California Technology Summit Agenda

Fred Donatucci is an accomplished IT leader with over 25 years of experience driving business transformation and change. His passion for technology started early with his first computer, an Apple IIe. Fred went on to study economics and philosophy, combining his interests in business and technology. He has led IT teams and projects at global companies including Mattel, Honeywell, and Avery Dennison. Known for solving complex challenges, Fred utilizes his breadth of business and technology knowledge to create IT solutions that drive value.

Synopsis

The keynote speech explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society and emphasizes the importance of human qualities in navigating this change. It highlights the following key themes:
1.) AI as a Complement: AI should be seen as a tool that enhances human capabilities and creativity, not as a replacement for human intelligence1.
2.) Historical Inspiration: The speech draws parallels between the current technological revolution and past upheavals, such as the Industrial Revolution and the founding of the United States, underscoring the need for strong leadership during times of change.
3.) Resilience: The ability to endure and adapt in the face of challenges is essential. Historical examples, like the winter at Valley Forge, illustrate the power of resilience in overcoming adversity.
4.) Collaboration: Effective collaboration is crucial for innovation. The speech cites the Great Compromise from the Constitutional Convention as a model for finding common ground amidst differing perspectives.
5.) Vision: Leaders must articulate a clear vision that extends beyond immediate challenges, similar to how Thomas Jefferson framed the Declaration of Independence with timeless principles of liberty and equality.
6.) Ethical Considerations: As AI is integrated into various sectors, it is vital to consider whether its implementation fosters humanity and equity or leads to isolation.
7.) Role of Soft Skills: Human skills such as empathy and leadership are irreplaceable and essential for guiding teams through technological transformations.
Call to Action: The opening keynot will conclude with a call for leaders to embrace resilience, collaboration, and vision to ensure that the advancement of AI serves humanity positively

David is a Cybersecurity Evangelist at TPx Communications, where he simplifies security and compliance for businesses navigating digital transformation. With 40+ years of hands-on experience across the full spectrum of IT—from early programming and systems architecture to modern cloud ecosystems and threat landscapes—he translates complex security challenges into actionable strategies. A battle-tested technologist, David has led IT businesses, architected networks, and weathered the evolution of cyber threats. Passionate about efficiency and risk reduction, he helps organizations strengthen their security posture without unnecessary complexity.

Synopsis

What if your cybersecurity strategy was a cross-country road trip—with ransomware hiding in the potholes? Discover how to map uncharted risks, pack unseen essentials, and train reluctant copilots before the engine starts. We’ll navigate dark highways where threats loom and rest stops save your engine. Your destination? A future where breaches don’t derail you. Leave with the map to a future where threats don’t define your destination.

Martin Suarez has been a cybersecurity sales evangelist for ESET for over nine years. He has experience in various B2B customer segments servicing MSP, VAR, and Distribution channel partners. Within the MSP channel, he worked with service providers and SMB end-customers, where his primary focus was recommending effective security platform solutions to protect customers while enhancing partner profitability. He has served as a brand ambassador and consultant to both MSP and VAR resellers, leveraging ESET’s robust solutions and programs to grow their business. Martin is currently serving partners on the West as a Channel Account Manager, supporting reseller-partners that service SMB, Mid-Market, and Enterprise clients.

Synopsis

In today’s digital age, cybersecurity risk insurance and AI advancements are reshaping business security strategies. Cybersecurity insurance is crucial for mitigating the financial impacts of cyber threats, while AI offers both enhanced protection and new challenges. This presentation explores the evolving cyber insurance landscape and the transformative role of AI in cybersecurity. By integrating these insights, businesses can better navigate modern cybersecurity complexities. Leveraging cyber insurance and AI innovations, organizations can safeguard their digital assets in an interconnected world.

Daniella Caraveo is a proud LSU Tiger & Regional Sales Manager at CyberFOX, helping organizations strengthen security by simplifying privileged access and password management. She works with IT teams to achieve a zero trust environment by eliminating standing admin rights, reducing vulnerabilities, and streamlining credential security, ultimately helping boost protection and productivity without adding friction.

