
Denver CISO Community
Executive Summit
June 18, 2025 | Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
June 18, 2025
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with Denver'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:
Harnessing Emerging Technologies With Purpose
Aligning Innovation and Security for Business Success
Building Adaptive Organizations in an Uncertain World
Denver 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

Chris Ard
Newmont Corporation
CDAO

Ken Athanasiou
VF Corp
Global CISO

Sam Masiello
The Anschutz Corporation
CISO

Chris McLaughlin
Johns Manville
CISO

Lucia Milică Stacy
Stanley Black & Decker
Global CISO
What to Expect
Agenda
8:00am - 8:30am Registration & Breakfast
8:30am - 9:15am Keynote
Leading Collaborative AI Initiatives
Hosted by Wiz

Dolores Mears
CIO
Hensel Phelps Construction

Lucia Milică Stacy
Global CISO
Stanley Black & Decker

Tim Linsenmeyer
CTO
Clover Environmental Solutions
Successful AI implementation and adoption necessitate a collaborative effort across the entire enterprise. Collaboration faces hurdles in upskilling diverse teams, safeguarding AI and data, and demonstrating clear ROI across varied business units. Collaborative organizations overcome these challenges by fostering cross-functional AI teams, secure AI systems, and establishing transparent metrics, ultimately positioning them at the cutting edge of AI innovation.
Join technology and security leaders as they share their journey to:
- Unify teams for enterprise AI implementation
- Develop enterprise-wide AI security protocols
- Build cross-functional teams to accelerate AI innovation
9:15am - 9:40am Networking Break
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
Modern Infrastructure Foundation — Unlocking Value in AI
Hosted by Google Cloud

Ram Katuri
Sr. Principal, Value Creation
Google Cloud
Delivering AI and GenAI value at scale is top of mind with many CIOs while juggling the needs to maintain a secure scalable technology foundation, but how can CIOs accomplish this? Prioritizing a high-quality data, security and infrastructure foundation provides all the necessary ingredients that will unlock the greatest value in AI.
Join this session to discuss:
- Building a value driven AI strategy
- Delivering high-quality, well-structured data to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of AI-driven initiatives
- Driving a modern secure AI ready infrastructure roadmap for scale, efficiency and ease of use
9:40am - 10:25am Executive Boardroom
From Chaos to Clarity ― How AI is Transforming Data Security
Hosted by Cyera

Mark Adams
Executive Advisor, Risk and IR Services
Cyera

Ashley Bolton
CISO
Jefferson County, CO

Craig Buesing
CISO
Gates Corporation
Your data is everywhere ― across clouds, apps, and teams. Innovation demands speed, security demands control. To lead securely, CISOs and CIOs need more than policies and firewalls ― they need real-time visibility, actionable intelligence, and AI that keeps pace. Join this boardroom to unpack how AI is reshaping data security.
You’ll walk away with strategies to:
- Turn fragmented data environments into a unified governance foundation
- Stay ahead of shifting regulations with scalable, AI-supported compliance
- Empower teams with shared accountability and smarter security
9:40am - 10:25am Executive Boardroom
Establishing Cyber Resilience Across the Cloud
Hosted by Rubrik

Steve Merkel
AVP, Sales Engineering, Americas
Rubrik

Chris Cahill
CIO
PRG

Josh Pinkert
VP & CIO
Ovintiv
In an era where users are ubiquitous and digital operations sit in the cloud and beyond, it’s key to move beyond a foundational security approach and focus on achieving cyber resilience. The task at hand involves navigating complexity and upholding visibility and control to ensure uninterrupted operation despite cyber threats.
Join this session to explore:
- Enhancing security and cost-effectiveness across diverse cloud environments
- Leveraging AI innovations while addressing global regulatory and data privacy standards
- Sharing best practices for implementing effective cloud operations across a global footprint
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
Securing Data Flow in the AI-Quantum Era
Hosted by Netskope

Steve Riley
VP & Field CTO
Netskope
Sensitive data movement poses risks, but outright restriction can hinder operations. Organizations need agile security frameworks to protect data in the AI and quantum era. This session explores modern security platforms that enable secure data flow and prepare for post-quantum encryption (PQE).
Join this session to learn:
- Choosing secure access methods for diverse use cases
- Adapting security to risk, user behavior and AI interactions
- Preparing for post-quantum encryption's enterprise impact
11:10am - 11:55am Executive Boardroom
Fostering a Digital Native Mindset to Cybersecurity
Hosted by Cloudflare

Madeline Gregory
Director, Information Security GRC
Cloudflare

Edgar Acosta
CISO
Open Technology Solutions

Arielle Schneider
Senior Information Security Manager
Colorado General Assembly
It is clear in today's landscape that businesses must develop IT security strategies that not only respond to attacks but also prevent them from happening. Many organizations are shifting towards zero trust frameworks that focus on people, applications, and networks to meet this mission and digital native businesses are particularly well-poised to advance impactful zero trust initiatives.
Join this session to discuss:
- Cultivating a digital native mindset across the organization
- Analyzing organizations that found the right balance of innovation and security for strategic differentiation
- Prioritizing seamless IT experiences that align with user needs and security requirements
11:10am - 11:55am Executive Boardroom
The Future of ERP – Shifting the IT Operating Model
Hosted by Rimini Street

Dion Rooney
VP Retail, Industry Solutions
Rimini Street

Nilo Ferreira
Global Head of Enterprise Systems and Digital CoE
Ball Corporation

Alex Hansen
CIO
DMC Global
AI, hyperautomation, and unified user experiences are reshaping how we work and compete. Are these transformations valuable, necessary, or feasible? Engage with peers to explore strategies for funding and accelerating prioritized transformations while maximizing returns on existing software investments.
Join this session to discuss:
- Modernizing applications through composable and adaptive ERP strategies
- Building digital agility to adapt to evolving business needs and minimize disruptions
- Enhancing IT systems to improve user experiences and boost operational efficiency
11:55am - 12:30pm Lunch Service
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Denver CISO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention CenterParking:
Valet: $48/car
Self-Park: $33/car
*Recommended to park in Exhibit Hall A & B lots. Parking lot is located past the hotel self-parking lots and valet, to the right of the Exhibit Hall.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 888-840-3143. Please mention Denver Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $309 USD (plus tax) is May 27, 2025.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.