"Current Cyber Topics for the Energy Industry"

Panelists:

Melanie Thomas, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director - Inform, LLC
Melanie has over 25 years of experience in marketing and communications, beginning at just 17 years old when she worked for the Washington, DC affiliate of NBC News. She continued to work in network news for organizations like CNN, NewsLink, Conus, and Fox while earning her BA in journalism from George Washington University. In 1996, Melanie made the short leap to public relations representing clients in cyber security, data privacy, technology, healthcare, finance, homeland security, defense, consumer markets, public affairs, and foreign governments, in both an in-house and firm capacity. Her experience transcends traditional communications, with expertise in strategy, media relations, crisis communications and integrating new media tools to leverage exposure for her clients. She has built in-house communications departments for start-ups, led corporate communications teams for multinational companies, worked for global public relations firms, and served as a consultant across multiple organizations successfully integrating disparate communications needs. Melanie started Capitol Communications (now Inform) over a decade ago to meet the growing need for highly specialized public relations talent in Washington, D.C. The firm now has nearly a dozen communications veterans, each with over 20 years experience, in Washington D.C., New York, and San Francisco. In addition to leading her firm, Melanie spends a considerable amount of time speaking and blogging about crisis communications and branding.

Robert Shaker, Global Leader, Incident Response Services, Cyber Security Group - Symantec
Bob Shaker is a Global Leader for Cyber Security Group’s Global Incident Response Services at Symantec. Bob spends his days working with our teams on ways to protect our customers and prepare for the future. Growing dynamic teams of people and helping to eliminate obstacles in the way of success are his primary goals. Great people, without obstacles, open the door to true innovation.  By doing this Bob is able to help Symantec customers identify, contain, and eradicate increasingly sophisticated attackers as part of Symantec’s Incident Response Service. 

Lisa Larson, Vice President of Client Services – AllClearID
Lisa Larson is the Vice President of Client Services and is responsible for delivering the Customer Security Program. Prior to joining AllClear ID, Lisa was VP, Enterprise Services at Rackspace and was responsible for sales engineering and advisory services. Lisa was instrumental in helping Rackspace achieve the Leader position in Gartner’s magic quadrant for managed services. Lisa brings twenty-plus years of enterprise experience in technology, IT, professional services, sales engineering and solution design. She has built teams, organizations, and new services across numerous technology areas, with a unique blend of technology expertise and passion for business results. She is a recognized technology thought leader and regularly speak at conferences and industry events on various technology topics.

Kelvin Coleman, Director – Government Engagement, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications – U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Kelvin Coleman oversees Government Engagement for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C). In this role, Kelvin directs CS&C’s relationship with Federal and non-Federal public sector stakeholders. Specifically, he is responsible for developing, promoting and implementing policies that fully integrate government agencies, at all levels, into Federal cybersecurity plans, procedures and exercises. Through these activities, CS&C provides state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) organizations with the leadership, expertise and coordination to assess and mitigate risk to critical cyber infrastructures. Recognizing the shared responsibilities and the interconnected nature of cyberspace, Kelvin champions full collaboration and mission integration with Federal and SLTT partners. Kelvin is also the Branch Chief for the Executive Committee Joint Program Office which makes policy recommendations to the President on enhancing the survivability, resilience, and future architecture of National Security Emergency Preparedness communications.

Craig Bueker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Criterion 360
Craig Bueker founded Criterion 360 in 2008 to bridge the gap between the digital risk mitigation needs of today's enterprise and the capabilities of internal IT departments. He has two decades of experience in creating comprehensive digital risk management solutions and remediating crises for organizations such as Omnicom, CBS, DTCC, Clear Channel Communications, NYU Langone Medical Center, Hachette Filipacchi, Bloomberg, Marvel, Livestream, Gilt Groupe, BBDO, JVC, and KLM Equities.

Craig's work primarily focuses on working directly with c-suite executives to interpret, validate, and ensure the integrity of technology department reporting and performance to inform better decisions to manage digital risk. He holds comprehensive and highly specialized expertise on all the elements involved in digital risk, including data leakage prevention, availability, data integrity, cyber security, and digital liability mitigation. Craig's ability to integrate technical expertise with business intelligence and operational processes make him uniquely qualified and a trusted advisor to executives running some of the largest organizations in the world. He frequently leads cross-functional digital risk task forces for both public Fortune 500 organizations as well as leading private companies, and is often called upon to resolve systemic technology breakdowns that create emergent events that hold significant revenue and liability implications.

Venue: Locke Lord Conference Training Room – 25th Floor
Locke Lord LLP
600 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002

Parking: Please note that parking in downtown Houston is limited, and unfortunately our building management is unable to accommodate parking. If you plan to drive, please see below for nearby parking garages:

• *Market Square Garage | 300 Milam Street | $10.00 daily rate | 3 blocks away from office
• Alley Theatre Garage | 600 Prairie Street | $10.00 daily rate | 2 blocks away
• Binz Building Garage | 1001 Texas Street | $11.00 daily rate | 2 blocks away

Please click here for other downtown parking garages.

The conference will start with registration and breakfast at 8:00 am with a 8:30 am start. Please see below for detailed program.