Synopsis

As cybersecurity evolves, protecting organizations from threats gets tougher. Verizon states 90% of Windows breaches arise from user privileges. Reduce risk by removing Admin rights despite potential frustration. Join CyberFOX to learn how to balance security and user ease, safeguarding your organization.

Torry Williams, Lead Solutions Architect at 11:11 Systems, brings over 20 years of hands-on IT experience, having served as a Programmer, Database Administrator, Network Engineer, and Chief Technology Officer before dedicating the past decade to Solutions Architecture. With six years at 11:11 Systems, Torry is known for designing innovative, scalable IT solutions that bridge technical expertise with business objectives. Outside of his professional achievements, Torry is a goat rancher and private pilot, blending a passion for hands-on work with a spirit of adventure.

Synopsis

Recovery plans are no longer optional—they’re inevitable. In today’s evolving threat landscape, every business will be tested. Whether it’s traditional disasters driven by nature or human error, or modern-day crises fueled by cyberattacks and ransomware, the stakes are higher than ever. How do you ensure your organization is prepared not just to survive, but to recover with confidence? In this session, we’ll cover:
• The key stages of a cyberattack and what they mean for your business
• Best practices to reduce your exposure and minimize impact
• Essential tools and strategies to recover quickly if compromised
• What a real-world recovery looks like—and how to be ready for it

More Info Coming Soon

Synopsis

AI is being touted as the solution to modern networking challenges—promising to simplify operations, improve security, and ease the burden on IT teams. With networks growing more complex than ever, the appeal of AI-driven automation is undeniable. But can AI truly solve the underlying problems, or is it just addressing symptoms? In this presentation, we’ll explore the evolution of network complexity, why traditional architectures are so difficult to manage, and how AI is being applied to address these challenges. We’ll examine the reality behind AI’s promises and whether it can finally deliver the simplicity and efficiency network operators have been chasing for decades. Is AI the breakthrough we've been waiting for, or is there something deeper at play? Let’s find out!

Operationalizing AI: How are IT Teams Leveraging AI to be More Efficient & Secure

Bill's Topic

What are You Doing Around the Customer Experience?

Jeromy's Topic

Resources & Staffing in Today's Landscape

Synopsis

The executive roundtables are for attendees with VIP badges only. The roundtables are intended for audience participation so be ready to discuss, receive valuable information, and connect with others for further discussion.

As the Director of the Solutions Architect Team at Horizon3.ai, Aleck is a cybersecurity technologist, strategist, and operational leader with over 20 years of experience. He has a proven track record of securing critical systems for the DoD, DOJ, and global enterprises. An expert in secure network architecture, multi-cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP), and AI/ML, Aleck excels at bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world security challenges.

Synopsis

Join Aleck Brailsford, Director, Solutions Architect at Horizon3.ai, for an engaging session on “Offense-Driven Defense.” Aleck will challenge conventional risk assessment practices and unveil how focusing on real-world exploitability and impact can revolutionize your security approach. Drawing from insights gathered across more than 150,000 autonomous pentests, he’ll share compelling stories and actionable lessons that show how viewing your cyber terrain through an attacker’s lens can uncover hidden vulnerabilities, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen your defenses against advanced threats. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leading industry practitioner on why it’s time to “go hack yourself” and build resilience in today’s borderless threat environment.

Ton has over 20 years of experience designing and implementing a wide variety of enterprise system solutions. I've designed and implemented solutions utilizing both software and hardware components. As the solutions architect I'm responsible for overseeing the design, installation, and integration of solutions for the enterprise.

Synopsis

Ransomware threats don’t discriminate. And as the industry’s leading provider of data resilience solutions, we’ve seen it all here at Veeam. Public sector organizations are just as likely to be targeted as those in the private sector, and the stakes can be even higher. Veeam’s latest Ransomware Trends Report exposes critical vulnerabilities and highlights why relying solely on backups is no longer enough to ensure resilience. In this session, Ton will unpack the most common oversights that leave organizations — government, education, healthcare, and beyond — exposed to cyberthreats, especially when backups become an overlooked back door in your security strategy.

