SecureWorld New York City 2026

Renita M. Rhodes is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of distinguished experience in Information Technology (IT), IT Audit, Risk Management, Compliance, and Cybersecurity. She currently holds the role of Vice President, Audit Manager - Cybersecurity Manager at a prominent global bank, where her expertise is instrumental in safeguarding critical information security controls and conducting audits of paramount significance. Renita's commitment to knowledge dissemination is evident through her roles as an Adjunct Instructor at Maryville University and Harris-Stowe State University. She imparts her knowledge through various courses, spanning Cyber Law, Policy, and Compliance, Security Information and Event Management, Introduction to Information Security, Applied Programming - Python, Cybersecurity Operations, and Systems Analysis and Design. Her academic journey includes a Bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems from Tennessee State University, a Master's degree in Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Cybersecurity Certificate from Saint Louis University. During her graduate studies, she published a whitepaper titled "Developing Dynamic PeopleSoft Field Security Applications: A PeopleSoft Developer's Guide." Beyond her professional and academic achievements, Renita is a passionate cybersecurity awareness and training advocate. She actively engages in various organizations such as the NIST NICE Cybersecurity Careers Ambassadors Program and CyberUp, where she is a Board Member and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cybersecurity sector. Renita has also participated as a conference panelist and podcast guest discussing cybersecurity and AI.

Rhonna Novy is a cybersecurity leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering enterprise security solutions, cloud security initiatives, and risk management programs in highly-regulated environments. She currently serves as Director of Tech Talent & Cybersecurity Chair at TechSTL and previously held a Principal Cybersecurity leadership role at AT&T. Rhonna holds an MBA from Webster University and a BS in Management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her certifications include CISSP, ISC2 Cloud Security Architecture Strategy, eMAPT Mobile Pen Tester, and the AT&T Cybersecurity Certificate.

Senior cybersecurity professional with years of experience (Engineer/Architect, Senior Manager, Director, and CISO roles) architecting and managing large scale IT Security, Network Infrastructure, and Development projects. Heavy experience collaborating with diverse cross-functional groups of people, both domestic and international. Recognized for building products, platforms, and IT teams from the ground up along with developing and implementing IT and OT (cyber) security standards, processes, and initiatives with high dollar impact, reduced costs, lower risk, increased revenue, and high customer satisfaction.

Melissa Scott is the City of Philadelphia’s Chief Information Officer, CIO. As CIO, Melissa holds a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing the city's information technology strategy, infrastructure, and operations. She also ensures that technology initiatives align with Mayor Parker's goals and deliver effective, efficient, and secure services to residents, businesses, and city departments. Melissa is a lifelong public servant, highly-experienced professional with a distinguished background in both the public and private sectors. Her diverse work experience has equipped her with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in her roles and make a significant impact on the organizations she has served. In recent years, Melissa has led several groundbreaking initiatives within the City of Philadelphia's License & Inspections Department, revolutionizing how services are delivered to residents. Notably, she spearheaded the development of the L&I Virtual Inspection Application, a state-of-the-art platform that allows building regulation experts and inspectors to offer services virtually through remote inspection software, live-streaming videos, photos, and custom inspection reports. This innovation is anticipated to boost L&I productivity by an impressive 80%. Melissa has also effectively collaborated with stakeholders to lead a team of over 50 individuals in decommissioning over 2,000 voting machines in Philadelphia. She tactically partnered with vendors and tech teams to plan, manage, and implement innovative voter-verifiable paper ballot systems throughout the city. This project delivered an ADA-compliant, paper-based universal voting system that significantly enhanced the city's election day experience by consolidating the process of marking and tabulating votes into a single step, making it more convenient and efficient for voters. Additionally, Melissa guided a team of developers in creating new software to fulfill the City of Philadelphia’s mandate to initiate tax collection from businesses, specifically the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. Throughout this project, she showcased her capacity to rapidly understand business operations, evaluate potential risks, and maintain fruitful relationships with business associates. Since its launch, this application has been instrumental in helping the city garner over $100 million in revenue. Melissa is dedicated to streamlining essential government services by prioritizing reliable service delivery, safeguarding citizen data, and promoting effective communication channels. She fosters an environment where employees can freely explore new ideas, experiment with emerging technologies, and push the boundaries of what is possible. By creating an atmosphere that promotes out-of-the-box thinking and embracing challenges, the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) will thrive with groundbreaking solutions. Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts, from Howard University and her Master of Business from Eastern University.

Ward Balcerzak is the Field Chief Information Security Officer at Sentra, where he helps global enterprises strengthen their data-security strategies across cloud, SaaS, and AI-driven environments. He brings nearly two decades of experience leading data-protection, insider-risk, and cybersecurity programs in highly regulated industries, with previous leadership roles at Fidelity National Financial, Accenture Security, and Allstate. Ward is known for translating complex business challenges into practical security architectures, emphasizing visibility, measurable risk reduction, and strong cultural alignment. His background spans defense, financial services, consulting, and emerging security technologies, supported by advanced degrees in information assurance and certifications including CISSP, GCIH, and GLEG. In addition to his work with Sentra, Ward hosts Guardians of the Data, a podcast focused on modern data-security challenges, leadership, and the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity. He is a frequent speaker and advisor on data security, insider risk, and building enterprise-ready security programs.

