IN-PERSON

St. Louis CISO Executive Summit

May 20, 2025 | The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis

May 20, 2025
The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis

APPLY TO PARTICIPATE

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with St. Louis'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:

Building a Foundation for Cyber Resilience

Leveraging Data & Analytics to Improve Business Outcomes

Maximizing AI for Strategic Advantage

St. Louis 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

Marc Ashworth

First Bank
CISO

Dan Henke

Mercy
Vice President - 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 St. Louis 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 20, 2025

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

8:30am - 9:15am  Keynote

Authentic Leadership in Times of Change

Mike Robbins headshot

Mike Robbins

Author & Thought Leader

Guest Speaker

Change is inevitable. The one constant in the midst of all the change, stress, and uncertainty we face at work and in life is us. Leaders with a strong sense of emotional intelligence (EQ), a willingness to be courageous and vulnerable, and the capacity to inspire others in a genuine way, have a distinct advantage in keeping their teams engaged and motivated in any circumstances.

In this keynote, author and thought leader Mike Robbins will share practical tips for:

  • Learning to be transparent in a way that’s both liberating and inspiring
  • Connecting at a deeper level with your teams and building real trust
  • Dealing effectively with change and uncertainty — and thriving in the process

9:15am - 9:40am  Networking Break

9:40am - 10:25am  Breakout Session

Featured Session

Details coming soon. 

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Propelling Innovation and Efficiency Through AI

Joe Caro headshot

Joe Caro

CIO, SVP

Post Holdings

AI adoption is increasingly used to remain competitive, release innovative products and services, better meet customer expectations, and drive growth. But how do CIOs tackle this effectively?

Join this discussion to explore: 

  • Using data and AI to drive a culture of innovation and increase efficiency
  • Implementing generative AI for real business impact and value
  • Balancing data and AI governance with existing IT and security regulations

9:40am - 10:25am  Executive Boardroom

Communicating Risk — Translating Insight Into Action

Andy Maine headshot

Andy Maine

IT Director, Infrastructure & BU CISO

Hussmann Corporation

Brett Perry headshot

Brett Perry

CISO

Dot Foods

Measuring and communicating security risk is integral to reducing an organization's vulnerability to attack. To better inform the broader business, sourcing data that provides a comprehensive view of risk level and security posture is key.

Join this boardroom to discuss:

  • Translating the ‘what’ ‘why’ and ‘how’ of your cybersecurity strategy to non-IT-focused teams
  • Linking risk measurement with technical metrics to influence company decision-making
  • Taking a data-driven approach to prioritization based on the current threat landscape

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 Peer-to-Peer Meetings.

11:10am - 11:55am  Breakout Session

Cyber Resilience in Action

Andrew Wilder headshot

Andrew Wilder

Chief Security Officer

VetCor

Cyber resiliency remains a top concern in 2025, yet Gartner finds many organizations focus on defining and quantifying resilience rather than improving it. Leaders must develop proactive strategies that speak to a “when, not if” mentality, ensuring business continuity when incidents occur.

Join this interactive session to discuss:

  • Developing resilient people and processes in a complex threat ecosystem
  • Minimizing the impact of cyber incidents and quickly restoring operations
  • Maintaining compliance amid increasing regulatory requirements

11:10am - 11:55am  Executive Boardroom

A Business-First Approach to IT

Ryan Schlimpert headshot

Ryan Schlimpert

SVP & CTO

Drury Hotels

As IT and cybersecurity become increasingly central to driving business outcomes, leaders within these spaces will need to shift from transactional interactions to ongoing partnerships to solidify their influence. 

Join this session to discuss:

  • Linking every tech and cybersecurity initiative to overall business objectives
  • Navigating transformation with an outcome-driven leadership approach     
  • Translating data and technical information into insights that resonate with business leaders

11:10am - 11:55am  Executive Boardroom

Future-Proofing IAM — Strategies for Enhanced Security

Travis Nichols headshot

Travis Nichols

Director of Information Security

Shelter Insurance

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

11:55am - 12:30pm  Lunch Service

12:30pm - 1:05pm  Keynote

Keynote Hosted by Proofpoint

More details coming soon.

1:05pm - 1:30pm  Break

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Breakout Session

Partnering Across the Business to Maximize Value

Brian Hofmeister headshot

Brian Hofmeister

CIO

BellRing Brands

Information Technology has the potential to transform from an order taker to a crucial business driver. Brian Hofmeister, CIO at BellRing Brands, will share how he integrated a cross-departmental strategy to aid the business in identifying and solving problems.

Join this interactive session to discuss:

  • Positioning IT as a true business ally
  • Reducing technology sprawl and shadow IT for better security
  • Collaborating to effectively prioritize the needs of the business

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Cutting Costs is Half the Battle

Steve Kappel headshot

Steve Kappel

CIO

Safety National

Amid economic turbulence, technology leaders must look beyond cost savings to operation resiliency and efficiency. As economic conditions tighten, executives are looking for ways to strategically optimize costs while reinvesting in sustainable technologies.

Join your peers in this session to discuss:

  • Adoption of planning processes that accelerate new capabilities to support growth
  • Ways to optimize performance during uncertain times
  • When to accelerate, reduce or eliminate investment

1:30pm - 2:15pm  Executive Boardroom

Starting with Data — Securing a Modern Governance Program

Karey Barker headshot

Karey Barker

VP & CISO

Safety National

Justin Rainey headshot

Justin Rainey

SVP, CISO & CPO

UMB Financial

As organizations race to innovate and create efficiencies, establishing a secure data governance and protection program is paramount. Security leaders must ensure their data framework offers lifecycle protection while enabling the business. 

Join this session to discuss:

  • Aligning security objectives with data governance principles
  • Ensuring availability, integrity and confidentiality of data 
  • Complying with data-focused regulations while creating value

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 Peer-to-Peer Meetings.

3:00pm - 3:35pm  Keynote

Closing Keynote

Details coming soon

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

3:45pm - 5:00pm  Governing Body Reception

Governing Body Reception

Finish the day sharing lessons learned with your peers over light fare and drinks at this closing reception hosted by your governing body members.

May 20, 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

The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis
MORE INFORMATION

A block of rooms has been reserved at the The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 1-800-960-7056. Please mention EES to ensure the appropriate room rate.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $307 USD (plus tax) is April 28, 2025.

Your Community Sponsors


CISO Thought Leader
Key Sponsors
Program Sponsor

Community Program Manager


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

Aldana Almuna

Community Program Manager

2818965819

aldana.almuna@gartner.com