Guest Speakers

Walt Powell (CDW)

Lead Field CISO, CDW: specializes in providing executive guidance around risk, governance, compliance, and IT security strategies. Currently leads a team of CISO’s that share their security expertise from early-stage not-for-profits to Fortune 10 companies.  An accomplished cybersecurity expert, ethical hacker, and certified executive coach. Walt specializes in providing executive guidance around risk, governance, compliance, and IT security strategies. He has designed several processes and assessments designed to help organizations quantify risk in a way that translates cybersecurity into the language of business.

Sarah Sabotka (ProofPoint)

A Senior Threat Researcher on the Threat Research Team at ProofPoint where she focuses on malware and fraud research and communicating the threat landscape to customers and the public. Sarah started doing OSINT collection, case development, and law enforcement collaboration to support animal cruelty investigations for an international animal welfare organization. Prior to joining ProofPoint, Sarah spent over four years developing and leading the Global Cyber Threat Intelligence Team at Experian, where she was also responsible for leading brand monitoring, threat hunting, vulnerability intelligence, and ad-hoc incident response activities; before that she was a Senior Threat Analyst at Goldman Sachs.

Daniel Skalitzky (Palo Alto)

An Account Manager at Palo Alto Networks. He has over 20 years of experience in network infrastructure and security consulting and has assisted hundreds of enterprise and SMB customers bolster their security posture. Dan has been with Palo Alto Networks since 2021 and provide a consultative approach to security solutions for his customers. Dan has a BA from Marquette University and competed the Cloud Computing Program at DePaul.

Josh Krueger (Integrity)

Chief Technology Officer, Integrity Technology Solutions.  Josh is a Central Illinois native and graduate of the University of Illinois College of Engineering.  At Integrity for over 25 years, he has held diverse roles from intern to Network Engineer, Manager, CIO, and now co-owner of the business.  As owner, Josh specializes in providing practical and strategic IT, Cloud, and Cybersecurity guidance to other business leaders, helping solve business challenges, and leading Integrity’s technology strategy to produce the best client outcomes. 

Steve Lyddon (DHS)

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Protective Security Advisor in the Springfield Division, Department of Homeland Security, which covers Illinois south of Interstate 80. CISA is the Nation’s risk advisor, working with partners to defend against today’s threats and collaborating to build more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future. Steve began his Law Enforcement career with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department in 1991, working in both Corrections and Patrol. In 1994 he joined the Illinois State Police (ISP), where he has held the assignment in Patrol, Narcotics Investigations, SWAT, the ISP Academy, the Statewide Terrorism, and Intelligence Center. Steve is retired from the State Police, is a Navy Veteran, and graduate of FBI Academy.