FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                

December 2, 2024

CyberOhio Summit Coming to Columbus on December 5

Columbus, OH – The state of Ohio’s official cybersecurity summit, hosted by the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) in partnership with the Office of CyberOhio, will take place in person on Thursday, December 5, at the Athletic Club of Columbus from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The 2024 CyberOhio Summit will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to collaborate on tackling Ohio’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. This daylong event will feature expert panels, networking opportunities, and discussions on critical topics shaping Ohio’s cybersecurity landscape.

“This summit brings together the brightest minds in cybersecurity, government, and business to discuss solutions and share best practices,” said Jennifer Flatter, Executive Director of OITA. “Attendees will gain critical insights into protecting Ohio’s digital infrastructure and shaping the future of cybersecurity in the state.”

The day will begin with remarks from Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Chair of CyberOhio, at 9:15 a.m., followed by a full lineup of engaging sessions:

Summit Agenda Highlights

8:30 a.m. – Registration & Networking

9:00 a.m. – Welcome from OITA

9:15 a.m. – Remarks by Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor, Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and Chair, CyberOhio

9:30 a.m. – Incident Response Panel
Moderator: Dave Daniel, VP of Security & Infrastructure, Nationwide, and CyberOhio Board Member
Panelists:

• Craig Baker, Program Administrator, Ohio Cyber Reserve
• Johnny Collins, Managing Director – Cyber Threat Management, KPMG
• Pete Renneker, Managing Director, Cyber, Deloitte
• Wesley Withrow, Senior Client Partner-Solutions, Verizon

10:30 a.m. – Coffee & Networking Break

10:45 a.m. – Collective Defense Models
Moderator: Spence Witten, Vice President of Cybersecurity Consulting, 38North, and CyberOhio Board Member
Panelists:

• Enrique Alvarez, Public Sector Advisor, Office of the CISO, Google Cloud
• Robert Fulk, CIO, Office of the Indiana Secretary of State
• J. Marc Hopkins, Chief Technology Officer, Southwest Ohio Computer Association
• Mike Renshaw, Director of Security Specialists, Lumen SLED

11:45 a.m. – Lunch & Networking Break

12:00 p.m. – Quantum for Cyber Presentation by IBM

12:15 p.m. – Legislative Perspectives on Technology & Investments
Representative Melanie Miller, Ohio House of Representatives

12:45 p.m. – Local Government Priorities Panel
Moderator: Lexie Meade, Deputy Director, CyberOhio
Panelists:

• April Beachy, Director of Technology, Tuscarawas County
• Will Chambers, Systems Engineer II, Ohio SLED, Fortinet
• Peter Kobak, Associate Director, Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement, Ohio Cyber Range Institute, University of Cincinnati
• Mark Stout, IT Director, Hocking County

1:45 p.m. – Coffee & Networking Break

2:00 p.m. – Critical Infrastructure Panel
Moderator: The Honorable Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State
Panelists:

• Kimberly Jones, Director of Cybersecurity, NiSource
• Kristen Lowery, Vice President & Chief Security Officer, AEP, and CyberOhio Advisory Board Member
• Richard Maier, Special Agent, WMD Coordinator/Special Events, FBI Cincinnati
• Greg Niese, Director of Information Technology, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power

3:00 p.m. – Ohio's Transformation Showcase & What's Next
Moderator: Katrina Flory, State CIO, State of Ohio
Panelists:

• Sugumar Balasubramanian, CIO, Ohio Department of Taxation
• Remard Colston, InnovateOhio Platform Administrator, State of Ohio
• Nathan Huskey, CIO, Ohio Department of Health
• Jasmine Ramaradjou, CIO, Ohio Department of Public Safety

A Day of Collaboration and Insights

“The CyberOhio Summit is a vital opportunity for cybersecurity professionals, government leaders, and innovators to come together, share their experiences, and work toward building a stronger future for Ohio,” said Bobby Kovey, President of OITA. “We look forward to a day of collaboration and impactful dialogue.”

For registration and details, visit www.ohioita.org.

About OITA

The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan statewide organization of Ohio’s technology-driven companies and industry professionals operating at the intersection of business, technology, and public policy.