experience at Sac & Fox Casino in Kansas.  18 years later, Greg has gained valuable casino and hospitality experience both domestic and international.  His leadership roles in Product Management, IT Service Management and Information Security have provided a holistic view on pragmatic best practices.  Greg is new to being a speaker and believes in a continuous growth mindset, so he is excited to share his knowledge with other passionate IT and security professionals.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Like you, Mr. Wilson is driven to help raise the bar on security by lowering risk. With over three decades of information security, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches technical experience, his view on security can be radically different. He has the keen ability to translate complex technical issues into plain English for executives and other decision makers in the enterprise.

Always on the pulse of trends and breaches, Mr. Felix is able to provide consumable and actionable information to all audiences. Felix has a wide range of experience including incident response and hands-on experience with cutting edge technology.

Ivan Lomeli, currently serves as IT Security Manager- Architecture & Engineering at Cache Creek Casino Resort. He began his IT career in the healthcare industry in 2007 as a systems engineer and then in 2015 moved to Information Security in the Gaming Industry working for Pinnacle Entertainment. Lomeli then worked for a couple of S&P 500 companies (Penn National Gaming and Las Vegas Sands) in several InfoSec roles. He has obtained several certifications including CISSP, CEH, Security+, GSEC, Rapid7 Advanced Vulnerability Manager and Administrator.

Mike Miller is a Chief Information Security Officer for Appalachia Technologies. For over 25 years, Mike has specialized in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity, and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance). He has served as an effective liaison between technology and stakeholders, for organizations of all sizes. Mike continues to follow his passion by helping organizations understand business risk and strategically aligning a company’s security posture to protect it.

Don Assalone is the Director of Global Cybersecurity for Mohegan with 25+ years of Information Security leadership experience. Don has a wealth of knowledge and experience leading cyber security teams in a multitude of industries from health care, financial services, and retail.  He leads the Cyber Security team in CT and works across all Mohegan properties to help streamline and standardize processes, deploy training and awareness to end users, document, and test incident response, monitor compliance, and refine existing cyber tools. Assalone and his family volunteer in their community, and local Food Bank, and are avid travelers who enjoy frequent cruises and trips to Disney.

Jennifer Havas Joy grew up in the desert Southwest in Las Vegas, Nevada, and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. After her undergraduate educational pursuits, she went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has had as a varied and lengthy professional career as an attorney in Wisconsin, practicing in state, local, federal, and tribal courts, and represented clients from every corner of the state.  Most recently, she moved into the public sector as an attorney advisor at Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration. It was at the Small Business Administration where she gained her first insight and interest in grants management during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was there she had an opportunity to work on various new and existing grant programs. In 2023, she moved to FEMA to join the teams working on both the State and Local and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Programs. In her capacity as a preparedness officer, she provides critical subject matter expertise to the stakeholders. She appreciates the intersection of the law and grants management, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to communicate and regularly interact with her assigned states, territories and tribal governments discussing the nuances of the program and their projects to help ensure compliance over the course of the grant life cycle. 

Toni Pepper is currently the CEO/Founder of Pepper Consulting, LLC, where she leverages her vast experience in the gaming and hospitality industry to drive positive change in information technology and security. 

Toni is a strong leader and business partner with a demonstrated track record of managing enterprise IT strategy, operations, and projects for large organizations, including one of the largest tribal casinos in the country. 

Toni earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and her Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. During her free time, Toni enjoys reading, golfing, snorkeling, and traveling with her family.

Senior Program Specialist

Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center 
Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center

Brendan Montagne is a Senior Program Specialist for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) and the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). He is a member of the Stakeholder Engagement team providing U.S. State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) governments with free cybersecurity resources and services to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Montagne manages the accounts of hundreds of MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC members throughout the country, with a focus on Western states, to support their collective mission of stronger cybersecurity. He co-chairs the K-12 Workgroup, which focuses on connecting experts in the cybersecurity field from various schools across the Country.

Lee is an IT professional who is employed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe, located in Prior Lake, Minnesota.  As the IT Cyber Security Manager, he is responsible for the support, management and direction of information security for the Gaming, Health and Government segments across the tribal organization.  Lee has over 25 years of experience in the technical and managerial aspects of IT, with an emphasis on Cyber Security in his past 7 years.  The SMSC Gaming Enterprise (SMSC GE), encompassing Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, and Mystic Lake Center, offers slot machines, table games, a bingo hall, several food and beverage outlets, conference and entertainment facilities, a spa, and a hotel with full amenities. The SMSC Tribal Operations operates many enterprises including, but not limited to, Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores, Mazopiya Natural Food Store, Wozupi Tribal Gardens, The Meadows at Mystic Lake golf course, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, Dakotah Meadows RV Park & Mini Storage, SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, and Playworks childcare facility.

Renita is the founder, President and CEO of SECOND DERIVATIVE, LLC, a Native American, woman-owned business that provides a broad spectrum of technology services featuring strategic business/technology alignment, information security strategy, PMO & Portfolio Management capabilities. Renita has performed as both a CIO and a CISO, creating business, technology and information security strategy for medium to large sized businesses. One of the first Native American women to become a CISO, Renita is regarded as a pioneer in her field and one of just a handful of IBM iSeries information security specialists.

Cliff Steinhauer is a passionate information security and privacy professional. Currently based in Seattle, he has over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and project management. With the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Cliff works to direct community engagement through live events, educates through thought leadership, and runs the Cybersecurity program for NCA. Cliff enjoys sharing the message of securing your digital life, protecting information systems and the people that run them, and mentoring young folks to promote interest in the field.​

Kevin Holleran is a fifteen plus year veteran of information security. As the founder of Hollasec Information Security, he acts as a consulting Chief Information Security Officers for small to midsize organizations, coaches and mentors security leaders, and develops information security programs. After many years as a security leader in a Fortune 300 automotive group, a gaming & entertainment organization, and a large financial services organization, he focuses solely on serving organizations and developing and training security leaders. With a M.S. in Computer Information System from Grand Valley State University, an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, over twenty industry level certifications across strategy, leadership, risk, data law, forensics, incident response, penetration testing, and governance, Kevin has a breadth of experience across all domains of cyber security. He is passionate about bringing all these together to ensure effective and impactful communication to drive value to organizations. He also is committed to giving back to the community through both his small coffee roasting company Facing Goliath Coffee and through coaching and involvement in youth hockey.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Steven Nino is a director of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation. He has had the honor and privilege to work for Soboba for the past 15+ years; some even said he grew up professionally with Soboba. Over this time, his experience from Soboba and his continued education to obtain an Associate Degree in Computer Network, Bachelors in Information Security, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration have allowed him to hold the Chief Information Officer role for the Tribe over the last three and half years. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians organization's information technology, and systems, including Tribal government offices, Noli School, Soboba Springs Golf Course, the Gaming Commission, Casino T.A.N.F., and all other Tribal owned and operated enterprises.

