November Membership Meeting (MEMBERS ONLY)

Location:
GuidePoint Security
3030 N Rocky Point Drive, Suite 600
Tampa, FL 33607

Time:
November 7th
9:00am - 12:00pm EST

Speakers:

9:00am - 1st Speaker - Germinal

• Bio: Michael Ritchie is a cybersecurity engineer and executive with three decades of experience securing SaaS applications in the cloud for companies such as Veralytic, Moffitt Cancer Center, UPS, MCI, MTV, Worldcom, Harcourt Brace, HSN, and CNBC. His diverse industry background includes the Defense Industrial Base, MedTech/HIMS, FinTech, and eCommerce. He is a frequent speaker and trainer at well-known conferences such as InfoSec World, Defense & Innovation, & IIoT World, Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, is a member of the UPE Honor Society for Computing, and previously served as President of InfraGard Tampa Bay Members Alliance. He is the principal of Germinal, a cybersecurity and software engineering consultancy.
• Abstract: Expanding public/private partnerships (P3) in cybersecurity requires coordinated efforts between public and private sectors which is crucial to defending national infrastructure in an increasingly digital world. It calls for a standardized P3 model that addresses legal and ethical concerns while leveraging the strengths of both sectors.Our national infrastructure is undergoing a major digital migration. Such technological developments pose a danger to our national security. Expansion of public-private partnerships (P3s) can be an efficient way to narrow the gaps in our national cybersecurity despite concerns raised by both public and private stakeholders.

10:00am - 2nd Speaker - St. Petersburg College

• Bio: George Wood is a cybersecurity professor at St. Petersburg College with nearly two decades of experience in both the public and private sectors as a systems administrator and technical trainer. He holds a Master’s in Cybersecurity from Saint Leo University, along with a Bachelor’s in Technology Development and Management and an Associate in Computer Related Crime Investigation/Digital Forensics. George has trained students for certifications including CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and ISC2 credentials, as well as Microsoft Office and server administration.
• Abstract: Cybersecurity education in the U.S. has grown from a branch of computer science into a vital field protecting the nation’s digital infrastructure. Wood will trace that evolution—from early information assurance programs and the 1988 Morris Worm incident to the creation of NSA and DHS Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). He will highlight how institutions like St. Petersburg College (SPC) advance accessible, standards-based education guided by frameworks such as NIST/NICE and ISO/IEC. Addressing challenges like rapid technological change and the rise of AI, he'll showcase SPC’s Artificial Intelligence Responsible Use Certificate as a model for the future. Ultimately, cybersecurity education is presented as both a professional pathway and a civic responsibility vital to securing our digital world.

11:00am - 3rd Speaker - John Hopkins University

• Bio: Dr. Wesley Moy is our incoming President, and an adjunct lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. He retired from the Department of Homeland Security in 2019 where he held a variety of senior positions including Director of Partner Engagement and Deputy Director of the DHS National Operations Center. Prior to that, he was Associate Deputy Director and a founding officer at the National Counterterrorism Center. In March, Lynne Rienner Publishers released his book on homeland security intelligence.
• Abstract: This session will discuss the state, non-state, and non-actor threat environments. We will examine the threats posed to our businesses and clients from these vectors. Non-state actors range from include terrorists and criminal organizations. State adversaries, notably Russia and China, will be considered including their motivations, objectives, and methodologies. The Chinese Digital Silk Road initiative will be examined using Mexico as a case study.

Refreshments will be provided!
CPE credits are available upon request. Please email the Director of Membership after the meeting to receive proof of attendance.