IN-PERSON

Ohio CISO Executive Summit

May 22, 2025 | Hyatt Regency Cincinnati

May 22, 2025
Hyatt Regency Cincinnati

APPLY TO PARTICIPATE

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Ohio's top CISOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

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

Leveraging Technology for Innovation, Efficiency and Enhanced Customer Engagement

Building a Foundation for Cyber Resilience

Maximizing AI for Strategic Advantage

Ohio CISO Governing Body


The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CISOs, For CISOs®.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Michael Erickson

Baptist Health
CISO

Lisa Heckler

CareSource
CISO

Ryan Kean

Total Quality Logistics
CIO

Nick Ritter

Worldpay
Chief Information Security Officer

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CISO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.

Community Networking

Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your Ohio CISO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Agenda


May 22, 2025

8:00am - 8:30am  Registration & Breakfast

8:30am - 9:15am  Keynote

Brain-Driven Resilience — Neuro-Optimizing for Executive Edge

Megs Gelfgot headshot

Megs Gelfgot

Two-time founder, TEDx, International and Fortune 500 speaker on neuroscience & resilience

Guest Speaker

In the high-stakes arena of billion-dollar enterprises, resilience isn't just an asset; it's a necessity. Learn how elite athletes, Navy SEALs, and top executives leverage cutting-edge neuroscience and cognitive training to elevate their relationship with adversity to yield more resilient outcomes. Cognitive training can help boost executive function and enhance decision making under pressure.

Join Megs Gelfgot, Tedx speaker and two-time founder, as she shares: 

  • Hacks for gaining a competitive edge
  • Tactical resilience leadership strategies
  • Ways to mitigate symptoms of cognitive decline

9:15am - 9:40am  Networking Break

9:40am - 10:25am  Breakout Session

Unlocking Potential — Navigating AI Implementation

Organizations across various sectors have rapidly adopted Generative AI solutions, marking an unprecedented pace in the realm of emerging technologies. As this swift adoption progresses, technology and security leaders face the challenge of delivering significant value to their organizations while vigilantly managing potential risks.

Join this interactive session to share:

  • Implemented GenAI use cases and identified opportunities
  • Evaluated platforms and solutions for value outcomes
  • Balanced value and risk


9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Cyber Resiliency – Fortifying Now for a Faster Recovery Later

Jake Lorz headshot

Jake Lorz

Vice President & CISO

Cintas

Michael Haas headshot

Michael Haas

CISO

The Kroger Co.

CIOs and CISOs must protect their organizations from increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks by preparing now to limit the impact and allow for as quick a recovery as possible. This requires a great defensive strategy that is practiced, communicated and understood throughout the organization well before any incident occurs. Balancing that preparation with what actually unfolds during an event is what fosters true resilience.

Join this boardroom to explore with peers:

  • Stories of detection and recovery – what strategies worked and which fell short
  • Mutual threat defense – the critical role of collaboration in the cybersecurity community
  • Best practices for organizational communication – before, during and after an incident

10:25am - 11:10am  Networking Break

10:35am - 11:00am  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

11:10am - 11:55am  Breakout Session

Let’s Brainstorm! A Data & Analytics Dialogue

Grant Smiley headshot

Grant Smiley

VP, Technology & Operations

Ameritas

Data and analytics are used in many different ways to inform many different decisions throughout the business. How are you storing data? What data governance activities are you practicing? There are so many questions to ask, but one thing becomes clearer and clearer: data is everything. There’s just not a one stop shop for organizations' approach to data..

Join this interactive session to dive into the many different data & analytics scenarios you might face, including:

  • Creating a strategy for when (knock on wood) a data breach happens
  • Applying AI and automation to improve data practices
  • Building a foundation for successful AI implementation

11:10am - 11:55am  Executive Boardroom

Boardroom Hosted by Cloudflare

Oren Falkowitz headshot

Oren Falkowitz

Field CSO

Cloudflare

 Details coming soon.

11:10am - 11:55am  Executive Boardroom

Buy or Build? Investing Time and Resources in Applications

Marty Luffy headshot

Marty Luffy

CIO

Installed Building Products

Gartner research shows a near split of CIOs opting to build an application in-house versus buying or partnering with a third-party. Regardless of the choice, IT executives must deliver programs that are relevant and both cost and time effective to manage.