Beyond the Soboba experience, he has had the privilege of working with bank mergers and acquisitions for Washington Mutual to Chase for contract work. Additionally, he is an active member and ambassador for TribalNet, a leading Tribal Technology organization that has helped bridge the technology gap in many Tribal nations over the last twenty years.

He is an IT leader that can provide technical expertise that powers sustainable business growth. He brings many years of knowledge and experience in supervision, analyzing, designing, implementing, and migrating systems. Furthermore, he can provide outstanding strategic planning, organizational development, leadership, and decision-making skills. He thrives in high-pressure environments, implementing environment-specific standards and processes to achieve consistent uptime. Technology ROI and TCO champion, consistently exceeding performance expectations while maintaining profitability. Explore all possibilities to find the most elegant and cost-effective solutions. Adept at managing all aspects of deployment and maintenance of multi-million-dollar projects.

Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of The Gate 15 Company (Gate 15), where he oversees Gate 15 operations providing Gate 15’s threat-informed and risk based approach to analysis, preparedness and operations in support of private sector and government partners across the critical infrastructure environment, including support to the several information sharing and analysis centers. Andy also participates in Gate 15's podcasts, as a part of the monthly Risk Roundtable and in his monthly Gate 15 Interview. He is also the founder and member of the board of directors for the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) and the Cannabis ISAO. He is a member of the InfraGardNCR Board of Directors and a faculty member for the International Association of Venue Managers safety and security academy.

Shawn Whitcomb has been appointed to the Chief Security Officer and serving also as the Interim Chief Information Officer for Cherokee Nation Businesses based in Tulsa, OK.  Shawn has been with Cherokee Federal since March of 2021.   Mr. Whitcomb brings over 15 years of Cyber Security professional experience and over 25+ years of technology leadership serving in a wide range of leadership positions such as CISO, CIO, CTO, COO, CDO, and Chief of Staff.   His leadership experience extends across a variety of industry from healthcare, engineering, government, entertainment, manufacturing, advertising/media, and retail.   

Most recently, he served as Chief Information Security Officer and Chief of Staff for global 4,000+ law firm based in London.   He also was the COO/CTO for a National Healthcare Service Provider, where he was responsible for leading the operations of the organization’s nationwide healthcare services utilizing a global team and IT, R&D, Cyber Security, Legal, and Compliance.

Whitcomb earned a master's in science management from Baker University and a bachelor's degree in computer science and history from MidAmerica Nazarene University.   He received his CIO certificate in government from the University of North Carolina; and his CIO certification in Health Care from CHIME.  

Meet Bishal Thapa, an Information Security Officer at the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Nepal. Bishal initially pursued a career as an Environmental Lab Scientist for 11 years and contributed in protecting the environment and improve health and well-being of people. Driven by passion and curiosity for technology and cybersecurity, he transitioned into the realm of Information Security 4 years ago. Bishal has honed his skills over the past two years, safeguarding the digital infrastructure of a tribal organization. His journey reflects not only a commitment to adaptability but also a passion for protecting valuable data in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Bishal Thapa embodies the fusion of traditional values with cutting-edge technology in his professional journey.

Brent Hutfless leads the information security program for Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality enterprise of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek offers a variety of hotel, casino, dining, shopping, and entertainment venues at 10 locations throughout the US and Caribbean. Prior to his transition into gaming and hospitality, he held technology and security leadership roles at US Navy headquarters-level commands and a top US Federal contractor. His career covers active-duty service, aviation, defense, gaming, hospitality, healthcare, intelligence, manufacturing, and training. Brent holds degrees in Computer Science from Troy University and Software Engineering from the University of West Florida, in addition to CISSP and Medical Informatics certifications. He has contributed to post-secondary textbooks, peer-reviewed medical research, and enjoys presenting subjects like artificial intelligence, dark web, foreign espionage, hacking, identity theft, and other interesting topics that educate and entertain.

I am a dedicated IT professional with a passion for cybersecurity and a proven track record of driving positive change in both people and systems. With a keen eye for trends and a relentless commitment to enhancing operations, I inspire individuals and teams to thrive in both business and life while ensuring the utmost security of digital assets.

 

My career is marked by a deep focus on cybersecurity, where I have consistently improved customer experiences, provided critical research and analysis, and played a pivotal role in system design and implementation with a strong emphasis on safeguarding against cyber threats.

 

As an IT Director, I have elevated IT infrastructure, policies, and processes, working collaboratively with stakeholders to support business growth while enhancing the organization's cybersecurity posture with new resources and guidance.

Greg is currently the Director of Information Security at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Northern California.  He originally started his IT experience at Sac & Fox Casino in Kansas.  18 years later, Greg has gained valuable casino and hospitality experience both domestic and international.  His leadership roles in Product Management, IT Service Management and Information Security have provided a holistic view on pragmatic best practices.  Greg is new to being a speaker and believes in a continuous growth mindset, so he is excited to share his knowledge with other passionate IT and security professionals.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Like you, Mr. Wilson is driven to help raise the bar on security by lowering risk. With over three decades of information security, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches technical experience, his view on security can be radically different. He has the keen ability to translate complex technical issues into plain English for executives and other decision makers in the enterprise.

Always on the pulse of trends and breaches, Mr. Felix is able to provide consumable and actionable information to all audiences. Felix has a wide range of experience including incident response and hands-on experience with cutting edge technology.

Ivan Lomeli, currently serves as IT Security Manager- Architecture & Engineering at Cache Creek Casino Resort. He began his IT career in the healthcare industry in 2007 as a systems engineer and then in 2015 moved to Information Security in the Gaming Industry working for Pinnacle Entertainment. Lomeli then worked for a couple of S&P 500 companies (Penn National Gaming and Las Vegas Sands) in several InfoSec roles. He has obtained several certifications including CISSP, CEH, Security+, GSEC, Rapid7 Advanced Vulnerability Manager and Administrator.

Mike Miller is a Chief Information Security Officer for Appalachia Technologies. For over 25 years, Mike has specialized in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity, and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance). He has served as an effective liaison between technology and stakeholders, for organizations of all sizes. Mike continues to follow his passion by helping organizations understand business risk and strategically aligning a company’s security posture to protect it.

Don Assalone is the Director of Global Cybersecurity for Mohegan with 25+ years of Information Security leadership experience. Don has a wealth of knowledge and experience leading cyber security teams in a multitude of industries from health care, financial services, and retail.  He leads the Cyber Security team in CT and works across all Mohegan properties to help streamline and standardize processes, deploy training and awareness to end users, document, and test incident response, monitor compliance, and refine existing cyber tools. Assalone and his family volunteer in their community, and local Food Bank, and are avid travelers who enjoy frequent cruises and trips to Disney.

