Speakers

Sean Deuby brings more than 30 years’ experience in enterprise IT and hybrid identity security to his role as Semperis' Principal Technologist, North America. An original architect and technical leader of Intel's Active Directory, Texas Instrument’s Windows NT network, and 15-time MVP alumnus, Sean has been involved with Microsoft identity technology since its inception. His experience as an identity strategy consultant for many Fortune 500 companies gives him a broad perspective on the challenges of today's identity-centered security. Sean is also an industry journalism veteran;as a former technical director for Windows IT Pro, he has over 400 published articles on Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, hybrid identity, and Windows Server.

Over her 20 years of experience in the field of information and network security, Helvetiella Longorias’s innovation and leadership have played a critical role in the development and enhancement of FIU’s network. Ms. Longoria is an advocate for spreading cybersecurity awareness, and truly believes that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.

Patrick Orzechowski (also known as “PO”) is Torq’s Field CISO, bringing his years of experience and expertise as a SOC leader to our customers. With over 20 years of experience and a proven track record in leadership and technical roles. As one of the founding employees at Deepwatch, a leading Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service provider, Patrick played a key role in shaping the company’s architecture, operations, presales customer relations, and corporate strategy. He is a seasoned security veteran with a deep understanding of the modern security landscape. You can find him talking to SOC leaders and CISOs from major brands at cybersecurity events around the world.

Shawn is a seasoned solutions engineer and evangelist with over 25 years of experience, recognized for his technical expertise, architectural vision, and commitment to operational excellence. As a trusted advisor, he helps customers navigate complex business-technology challenges with a cross-functional approach. 

Specializing in Cyber-Physical Systems, Cybersecurity Asset Management, Biometrics and Identity Management, IT Operations and Service Management, and IT Asset Management, Shawn has designed and championed innovative solutions across diverse industries. He is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, frequently presenting at industry conferences, panels, and webinars on emerging cybersecurity trends, risk mitigation strategies, and best practices for securing critical infrastructure. His ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights has made him a valuable resource for both technical and executive audiences. 

Beyond public speaking, Shawn actively contributes to the cybersecurity community by providing expert guidance on regulatory compliance, threat intelligence, and enterprise security strategies. His deep industry knowledge and strategic insights continue to drive impactful, forward-thinking solutions. 

Snehal Contractor is responsible for Global Snehal Contractor is responsible for Worldwide Systems Engineering and Technical Service at Stellar Cyber.

He is an engineering professional with over 30 years of experience in technical sales, marketing, and management. Snehal has worked for startup companies such as Palo Alto Networks, Riverbed, Fortinet, Aerohive, Cisco, and USRobotics. During his tenure at these companies, he has supported the largest Service Providers and System Integrators globally. Some of the accounts he has supported are Accenture, Dimension Data, Verizon, French Telecom, ATT, Forsythe Security, and Sprint;these accounts eventually became the top partners for his company.

Snehal is called upon to be a trusted consultant to on-board these global partners from business development to complete technical enablement.

Sonal Rattan is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of eXate, a company specializing in data privacy solutions. With a strong background in technology and leadership, she has been instrumental in developing innovative approaches to data protection, especially in regulated industries such as banking and the public sector. Under her guidance, eXate has emerged as a key player in the data privacy sector. Sonal is recognized for her contributions to advancing data security and compliance in the tech industry. Her work continues to influence best practices in managing sensitive information. 

David serves as Chief Information and Digital Officer at the University of Miami and the University of Miami Health System in Miami FL. In this role, he is driving the value of IT through innovation, user experience, cost optimization and risk management. David is a leading health IT expert in the digitization of health care, platform technologies AI in operations and Cyber Security. He is particularly focused on the intersection of Platform technology, interoperability and the
consumerization of education and health care services. Prior to joining the University of Miami, David was the CIO at Hackensack Meridian Health, a 17-hospital system in North New Jersey, and prior to that CIO at Lahey Health, a 5 hospital system with more than 300 ambulatory locations. David started his healthcare IT career at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals where he held several IT leadership positions during his tenure. He has also held IT leadership positions in retail banking, public accounting and higher education. David served eight years in the United States Marine Corps Infantry with a subspecialty in Arctic and Mountain Warfare. David is a frequent speaker and interviewee on health IT related topics and in the past has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Rosemont College, Drexel University and Northeastern University.

Dr. Donavon Johnson is a policy consultant and analyst and a digital transformation specialist whose research and practice focuses on the intersections of public policy, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence. He is a Fulbright Scholar and renowned author of several titles which includes his most recent book published by Routledge titled “Leadership Fundamentals for Cybersecurity in Public Policy and Administration: Lessons for the Global South”. Dr. Johnson is also a professor at Florida International University and the Cyber Policy Research Lead at the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at FIU. He is also the Associate Director for the Center for Integrated Security Privacy and Trustworthy AI- CIERTA.

William Mendez is the Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of Client Success at DigitalEra Group. Prior to joining DigitalEra, he served as the Chief Information Security Officer for the City of Miami, where he led the city’s cybersecurity strategy, governance, and incident response efforts. With over two decades of experience in the cybersecurity field, William has built and managed comprehensive security programs in both the public and private sectors. He holds a Master of Science in Information Systems and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University.

Ayal Stern is a technology executive and entrepreneur focused on building communities and platforms that support innovation. He is the co-founder of The LAB Miami, an innovation hub in Wynwood that brings together investors, startups, and industry leaders from across South Florida.
He also co-founded the Miami_Israel Collective, which fosters connections between Miami and Israel’s tech ecosystems, and Israel Tech Week, a series of events that highlight Israeli innovation and promote cross-border collaboration. Previously, Ayal was the COO of ThriveDX, where he helped grow the company’s cybersecurity and digital skills training programs through partnerships with academic institutions and enterprises worldwide.Before ThriveDX, Ayal was part of the founding team at Burlington English in Israel, where he helped launch and build one of the country’s leading ESL education providers with its cutting-edge voice recognition software, which later expanded into global markets.