SME Champions Council

Ian Andriechack

Cyber Operations, IT-ISAC

Ian has over 7 years of systems administration experience as a 1st Lieutenant in an enterprise-class correctional facility. Throughout his IT career, he has made significant improvements to proprietary systems and has held the over-all responsibility of securing their infrastructures. One of his major accomplishments was implementing a local-storage for police body cameras for a 24/7 jail environment, where he built the servers, automated their processes, and configured storage arrays for high availability and failover. While working in the Information Technology field, Ian has obtained several security certifications and continues to self-study whenever he has free time.

Tyler Bent

Customer Success Manager, TruSTAR

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, I attended George Mason University (GMU) and achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems Operations Management (ISOM). Following GMU, I started my Cyber Security career at the IT-ISAC in 2015.  After working there for about 4 years as an Analyst/Member Coordinator, I moved over to TruSTAR in 2019 as a Community Manager. Currently, I am the Customer Success Manager, managing the ISACs/ISAOs (including CompTIA ISAO) plus our Enterprise Customers. I love learning about organizations' workflows and how I can help automate or optimize use-cases via our API or TAXII Client. When I'm not working at TruSTAR, I can be found on the golf course or fishing in the many VA lakes and rivers.

Jonathan Braley

Operations Manager, IT-ISAC

Jonathan Braley leads the IT-ISAC's operations team which provides analytic and operational support to their various members and partners.  Jonathan's primary responsibilities include: working with clients to better understand and meet their operational and analytical requirements, program managing special interest groups and committees, training and supervising the Cybersecurity Operations Coordinator, and ensuring operational needs are being met.  Jonathan also reviews and evaluates potential technology and analysis tools that could bring value to members and partners.  He looks to build, maintain, and grow operational partnerships with various organizations and the IT-ISAC.  Working in partnership with the CompTIA ISAO, Jonathan assists the operations team in supplying relevant threat information to CompTIA members.  Jonathan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Liberty University, where he received a degree in Information Technology: Data Networking and Security.  He enjoys traveling with his wife, working on his Jeep and playing with his Golden Retriever Gibson.

Charles Brodsky

Chief Security Architect, Verizon, Security Operations Advisory Group

Charles Brodsky has been in IT and cybersecurity for over 20 years. He has hands-on and management experience in Security Operations Centers (SOCs), security architecture, network security, application security, incident response, vulnerability management, cloud, database security, Data Leak Prevention (DLP), mainframes, telecom, etc.  

His certifications include: CISSP, CISM, CCISO, CTT+, Security+, A+, and seven SANS/GIAC certs.

Ron Culler

Senior Director, Technology and Solutions, ADT Cybersecurity

Ron Joined ADT Cybersecurity upon ADT’s acquisition of Secure Designs, Inc. (SDI) As Senior Director Technology and Solutions Ron is responsible for the design and architecture of the systems employed by ADT Cybersecurity.

Ron was the founder of SDI, and served as the CTO, technology architect, MSS visionary and security evangelist for the company. Ron has over 30 years of experience in the technology, channel and security fields, starting in the US Navy as part of the Naval Security Group which he served for 10 years. After the Navy he owned a successful nationally recognized solutions provider business until they formed their MSSP in 2000.

Ron is an out-of-the-box thinker actively engaged in expanding the understanding of security and technology for businesses of all sizes. Ron's expertise as a security consultant, technology innovator and industry thought leader is in high demand with companies, business councils and technology associations. A regular speaker and writer on channel issues, technology legislation, cloud and internet security, he is particularly known for his thought leadership.

As an active member of multiple industry advisory councils and boards he has served as the Chair of CompTIA’s IT Security Community, CAPC, and Community Executive Boards.