Jennifer Havas Joy grew up in the desert Southwest in Las Vegas, Nevada, and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. After her undergraduate educational pursuits, she went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has had as a varied and lengthy professional career as an attorney in Wisconsin, practicing in state, local, federal, and tribal courts, and represented clients from every corner of the state.  Most recently, she moved into the public sector as an attorney advisor at Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration. It was at the Small Business Administration where she gained her first insight and interest in grants management during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was there she had an opportunity to work on various new and existing grant programs. In 2023, she moved to FEMA to join the teams working on both the State and Local and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Programs. In her capacity as a preparedness officer, she provides critical subject matter expertise to the stakeholders. She appreciates the intersection of the law and grants management, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to communicate and regularly interact with her assigned states, territories and tribal governments discussing the nuances of the program and their projects to help ensure compliance over the course of the grant life cycle. 

Lee is an IT professional who is employed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe, located in Prior Lake, Minnesota.  As the IT Cyber Security Manager, he is responsible for the support, management and direction of information security for the Gaming, Health and Government segments across the tribal organization.  Lee has over 25 years of experience in the technical and managerial aspects of IT, with an emphasis on Cyber Security in his past 7 years.  

The SMSC Gaming Enterprise (SMSC GE), encompassing Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, and Mystic Lake Center, offers slot machines, table games, a bingo hall, several food and beverage outlets, conference and entertainment facilities, a spa, and a hotel with full amenities. 

The SMSC Tribal Operations operates many enterprises including, but not limited to, Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores, Mazopiya Natural Food Store, Wozupi Tribal Gardens, The Meadows at Mystic Lake golf course, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, Dakotah Meadows RV Park & Mini Storage, SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, and Playworks childcare facility.

Toni Pepper is currently the CEO/Founder of Pepper Consulting, LLC, where she leverages her vast experience in the gaming and hospitality industry to drive positive change in information technology and security. 

Toni is a strong leader and business partner with a demonstrated track record of managing enterprise IT strategy, operations, and projects for large organizations, including one of the largest tribal casinos in the country. 

Toni earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and her Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. During her free time, Toni enjoys reading, golfing, snorkeling, and traveling with her family.

Senior Program Specialist

Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center 
Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center

Brendan Montagne is a Senior Program Specialist for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) and the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). He is a member of the Stakeholder Engagement team providing U.S. State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) governments with free cybersecurity resources and services to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Montagne manages the accounts of hundreds of MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC members throughout the country, with a focus on Western states, to support their collective mission of stronger cybersecurity. He co-chairs the K-12 Workgroup, which focuses on connecting experts in the cybersecurity field from various schools across the Country.

Renita is the founder, President and CEO of SECOND DERIVATIVE, LLC, a Native American, woman-owned business that provides a broad spectrum of technology services featuring strategic business/technology alignment, information security strategy, PMO & Portfolio Management capabilities. Renita has performed as both a CIO and a CISO, creating business, technology and information security strategy for medium to large sized businesses. One of the first Native American women to become a CISO, Renita is regarded as a pioneer in her field and one of just a handful of IBM iSeries information security specialists.

Cliff Steinhauer is a passionate information security and privacy professional. Currently based in Seattle, he has over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and project management. With the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Cliff works to direct community engagement through live events, educates through thought leadership, and runs the Cybersecurity program for NCA. Cliff enjoys sharing the message of securing your digital life, protecting information systems and the people that run them, and mentoring young folks to promote interest in the field.​

Kevin Holleran is a fifteen plus year veteran of information security. As the founder of Hollasec Information Security, he acts as a consulting Chief Information Security Officers for small to midsize organizations, coaches and mentors security leaders, and develops information security programs. After many years as a security leader in a Fortune 300 automotive group, a gaming & entertainment organization, and a large financial services organization, he focuses solely on serving organizations and developing and training security leaders. With a M.S. in Computer Information System from Grand Valley State University, an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, over twenty industry level certifications across strategy, leadership, risk, data law, forensics, incident response, penetration testing, and governance, Kevin has a breadth of experience across all domains of cyber security. He is passionate about bringing all these together to ensure effective and impactful communication to drive value to organizations. He also is committed to giving back to the community through both his small coffee roasting company Facing Goliath Coffee and through coaching and involvement in youth hockey.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Steven Nino is a director of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation. He has had the honor and privilege to work for Soboba for the past 15+ years; some even said he grew up professionally with Soboba. Over this time, his experience from Soboba and his continued education to obtain an Associate Degree in Computer Network, Bachelors in Information Security, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration have allowed him to hold the Chief Information Officer role for the Tribe over the last three and half years. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians organization's information technology, and systems, including Tribal government offices, Noli School, Soboba Springs Golf Course, the Gaming Commission, Casino T.A.N.F., and all other Tribal owned and operated enterprises.

Beyond the Soboba experience, he has had the privilege of working with bank mergers and acquisitions for Washington Mutual to Chase for contract work. Additionally, he is an active member and ambassador for TribalNet, a leading Tribal Technology organization that has helped bridge the technology gap in many Tribal nations over the last twenty years.

He is an IT leader that can provide technical expertise that powers sustainable business growth. He brings many years of knowledge and experience in supervision, analyzing, designing, implementing, and migrating systems. Furthermore, he can provide outstanding strategic planning, organizational development, leadership, and decision-making skills. He thrives in high-pressure environments, implementing environment-specific standards and processes to achieve consistent uptime. Technology ROI and TCO champion, consistently exceeding performance expectations while maintaining profitability. Explore all possibilities to find the most elegant and cost-effective solutions. Adept at managing all aspects of deployment and maintenance of multi-million-dollar projects.

Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of The Gate 15 Company (Gate 15), where he oversees Gate 15 operations providing Gate 15’s threat-informed and risk based approach to analysis, preparedness and operations in support of private sector and government partners across the critical infrastructure environment, including support to the several information sharing and analysis centers. Andy also participates in Gate 15's podcasts, as a part of the monthly Risk Roundtable and in his monthly Gate 15 Interview. He is also the founder and member of the board of directors for the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) and the Cannabis ISAO. He is a member of the InfraGardNCR Board of Directors and a faculty member for the International Association of Venue Managers safety and security academy.

Shawn Whitcomb has been appointed to the Chief Security Officer and serving also as the Interim Chief Information Officer for Cherokee Nation Businesses based in Tulsa, OK.  Shawn has been with Cherokee Federal since March of 2021.   Mr. Whitcomb brings over 15 years of Cyber Security professional experience and over 25+ years of technology leadership serving in a wide range of leadership positions such as CISO, CIO, CTO, COO, CDO, and Chief of Staff.   His leadership experience extends across a variety of industry from healthcare, engineering, government, entertainment, manufacturing, advertising/media, and retail.   