Steven Singer serves as CIO/CISO of Julius Silvert Inc., a food distribution company generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue, headquartered in Philadelphia and operating a fleet of 60+ trucks and more than 15,000 products across two regional facilities. Steven leads the company's technology and security strategy, with a focus on OT/IT convergence, ERP modernization, and building cyber-resilient operations across the supply chain. His work spans enterprise systems integration, digital transformation, and operational continuity planning in an industry where a security incident has immediate, real-world consequences for the food supply.

Dan Broussard is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with nearly three decades of experience leading high-performing enterprise sales organizations, building strategic channel ecosystems, and delivering sustained revenue growth across the cybersecurity and enterprise technology landscape. He is known for his ability to blend strategic vision with operational execution, consistently delivering growth while building strong customer and partner relationships across the cybersecurity ecosystem. Dan is currently the VP of global channel and alliances at Concentric.AI, a start-up company in data security. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Chemistry from Louisiana State University and has completed advanced sales and leadership training including MEDDIC certification, EcSell Institute management training, and Sandler sales methodology.

Phil LaRocca, CPA, CISA, CRISC, is a seasoned risk management and IT audit professional currently serving as a Board Member for the ISACA Philadelphia Chapter.and a Director at I.S. Partners, LLC. With over ten years of experience spanning IT auditing, risk consulting, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), Phil specializes in delivering actionable audit solutions and evaluating IT controls. Prior to I.S. Partners, he held analytical and consulting roles at Mazars USA, Lannett Company, and Bloomberg LP, where he supported financial institutions with complex regulatory compliance. Phil is deeply committed to the cybersecurity and risk community. He holds multiple industry-leading credentials, including his HITRUST CHQP and ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor certification.

David Sharp is a strategic technology leader and Senior Sales Engineer at Parallels, where he partners with enterprise clients to design and deliver secure, scalable digital workspace and application delivery solutions. He helps organizations simplify application access, improve end-user experience, and accelerate cloud and hybrid transformation. With more than 20 years of experience across enterprise architecture, pre-sales engineering, and transformation leadership, David acts as a trusted advisor to both business and technical stakeholders, translating complex requirements into practical, outcome-driven solutions. He works closely with cross-functional teams to position technologies such as secure application publishing, VDI, and cross-platform endpoint strategies to enhance productivity, security, and operational efficiency. David is a VMware vExpert and Citrix Certified Technology Advocate (CTA), and holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Illinois.

Beata is an experienced Chief Information Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & gas, energy, airspace, healthcare, and government industries. She is skilled in Strategic Planning, Healthcare Industry, Business Process Improvement, Team Building, and U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). She is a strong information technology professional with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. Beata is an accomplished and proven executive with more than 20 years of experience as a partner, broker, and enabler of technology solutions and approaches that help maintain business continuity and promote growth. She's a leader in managing IT operations and infrastructure, leveraging technology as a vital foundation for the business's strategies and success, with the last 18 years focused on healthcare.

As Technical Director of Security at EchoStor Technologies, Jonathan leads the organization’s comprehensive security practice. He focuses on building strong security programs that align with modern trends, ensuring customers meet both their security and business objectives. With more than 15 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry, Jonathan has built and led security practices for multiple organizations. His approach emphasizes business impact, cross-architecture solutions, and strategic alignment rather than simply focusing on technology, earning him a reputation as a trusted advisor and thought leader among clients and peers.

Ryan Roobian has over 25 years of experience in various specialties in IT including Cybersecurity. As a Global Solutions Architect at Google Cloud Security, Ryan serves as a subject matter expert for all security products and services within the Google Cloud portfolio. In his current role, Ryan works with strategic customers around the world in developing complex solutions with security inherent in their design, while also helping with internal product and go-to-market strategies.

Jack Butler is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Sumo Logic, specializing in logging, SIEM, and application security. He helps organizations modernize security operations, streamline data integration, and strengthen resilience against evolving threats. Jack also serves as an OWASP Boston chapter leader, helping advance security education, promote secure-by-design principles, and drive collaboration within the local community.

Scott Dickinson is passionate about Information Technology and Information Security and has more than 20 years in the fields of information security and information technology. He has worked with Federal and State governments to include FBI, DOD, Veteran Affairs, State of SC, and the private sector. He has been a CIO, a CISO, a virtual CISO, Cyber Security Division Director and a variety of positions leading up to those roles. He currently serves as the CISO at AnMed. He enjoys being exceptional as a security leader and is constantly looking for ways to improve the security posture of companies. He currently holds the CISSP and CCSP certifications.