Arvin is a distinguished technology leader with over 20 years of experience across Global System Integrators (GSI), Managed Service Providers (MSP), and Cloud Service Providers (CSP). As a Technologist at Hitachi Vantara, he is part of the AI Incubation and High-Performance Computing (HPC) team, advancing next-generation innovations in artificial intelligence and hybrid infrastructure. His expertise in performance optimization, security, cost efficiency, and data governance enables organizations to build resilient AI strategies that balance innovation with operational excellence without compromise.

Synopsis

In an era of rapid innovation and strict global regulations, on-prem AI empowers organizations with complete control of their data on sustainable infrastructure. This approach safeguards compliance, strengthens privacy, and unlocks high-performance innovation, enabling enterprises to scale AI with confidence and resilience.

Vincent Vuong is CEO of Dynascale Technologies, where he leads the company’s vision to deliver secure, compliant, and cost-efficient managed IT and cloud solutions. With decades of experience in IT infrastructure and business growth, Vince has built Dynascale into a trusted partner for enterprises seeking performance, flexibility, and innovation. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its private cloud and managed service platforms to support modern workloads, AI adoption, and critical compliance needs. Vince’s focus on integrity, customer success, and long-term partnerships defines Dynascale’s “Your Cloud. Your Way.” approach.

Speaker's Bio

Meg Mananian is COO of Dynascale Technologies, overseeing operations, go-to-market strategy, and customer success. With over a decade of leadership experience in cloud infrastructure and SaaS, she has built high-performing teams that deliver growth, efficiency, and exceptional client service. Previously CRO at Convoso, Meg doubled sales revenue while leading sales, customer service, and support teams. At Dynascale, she focuses on aligning people, processes, and technology to scale the business and deliver white-glove client experiences. Meg’s forward-thinking leadership and commitment to Dynascale’s core values—Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Dependability, and Adaptability—ensure the company is positioned for long-term success.

Speaker's Bio

David Closson is CIO of Dynascale Technologies, responsible for architecting secure, high-performance private cloud environments tailored to enterprise needs. With deep expertise in cloud modernization, disaster recovery, and zero-trust security, David ensures Dynascale’s infrastructure delivers both reliability and innovation. He has led large-scale IT initiatives across industries, with a focus on compliance and efficiency. At Dynascale, David drives technical strategy and builds GPU-ready solutions that power AI workloads and advanced applications. Known for his problem-solving mindset and customer-first approach, he ensures Dynascale remains a trusted partner for organizations navigating complex cloud challenges.

Synopsis

Costs, compliance, and complexity collide. Here’s how to steer clear of the fallout.

Aaron Murphy is the Field CTO for the Americas. Aaron has more than 25 years of experience with Enterprise data management including backup, security, availability, DR and governance.
Originally from the UK and now living in New Jersey he has extensive experience in the EMEA and Americas markets including global organizations concerned with data management best practices and regulatory requirements such as those in Finance, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare and Government.
Aaron believes passionately in data science and has championed applications that use data, machine learning and dashboards for competitive advantage. He also believes strongly in the power of automation and API's and loves to talk about integrating Veeam with automation, security, reporting and compliance systems.

Synopsis

Today there are many challenges faced by IT leaders when looking to better prepare, defend, mitigate impact and recover from cyber attacks. This presentation will look at unbiased primary research and trends in the industry and identify challenges that we all face and reveal what organizations are looking for and why in order to develop a better cyber security posture, close gaps, inefficiencies and potential problems.

Sal is an accomplished leader with a 25-year track record of delivering high-performance solutions that slash costs, improve productivity and drive incremental sales growth. I have successfully led high-profile initiatives for such organizations as Microsoft, Bank of the West, Cisco Systems, Wells Fargo, PMI Mortgage, eFueler.com, and Tata Unisys. Highly skilled in evaluating needs and issues, defining strategies and solutions, and implementing repeatable processes, platforms, tools, and systems to enhance awareness and growth of products and services.

