Dave Summitt is a highly accomplished cybersecurity executive with extensive experience in leading and managing cyber security programs and has received industry recognition for his involvement with initiatives that demonstrate thought leadership and outstanding business value. Dave is currently the Vice President of Cyber Security for the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) where he is responsible for continuous development and maintaining the cyber security program.  In his current role, Dave is responsible for the overall security of FCS’ IT infrastructure. He leads a team of security professionals who are responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures, conducting security assessments, and responding to security incidents. Dave is also a member of the organization’s executive leadership team, where he provides guidance and recommendations on security-related matters.

Prior to joining FCS, Dave was recruited by and became their first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, FL where he constructed a comprehensive cyber security program. During his 6-1/2-year time with Moffitt, Dave and his team won numerous awards for his leadership and initiatives. A 21-year federal career with the Department of Defense preceded his entry into healthcare security. Mr. Summitt earned his undergraduate degree in Information Systems Management from the University of South Florida and his master’s in information security with a Digital Forensics concentration from Norwich University.

He is a fellow with the Institute of Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) a national cyber security think tank based in Washington DC, a Florida Infragard member, a former member of the Forbes Technology Council and served as an adviser to the Center for Cyber Safety and Education. For several years, Dave has been identified as one of the “Hospital and Health System CISOs to know” by Becker’s Hospital review.

Dave has also had the honor of providing testimony before the U.S. Congress concerning security implications to healthcare operations due to phone spoofing and robocalls. He was later appointed by the FCC as Chairperson for the 2020 Hospital Robocall Protection Group, a working group directed by Congress to assist in making recommendations for combating robocalls and phone spam.

Dave is a respected leader in the information security community. He is a frequent speaker at security conferences and has written articles for several publications and is getting ready to publish his second season of “3-point Cyber”, a podcast about cyber for the layperson.

Notable accomplishments:

2021 CSO Magazine’s CSO50 award for innovative cyber projects – Threat Analysis Center

2020 TEN ISE Southeast Healthcare Executive of the Year nominee

2019 EC-Council CISO of the Year

2019 TEN ISE Southeast Executive of the Year nominee.

2019 TEN ISE Southeast Healthcare Executive of the Year nominee

2017 TEN ISE Southeast People’s Choice award

2017 TEN ISE Southeast Executive of the Year finalist

2017 TEN ISE Southeast Executive of the Year nominee

2017 TEN ISE Southeast Healthcare Executive of the Year nominee

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Experienced information technology professional with over 25 years in information technology including 11 years of hands-on information security management. I have a diverse background in security engineering, operations management, business continuity and disaster recovery planning, regulatory compliance (PCI and e-Discovery) and policy. I am well versed in risk analysis, vulnerability management, incident response, compliance, and information systems assessments. I have experience working in manufacturing, engineering, local government, corporate and financial institutions.

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Reach out to me directly if you are aware of something that takes a current problem we face in the information security, cybersecurity, risk management, or physical security industry and adds value or attacks a threat/problem in a new innovative way with outside the box thinking.

My goal in life is to bring value to those I interact with. This being the case, one of my charges is to help better the practice of risk management/information security/cybersecurity and the people that represent it around the world.

I bring over 25 years of experience in the Information Security and Risk Management field. I have presented to Corporate C Level Executives and many high ranking government and military officials. I provide a unique background in the Information Security field due to having held Executive Information Security roles in many different verticals of business in both the public and private sector. Through that experience I have gained vast knowledge that I am willing to share or collaborate with others in the industry. I have been nominated for and won different professional and industry awards over the years as an attestation to the good work I have accomplished. I routinely speak at industry events (RSA, Secure World, Gartner, SC World Congress, to name a few). I have had numerous articles published or been quoted in many industry periodicals and magazines.

If there is ANYTHING you need related to the broad topic or subtopic of Technology Risk Management/Information Security/Cybersecurity, or Physical Security, I am willing to provide some insight. I provide security marketing and analysis for many different security start-ups, investment management, and VC’s. If you are interested in having a conversation with me please feel free to reach out. If you would like to just collaborate or bounce ideas off of me about something you are thinking about whether it be technology or career decisions, I am open to listening.

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Candace S. Williams, a dynamic cybersecurity leader, has spent nearly 20 years in the field, working across the Department of Defense and the Aerospace & Defense industry. Candace’s passion for cybersecurity has driven her to walk boldly in her purpose as an influential speaker, collaborator, and change agent.

As a Cybersecurity & Risk Senior Manager Candace oversees regional program operations to ensure that information system security risks are identified, managed, and mitigated to acceptable levels. Her tactical and operational strategies are critical in ensuring business operations are executed to customer and contractual standards.

Before transitioning into the civilian sector, Candace proudly served in the United States Air Force as a “3Charlie” within the Computer Communications and Operations (CCO) field. Her military career took her worldwide, from the United Kingdom to South Korea and Iraq. During that time, she served in multiple roles within the CCO field, from Help Desk and Small Computer Support Technician to Information Assurance Officer.

Candace’s experience in the field has given her a unique perspective on cybersecurity program execution. She is well-versed in risk analysis and management, process/system improvements, performance and practical metric analysis, vulnerability/risk assessments, audit gap analysis and remediation, standards and compliance, and customer engagement.

In addition to her professional work, she founded Cyb(H)er Ally Cybersecurity Solutions, LLC, to help micro and small businesses develop cybersecurity programs and protect their valuable information-based assets. Candace understands that organizations with weak cybersecurity cultures, policies, and procedures are more vulnerable to cyber breaches, data loss, regulatory penalties, missed business opportunities, and customer retention. She is dedicated to accelerating cybersecurity cultural transformations within small businesses by assessing and bridging cybersecurity gaps to mitigate vulnerabilities.

Candace’s commitment to increasing the representation and visibility of women in cybersecurity is inspiring. She organizes the Cyb(H)er Brunch event series in Tampa, FL, which connects women in cybersecurity to curate a synergistic network of powerful allies to increase and elevate women’s presence in cybersecurity.

Candace believes that including more women in the field is crucial for confronting the shortage of cybersecurity professionals and will lead to more diverse and creative problem-solving, resulting in unconventional and innovative solutions that help increase an organization’s capacity to establish and maintain a solid but agile cybersecurity posture.

Additionally, Candace provides mentoring and training under Cyb(H)er Ally to support individuals entering and navigating the cybersecurity ecosystem to start and maintain thriving careers.

Overall, Candace’s journey as a cybersecurity leader is a testament to her passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to helping organizations bolster their cybersecurity posture while also increasing the representation of women in the field.

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