Build your trusted circle of C-Level peers

Leadership can be isolating at the C-Level. No one else within your organization truly understands the complexities you face. Gartner C-Level Communities are designed to bridge that gap, bringing together executives who know firsthand the demands of your role.

In the Chicago CISO Community, you will connect with peers who are willing to share their experiences, discuss practical solutions and collaborate on emerging challenges. By joining your local community, you will gain fresh ideas and perspectives, a trusted network of peers and the support you need to lead confidently in a rapidly changing environment.

Join your local community for exclusive access to:

Peer Connections
  • Catch up with familiar faces and build new relationships with colleagues in your community
  • Strengthen your trusted professional network with peers who understand your challenges
  • Establish a circle of peers you can call on for real-time guidance and ongoing support​
Peer Perspectives
  • Engage in candid, in‑depth discussions to address your most pressing priorities
  • Learn firsthand, practical approaches from peers navigating similar challenges
  • Validate your strategies through real-world peer experiences
Gartner Insights
  • Gain data-driven insights and field-tested best practices from Gartner analysts
  • Explore forward-looking strategies on critical issues affecting your role
  • Leverage Gartner insights and Executive Partner expertise to enrich peer conversations

Chicago CISO Governing Body

A regional Governing Body leads the Chicago CISO community, shaping the topics and agendas for your local programs and ensuring that all content is driven By CISOs, For CISOs®.

Governing Body Members

Celedonio Albarran

Equity Residential
VP Infrastructure & Security

Robert Allen

Gallagher
Global CISO

Scott Barnes

Fortune Brands Innovations
CISO

Anatoly Bodner

Treehouse Foods
Head of Cybersecurity

Mike Boucher

FHLB Chicago
VP, CISO

Jack Burback

Wintrust Financial
EVP, Chief Security Officer

JP Calabio

Grainger
VP, CISO

Art Chaisiriwatanasai

Paylocity
CISO

Christopher Clai

Green Thumb
Senior Director, Information Security

Robyn Clark

ITW
CISO

Bruce Coffing

City of Chicago
CISO

Todd Covert

National General
CISO

Hussein Din

U.S. Renal Care
SVP, Cybersecurity & Enterprise Architecture, CISO

Derek Dixon

Fresenius Kabi
CISO

John Dolce

American Medical Association
Director & CISO

Patrick Dunphy

OMRON
Head of Cybersecurity

Brian Ekkebus

USG
Director & CISO

David Fagan

Ferrara
Director, Cybersecurity

Ivanka Gajecky

Volkswagen Financial Services
CISO and Director, Information Security & Privacy

Partho Ghatak

Grant Thornton
CISO

Alex Green

Delta Dental Plans Association
CISO

Karen Habercoss

UChicago Medicine
VP, Chief Information Security & Privacy Officer

Cynthia Hayward

Enova International
CISO

Tom Henson

The Boyd Group
Director Enterprise InfoSec & Compliance

Darin Hurd

Rate
EVP & CISO

John Janachowski

AAR
VP, IT Security, Compliance, Privacy & CISO

Mahmood Khan

CNA
SVP & Global CISO

Sarah Khan

Hightower
CISO

Joshoa Khurana

Worldpac
Head of Security

Ziggy Kowalski

Hendrickson
VP, Information Security

Fred Kwong

DeVry University
VP, CISO

Suresh Manchella

Littelfuse
VP IT & CISO

John Melus

AptarGroup, Inc.
VP & CISO

Joe Mendel

Kimberly-Clark Corporation
CISO

Rizwan Mir

Perrigo
VP Global CISO & IT ERM

Shefali Mookencherry

University of Illinois Chicago
CISO & Chief Privacy Officer

Matt Morton

University of Chicago
AVP & CISO

Sean Nealon

Brookfield
SVP, Global Head of Cyber & Information Security

Amir Niaz

Culligan
VP, CISO

Brian Palmer

Ventas
Director, IT Security & Infrastructure

Max Paredes

Hub Group
VP, Information Security & Ops

Kirk Patten

Madison Air
CISO & VP Infrastructure

Jeff Pearl

Astellas
Global Head of Information Security

Bruce Phillips

WFG National Title Insurance
SVP & CISO

Nitin Raina

Thoughtworks
SVP, CISO

Devin Rudnicki

Fitch Ratings
CISO

John Sander

Wesco International
VP & CISO

Bradley Schaufenbuel

Paychex
VP & CISO

Eric Schulz

Primient
CISO

Todd Spight

HDI Global Insurance Company
CISO

Robert Sumsky

Heico Companies LLC
VP & Deputy CIO, CISO

Ken Townsend

Ingredion
Global CISO

Sergey Tsygalnitsky

CDK Global
VP, CISO

Sean Ventura

KinderCare Learning Companies
Head of Information Security & Compliance

Boris Voltchenko

Reynolds Consumer Products
CISO & VP, IT Infrastructure

Michael Wareman

The Marmon Group
CISO, Director, IT Security & Infrastructure

Frank Yanan

Bank of America
SVP, GIS BISO

Matthew Zielinski

Corient
CISO

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CISOs today.

  1. Accelerate Exposure Management To Defend At Machine Speed
  2. Unify AI Risk Into Existing Cyber Governance Practices
  3. Optimize Cybersecurity Portfolios Through Outcome-Driven Investment Strategies

Upcoming Programs

In-Person

December 2, 2026 | 1 day

Chicago CISO Community Executive Summit

Convene at 233 South Wacker Drive (Willis Tower)

Connect with CISO peers at this one-day event focused on practical solutions to top challenges.

In-Person

February 17, 2027 | an evening

Chicago CISO Community Inner Circle

Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood and Crab

Join fellow CISOs for dinner, discussion, and networking in a relaxed, collaborative environment.

In-Person

May 19, 2027 | 1 day

Chicago CISO Community Executive Summit

Convene at 233 South Wacker

Connect with CISO peers at this one-day event focused on practical solutions to top challenges.

In-Person

September 2027 | an evening

Chicago CISO Community Inner Circle

Join fellow CISOs for dinner, discussion, and networking in a relaxed, collaborative environment.

In-Person

December 1, 2027 | 1 day

Chicago CISO Community Executive Summit

Convene at 233 South Wacker

Connect with CISO peers at this one-day event focused on practical solutions to top challenges.



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