2025 Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum

Join the Arizona Technology Council (AZTC) and Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA) for the 10th annual Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Are you ready to fortify your defenses against cyber threats? This is your chance to dive deep into the world of cybersecurity with top-tier government and business leaders. At the Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum, you’ll uncover the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences surrounding data security and privacy.

This isn’t just another conference—it’s an action-packed educational experience! Gain invaluable insights and actionable solutions from real-world practitioners who are on the front lines of cybersecurity. Learn how to safeguard your intellectual property and customer data effectively.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your cybersecurity knowledge and network with industry experts. Secure your spot today and be part of the movement to protect our digital future!

Requests for cancellation must be received three business days prior to the date of the event via email to [email protected].

Event Agenda (Subject to Change):

7:45 AM | Breakfast/Networking/Exhibits

8:30 AM | Opening Remarks/Sponsor Welcome

• Steven G. Zylstra, President & CEO, Arizona Tech Council
• Frank J. Grimmelmann, President & CEO, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance, Inc. (ACTRA)

9:00 AM | Spotlight Power Presentation | AI is Dangerous, and Not for the Reasons We’re Talking About

• Carraig Stanwyck, CEO, 3 Tree Tech [Former VP/Head of Global Cybersecurity and Compliance, AVNET]

9:25 AM | Panel Discussion | Proven Lessons for Addressing Today’s Threat Landscape

As the digital world rapidly evolves, the emerging threat landscape, significantly marked by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), presents unparalleled challenges and risks to global cybersecurity. This panel will delve into practical solutions for addressing these novel threats, emphasizing the necessity to augment conventional cybersecurity strategies with AI-driven defense mechanisms, continuous learning models, and proactive incident response systems. Participants will gain insights into the potential vulnerabilities posed by AI, learn best practices for safeguarding sensitive data and systems, and explore the future trajectory of AI in shaping the security paradigm.

• Thomas Jones, Global Head of Security, Risk, & Compliance, Rogers Corporation
• Mahesh Babu, CMO, Kodem
• Dana Kline, VP Information Technology & CIO, Cordia
• Seema Patel, CISO, Maricopa County
• Roberto Sagastume

10:15 AM | Joint Keynote | United Front, Local + State: Fortifying the Digital Attack Surface

Today’s cyber adversaries thrive on hidden exposures and unmanaged assets. In this joint keynote, the CISO for the City of Scottsdale and the former CISO for the State of Florida—very recently serving as the CTO/CISO for Local Government, Education & Health at Armis—share how they’ve operationalized cyber asset and attack surface management (CAASM) at scale. Attendees will hear real-world lessons on moving beyond visibility into active defense, where every asset becomes part of a proactive shield. This session highlights practical, tested strategies—at both the city and state level—that turn complexity into clarity, exposure into advantage, and resilience into a repeatable outcome for any organization.

• Mike Manrod, CISO, Grand Canyon University (GCU/GCE)
• Jeremy Rodgers, CTO/CISO for Local Government, Education & Health, Armis (previous CISO State of FL)

10:40 AM | Spotlight Presentation | Unemployed by AI

AI-infused everything — and what that really means in the trenches. This talk blends stories from real-world assessments with sharp insights on how AI is impacting both the tools and the talent behind them.

• Vincent Matteo, President, Seven Layers, LLC.

10:55 AM | Morning Break

11:10 AM | Spotlight Presentation | SBIR Overview and Alternatives

• Wiley Larsen, Director, SBIR/STTR & University Partnerships, Arizona Commerce Authority

11:25 AM | Keynote | Inside Scattered Spider: Lessons Learned and New Defenses Against Ransomware’s Most Notorious Crew

Scattered Spider has become one of the most disruptive ransomware groups in recent years, leveraging sophisticated tradecraft and affiliate models to drive high-impact attacks. In this session, Tony Spinelli will spotlight Halcyon’s latest research on Scattered Spider, unpacking the group’s evolving tactics and what they reveal about the broader ransomware ecosystem. Building on fresh intelligence and new methods of defense, Tony will share practical steps organizations can take today to harden their environments, disrupt adversary operations, and reduce the risk of falling victim. Attendees will leave with actionable insights from Halcyon’s research that go beyond theory and directly aid in stopping ransomware campaigns like those of Scattered Spider.

• Tony Spinelli, Vice President, Field CISO, Halcyon

11:50 AM | Fireside Presentation | D.C. Cyber Update

• Brad A. Brooker, Partner, Holland & Knight (Washington, D.C.)
• Caroline Lynch, Founder and Owner, Copper Hill Strategies, LLC

12:30 PM | Spotlight Presentation | Operationalizing Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration: Crypto-Agility and Risk Mitigation for Legacy Dependencies

As organizations prepare for the post-quantum era, migrating to NIST-approved PQC algorithms is more than a cryptographic upgrade. It is a complex operational challenge. This talk explores practical strategies for implementing the NIST PQC migration lifecycle with a focus on crypto-agility, risk management, and addressing long-tail dependencies in legacy systems. I will highlight how Secure Micro Technologies’ Itus Bridge™ capability enables quantum-resistant cryptographic bridging and lifecycle orchestration across heterogeneous environments, ensuring secure interoperability during transition.

• Heather Kinsy, President & CEO, Secure Micro Technologies, LLC

12:45 PM | Closing remarks/Networking

1:00 PM | Event Ends

Sponsorship Opportunities

Want to sponsor the 2025 Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum?
Contact the AZTC at [email protected] for great sponsorship opportunities.