Most recently, he served as Chief Information Security Officer and Chief of Staff for global 4,000+ law firm based in London.   He also was the COO/CTO for a National Healthcare Service Provider, where he was responsible for leading the operations of the organization’s nationwide healthcare services utilizing a global team and IT, R&D, Cyber Security, Legal, and Compliance.

Whitcomb earned a master's in science management from Baker University and a bachelor's degree in computer science and history from MidAmerica Nazarene University.   He received his CIO certificate in government from the University of North Carolina; and his CIO certification in Health Care from CHIME.  

Meet Bishal Thapa, an Information Security Officer at the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Nepal. Bishal initially pursued a career as an Environmental Lab Scientist for 11 years and contributed in protecting the environment and improve health and well-being of people. Driven by passion and curiosity for technology and cybersecurity, he transitioned into the realm of Information Security 4 years ago. Bishal has honed his skills over the past two years, safeguarding the digital infrastructure of a tribal organization. His journey reflects not only a commitment to adaptability but also a passion for protecting valuable data in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Bishal Thapa embodies the fusion of traditional values with cutting-edge technology in his professional journey.

Brent Hutfless leads the information security program for Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality enterprise of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek offers a variety of hotel, casino, dining, shopping, and entertainment venues at 10 locations throughout the US and Caribbean. Prior to his transition into gaming and hospitality, he held technology and security leadership roles at US Navy headquarters-level commands and a top US Federal contractor. His career covers active-duty service, aviation, defense, gaming, hospitality, healthcare, intelligence, manufacturing, and training. Brent holds degrees in Computer Science from Troy University and Software Engineering from the University of West Florida, in addition to CISSP and Medical Informatics certifications. He has contributed to post-secondary textbooks, peer-reviewed medical research, and enjoys presenting subjects like artificial intelligence, dark web, foreign espionage, hacking, identity theft, and other interesting topics that educate and entertain.

I am a dedicated IT professional with a passion for cybersecurity and a proven track record of driving positive change in both people and systems. With a keen eye for trends and a relentless commitment to enhancing operations, I inspire individuals and teams to thrive in both business and life while ensuring the utmost security of digital assets.

 

My career is marked by a deep focus on cybersecurity, where I have consistently improved customer experiences, provided critical research and analysis, and played a pivotal role in system design and implementation with a strong emphasis on safeguarding against cyber threats.

 

As an IT Director, I have elevated IT infrastructure, policies, and processes, working collaboratively with stakeholders to support business growth while enhancing the organization's cybersecurity posture with new resources and guidance.

Greg is currently the Director of Information Security at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Northern California.  He originally started his IT experience at Sac & Fox Casino in Kansas.  18 years later, Greg has gained valuable casino and hospitality experience both domestic and international.  His leadership roles in Product Management, IT Service Management and Information Security have provided a holistic view on pragmatic best practices.  Greg is new to being a speaker and believes in a continuous growth mindset, so he is excited to share his knowledge with other passionate IT and security professionals.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Like you, Mr. Wilson is driven to help raise the bar on security by lowering risk. With over three decades of information security, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches technical experience, his view on security can be radically different. He has the keen ability to translate complex technical issues into plain English for executives and other decision makers in the enterprise.

Always on the pulse of trends and breaches, Mr. Felix is able to provide consumable and actionable information to all audiences. Felix has a wide range of experience including incident response and hands-on experience with cutting edge technology.

Ivan Lomeli, currently serves as IT Security Manager- Architecture & Engineering at Cache Creek Casino Resort. He began his IT career in the healthcare industry in 2007 as a systems engineer and then in 2015 moved to Information Security in the Gaming Industry working for Pinnacle Entertainment. Lomeli then worked for a couple of S&P 500 companies (Penn National Gaming and Las Vegas Sands) in several InfoSec roles. He has obtained several certifications including CISSP, CEH, Security+, GSEC, Rapid7 Advanced Vulnerability Manager and Administrator.

Mike Miller is a Chief Information Security Officer for Appalachia Technologies. For over 25 years, Mike has specialized in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity, and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance). He has served as an effective liaison between technology and stakeholders, for organizations of all sizes. Mike continues to follow his passion by helping organizations understand business risk and strategically aligning a company’s security posture to protect it.

Don Assalone is the Director of Global Cybersecurity for Mohegan with 25+ years of Information Security leadership experience. Don has a wealth of knowledge and experience leading cyber security teams in a multitude of industries from health care, financial services, and retail.  He leads the Cyber Security team in CT and works across all Mohegan properties to help streamline and standardize processes, deploy training and awareness to end users, document, and test incident response, monitor compliance, and refine existing cyber tools. Assalone and his family volunteer in their community, and local Food Bank, and are avid travelers who enjoy frequent cruises and trips to Disney.

Jennifer Havas Joy grew up in the desert Southwest in Las Vegas, Nevada, and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. After her undergraduate educational pursuits, she went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has had as a varied and lengthy professional career as an attorney in Wisconsin, practicing in state, local, federal, and tribal courts, and represented clients from every corner of the state.  Most recently, she moved into the public sector as an attorney advisor at Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration. It was at the Small Business Administration where she gained her first insight and interest in grants management during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was there she had an opportunity to work on various new and existing grant programs. In 2023, she moved to FEMA to join the teams working on both the State and Local and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Programs. In her capacity as a preparedness officer, she provides critical subject matter expertise to the stakeholders. She appreciates the intersection of the law and grants management, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to communicate and regularly interact with her assigned states, territories and tribal governments discussing the nuances of the program and their projects to help ensure compliance over the course of the grant life cycle. 

Lee is an IT professional who is employed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe, located in Prior Lake, Minnesota.  As the IT Cyber Security Manager, he is responsible for the support, management and direction of information security for the Gaming, Health and Government segments across the tribal organization.  Lee has over 25 years of experience in the technical and managerial aspects of IT, with an emphasis on Cyber Security in his past 7 years.  

The SMSC Gaming Enterprise (SMSC GE), encompassing Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, and Mystic Lake Center, offers slot machines, table games, a bingo hall, several food and beverage outlets, conference and entertainment facilities, a spa, and a hotel with full amenities. 

The SMSC Tribal Operations operates many enterprises including, but not limited to, Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores, Mazopiya Natural Food Store, Wozupi Tribal Gardens, The Meadows at Mystic Lake golf course, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, Dakotah Meadows RV Park & Mini Storage, SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, and Playworks childcare facility.

Toni Pepper is currently the CEO/Founder of Pepper Consulting, LLC, where she leverages her vast experience in the gaming and hospitality industry to drive positive change in information technology and security. 