Synopsis

More Info Coming Soon

Aligning IT & Business

Mel's Topic

Coach Mel's 5 V's Framework to Creating a True North

James' Topic

Building Resilient & Loyal Teams Through Communication

Synopsis

The executive roundtables are for attendees with VIP badges only. The roundtables are intended for audience participation so be ready to discuss, receive valuable information, and connect with others for further discussion.

Over 25 years’ experience in the Technology field. Currently a Solutions Engineer at Netwrix responsible for demonstrating the solutions of Netwrix and in a previous life prepared course materials and taught classes related to network security, network administration, and network engineering.

Synopsis

Because attackers don't break in anymore... they log in.

Bruce Johnson has worked in the IT industry for over 30 years with IBM, Cisco Systems and now Cradlepoint. He is a security CISSP and has been working in security for over 20 years.

He loves speaking about relevant cybersecurity solutions and how they can address business issues. He has delivered presentations at security events around the world. In his current role, he focuses on 5G networking and security solutions for Cradlepoint.

Bruce has a B.S. degree in Computer Science and Statistics from Brigham Young University. He lives in the foothills of northern Utah and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and woodworking.

Synopsis

Imagine a world where wires are nearly obsolete. Vehicles, IoT devices, remote offices, warehouses – all seamlessly connected and protected.

Discover how Wireless WANs can revolutionize your business. We'll guide you on how to: :
· Unlock new business opportunities with the power of wireless connectivity.
· Secure your entire network with a robust zero-trust framework.
· Protect your business from cyber threats with advanced security measures.
· Optimize network performance and reliability for seamless operations.
· Deploy private cellular networks where Wi-Fi simply isn't enough.

Join us to see how Wireless can transform your business today.

Wes Spencer, a renowned technology innovator and co-founder of multiple cybersecurity companies, including Perch Security (acquired in 2020), boasts a stellar reputation in the industry. He's been honored with prestigious awards like the 2020 Cybersecurity Educator of the Year by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. Wes has been featured in top-tier publications like The Wall Street Journal, Pro Publica, and Dark Reading.

Currently, Wes holds key positions at FifthWall Solutions as Vice President and Channel Chief, specializing in cybersecurity insurance, and also serves as Vice President of Cybersecurity Strategy at CyberFOX, showcasing his significant impact and leadership in the cybersecurity sector.

Synopsis

As cybersecurity evolves, protecting organizations from threats gets tougher. Verizon states 90% of Windows breaches arise from user privileges. Reduce risk by removing Admin rights despite potential frustration. Join CyberFOX to learn how to balance security and user ease, safeguarding your organization.

Michael Soule specializes in product development and innovation for public cloud technologies at Sentinel Technologies, a nationwide managed services provider. He has extensive experience in consulting on identity, governance, and administration for a wide range of customers.

Synopsis

Ensuring a secure identity is crucial in today's cybersecurity practices, but unfortunately, traditional identity practices are outdated and not entirely secure. In this upcoming exploration, we will delve into the challenges that many encounter when attempting to adopt more modern and secure identity practices. Prepare yourself for a wealth of informative insights as well as practical and actionable guidance that can help you improve your security practices.

In addition to being a Data Protection & Privacy Architech with Capgemini, Harvey is also the Director of ISACA Houston. He is very involved in the IS community in Houston and enjoys bringing people together to share knowledge and experience on a variety of topics relating to IT & IS.

David Sledge's Bio

David is an engaging information technology and cyber security leader with more than 15 years of leadership experience in the information technology field. He is enthusiastic about building diverse, collaborative teams while leading by example, genuinely understands the importance of inspiring change through influence, the propensity to connect with people and building relationships through learning from & listening to others. He is driven in the pursuit to growth professionally and personally while working to reach new people to expand the cyber security community.