In this boardroom, you will discuss:

  • Customizing build or buy strategies that evolve with business needs
  • Maximizing the value of applications while remaining agile
  • Incorporating effective contract management to avoid vendor lock-in

11:55am - 12:30pm  Lunch Service

12:30pm - 1:05pm  Keynote

Reinvent Cybersecurity Value with Strategic Ambition

Kristin Moyer headshot

Kristin Moyer

Distinguished VP and Gartner Fellow

Gartner

Only 4% of CEOs identify cybersecurity as a top priority, according to Gartner research. But for Ohio CIOs, it's their number one objective. And CISOs know that the true business value of cybersecurity goes far beyond mitigating risk. How can IT and security leaders bridge such a wide divide to more closely align cybersecurity with CEO business priorities?

Kristin Moyer, Distinguished VP and Gartner Fellow, outlines how CIOs can position cybersecurity as more than a defensive necessity to mitigate risk and maintain trust, sharing research-backed, practical guidance for:

  • Reframing cybersecurity initiatives by focusing on business value: risk, cost and revenue
  • Setting strategic ambition for cybersecurity by aligning with business value
  • Communicating value by identifying how cybersecurity supports CEO investments

1:05pm - 1:30pm  Break

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Breakout Session

Reinvent Cybersecurity Value with Strategic Ambition— Follow Up Q&A

Kristin Moyer headshot

Kristin Moyer

Distinguished VP and Gartner Fellow

Gartner

Kristin Moyer, Distinguished VP and Gartner Fellow, encourages executives to bring burning questions to this follow-up session which will dive deeper into aligning cybersecurity goals with business priorities, communicating value and reframing cybersecurity objectives to focus on risk, cost and revenue. 

Join this interactive session to:

  • Ask pertinent questions
  • Examine case studies
  • Receive guidance

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Strategic Harmony — IT & Business Alignment

As IT's role within the business continues to evolve, CIOs must create a clear line of sight between IT strategy and business outcomes and priorities.

Join this boardroom session to discuss:

  • Aligning IT strategy with business goals and objectives
  • Positioning IT as a value driver for the business
  • Shaping a business-driven culture within IT

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Future-Proofing IAM — Strategies for Enhanced Security

Craig Kobren headshot

Craig Kobren

Chief Information Security Officer

The Christ Hospital

Corey Kaemming headshot

Corey Kaemming

Sr. Director Information Security

Valvoline

As organizations advance their security strategies, they face increasing complexities in ensuring proper authorization for accessing systems and application resources. Security leaders must implement the right tools and processes to guarantee that the appropriate individuals have access. Identity-first strategies are focused equally on security and business enablement.

Join this boardroom to discuss:

  • Ensuring consistent access policies
  • Balancing innovation with security to protect organizational assets
  • Evolving strategies to address the growing sophistication of cyber threats

2:15pm - 3:00pm  Networking Break

2:25pm - 2:50pm  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

3:00pm - 3:35pm  Keynote

The Essential Qualities of an Effective and Respected Leader

Ryan Kean headshot

Ryan Kean

CIO

Total Quality Logistics

Truly exceptional leaders create a culture of trust and respect, inspire innovation, and drive high performance. They lead by example and encourage collaboration. During this keynote, leaders from the Ohio CIO and CISO Community will share their leadership stories and strategies on how they impact their organizations and those who look to them for guidance.

Join this session to hear about:

  • Building High-Performing Teams: Creating supportive, adaptable, and growth-focused environments
  • Influencing Across the Organization: Strategically engaging stakeholders through strong communication
  • Navigating Evolving Responsibilities: Embracing accountability with authenticity and resiliency

3:35pm - 3:45pm  Closing Comments and Prize Drawing

May 22, 2025

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering


Gartner cares about the health and safety of our community. Please review the following recommendations prior to attending the gathering.

Location


Venue & Accommodation

Hyatt Regency Cincinnati

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 531-579-1234. Please mention Ohio CISO/CIO Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $184 USD (plus tax) is April 29, 2025.

Your Community Sponsors


CISO Thought Leaders
Key Sponsor

Community Program Manager


For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Shauna De La Mare

Community Program Manager

shauna.delamare@evanta.com