Toni is a strong leader and business partner with a demonstrated track record of managing enterprise IT strategy, operations, and projects for large organizations, including one of the largest tribal casinos in the country. 

Toni earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and her Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. During her free time, Toni enjoys reading, golfing, snorkeling, and traveling with her family.

Senior Program Specialist

Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center 
Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center

Brendan Montagne is a Senior Program Specialist for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) and the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). He is a member of the Stakeholder Engagement team providing U.S. State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) governments with free cybersecurity resources and services to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Montagne manages the accounts of hundreds of MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC members throughout the country, with a focus on Western states, to support their collective mission of stronger cybersecurity. He co-chairs the K-12 Workgroup, which focuses on connecting experts in the cybersecurity field from various schools across the Country.

Renita is the founder, President and CEO of SECOND DERIVATIVE, LLC, a Native American, woman-owned business that provides a broad spectrum of technology services featuring strategic business/technology alignment, information security strategy, PMO & Portfolio Management capabilities. Renita has performed as both a CIO and a CISO, creating business, technology and information security strategy for medium to large sized businesses. One of the first Native American women to become a CISO, Renita is regarded as a pioneer in her field and one of just a handful of IBM iSeries information security specialists.

Cliff Steinhauer is a passionate information security and privacy professional. Currently based in Seattle, he has over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and project management. With the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Cliff works to direct community engagement through live events, educates through thought leadership, and runs the Cybersecurity program for NCA. Cliff enjoys sharing the message of securing your digital life, protecting information systems and the people that run them, and mentoring young folks to promote interest in the field.​

Kevin Holleran is a fifteen plus year veteran of information security. As the founder of Hollasec Information Security, he acts as a consulting Chief Information Security Officers for small to midsize organizations, coaches and mentors security leaders, and develops information security programs. After many years as a security leader in a Fortune 300 automotive group, a gaming & entertainment organization, and a large financial services organization, he focuses solely on serving organizations and developing and training security leaders. With a M.S. in Computer Information System from Grand Valley State University, an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, over twenty industry level certifications across strategy, leadership, risk, data law, forensics, incident response, penetration testing, and governance, Kevin has a breadth of experience across all domains of cyber security. He is passionate about bringing all these together to ensure effective and impactful communication to drive value to organizations. He also is committed to giving back to the community through both his small coffee roasting company Facing Goliath Coffee and through coaching and involvement in youth hockey.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Steven Nino is a director of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation. He has had the honor and privilege to work for Soboba for the past 15+ years; some even said he grew up professionally with Soboba. Over this time, his experience from Soboba and his continued education to obtain an Associate Degree in Computer Network, Bachelors in Information Security, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration have allowed him to hold the Chief Information Officer role for the Tribe over the last three and half years. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians organization's information technology, and systems, including Tribal government offices, Noli School, Soboba Springs Golf Course, the Gaming Commission, Casino T.A.N.F., and all other Tribal owned and operated enterprises.

Beyond the Soboba experience, he has had the privilege of working with bank mergers and acquisitions for Washington Mutual to Chase for contract work. Additionally, he is an active member and ambassador for TribalNet, a leading Tribal Technology organization that has helped bridge the technology gap in many Tribal nations over the last twenty years.

He is an IT leader that can provide technical expertise that powers sustainable business growth. He brings many years of knowledge and experience in supervision, analyzing, designing, implementing, and migrating systems. Furthermore, he can provide outstanding strategic planning, organizational development, leadership, and decision-making skills. He thrives in high-pressure environments, implementing environment-specific standards and processes to achieve consistent uptime. Technology ROI and TCO champion, consistently exceeding performance expectations while maintaining profitability. Explore all possibilities to find the most elegant and cost-effective solutions. Adept at managing all aspects of deployment and maintenance of multi-million-dollar projects.

Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of The Gate 15 Company (Gate 15), where he oversees Gate 15 operations providing Gate 15’s threat-informed and risk based approach to analysis, preparedness and operations in support of private sector and government partners across the critical infrastructure environment, including support to the several information sharing and analysis centers. Andy also participates in Gate 15's podcasts, as a part of the monthly Risk Roundtable and in his monthly Gate 15 Interview. He is also the founder and member of the board of directors for the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) and the Cannabis ISAO. He is a member of the InfraGardNCR Board of Directors and a faculty member for the International Association of Venue Managers safety and security academy.

Shawn Whitcomb has been appointed to the Chief Security Officer and serving also as the Interim Chief Information Officer for Cherokee Nation Businesses based in Tulsa, OK.  Shawn has been with Cherokee Federal since March of 2021.   Mr. Whitcomb brings over 15 years of Cyber Security professional experience and over 25+ years of technology leadership serving in a wide range of leadership positions such as CISO, CIO, CTO, COO, CDO, and Chief of Staff.   His leadership experience extends across a variety of industry from healthcare, engineering, government, entertainment, manufacturing, advertising/media, and retail.   

Most recently, he served as Chief Information Security Officer and Chief of Staff for global 4,000+ law firm based in London.   He also was the COO/CTO for a National Healthcare Service Provider, where he was responsible for leading the operations of the organization’s nationwide healthcare services utilizing a global team and IT, R&D, Cyber Security, Legal, and Compliance.

Whitcomb earned a master's in science management from Baker University and a bachelor's degree in computer science and history from MidAmerica Nazarene University.   He received his CIO certificate in government from the University of North Carolina; and his CIO certification in Health Care from CHIME.  

Meet Bishal Thapa, an Information Security Officer at the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Nepal. Bishal initially pursued a career as an Environmental Lab Scientist for 11 years and contributed in protecting the environment and improve health and well-being of people. Driven by passion and curiosity for technology and cybersecurity, he transitioned into the realm of Information Security 4 years ago. Bishal has honed his skills over the past two years, safeguarding the digital infrastructure of a tribal organization. His journey reflects not only a commitment to adaptability but also a passion for protecting valuable data in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Bishal Thapa embodies the fusion of traditional values with cutting-edge technology in his professional journey.

Brent Hutfless leads the information security program for Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality enterprise of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek offers a variety of hotel, casino, dining, shopping, and entertainment venues at 10 locations throughout the US and Caribbean. Prior to his transition into gaming and hospitality, he held technology and security leadership roles at US Navy headquarters-level commands and a top US Federal contractor. His career covers active-duty service, aviation, defense, gaming, hospitality, healthcare, intelligence, manufacturing, and training. Brent holds degrees in Computer Science from Troy University and Software Engineering from the University of West Florida, in addition to CISSP and Medical Informatics certifications. He has contributed to post-secondary textbooks, peer-reviewed medical research, and enjoys presenting subjects like artificial intelligence, dark web, foreign espionage, hacking, identity theft, and other interesting topics that educate and entertain.