Clif Triplett's Bio

Clif is a senior executive with broad and in-depth experience and knowledge of nearly all facets of information technology on a global basis. He has significant experience with Fortune 200 companies and industry leaders in the oilfield services, tractor, automotive, aerospace, defense and telecommunication industries. Respected leader, innovator, and change agent with keen ability to quickly assess a situation and create a strategy and architecture that best serves the need of the particular company. Has developed and driven market and internal strategic initiatives for major enterprises, start-ups, turnarounds, divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. Leader acknowledged for integrity, strategic thinking, architectural strength, operational excellence, manufacturing expertise, information security and global business acumen.

Chris Nicolaou's Bio

Chris is a solutions-oriented technology leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. With 20+ years of experience in strategic roles, often at the intersection of IT and new business development, he has expertise in cybersecurity, enterprise architecture (cloud and on-premise), ITIL v3, Lean IT, and Agile as well as business modeling, risk assessment and client engagement. He is also passionate about team development.

Synopsis

This panel will cover an array of differenct topics, come and listen!

Dan has been in the Information Technology security industry for 25+ years with a strong background in endpoint security spending 8 years in multiple post-sales support roles at Trend Micro. He transitioned to pre-sales in 2010 with companies such as Kaspersky, Carbon Black, Endgame, Websense and Bitglass. Dan has spent the last 5 years at Axonius as a Senior Sales Engineer working with all types of customers in all verticals to help solve their asset management challenges.

Synopsis

Tired of the gap between security compliance and applicability? This session explores how to turn CIS Controls 1& 2, Asset Inventory and Secure Configuration, into actionable steps that strengthen your organization’s security foundation. We’ll discuss why these controls are essential for measuring and reducing risk, and how to apply them in ways that drive real outcomes rather than just checking compliance boxes. You will gain practical guidance to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and translate security requirements into meaningful results.

Scaling What Matters: Redefining Leadership and Success in the Age of AI

Victor's Topic

Zero Trust: Where Do We Start, and Does It Ever End

Israel's Topic

Doing the Most with a Limited Budget

Synopsis

The executive roundtables are for attendees with VIP badges only. The roundtables are intended for audience participation so be ready to discuss, receive valuable information, and connect with others for further discussion.

Steve joined Arcserve as a Solution Consultant in June of 2011. Prior to joining Arcserve, Steve spent five years working as an IT Manager for a Contract Manufacturer in the biotech industry (San Diego, CA) and before that spent seven years as a Sr. Systems Engineer between two local San Diego value-added resellers. His primary focus over the past decade has been educating and enabling customers and partners on the Arcserve portfolio of data protection solutions—including backup/disaster recovery, business continuity and high availability.

Synopsis

When it comes to cyberattacks, catastrophe is just around the corner, and even data security best practices may not be good enough for today’s onslaught of evolving threats. The only way to ensure IT systems and data are safe is to use a multi-layer solution that includes anti-ransomware and other threat prevention technologies and DR for protection against data loss.

Learn how you can prevent cyberattacks and immediately restore business-critical data – no ransom required.

Pat Nurre has been with Absolute for 10 years as a Sales Engineer and is based in Houston, TX. He covers the SLED accounts for the southern states from Mississippi to California.

Synopsis

The secret to the best Cyber Security Hygiene solution. Can you really manage your whole environment if you can’t see the full picture?

Raymond Sue is a senior solutions engineer with 20+ years in IT, specializing in datacenter management and disaster recovery. Raymond has been with Acronis for 12 years.

Synopsis

More Info Coming Soon

Since 1981 James Del Monte has been a leader in the Houston IT Employment space as an executive recruiter specializing in senior level positions and key technology areas like info/sec. Over his career as President of JDA Professional Services he has filled thousands of positions and helped countless professionals advance their careers. James has shared his views on the employment market, compensation trends and interviewing at several trade groups, conferences, publications and has been top rated for his speaking skills and humor.

Synopsis

This presentation is based on interviews with Houston executives from companies ranging from fortune 100 to 250M. It represents their views of key success factors and what they look for when hiring or promoting.