Ben Dynkin

Co-Founder and CEO, Atlas Cybersecurity

Benjamin Dynkin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Atlas Cybersecurity. He is also Co-Executive Director of the American Cybersecurity Institute. Prior to that, he was a Senior Forensic Analyst at Law & Forensics and the Managing Editor of the Journal of Law and Cyber Warfare, the nation’s preeminent legal publication on cyber warfare. In his work with Atlas, Ben has built the company into an internationally recognized, cybersecurity start-up, garnering multiple awards from industry publications, including recognition as a Top MSSP. Ben has also led Atlas in forging multiple partnerships with leading companies in the United States and abroad. In his work with the American Cybersecurity Institute, Ben has helped move the national conversation forward on the policy and law around cybersecurity and cyber warfare. He has run Congressional Briefings, and engaged with leaders and policymakers in Congress, the Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as throughout State and Local governments, raising awareness on issues of cybersecurity, and how to bolster their defenses. Ben is also an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer at multiple colleges, including the City College of New York and Hofstra University, where he teaches on subjects related to privacy, security, ethics, and law. Ben has co-authored and contributed to dozens of articles in the fields of cybersecurity, cyber warfare, digital forensics, and e-discovery, publishing in prestigious periodicals, including the New York Law Journal, The Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, Corporate Counsel, The National Interest, GCN, and several others. Ben also has a forthcoming book on the law of cybersecurity and cyber warfare. He has also appeared in national and international media, including international television, commenting on technology, security, and cyber conflict. Ben is also featured in the book, The American Entrepreneur.

Nick Hansen

Director of Product Management, N-Able Technologies

Nick has 20+ years of experience working in the systems monitoring and management space. He’s held a variety of roles for companies of all sizes—from startups to large enterprises—including systems administrator, software engineer, and product security management. Over the course of his career, he’s worked for various companies including Red Hat, Opsware, HPE, and Dell EMC.

His passion for developing products and tools to address the rapidly evolving security needs of MSP partners and their customers drives his every action. He holds a CCSP certification from ISC² and spends time daily researching, learning, and thinking of ways to improve the security market. One of his focus areas is staying on top of the latest ransomware trends and threats. When not working, you can usually find him at a baseball field for a game or practice as his kids play year-round ball. He is also a fan of live music and good coffee.

Raffi Jamgotchian

President/CTO, Triada Networks LLC

As the son of a mainframe programmer, Raffi Jamgotchian has been around computers since the age of seven. Raffi joined and then later ran a successful Bulletin Board Service (BBS) out of his bedroom while in High School prior to attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and receiving a BS in Computer and Systems Engineering.

Raffi joined a control systems manufacturer and helped implement some of the largest distance learning and conference systems in the United States. In 1995, Raffi joined as a general IT technician and scriptwriter for a mid-tier investment firm, but eventually was the Director of IT Infrastructure for the New York region. During his tenure at that investment firm, he served as an advisor for emerging technology investments and managed many of the large scale IT integration projects including the first cybersecurity teams. During this time, Raffi obtained an MBA in Information Systems.

In 2006, he left that firm to assist in the startup over another smaller independent investment fund.

In the fall of 2008, in the middle of the financial crisis, Raffi saw an opportunity to service small investment firms that were now cropping up. They needed the same technical, compliance, and cybersecurity that larger investment firms did, but didn't have the resources.

Raffi lives in Northern NJ near Manhattan with his wife and 4 boys.

Adam Khan

VP of Cyber Intelligence Center, SKOUT CYBERSECURITY

Adam Khan is the VP of Cyber Intelligence Center at SKOUT CYBERSECURITY. He previously worked for fortune 500 companies such as Priceline.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Scholastic. Adam's experience is focused on Application/Infrastructure Automation and Security. In 2008 he and his team at Priceline led an investigation which led to the capture of Dmitry Zubakha AKA Cyber Bandit who performed a massive DDOS attacks against Priceline, Amazon and Paypal. Adam is passionate about protecting SMB's which is the heart of American innovation.