I am a dedicated IT professional with a passion for cybersecurity and a proven track record of driving positive change in both people and systems. With a keen eye for trends and a relentless commitment to enhancing operations, I inspire individuals and teams to thrive in both business and life while ensuring the utmost security of digital assets.

 

My career is marked by a deep focus on cybersecurity, where I have consistently improved customer experiences, provided critical research and analysis, and played a pivotal role in system design and implementation with a strong emphasis on safeguarding against cyber threats.

 

As an IT Director, I have elevated IT infrastructure, policies, and processes, working collaboratively with stakeholders to support business growth while enhancing the organization's cybersecurity posture with new resources and guidance.

Greg is currently the Director of Information Security at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Northern California.  He originally started his IT experience at Sac & Fox Casino in Kansas.  18 years later, Greg has gained valuable casino and hospitality experience both domestic and international.  His leadership roles in Product Management, IT Service Management and Information Security have provided a holistic view on pragmatic best practices.  Greg is new to being a speaker and believes in a continuous growth mindset, so he is excited to share his knowledge with other passionate IT and security professionals.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Like you, Mr. Wilson is driven to help raise the bar on security by lowering risk. With over three decades of information security, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches technical experience, his view on security can be radically different. He has the keen ability to translate complex technical issues into plain English for executives and other decision makers in the enterprise.

Always on the pulse of trends and breaches, Mr. Felix is able to provide consumable and actionable information to all audiences. Felix has a wide range of experience including incident response and hands-on experience with cutting edge technology.

Ivan Lomeli, currently serves as IT Security Manager- Architecture & Engineering at Cache Creek Casino Resort. He began his IT career in the healthcare industry in 2007 as a systems engineer and then in 2015 moved to Information Security in the Gaming Industry working for Pinnacle Entertainment. Lomeli then worked for a couple of S&P 500 companies (Penn National Gaming and Las Vegas Sands) in several InfoSec roles. He has obtained several certifications including CISSP, CEH, Security+, GSEC, Rapid7 Advanced Vulnerability Manager and Administrator.

Mike Miller is a Chief Information Security Officer for Appalachia Technologies. For over 25 years, Mike has specialized in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity, and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance). He has served as an effective liaison between technology and stakeholders, for organizations of all sizes. Mike continues to follow his passion by helping organizations understand business risk and strategically aligning a company’s security posture to protect it.

Don Assalone is the Director of Global Cybersecurity for Mohegan with 25+ years of Information Security leadership experience. Don has a wealth of knowledge and experience leading cyber security teams in a multitude of industries from health care, financial services, and retail.  He leads the Cyber Security team in CT and works across all Mohegan properties to help streamline and standardize processes, deploy training and awareness to end users, document, and test incident response, monitor compliance, and refine existing cyber tools. Assalone and his family volunteer in their community, and local Food Bank, and are avid travelers who enjoy frequent cruises and trips to Disney.

Jennifer Havas Joy grew up in the desert Southwest in Las Vegas, Nevada, and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. After her undergraduate educational pursuits, she went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has had as a varied and lengthy professional career as an attorney in Wisconsin, practicing in state, local, federal, and tribal courts, and represented clients from every corner of the state.  Most recently, she moved into the public sector as an attorney advisor at Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration. It was at the Small Business Administration where she gained her first insight and interest in grants management during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was there she had an opportunity to work on various new and existing grant programs. In 2023, she moved to FEMA to join the teams working on both the State and Local and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Programs. In her capacity as a preparedness officer, she provides critical subject matter expertise to the stakeholders. She appreciates the intersection of the law and grants management, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to communicate and regularly interact with her assigned states, territories and tribal governments discussing the nuances of the program and their projects to help ensure compliance over the course of the grant life cycle. 

Lee is an IT professional who is employed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe, located in Prior Lake, Minnesota.  As the IT Cyber Security Manager, he is responsible for the support, management and direction of information security for the Gaming, Health and Government segments across the tribal organization.  Lee has over 25 years of experience in the technical and managerial aspects of IT, with an emphasis on Cyber Security in his past 7 years.  

The SMSC Gaming Enterprise (SMSC GE), encompassing Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, and Mystic Lake Center, offers slot machines, table games, a bingo hall, several food and beverage outlets, conference and entertainment facilities, a spa, and a hotel with full amenities. 

The SMSC Tribal Operations operates many enterprises including, but not limited to, Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores, Mazopiya Natural Food Store, Wozupi Tribal Gardens, The Meadows at Mystic Lake golf course, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, Dakotah Meadows RV Park & Mini Storage, SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, and Playworks childcare facility.

Toni Pepper is currently the CEO/Founder of Pepper Consulting, LLC, where she leverages her vast experience in the gaming and hospitality industry to drive positive change in information technology and security. 

Toni is a strong leader and business partner with a demonstrated track record of managing enterprise IT strategy, operations, and projects for large organizations, including one of the largest tribal casinos in the country. 

Toni earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and her Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. During her free time, Toni enjoys reading, golfing, snorkeling, and traveling with her family.

Senior Program Specialist

Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center 
Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center

Brendan Montagne is a Senior Program Specialist for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) and the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). He is a member of the Stakeholder Engagement team providing U.S. State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) governments with free cybersecurity resources and services to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Montagne manages the accounts of hundreds of MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC members throughout the country, with a focus on Western states, to support their collective mission of stronger cybersecurity. He co-chairs the K-12 Workgroup, which focuses on connecting experts in the cybersecurity field from various schools across the Country.

Renita is the founder, President and CEO of SECOND DERIVATIVE, LLC, a Native American, woman-owned business that provides a broad spectrum of technology services featuring strategic business/technology alignment, information security strategy, PMO & Portfolio Management capabilities. Renita has performed as both a CIO and a CISO, creating business, technology and information security strategy for medium to large sized businesses. One of the first Native American women to become a CISO, Renita is regarded as a pioneer in her field and one of just a handful of IBM iSeries information security specialists.

Cliff Steinhauer is a passionate information security and privacy professional. Currently based in Seattle, he has over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and project management. With the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Cliff works to direct community engagement through live events, educates through thought leadership, and runs the Cybersecurity program for NCA. Cliff enjoys sharing the message of securing your digital life, protecting information systems and the people that run them, and mentoring young folks to promote interest in the field.​

Kevin Holleran is a fifteen plus year veteran of information security. As the founder of Hollasec Information Security, he acts as a consulting Chief Information Security Officers for small to midsize organizations, coaches and mentors security leaders, and develops information security programs. After many years as a security leader in a Fortune 300 automotive group, a gaming & entertainment organization, and a large financial services organization, he focuses solely on serving organizations and developing and training security leaders. With a M.S. in Computer Information System from Grand Valley State University, an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, over twenty industry level certifications across strategy, leadership, risk, data law, forensics, incident response, penetration testing, and governance, Kevin has a breadth of experience across all domains of cyber security. He is passionate about bringing all these together to ensure effective and impactful communication to drive value to organizations. He also is committed to giving back to the community through both his small coffee roasting company Facing Goliath Coffee and through coaching and involvement in youth hockey.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Steven Nino is a director of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation. He has had the honor and privilege to work for Soboba for the past 15+ years; some even said he grew up professionally with Soboba. Over this time, his experience from Soboba and his continued education to obtain an Associate Degree in Computer Network, Bachelors in Information Security, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration have allowed him to hold the Chief Information Officer role for the Tribe over the last three and half years. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians organization's information technology, and systems, including Tribal government offices, Noli School, Soboba Springs Golf Course, the Gaming Commission, Casino T.A.N.F., and all other Tribal owned and operated enterprises.