Clif is a senior executive with broad and in-depth experience and knowledge of nearly all facets of information technology on a global basis. He has significant experience with Fortune 200 companies and industry leaders in the oilfield services, tractor, automotive, aerospace, defense and telecommunication industries. Respected leader, innovator, and change agent with keen ability to quickly assess a situation and create a strategy and architecture that best serves the need of the particular company. Has developed and driven market and internal strategic initiatives for major enterprises, start-ups, turnarounds, divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. Leader acknowledged for integrity, strategic thinking, architectural strength, operational excellence, manufacturing expertise, information security and global business acumen.

Synopsis

SIM Members + IT/IS Managers & Above

Tony has spent over 25 years navigating the intersection of technology, equity, and human connection—nearly two decades of that in public higher education. As a proud first-generation student and now CIO at the California State University San Marcos, I lead with curiosity, empathy, and a strong belief that technology should serve people—not the other way around.
My background spans Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Business & Finance, which gives me a holistic view of how institutions work and where they get stuck. I focus on aligning technology with deeper institutional goals: social mobility, inclusive access, and long-term student success. And I work to create teams and cultures rooted in psychological safety, trust, and shared purpose.

Fred's Bio

Fred Donatucci has experience in driving digital transformation and process improvement in the manufacturing industry, I am an accomplished and award-winning technology executive and cultural change agent. I recently led the IT organization at New-Indy Containerboard, a leading paper and packaging company, where I oversaw the company's overall technology strategy, digital transformation and ERP implementation efforts.

Benny's Bio

Benny is an accomplished IT Leader, skilled in administration, support, and implementation of large-scale technology projects and programs on both a national and international level. Comprehensive knowledge of a variety of technology platforms and systems. Extensive experience in budgeting, planning, governance, and compliance, with a proven record of applying ITIL and LEAN methodologies to achieve cost savings and efficiencies in IT and business processes.

Victor's Bio

Victor is a technical nerd who loves building communities, cracking dad jokes, and embracing the geek spotlight. Fluff talks? Not my thing—every minute counts, and I’m all about meaningful, impactful conversations. With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, I bring a unique hybrid profile that combines deep technical expertise as a practitioner, architect and technical product manager with a talent for public speaking. My journey began with founding and successfully exiting a penetration testing company.

Allen's Bio

Allen is a highly accomplished and experienced Information Security Officer with 25 years of experience in information technology, cybersecurity, and defense strategies in both the private and public sectors. He currently serves as the Information Security Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the largest child welfare institution in the nation. At DCFS, Mr. Ohanian has successfully architected and implemented cybersecurity and privacy programs from the ground up, interwoven cybersecurity into the business culture, and created a security-conscious enterprise.

Synopsis

This panel discussion will cover an array of different topics, come & listen! This session will also include audiance Q&A.

David is a Senior AI/ML Engineer at NetApp, where he’s dedicated to empowering developers to build, scale, and deploy AI/ML models in production. He brings deep expertise in building and training models for applications like NLP, data visualization, and real-time analytics. His mission is to help users build, train, and deploy AI models efficiently, making advanced machine learning accessible to individuals of all levels.
Prior to NetApp, he developed advanced conversational AI solutions and drove AI platform growth, specializing in NLP. David frequently shares his insights at industry conferences and workshops, offering hands-on guidance for implementing AI/ML in cloud environments. David's experience includes Kubernetes, VMware virtualization, backup/recovery solutions, and hardware storage adaptor firmware/drivers.

Synopsis

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, the risk of adversarial manipulation presents critical security and ethical challenges. AI models, inherently vulnerable to subtle manipulations, can be deceived through techniques such as crafted data perturbations, targeted misinformation, and sophisticated attacks. This session shines a spotlight on the human factor in securing AI systems, highlighting the role of informed teams in identifying, understanding, and mitigating these adversarial threats. Participants will discover how human-driven design and proactive security practices can form the foundation for resilient, trustworthy AI systems. Through real-world scenarios and practical demonstrations, attendees will discover how adversarial attacks exploit vulnerabilities in machine learning systems-and more importantly, how humans can effectively intervene to disrupt these attacks.
This session will present frameworks and actionable strategies to strengthen AI defenses proactively.
Attendees will leave empowered with knowledge and tools to foster secure, reliable, and ethically sound AI practices within their organizations.