Kevin McDonald

COO & CISO, Alvaka Networks

Kevin B. McDonald is COO and CISO at Alvaka Networks, a leading enterprise technology service management and cyber security provider in Irvine CA. He is Chair of the Orange County Sheriff/Coroner’s Technology Advisory Council (TAC), Chair of the Anaheim Police Chief’s Technology Advisory Group (CTAG), and a member of FBI Infragard and OC Shield. Kevin is a civilian member of the US Secret Service’s Los Angeles Electronic Crimes Task Force, The Department of Homeland Security’s Los Angeles Area unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) Working Group and The High Technology Crime Investigators Association (HTCIA). Kevin is a highly trusted security and public policy advisor. He consults with both for profit and not-for-profit organizations’ providing advice and guidance to executives, legislators, law enforcement, high net worth individuals and other business leaders. Kevin advises on personal, physical and cyber defense and incident response, regulatory compliance and enterprise technology. He is a sought after consultant, trainer and public speaker who has written for and/or been interviewed by dozens of technology industry and mainstream media, national publications, television, radio and digital outlets. In his spare time, Kevin is a published young adult fiction author, screenwriter, Master Goldsmith and antique restoration specialist.

Scott Robinson

Director of Channel Sales & Alliances, TruSTAR

Scott Robinson works with TruSTAR as Director of Channel Sales & Alliances. Scott has worked in cybersecurity for more than a decade, and in IT for more than two decades. His roles have been in sales & marketing - developing go-to-market strategies to drive growth and overachieve goals. He enjoys working with the CompTIA ISAO MSP and SME Champions Work Groups to identify and disseminate information about cybersecurity threats that directly or indirectly affect MSPs and end users.

Rory Sanchez

CEO, True Digital Security

Rory Sanchez is CEO of True Digital Security, a national Managed Cybersecurity and Compliance Provider. Rory is the visionary responsible for the company's strategic direction and high-level architecture of its award-winning management platform, TrueGN (formerly Guaranteed Networks®), a comprehensive offering which has positioned TRUE as a recognized leader in IT/Cloud and Security management. Sanchez was a founding member of the ConnectWise Partner Advisory Board, past President of TechData's TechSelect Advisory Council, and in 2007 was awarded an Industry Contribution Award by CompTIA, the Computing Technologies Industry Association, for his pioneering work in Managed IT Services. Before joining TRUE, Rory was CEO and President of Network Security Partners (d/b/a SLPowers), an IT Security and Cloud management company.

Jason Slagle

Vice President of Operations, CNWR, Inc.

Jason Slagle is a 23-year veteran of systems and network administration. Having worked on everything from Linux systems to Cisco networks and SAN storage, he is always looking for ways to make his work repeatable and automated.  Jason has recently taken up a more active interest in cybersecurity, specializing in reverse engineering and binary analysis.

Jason is a graduate of the University of Toledo from the computer science and engineering technology program with a bachelor's degree in science. He is currently employed as Vice President of Operations by CNWR, an IT and infrastructure consulting company in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. There, he supports customers in their quest to secure, automate, and generally improve their infrastructure and development operations. He occasionally serves as a part-time instructor at the University of Toledo.

Ian Thornton-Trump

CISO, Cyjax, Ltd.

Ian Thornton-Trump CD is an ITIL certified IT professional with 20 years of experience in IT security and information technology. From 1989 to 1992, Ian served with the Canadian Forces, Military Intelligence Branch; in 2002, he joined the CF Military Police Reserves and retired as a Public Affairs Officer in 2013. Ian previously managed IT projects at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights and is currently Chief Technology Officer for Octopi Managed Services Inc. located in Canada & CISO for Cyjax Ltd. here in the UK.

I've been actively involved with CompTIA since 2014 as a keynote speaker & panel guest at Channel Con, EMEA Con and other UK/EU regional workshops. I have been a CompTIA Global Faculty member since 2018 and authored the "IT Security for Executives" CompTIA training course curriculum. I've delivered this course and others for other CompTIA member organisations.