Beyond the Soboba experience, he has had the privilege of working with bank mergers and acquisitions for Washington Mutual to Chase for contract work. Additionally, he is an active member and ambassador for TribalNet, a leading Tribal Technology organization that has helped bridge the technology gap in many Tribal nations over the last twenty years.

He is an IT leader that can provide technical expertise that powers sustainable business growth. He brings many years of knowledge and experience in supervision, analyzing, designing, implementing, and migrating systems. Furthermore, he can provide outstanding strategic planning, organizational development, leadership, and decision-making skills. He thrives in high-pressure environments, implementing environment-specific standards and processes to achieve consistent uptime. Technology ROI and TCO champion, consistently exceeding performance expectations while maintaining profitability. Explore all possibilities to find the most elegant and cost-effective solutions. Adept at managing all aspects of deployment and maintenance of multi-million-dollar projects.

Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of The Gate 15 Company (Gate 15), where he oversees Gate 15 operations providing Gate 15’s threat-informed and risk based approach to analysis, preparedness and operations in support of private sector and government partners across the critical infrastructure environment, including support to the several information sharing and analysis centers. Andy also participates in Gate 15's podcasts, as a part of the monthly Risk Roundtable and in his monthly Gate 15 Interview. He is also the founder and member of the board of directors for the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) and the Cannabis ISAO. He is a member of the InfraGardNCR Board of Directors and a faculty member for the International Association of Venue Managers safety and security academy.

Shawn Whitcomb has been appointed to the Chief Security Officer and serving also as the Interim Chief Information Officer for Cherokee Nation Businesses based in Tulsa, OK.  Shawn has been with Cherokee Federal since March of 2021.   Mr. Whitcomb brings over 15 years of Cyber Security professional experience and over 25+ years of technology leadership serving in a wide range of leadership positions such as CISO, CIO, CTO, COO, CDO, and Chief of Staff.   His leadership experience extends across a variety of industry from healthcare, engineering, government, entertainment, manufacturing, advertising/media, and retail.   

Most recently, he served as Chief Information Security Officer and Chief of Staff for global 4,000+ law firm based in London.   He also was the COO/CTO for a National Healthcare Service Provider, where he was responsible for leading the operations of the organization’s nationwide healthcare services utilizing a global team and IT, R&D, Cyber Security, Legal, and Compliance.

Whitcomb earned a master's in science management from Baker University and a bachelor's degree in computer science and history from MidAmerica Nazarene University.   He received his CIO certificate in government from the University of North Carolina; and his CIO certification in Health Care from CHIME.  

Meet Bishal Thapa, an Information Security Officer at the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Nepal. Bishal initially pursued a career as an Environmental Lab Scientist for 11 years and contributed in protecting the environment and improve health and well-being of people. Driven by passion and curiosity for technology and cybersecurity, he transitioned into the realm of Information Security 4 years ago. Bishal has honed his skills over the past two years, safeguarding the digital infrastructure of a tribal organization. His journey reflects not only a commitment to adaptability but also a passion for protecting valuable data in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Bishal Thapa embodies the fusion of traditional values with cutting-edge technology in his professional journey.

Brent Hutfless leads the information security program for Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality enterprise of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek offers a variety of hotel, casino, dining, shopping, and entertainment venues at 10 locations throughout the US and Caribbean. Prior to his transition into gaming and hospitality, he held technology and security leadership roles at US Navy headquarters-level commands and a top US Federal contractor. His career covers active-duty service, aviation, defense, gaming, hospitality, healthcare, intelligence, manufacturing, and training. Brent holds degrees in Computer Science from Troy University and Software Engineering from the University of West Florida, in addition to CISSP and Medical Informatics certifications. He has contributed to post-secondary textbooks, peer-reviewed medical research, and enjoys presenting subjects like artificial intelligence, dark web, foreign espionage, hacking, identity theft, and other interesting topics that educate and entertain.

I am a dedicated IT professional with a passion for cybersecurity and a proven track record of driving positive change in both people and systems. With a keen eye for trends and a relentless commitment to enhancing operations, I inspire individuals and teams to thrive in both business and life while ensuring the utmost security of digital assets.

 

My career is marked by a deep focus on cybersecurity, where I have consistently improved customer experiences, provided critical research and analysis, and played a pivotal role in system design and implementation with a strong emphasis on safeguarding against cyber threats.

 

As an IT Director, I have elevated IT infrastructure, policies, and processes, working collaboratively with stakeholders to support business growth while enhancing the organization's cybersecurity posture with new resources and guidance.

Greg is currently the Director of Information Security at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Northern California.  He originally started his IT experience at Sac & Fox Casino in Kansas.  18 years later, Greg has gained valuable casino and hospitality experience both domestic and international.  His leadership roles in Product Management, IT Service Management and Information Security have provided a holistic view on pragmatic best practices.  Greg is new to being a speaker and believes in a continuous growth mindset, so he is excited to share his knowledge with other passionate IT and security professionals.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Like you, Mr. Wilson is driven to help raise the bar on security by lowering risk. With over three decades of information security, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches technical experience, his view on security can be radically different. He has the keen ability to translate complex technical issues into plain English for executives and other decision makers in the enterprise.

Always on the pulse of trends and breaches, Mr. Felix is able to provide consumable and actionable information to all audiences. Felix has a wide range of experience including incident response and hands-on experience with cutting edge technology.

Ivan Lomeli, currently serves as IT Security Manager- Architecture & Engineering at Cache Creek Casino Resort. He began his IT career in the healthcare industry in 2007 as a systems engineer and then in 2015 moved to Information Security in the Gaming Industry working for Pinnacle Entertainment. Lomeli then worked for a couple of S&P 500 companies (Penn National Gaming and Las Vegas Sands) in several InfoSec roles. He has obtained several certifications including CISSP, CEH, Security+, GSEC, Rapid7 Advanced Vulnerability Manager and Administrator.

Mike Miller is a Chief Information Security Officer for Appalachia Technologies. For over 25 years, Mike has specialized in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity, and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance). He has served as an effective liaison between technology and stakeholders, for organizations of all sizes. Mike continues to follow his passion by helping organizations understand business risk and strategically aligning a company’s security posture to protect it.

Don Assalone is the Director of Global Cybersecurity for Mohegan with 25+ years of Information Security leadership experience. Don has a wealth of knowledge and experience leading cyber security teams in a multitude of industries from health care, financial services, and retail.  He leads the Cyber Security team in CT and works across all Mohegan properties to help streamline and standardize processes, deploy training and awareness to end users, document, and test incident response, monitor compliance, and refine existing cyber tools. Assalone and his family volunteer in their community, and local Food Bank, and are avid travelers who enjoy frequent cruises and trips to Disney.

Jennifer Havas Joy grew up in the desert Southwest in Las Vegas, Nevada, and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. After her undergraduate educational pursuits, she went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has had as a varied and lengthy professional career as an attorney in Wisconsin, practicing in state, local, federal, and tribal courts, and represented clients from every corner of the state.  Most recently, she moved into the public sector as an attorney advisor at Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration. It was at the Small Business Administration where she gained her first insight and interest in grants management during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was there she had an opportunity to work on various new and existing grant programs. In 2023, she moved to FEMA to join the teams working on both the State and Local and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Programs. In her capacity as a preparedness officer, she provides critical subject matter expertise to the stakeholders. She appreciates the intersection of the law and grants management, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to communicate and regularly interact with her assigned states, territories and tribal governments discussing the nuances of the program and their projects to help ensure compliance over the course of the grant life cycle. 

Lee is an IT professional who is employed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe, located in Prior Lake, Minnesota.  As the IT Cyber Security Manager, he is responsible for the support, management and direction of information security for the Gaming, Health and Government segments across the tribal organization.  Lee has over 25 years of experience in the technical and managerial aspects of IT, with an emphasis on Cyber Security in his past 7 years.  

The SMSC Gaming Enterprise (SMSC GE), encompassing Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, and Mystic Lake Center, offers slot machines, table games, a bingo hall, several food and beverage outlets, conference and entertainment facilities, a spa, and a hotel with full amenities. 

The SMSC Tribal Operations operates many enterprises including, but not limited to, Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores, Mazopiya Natural Food Store, Wozupi Tribal Gardens, The Meadows at Mystic Lake golf course, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, Dakotah Meadows RV Park & Mini Storage, SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, and Playworks childcare facility.

Toni Pepper is currently the CEO/Founder of Pepper Consulting, LLC, where she leverages her vast experience in the gaming and hospitality industry to drive positive change in information technology and security. 

Toni is a strong leader and business partner with a demonstrated track record of managing enterprise IT strategy, operations, and projects for large organizations, including one of the largest tribal casinos in the country. 

Toni earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and her Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. During her free time, Toni enjoys reading, golfing, snorkeling, and traveling with her family.

Senior Program Specialist

Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center 
Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center

Brendan Montagne is a Senior Program Specialist for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) and the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). He is a member of the Stakeholder Engagement team providing U.S. State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) governments with free cybersecurity resources and services to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Montagne manages the accounts of hundreds of MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC members throughout the country, with a focus on Western states, to support their collective mission of stronger cybersecurity. He co-chairs the K-12 Workgroup, which focuses on connecting experts in the cybersecurity field from various schools across the Country.

Renita is the founder, President and CEO of SECOND DERIVATIVE, LLC, a Native American, woman-owned business that provides a broad spectrum of technology services featuring strategic business/technology alignment, information security strategy, PMO & Portfolio Management capabilities. Renita has performed as both a CIO and a CISO, creating business, technology and information security strategy for medium to large sized businesses. One of the first Native American women to become a CISO, Renita is regarded as a pioneer in her field and one of just a handful of IBM iSeries information security specialists.

Cliff Steinhauer is a passionate information security and privacy professional. Currently based in Seattle, he has over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and project management. With the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Cliff works to direct community engagement through live events, educates through thought leadership, and runs the Cybersecurity program for NCA. Cliff enjoys sharing the message of securing your digital life, protecting information systems and the people that run them, and mentoring young folks to promote interest in the field.​

Kevin Holleran is a fifteen plus year veteran of information security. As the founder of Hollasec Information Security, he acts as a consulting Chief Information Security Officers for small to midsize organizations, coaches and mentors security leaders, and develops information security programs. After many years as a security leader in a Fortune 300 automotive group, a gaming & entertainment organization, and a large financial services organization, he focuses solely on serving organizations and developing and training security leaders. With a M.S. in Computer Information System from Grand Valley State University, an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University, over twenty industry level certifications across strategy, leadership, risk, data law, forensics, incident response, penetration testing, and governance, Kevin has a breadth of experience across all domains of cyber security. He is passionate about bringing all these together to ensure effective and impactful communication to drive value to organizations. He also is committed to giving back to the community through both his small coffee roasting company Facing Goliath Coffee and through coaching and involvement in youth hockey.

Matt Moon is an Information Technology and Casino Executive with 22 years total Casino I.T. leadership experience and 29 years in the I.T. field.  He has worked at and opened Tribal and Commercial casinos in Louisiana, California, Michigan, and Indiana.  Matt has been a part of the Four Winds team since 2007, holding the VP of IT position, and now serves as the Four Winds CIO for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s four casinos.  Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics.

Steven Nino is a director of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation. He has had the honor and privilege to work for Soboba for the past 15+ years; some even said he grew up professionally with Soboba. Over this time, his experience from Soboba and his continued education to obtain an Associate Degree in Computer Network, Bachelors in Information Security, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration have allowed him to hold the Chief Information Officer role for the Tribe over the last three and half years. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians organization's information technology, and systems, including Tribal government offices, Noli School, Soboba Springs Golf Course, the Gaming Commission, Casino T.A.N.F., and all other Tribal owned and operated enterprises.

Beyond the Soboba experience, he has had the privilege of working with bank mergers and acquisitions for Washington Mutual to Chase for contract work. Additionally, he is an active member and ambassador for TribalNet, a leading Tribal Technology organization that has helped bridge the technology gap in many Tribal nations over the last twenty years.

He is an IT leader that can provide technical expertise that powers sustainable business growth. He brings many years of knowledge and experience in supervision, analyzing, designing, implementing, and migrating systems. Furthermore, he can provide outstanding strategic planning, organizational development, leadership, and decision-making skills. He thrives in high-pressure environments, implementing environment-specific standards and processes to achieve consistent uptime. Technology ROI and TCO champion, consistently exceeding performance expectations while maintaining profitability. Explore all possibilities to find the most elegant and cost-effective solutions. Adept at managing all aspects of deployment and maintenance of multi-million-dollar projects.